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Qatar FDI infl ows ‘generally It’s important to be positive follow’ upward trend during crisis: al-Attiyah published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXXI No. 11505 April 1, 2020 Sha’ban 8, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar decries charges of PM visits Communicable Disease Centre meddling in Yemen war Qatar has condemned the false accusations made by Yemeni Covid-19: HIA, minister Moammar al-Eryani regarding the political and media support to the Houthi movement. In a statement on yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs said Qatar Airways that everyone knows who are the parties to the conflict in Yemen and they are the parties that continue to stoke the human tragedy of the keeping highest brotherly Yemeni people, adding that it was better for al-Eryani to direct his media energies to invite the regional powers involved in this safety standards war to uphold the interest of the Yemeni people and stop this conflict that has become absurd by seriously QNA Qatar Airways announced the sus- engaging in a political track within Doha pension of its fl ights to some of the the frameworks of international cities where the epidemic is spreading, legitimacy and related resolutions. such as New York, Madrid and Barce- The statement stressed that Qatar atar Airways and Hamad In- lona, in the context of the precaution- HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani yesterday visited HMC’s wishes the brotherly Yemeni ternational Airport (HIA) have ary measures that guarantee the safety Communicable Disease Centre, which is dedicated to the treatment of people infected with coronavirus. He was briefed people well, and will spare no Qaffi rmed their eagerness to take and health of all travellers and airport on the cases of recovered and recovering patients who praised the health services provided to them. He also listened eff ort in supporting any regional or all preventive measures against the workers. to a brief explanation of the procedures, personal medical protection equipment and medical devices available at the international endeavours to end this novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Al-Meer said all operations at HIA centre. The prime minister was accompanied by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and a crisis for Yemen. This came at a joint press conference involve fruitful and eff ective co-op- number of senior off icials of the HMC and the medical staff . Page 2 held yesterday by HIA chief operating eration between the various entities Agricultural, fi sheries offi cer Badr al-Meer and Qatar Air- working at the airport, such as the licences extended ways senior vice-president (Market- Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry ing and Corporate Communications) of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry The Ministry of Municipality and Salam al-Shawa on the latest develop- of Transport and Communications Environment (MME), represented by ments and measures taken to prevent (MoTC) and Qatar Airways Group, to MoPH: 88 new Covid-19 cases the Agriculture and Fisheries Aff airs the spread of Covid-19. ensure the highest safety standards for sector, announced the extension At the press conference, HIA stressed travellers and employees working at of licences for the following -farm its keenness to achieve the highest safe- the airport. possession, fishing boats, fish ty standards for travellers and employ- He pointed out that the main rea- in Qatar; 11 recover, one dies transport means and veterinary ees working at the airport by taking all son for the continuation of some Qa- medicines, feed exchange and preventive and precautionary measures tar Airways operations is the return of water allowance, which ended against Covid-19 in implementation of Qatari citizens from the aff ected coun- QNA where they are receiving the neces- creasing number of Qataris recently during March, April and May, until the directives of the wise leadership. tries to their homeland. To Page 4 Doha sary medical care. returning to the country. the end of next June. The extension The MoPH stated that it conducted As of yesterday, a total of 62 peo- of licences comes within the yesterday 2,291 tests, out of which ple have recovered from Covid-19 in framework of the measures taken he Ministry of Public Health 88 confi rmed cases were discovered. Qatar. by Qatar to reduce the spread of (MoPH) yesterday announced This represents a marked increase in According to the MoPH, it was a Covid-19. T88 new confirmed cases of the number of cases recorded daily, 58-year old resident, who was suff er- the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in owing to the use of new advanced ing from chronic diseases who suc- Lagos in lockdown as Qatar, recovery of 11 more patients, laboratory techniques to detect Cov- cumbed to Covid-19 yesterday. The virus closures spread and the second death from the out- id-19 which means a large number ministry extended condolences and break. of samples can now be tested each sympathy to the family of the de- Africa’s largest city Lagos appeared Some of the new cases of infec- day. This is helping to contribute to ceased. deserted yesterday after Nigeria tion are related to people who have the faster discovery of infected cases The MoPH requested all members locked down its economic hub recently returned to Qatar from which will help to reduce the spread of the society to co-operate fully and and shuttered its capital in the overseas and to others who had had of the virus. adhere to all health guidelines and continent’s latest effort to brake contact with those infected. All new The jump in the number of Cov- preventive measures in order to re- the juggernaut of coronavirus. Badr al-Meer and Salam al-Shawa at the press conference. cases have been put into quarantine id-19 cases is also caused by the in- duce the risk of contracting the virus. Businesses were closed, markets abandoned and streets empty as the usually chaotic megacity of 20mn, along with the capital Abuja, shuddered to a halt on the first Ministry launches new hotline to receive workers’ complaints full day of a two-week shutdown. Page 6

Harry and Meghan By Shafeeq Alingal in multiple languages. Workers have to by this date will face action, it was Referring to the recent allocation of formally quit royal life Staff Reporter send an SMS to 92727 by adding 5 be- stressed. Workers can also contact QR3bn as guarantees to local banks, fore the QID or visa number. the ministry at 16008 or by e-mail at al-Obaidly said fi nancial assistance Prince Harry and his wife Meghan During the press conference, al- [email protected] seeking support to will be given to companies in order to formally stepped down as senior he Ministry of Administra- Obaidly gave details of the measures resolve their grievances. help them pay the employees and em- members of the British royal tive Development, Labour and adopted by the MADLSA to ensure the He said companies have the right ployers to clear various dues, including family yesterday, as they start a TSocial Aff airs (MADLSA) has rights of workers in the country. He to terminate contracts but the termi- rent. The assistance will not be paid in controversial new life in the United launched a new hotline, 92727, to re- noted that the ministry is monitoring the nation should be done in compliance cash and companies will be given sup- States. The couple have already ceive workers’ complaints. situation and taking all necessary meas- with the terms of the Labour Law and port upon their requests to the banks. relocated to California, according to This was announced at a press con- ures to ensure the welfare of workers. the contract, including factors such Banks will approach the MADLSA reports, after announcing in January ference addressed by Mohamed Has- “Measures have been taken to ensure as the notice period and payment of and the allocated amount will be used that they intended to quit royal life san al-Obaidly, Assistant Undersecre- that workers receive their basic sal- pending entitlements such as return by banks to pay the employees. and “work to become financially tary for Labour Aff airs at the ministry, ary and allowances from their employer ticket to the home country. Al-Obaidly said the ministry will independent”. The decision means in Doha yesterday. during this period,” he said, adding that “The ministry is focusing on raising ensure that all those who are quaran- they will no longer carry out duties The hotline will function round- the ministry is closely monitoring the awareness and ensuring their (work- tined are paid. “Companies are co- on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II and the-clock, and workers can register developments and the companies have Mohamed Hassan al-Obaidly ers’) health. Priority is given to im- operating with the government in this are giving up their off ice within the their complaints by using their Qatar to pay salaries by the seventh of a month. addressing the press conference. proving relations with workers and regard. They are willing to pay and fol- monarchy in Britain. Page 11 ID (QID) or visa number. It is available Companies that fail to pay salaries PICTURE: Jayaram expatriates,” he explained. low the rules,” he said. Pearl monument relocated Qatar begins disbursing cash assistance to needy Gaza families 20 arrested for violating

HE the Chairman of the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi quarantine conditions said that the committee, in co-operation and co- ordination with the Qatar Fund for Development, began yesterday the process of disbursing cash assistance to he Ministry of Public according to the MoPH. They Saeed Salem Farhood al-Hajri, needy families in the Gaza Strip. Health (MoPH) an- are: Faisal Mohamed Saqr Mohsen Saleh Mohsen Khaled Ambassador al-Emadi said that the distribution of $100 Tnounced yesterday that Hammam al-Abdullah, Jassim al-Karbi, Nayef Saif Bakhit Ali per family is being implemented through the post the designated authorities ar- Mohamed Saeed al-Osaimi al-Athbi, Nawaf Salem Abdul- off ices in the governorates of the Gaza Strip for 100,000 rested 20 Qatari citizens who al-Hajri, Abdullah Misfer Ab- lah Ali Afi fa, and Saud Hussein families, adding that this assistance is part of the $150mn violated the requirements of dulaziz Saeed al-Hajri, Abdul- Faleh al-Mazfari al-Hajri. grant awarded by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim the home quarantine, con- lah Salem Raheel al-Ali, Faraj The state authorities have bin Hamad al-Thani to the Gaza Strip. He pointed out travening the affi davits they Etab Jaff al Shaher Farraj, Kha- called upon citizens and resi- that the process of distributing cash assistance is signed. led Saeed Mubarak Saeed al- dents under home quarantine carried out according to the new mechanism in co- The arrest of these people Nabit, Ali Hamad Ali Hamad to fully commit to the MoPH’s operation with the relevant government agencies came in implementation of al-Jaznah, Mohamed Ali Amer conditions to ensure their to meet safety standards for beneficiaries and to the precautionary measures in al-Dahabeb al-Marri, Hamad safety and that of the others. preserve sufficient distances between them, as part of force in the country, approved Mohamed Faraj Mashrom al- The statement stressed that preventive measures to address the outbreak of the by health authorities repre- Awir, Rashid Ali Rashid Afi fa everyone who violates the con- coronavirus disease (Covid-19). sented in the MoPH to ensure al-Marri, Abdullah Abdul ditions is subject to the penal- HE al-Emadi thanked the Palestinian citizens who the achievement of public Hadi Mabkhoot al-Saiari, Mo- ties stated in Article No 253 of The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has completed the relocation of the benefited from the cash assistance for their co- safety by curbing the spread hamed Ali Salem Sunaid al- Criminal Law No 11 of 2014, well-known Pearl monument to Al Fardah Roundabout in Al Wakra Old operation and understanding of the safety measures of the novel coronavirus (Cov- Daiya, Ali Husain Nasser Mo- Law No 17 of 1990 on protec- Souq adjacent to Al Wakra Port. The relocation works were accomplished in issued by the competent authorities, within the id-19). hamed Thaqebah, Mohamed tion from infectious diseases, collaboration with the Private Engineering Office as part of the expressway instructions followed to confront the spread of the The violators are currently Ali Bakhit Ali al-Athibi, Talal and Law No 17 of 2002 on pro- project involving the upgrade of Al Wakra Main Road. Page 20 coronavirus. ( QNA ) being referred to prosecution, Ali Bakhit Ali al-Athbi, Salem tecting society. (QNA) Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 QATAR

CDC officials brief PM on Covid-19 care In brief Advisory panels for

FM holds phone govt school heads, talk with Moldova counterpart

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- teachers to be set up Thani received yesterday a phone call from the Minister of Foreign Aff airs and European Integration of Moldova Oleg Tulea. zHE the Minister of Education and Higher Education During the call, they reviewed bilateral relations between Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi issues decisions Qatar and Moldova and the co-ordination of eff orts to limit QNA promoting confi dence between the spread of the coronavirus Doha leadership and the educational (Covid-19), in addition to issues of fi eld, exchanging experiences common concern. - QNA and monitoring challenges and E the Minister of Educa- obstacles in the educational fi eld tion and Higher Educa- by discussing their causes and Qatar-Ukraine Htion Dr Mohamed Abdul proposing solutions to them in relations reviewed Wahed Ali al-Hammadi has is- line with teachers’ visions and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani visiting sued a ministerial decision to aspirations, as well as strength- the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Communicable Disease Centre yesterday. The centre is HE the Deputy Prime Minister form the Advisory Committee ening the professional partner- dedicated to people infected with coronavirus (Covid-19). During the visit the prime minister was and Minister of Foreign for Government School Princi- ship with educational leaders briefed on the healthcare services provided to the infected people. Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin pals consisting of 13 members. with the aim of evaluating edu- Abdulrahman al-Thani received The decision stipulates that cational decisions, programs and yesterday a phone call from members of the committee plans and promoting the profes- Minister of Foreign Aff airs of choose, from among them, a sional development of teachers Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. chairman, a deputy chairman to master and improve work and During the call, they reviewed and a secretary, at their fi rst activate dialogue mechanisms, the bilateral relations between meeting. increase communication op- the two countries and the The ministerial decision is HE the Minister of Education portunities, and exchange ex- Ministry issues distance learning co-ordination of eff orts to limit based on the system of the Ad- and Higher Education Mohamed periences between teachers and the spread of the coronavirus visory Committee for School Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi educational leaders. (Covid-19), in addition to issues of Principals and on the results of The committee is also tasked joint interest. the electronic voting process to the electronic forum for school with preparing an annual plan plan for grades 1-12 subjects run for membership of the Advi- principals, and participating in and setting up implementation Prices of petrol and sory Committee of School Prin- educational meetings and events mechanisms by monitoring is- diesel drop in April cipals, and taking into account and social programs of the Min- sues and challenges in the edu- QNA der it, as well as the number of launched the distance learning the requirements of the public istry of Education and Higher cational fi eld in order to provide Doha classes for each lesson, with the portal as a platform that allows interest. Education, in addition to other appropriate solutions and rec- specifi ed page numbers deter- students and parents in govern- Qatar Petroleum (QP) yesterday The committee seeks to pro- tasks assigned to it by the min- ommendations to them in ac- mined, in order to facilitate the ment schools in Qatar to obtain announced the diesel and mote a culture of dialogue and ister. cordance with the vision and he Ministry of Education educational process for all stu- the ministry’s distance learning gasoline prices for the month of consultation between school The decision stipulates that mission of the Ministry of Edu- and Higher Education has dents. services, by unifying them under April 2020. The prices of both principles and enable them Aisha Eid Salman al-Sulaiti cation and Higher Education. Tissued a distance learning Students can also follow their a unifi ed and integrated umbrel- gasoline and diesel decreased to express their concerns and represents the Ministry of Ed- The committee also provides plan for academic subjects for educational lessons remotely on la, and contributing to facilitat- compared to those of March suggestions, in order to pro- ucation and Higher Education advice to help achieve visions the 2019-2020 academic year Qatar TV via Badr 4, Frequency: ing the procedures of reaching 2020. mote team work spirit and ad- in the committee’s meetings and aspirations to advance the for grades 1 to 12. 12169, Polarisation: Vertical, them in a way that meets to the QP set the diesel price at QR1.3 visory between the educational as an observer without hav- educational process, in addi- The Education Aff airs Sec- Error Correction: 3/4; Symbol level of their aspirations and in a per litre for April compared leaderships and increase their ing a counted vote when vot- tion to following up and acti- tor of the Ministry of Education Rate: 22000. manner that suits their various to QR1.7 per litre in March, a involvement in the develop- ing. The observer shall exercise vating the electronic forum for and Higher Education prepared The ministry explained that needs. decrease of 23.5%. The price of ment; exchange the different the functions set forth in the school teachers, and participat- a distance learning plan accord- through the distance learning Parents and students them- Super Gasoline (95) was set at educational experiences to face system of the Advisory Com- ing in educational meetings and ing to the study time schedule, plan, the weekly evaluation will selves can also access the link QR1.3 per litre for April compared the education problems and mittee. Specialists from the events and social programmes of which includes seven weeks for be after the end of the last ses- https://qlearning.edu.gov.qa/ to QR1.65 per litre in March, a obstacles and propose practical ministry’s employees may be the Ministry of Education and each semester, with the name of sion of a subject according to the to get any information about decline by about 21.2%. solutions; strengthen the pro- invited to attend the commit- Higher Education. the fi eld and the unit specifi ed. weekly schedule, while giving downloading the “Teems” soft- QP also set the Premium Gasoline fessional partnership with the tee’s meetings to discuss the is- The decision stipulates that Each chapter has a detailed the student a week to answer. ware and how to log in and do (91) price at QR1.25 per litre for decision makers at the Min- sues raised and the educational the members of the commit- explanation of the unit of study The Ministry of Educa- homework as well as fi nd video April compared to QR1.6 per litre istry of Education and Higher challenges in order to reach ap- tee hold a vote to choose a vice- and the materials that fall un- tion and Higher Education has lessons for diff erent classes. in March, a decrease by 21.9%. Education in order to assess propriate solutions. chair from them. The presence and reform the educational de- The duration of committee’s of the majority of the commit- cisions, programmes and plans; membership is three years, and tee’s members is required for and contribute in developing members are not entitled to run lawful convening of any meet- the State’s future educational for more than two consecutive ing, including the chairman or Covid-19 plans. terms. his deputy. According to the ministerial HE al-Hammadi has also is- It also stipulates that the Min- hotline decision, the committee will be sued a ministerial decision to istry of Education and Higher concerned with preparing an an- form the advisory committee Education will be represented statistics nual plan and setting up mecha- for government school teachers by Aisha Eid Salman al-Sulaiti nisms for its implementation headed by Saeed Salem Nasser in the committee’s meetings as by monitoring issues and chal- al-Nabit al-Marri from Al Sha- an observer without having a lenges in the educational fi eld, haniyah Preparatory/Secondary counted vote when voting. The Ministry of Public Health in order to provide appropriate School for Boys, with the mem- The observer shall exercise (MoPH) has issued an info- solutions and recommendations bership of 18 teachers represent- the powers and tasks set forth in graphic providing statistics of to them in accordance with the ing all levels of education. the system of the advisory com- the Covid-19 hotline, 16000, vision and mission of the Min- The committee seeks to pro- mittee for government school as March 30. istry of Education and Higher mote a culture of dialogue and teachers. Education. The committee is consultation between school Specialists from the minis- also concerned with providing teachers and refl ect their con- try’s employees may be invited advice to achieve visions and as- cerns and suggestions in order to to attend the committee’s meet- pirations, off ering initiatives to achieve several goals that include ings to discuss issues and the advance the educational proc- engaging teachers in develop- challenges in order to reach ap- ess, following up and activating ing the educational process, propriate solutions. QRCS intensifi es medical services Over 56,000 benefi t from QC campaign against virus QNA Doha QNA educational brochures and Doha publications, including the he Medical Aff airs Divi- most important preventive sion of Qatar Red Cres- guidelines, issued by QC were Tcent Society (QRCS) has ome 56,806 people have distributed in nine different intensifi ed its eff orts to respond benefi ted from Qatar languages, such as Urdu, Hin- to the outbreak of the novel SCharity’s awareness and di, Filipino, Sri Lankan and coronavirus (Covid-19) and deal preventive campaign to combat Nepalese, with 10,000 copies with its impact on the commu- the coronavirus (Covid-19). in each language. nity. The campaign, which was Qatar Charity has activated QRCS works under the um- conducted in co-operation additional precautionary meas- brella of the Supreme Commit- with the Ministry of Admin- ures to support the State’s eff orts tee for Crisis Management, the istrative Development, La- to limit the spread of the corona- supervisory body managing all bour and Social Affairs, and virus by educating employees related medical and volunteer- the Ministry of Public Health, and workers on the need to pay ing activities. benefited 53,206 workers and attention to the health aspect Mobilising medical profes- Personal hygiene kits being prepared. 3,600 people working in health and follow the instructions an- sionals and technical resources awareness campaigns. nounced by the Ministry of Pub- in partnership with health au- saimeer, New Industrial Area, including physicians, fi rst re- The fi eld work team included lic Health. thorities and institutions, QRCS Fereej Abdul-Aziz, and Zekreet. sponders, nurses, technicians, 100 qualifi ed and trained cadres QC is now working to help 30 has created an operations room The centres work normally trainers, and health educators. Running quarantine facilities. having varied experiences, in countries to deal with this epi- to collect timely information 24/7 through the following clin- The emergency ambulance addition to 8,700 volunteers of demic, and its campaigns have been and post public awareness mes- ics: GP, ENT, cardiology, den- service is put on standby, to be training courses were held for tions, and referrals. nine diff erent nationalities. launched to contribute to tackling sages online and via social me- tistry, pulmonology, ophthal- deployed immediately once di- 10,000 people from 15 organisa- In co-operation with MoPH During the campaign, more this virus in a number of countries. dia. Written and audiovisual mology, dermatology, urgent rections are issued by MoPH. tions, such as Qatar Post, Hamad and Hamad Medical Corpora- than 26,000 health and aware- QC’s assistance consisted of messages are posted in the six cases, laboratory, X-ray, and QRCS has 50 highly-equipped International Airport (HIA), tion (HMC), a medical team is ness kits as well as 53,206 food distributing medical supplies, languages of major communities pharmacy. and sanitised ambulance vehicles, Hamad Port, Al-Ruwais Port, conducting health screening baskets and other materials, in- hygiene items, sanitisers, masks, in Qatar. As a precautionary measure, run by well-trained paramedics li- United Development Company in many areas, companies, and cluding personal hygiene tools, thermometers, gloves, and tissue As the only service of its kind, a nurse is assigned to receive the censed by Qatar Council for Health- (UDC), and private companies. organisations such as Nakilat sanitisers and masks, and edu- paper. sign language is used in several visitors at the entrance of each care Practitioners (QCHP). Over the QRCS and MoPH work to- and Qatar Cultural and Heritage cational leafl ets in the language This comes within the frame- messages addressed to people health centre to check their body past few weeks, QRCS’ health edu- gether to provide medical serv- Events Centre (QCHEC). They of their preference were given all work of the eff orts made by with special needs. temperature and identify suspi- cation team held 24 training courses ices at the two quarantine fa- also provide health education workers. Qatar to limit the spread of the Under the supervision of cious cases. in three languages on the basics of cilities in Mukaynis, as well as and awareness for the public. The campaign covered a Covid-19 and in the interest of the Ministry of Public Health Multilingual health education personal hygiene, use of personal 28 other quarantine locations, Another medical team from number of places of workers’ Qatar Charity to perform its na- (MoPH), the four workers’ health is given to the visitors at waiting protective equipment (PPE), coro- including Hazm Mebaireek and QRCS is stationed in the In- gatherings and homes and in- tional and humanitarian mission centres managed by QRCS have areas, both by the medical staff navirus symptoms, and how to Umm Qarn. dustrial Area to conduct health dustrial complexes and several as a civil society organisation so far provided medical services and on public screens. contact the competent organisa- Work is going on 24/7 to of- screening, vital signs measure- construction sites in various re- that seeks to spread goodness for 57,700 visitors. Currently, QRCS has 623 tions to report a case. fer nine medical services, in- ment, and taking samples for gions of the country. and awareness among citizens They are located in Me- medical professionals on duty, In addition, a series of online cluding reception, examina- further laboratory tests. Some 90,000 copies of and residents. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 3 QATAR Farm owners adopt new approach, sell produce online

number of Qatari farm cluding fresh vegetables, meat, They further stressed that the that have helped them to make a owner of a local farm for fi sh es around 3 tonnes of vegeta- small fee for distant locations. owners have adopted a new poultry, dairy products, eggs and experiences and expertise they considerable leap in production, and poultry production, said bles of diff erent types a day, in A considerable number of the Aapproach to market their other related items. have gained since the unjust in terms of both quantities and that Qatar is considered the addition to livestock, poultry, local farms have introduced the products online and deliver them The local farms depend on blockade started on June 5, 2017, varieties. least aff ected by Covid-19 in eggs, fodder, dairy products delivery services of vegetables, direct to the customers’ homes social media and websites to enabled them to address the cur- He said that his farm produces economic terms due to the and dates. A total of 10 tonnes meat, poultry and milk products as part of complying with the promote their products at good rent challenges eff ectively be- around one tonne of vegetables a successful experiences of the of dates were produced last to encourage their customers measures to prevent any further prices. The Qatari owners also sides the power and stability of day including tomatoes, cucum- country in managing crises year. to stay safe at home and avoid spread of the novel coronavirus told the daily that farms have the Qatari economy. ber, zucchini, pepper and oth- including that of the sudden Ali Noah said his farm start- crowds at shopping malls, as (Covid-19) in the country. managed to cover almost 75% of Hussein Salem, manager of a ers, which are mostly marketed blockade, which has helped in ed to post information about they would be able to purchase Local Arabic daily Arrayah has the needs of the local market and local farm, has highly appreci- through Mahaseel besides the mitigating the negative im- their products on the various their needs fresh online and get reported that the new methods continued to boost their pro- ated the constant support of the yards for selling local agriculture pacts of outbreak. social media platforms with them delivered at their conven- would help them sell good quan- duction in spite of the challenges Ministry of Municipality and products. Abdullah Mohamed al- off ers of free delivery to nearby ience with little or no charges, tities of various products in- caused by Covid-19. Environment for local farms Mubarak Rashid al-Nuaimi, Khelaifi said his farm produc- customers while charging a the daily added. Katara launches second Ooredoo sees rise in bundle of competitions, use of Money educational activities service oredoo has highlight- he second bundle of ed the features of its competitions and activi- OOoredoo Money serv- Tties launched by Katara - ice as demand for remotely the Cultural Village through its accessible remittances in- various accounts on the social creases due to the temporary network has witnessed a very closure of money exchanges large turnout. in line with current guidelines In this context, Katara Gener- relating to the ongoing global al Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibra- novel coronavirus (Covid-19) him al-Sulaiti emphasised that outbreak. Katara is keen to continue its Qatar’s leading telecommu- cultural and societal role in view nications operator has seen a of the current circumstances. rise in the use of its Ooredoo He said, “We believe that cul- Money service since the tem- ture is one of the front lines to porary closure of exchange combat the spread of this epi- houses, and a rise in the demic and thus we seek to pre- number of remittances being serve the safety of society by a sent, according to a statement Sabah Rabia al-Kuwari, culture that cannot be isolated yesterday. director, public relations at from what the community is Customers can send re- Ooredoo, said of the off er experiencing, it is rather an ef- mittances via one of Oore- extension: “These are chal- fective tool to support all eff orts doo Money’s trusted part- lenging times, with many made for the safety of all.” ners – MoneyGram, Al Dar of us worried about family Al-Sulaiti indicated that Ka- Exchange, Al Zaman Ex- members back home, and we tara presented through its ac- change and Gulf Exchange know our customers need to counts on the social media net- winner will receive QR10,000. ities, “Tamour & Tamoura” a 3D – to hundreds of banks and be reassured they can still work a series of competitions The deadline for submitting animated series for children and accounts around the world, carry out essential transac- and activities to various groups these videos is April 30. young adults. for free until April 15. Some tions even while we all stay of society that would contrib- Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, general manager, Katara. This is in addition to a painting The idea of the series revolves transfers are instant, with home for our own safety and ute to spreading awareness and drawing competition that comes around a kingdom of dates fruit, others taking 72 hours de- for that of our community. education. The second bundle of Katara be in high-quality horizontal on the occasion of World Chil- as the heroes in this animation pending on the country and Demand for international He also said that Katara ex- competitions is the writing com- format taken by the participant dren’s Day for children from 7-14 series live from dates, as the ad- the bank. remittances is always high, ceeded the local geography of petition in English, as the fi rst himself. years, organised by Katara in co- ventures of the series inspire In keeping with the Stay as customers send money this situation and presented in- winner will receive QR10,000; The winners will be selected operation with Qatar Post. children how to correct mistakes Home with Ooredoo cam- to their families, and we’re ternational competitions, which the second will receive QR7,000 based on the quality, method of Five best drawings will be and behaviours. paign and Qatar’s ongoing pleased to be able to help in confi rm its interest in the human and the third winner QR5,000. shooting and the content of the picked to be printed on Qatar The topics of the episodes do eff orts to prevent the spread any way we can.” being wherever there are regard- In the “60 seconds” Katara story presented, which should be postage stamps, and each win- not only approach the negative of the Covid-19 virus, cus- To send remittances via less of geographical borders. Awareness Competition, partic- inspiring and out of the ordinary. ning child will receive a prize of and critical side, but also ad- tomers can carry out the en- Ooredoo Money, customers Among these competitions ipants have to fi lm a video using The fi rst place winner in QR2,500. The last date for sub- dress positive topics that rein- tire transaction with their need simply download the - the competition “Istighfar” mobile phone and tell an this competition will receive mitting works is April 30 via e- force educational, human and Ooredoo Money app, enabling Ooredoo Money app from ei- (Forgiveness) in the short story, educational story. QR20,000, the second place mail to: kids2020kataraph.com social concepts, which consti- them to send their remittances ther the App Store or Google short play, poetry and Arabic One of the conditions of this winner will receive QR15,000, Katara - the Cultural Village tute guidelines for children in an from home quickly, easily and Play and then register for the calligraphy, open to all countries. competition is the video must while the third place also presents, as part of its activ- entertaining way. (QNA) effi ciently. service. CRA publishes public consultation on Cloud Qatar Children’s Museum launches Policy Statement family workshops on social media

he Communications Reg- amilies will now have the ulatory Authority (CRA) chance to take part in Tlaunched yesterday a Fdaily online workshops public consultation on a draft hosted by the Qatar Children’s Cloud Policy Statement with Museum (QCM), being devel- the aim of receiving views and oped by Qatar Museums (QM), comments on the content of the it was announced. draft from all interested parties The live sessions invite fami- and stakeholders no later than lies in the country to incor- April 23. porate playing and learning in The CRA developed the their weekday routine and en- Cloud Policy Statement within gage with the museum’s staff . the framework of the its Strat- The content, suitable for egy 2020-2024 where it sup- Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, both Arabic and English- ports the objectives of Qatar president, CRA. speaking audiences, is being National Vision 2030 and Qatar launched before QCM even be- Screenshots of activity videos. National Second Development advanced, innovative and relia- gins construction so as to aid Strategy 2018-2022. ble services in the state of Qatar. families staying home during are needed even more at this The CRA sets within the It is paramount to enable cloud the ongoing novel coronavirus challenging moment, when the statement the current scene and services as it facilitates business (Covid-19) outbreak. spread of Covid-19 is forcing provides recommendations for continuity from anywhere and QCM has already inaugurated people to self-isolate. We thank an overall policy and regulatory under any circumstances. a Learning and Outreach De- QM and its Chairperson, HE review that is instrumental to “Cloud computing is an op- partment, which has engaged the Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Ha- the development of a solid cloud portunity for Qatar-based busi- community through workshops Fruit jam making is one of the activities. mad bin Khalifa al-Thani, for computing industry in Qatar. nesses to grow for private and for children and their families at encouraging us to step forward In line with the objectives of public entities to provide bet- popular events such as the Doha ticipation and will be on hand QCM will share instructions in this way,” al-Mannai added. its strategy, the CRA has identi- ter services and, ultimately, for International Book Fair. to answer questions, make sug- and lists of materials required QCM will be the fi rst institu- fi ed in the Cloud Policy State- Qatar to become a regional hub In response to the challenge gestions and curate an exchange will on their Instagram account tion of its kind in the gulf, en- ment a comprehensive set of le- and key player in the region. In that families are facing dur- of ideas between families. (@ChildrensMuseum.QA) prior riching the lives of children and gal and regulatory requirements addition, it will benefi t consum- ing the pandemic, the museum The team will also invite to each activity, so families and their families by providing an that competent government ers, stakeholders and national has shifted its work online, families to share their creative their children can prepare in unparalleled space for learning entities should adopt or up- economy by attracting domestic but plans to provide the same explorations, which could be advance. through open-ended play, ex- Bubble Art. date. Similarly, the cloud policy and foreign investments,” said warmth and support that audi- featured on the museum’s In- “Even though the QCM is ploration and experimentation. highlights recommendations for CRA president Mohamed Ali ences have come to expect from stagram page. still in the development phase, The new museum is being de- QCM is being created to ad- stakeholders of the cloud value al-Mannai. the museum. The fun and educational we have felt that our mission signed to nurture, challenge and vance the goals of the Qatar Na- chain to ensure compliance with Stakeholders can check the QCM will be sharing an ac- workshops will include art, of nurturing each child’s crea- inspire our children, fueling their tional Vision 2030 for human, national and international laws public consultation document at tivity video at 3pm, Sundays to crafts, literacy, science, and tivity, imagination, and love of creativity and encouraging their social, economic and environ- and best practices. www.cra.gov.qa and send their Thursdays, designed to encour- cooking among other topics and learning is too important for us empathy and understanding. mental development. With pro- “Under CRA’s mandate, one of views and comments to mbel- age all family members to get the activities planned include to wait until we open our doors,” A variety of stimulating, interac- gramming that will off er each our key objectives is to encourage [email protected]. They should involved. painting with bubbles, making QCM director Essa al-Mannai tive and accessible indoor and out- child an opportunity to learn and support a competitive In- specify the subject name as During the live one-hour plastic from milk, crafting tis- said in a statement. door experiences will off er fami- through play, the museum will formation and Communications ‘Consultation on Cloud Policy workshops, QCM staff open the sue paper fl owers and upcycling “We are already working in lies the opportunity to have fun by nurture the future leaders and Technology sector that provides Statement’. door for virtual audience par- plastic containers to jewellery. the community, and we feel we playing and learning together. caretakers of Qatar. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 QATAR

Awareness drive on roads Qatari fi lmmakers on the global fi lm circuit

By Joey Aguilar Fakhroo, Hamida Issa, Mahdi Ali and draw on the power of fi lm to Staff Reporter Ali, Fahad al-Kuwari, Abdulla al- overcome adversity,” al-Remaihi Abdulla, Ali al-Ansari, among oth- said. About the key takeaways of ers.” the discussions and the other ses- ore Qatari fi lmmakers According to the DFI CEO, the sions at Qumra, she said the online will make it to the inter- increased number of projects at format provided fi lmmakers with Mnational arena despite Qumra from Qatar across all for- unprecedented access to the men- the current and future challenges, mats is “a huge testament to their torship, feedback and networking Doha Film Institute (DFI) CEO growing prominence.” with leading global fi lm experts “to Fatma al-Remaihi has expressed “We are excited to be connect- get their projects off the ground confi dence. “Given the immense ing the creativity and ambition of and out to audiences.” talents we encounter and mentor at our emerging talent with the wis- Qumra 2020 featured one-on- the Institute each year, I am certain dom and experience of leaders in one sessions and digital match- that we will see an increased par- the global fi lm industry,” she said. making meetings for selected ticipation from Qatari fi lmmakers “I share with great pride that DFI, projects with industry leaders, and on the global fi lm circuit,” she told under its esteemed leadership, has festival programmers, sales agents Gulf Times. established itself as a global crea- and distributors had exclusive ac- Of the 46 selected projects at this tive hub that facilitates exchange cess to projects in post-production. Security patrols and policemen are present on several roads in the country to educate year’s Qumra edition, al-Remaihi DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi. of learning, resources and expert “I am amazed by the breadth of motorists about the Covid-19 preventive measures, the Ministry of Interior has tweeted. noted that 20 are helmed by fi rst- collaboration between nations creative talent and progress each As part of the initiative, the police distribute awareness brochures on the precautionary and second-time fi lmmakers based Remaihi said their home-grown and cultures, demonstrating Qa- of our fi lmmakers has displayed as measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and safeguard community health. The in Qatar, including 12 by Qatari talents underline the evolution of a tar’s contribution to the global arts part of this year’s programme as ministry has stressed that co-operation with the security patrols, and commitment to the fi lmmakers. strong fi lm ecosystem in Qatar. community,” al-Remaihi added. well as their dedication to present above-mentioned measures, is necessary for everyone’s safety. The Qumra 2020, which adapted “Its powerfully inspiring to wit- DFI, along with many institu- their projects to the world and re- online mentorship and support for- ness the continuous growth of the tions in Qatar, stands at the fore- defi ne the future of independent mat between March 20 and 25, al- depth and profi le of our homeg- front of supporting the home- fi lm,” al-Remaihi said. lowed DFI to connect with industry rown talent taking our stories to the grown arts and culture scene, she “Many of our Work-in-Progress experts and fi lmmakers from across world,” she said. said. fi lmmakers successfully presented the globe amid the novel coronavi- Alremaihi pointed out that Qum- “I believe our nascent fi lm in- their projects to renowned industry rus (Covid-19) outbreak. ra’s latest edition once again wit- dustry is driven by our talented experts from across the globe and With seven feature narratives in nessed what she described as “the creatives, whose creativity and are now one step closer to realising development; fi ve Qumra shorts creative brilliance of our emerging dedication are indicative of our their creative dreams with hands- and two Qumra Series projects, al- talents” such as A J al-Thani, Hend strength as a society to persevere on support,” she added. Covid-19: HIA, Qatar Airways keeping highest safety standards

From Page 1 cancel their fl ights or close airports. against the spread of the virus. with responsibilities towards its Further, he said HIA, in co-op- The COO said operations of Qa- community, adding that the compa- He said Qatar Airways has a great eration with the MoI, MoTC and tar Airways are down by more than ny has played a role in transporting responsibility towards the country MoPH, provided assistance for trav- 75% with the suspension of more medical supplies to countries like and citizens, the most important of ellers who had problems reaching than 75% of its fl eet, with the de- China and Iran. The carrier has also which is the evacuation and return their fi nal destinations. cline likely to reach 90% soon. He co-operated with Oman to trans- of Qatari nationals to the homeland He stressed that Hamad Interna- also said the number of passengers port dozens of Omani students who from the aff ected countries. This is tional Airport has taken all preven- at HIA fell by 90% compared to the were trapped in the UK and US. the main reason for the continua- tive measures in co-ordination with pre-crisis days. She stressed that all crew mem- tion of the airline’s operations, he the MoPH, which include reducing He reiterated that the continu- bers on Qatar Airways are committed observed. the number of employees at the air- ation of operations was due to hu- to the necessary health procedures Some Qatari citizens are still port by 40%, who are now working manitarian reasons, including the and requirements such as wearing abroad for study, treatment or work remotely. He added that 60% of the repatriation of Qatari citizens and gloves and masks, as well as the use in addition to the families, the eld- staff are receiving training on mat- the transportation of medicines and of sterilisers and other health re- erly, children and youth present in ters like how to deal with travellers. medical equipment that require ur- quirements to maintain their safety some of the aff ected countries. This He also said that the airport is gent transportation via freight or and that of travellers. The crew has requires Qatar Airways, as a national undergoing sterilisation operations passenger aircraft. He also pointed also been trained to maintain a safe carrier, to take the necessary meas- that take place round the clock, with out that 60% of the food coming to distance between them and pas- ures to return them to the homeland closures in the duty free area and Doha arrives via passenger planes sengers. Crew members are also as soon as possible to preserve their covering all shops except for some and not through cargo aircraft be- screened before and after every trip. safety before matters become more restaurants in accordance with the cause some airports prevent cargo She added that those who were in- complicated in those countries, requirements of the Ministry of planes from landing. fected were not working, and were such as reaching the stage of airport Commerce and Industry and the On her part, al-Shawa said the on their annual vacation. closures, he explained. decisions of the Ministry of Pub- carrier’s top priority is ensuring She stressed that all workers Recall of V-Class The HIA offi cial also stressed that lic Health. He said all the airports safety and security, saying that it and crews on board Qatar Airways model of 2019 no passenger is transported via Qa- workers will undergo testing in co- has taken all the necessary precau- planes are trained to deal with any tar Airways and Hamad International operation with the MoPH. tions to ensure the safety of its pas- cases, and take all necessary pre- The Ministry of Commerce Airport without ensuring that the On maintaining transit operations, sengers and staff . cautionary measures in this regard. and Industry, in co-operation airports in the fi nal destinations are he said Qatar Airways is one of the Qatar Airways has suspended She added that the carrier operates with Nasser Bin Khaled open with no restrictions on air traf- biggest airlines in the world and that fl ights to cities like New York, Ma- two crews for short trips, one for the Automobiles, announced fi c and passenger reception. He noted there are a number of airports around drid and Barcelona to ensure the outbound fl ight and the other to re- the recall of Mercedes-Benz that some passengers at HIA faced the world that remain open, and all safety of passengers. She noted that turn in order to prevent the stay of V-Class model of 2019, as diffi culties when countries decided to necessary precautions are being taken Qatar Airways is a global company crews in other countries. the head restraint of the individual seat in the passenger compartment may not correspond to manufacturer specification. The ministry confirmed the recall campaign comes within the framework Texas A&M at Qatar kicks off of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers. The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance Al Maerifa virtual lecture series and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary aculty from Texas A&M Uni- repairs are carried out. versity at Qatar (Tamuq) are Fsharing their knowledge and expertise with the local community through the new Al Maerifa virtual seminar series of 45-minute semi- nars to promote knowledge on topics centred around Qatar’s grand chal- lenges and research pursuits. HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al- Sada, former minister of energy and industry and the chairman of Tamuq Joint Advisory Board, will introduce the Al Maerifa Seminar Series before the inaugural talk tomorrow. Dr Eyad Masad, professor at Ta- muq and Texas A&M’s main campus in Texas, will deliver the fi rst talk on the main factors that infl uence road safety, including road design, driver Dr Eyad Masad (left) will deliver the first talk on the main factors that behaviour, vehicle condition and innovative materials. He is a fellow of influence road safety, including road design, driver behaviour, vehicle condition of infrastructure. During the American Society of Civil Engi- condition and condition of infrastructure. his talk, “Road Design and Safety: neers and the American Association Recent Developments and Future for the Advancement of Science, and of the presentation. Anyone who tinue this valuable work and we hope Directions,” he will discuss the out- is co-author of a book, Pavement would like to watch the talk may visit to be able to off er more online learn- comes of research studies that were Design and Materials, which has https://knowledge.tamu.qa for more ing for the community in the future.” performed in Qatar to assess and been adopted for teaching pavement information and registration. Tamuq is also off ering online improve road design and safety. The courses in many universities around Dr Cesar Octavio Malave, dean, learning for about 350 school stu- presentation will also cover expected the world. Tamuq said “We are living in ex- dents in grades 7-12 from across changes in traffi c characteristics, The Al Maerifa talks will be pre- traordinary times, but our work con- Qatar are currently participating in road design, and technologies that sented in English with simultaneous tinues. Our mission is to create and the online IDEA: Innovate, Design could infl uence and hopefully im- Arabic translation. The live seminars share knowledge, and this includes and Engineer an App STEM (science, prove road performance and safety. are designed for a general, nontech- the Qatar community that has been technology, engineering and math) Dr Masad is an expert in the areas nical audience, and participants will so welcoming to us. programme developed by Tamuq’s of road design and development of be invited to ask questions at the end Technology is allowing us to con- STEM experts. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 5 REGION/ARAB WORLD

US might rethink Iran sanctions in light of pandemic: Pompeo

Reuters The comments refl ected a imposed on Tehran after Presi- ing sanctions, Pompeo told a news Republic to curb its nuclear, mis- demic. Pompeo has been sharply ance ensures his place among the Washington shift in tone by the US State De- dent Donald Trump abandoned conference: “we evaluate all of our sile and regional activities. criticised for the administration’s worst secretaries of state ever.” partment, which has come un- Iran’s 2015 multilateral deal to policies constantly, so the answer Iran’s foreign minister has ac- stance on Iran sanctions. “Even close US allies, such as der withering criticism for its limit its nuclear programme. is — would we ever rethink? — Of cused the United States on Twit- In the last month, the United Britain, are calling on the Trump S Secretary of State Mike hard line toward sanctions relief However, broader US sanctions course.” ter of engaging in “medical terror.” States has repeatedly tightened administration to ease sanctions Pompeo held out the even in the face of a call by the deter many fi rms from humani- Asked about such relief on A UN human rights expert called sanctions on Iran, notably seek- that are inhibiting shipment of Upossibility yesterday that UN secretary-general to ease US tarian trade with Iran, one of the March 20, Pompeo simply said US yesterday for lifting international ing to make it harder for it to sell medical supplies and humanitar- the United States may consider economic penalties. nations hardest hit by the corona- sanctions do not apply to medical sanctions against countries rang- oil abroad. ian aid to Iran’s 80mn people,” easing sanctions on Iran and Speaking to reporters, Pom- virus epidemic. and other humanitarian goods. ing from Iran to North Korea and On Sunday, Washington Post he wrote. “Yet Pompeo appears other nations to help fi ght the peo stressed that humanitarian Asked if there might come a The Trump administration is Venezuela to ensure that food columnist Jackson Diehl pub- to view the epidemic as a handy coronavirus epidemic but gave and medical supplies are exempt point at which the United States pursuing a “maximum pressure” supplies reach hungry popula- lished a piece under the headline: means to compound ‘maximum no concrete sign it plans to do so. from sanctions Washington re- might reevaluate its stance on eas- policy to try to force the Islamic tions during the coronavirus pan- “Pompeo’s pandemic perform- pressure.’ To what end?” Iran reports 141 new virus New infections in Oman take deaths, raising total to 2,898 total to 192 AFP Tehran QNA/Reuters Oman reports Muscat ran said yesterday 141 more its first death people have died from the Inovel coronavirus, rais- he Omani Ministry of Oman’s health ministry reported ing the offi cial toll in one of the Health reported 13 new yesterday its first death from world’s worst-aff ected coun- Tcases of the novel corona- coronavirus, a 72 year-old Omani tries to 2,898. virus (Covid-19), taking the total man, state TV said on Twitter, Health ministry spokesman number of cases in the country Reuters reported from Cairo. Kianoush Jahanpour said 3,111 to 192. Oman reported as of yesterday, new infections have been con- The ministry said yesterday, 192 coronavirus cases in the fi rmed over the past 24 hours, according to Oman News Agen- sultanate. bringing the total to 44,606. cy, that a total of 34 people have He said 3,703 of those hospi- recovered, while calling upon all talised are in a critical condition to adhere to the health isolation pended the smaller, year-round and 14,656 have recovered. procedures. Umrah pilgrimage until further Iran has been scrambling to PATIENT RECOVERIES notice, halted all international contain the Covid-19 outbreak REACH 73 IN KUWAIT passenger fl ights indefi nitely since it reported its fi rst cases Kuwaiti Minister of Health and last week blocked entry and on February 19. Sheikh Dr Basel al-Sabah yes- exit to several cities, including After weeks of refraining terday announced the recovery Makkah and Madinah. from imposing a lockdown or of one person from the novel The kingdom has reported quarantine measures, Tehran coronavirus, raising the coun- 10 deaths among 1,563 cases of decided last Wednesday to ban try’s total recoveries to 73. coronavirus, which has infected all intercity travel until at least The Minister told Kuwait some 800,000 people globally April 8. News agency (KUNA) that nec- and killed more than 38,000. There is no offi cial lockdown essary lab tests and analyses Dubai said yesterday it would within Iran’s cities, although had shown the recovery of an help its state-run Emirates air- the government has repeatedly 82-year-old woman from the line overcome the impact of urged Iranians to stay at home virus. the coronavirus outbreak and to contain the spread of the vi- Iran’s Azadi (Freedom) Tower is lit up with flags and messages of hope in solidarity with all the countries affected by the Covid-19 The already treated patient enforced a full lockdown on a rus. coronavirus pandemic, in Tehran, yesterday. will be admitted to a rehabili- district famous for its gold and President Hassan Rouhani tation ward before being dis- spice markets. renewed those warnings yes- April 8, calling on them to pub- yesterday that at least 23 of the Mehdi Jamshidi-Dana, director incident that caused damage charged from hospital within a The United Arab Emirates, terday as the climax of the two- lish online instead, state news legislature’s 290 members have of National Iranian Gas Co. on the pipeline,” TYRT Haber couple of days time, the minister the region’s tourism and busi- week Persian New Year holiday agency IRNA reported. tested positive for the novel “The pipeline has exploded reported. added. ness hub which includes Dubai, nears. “Publishing newspapers and coronavirus. several times in the past. It is The pipeline, which carries In Kuwait, the fi rst Gulf state has taken measures including He said authorities would other print media requires the NATURAL GAS EXPORTS also likely that the PKK group around 10bn cubic metres of to halt passenger fl ights and im- temporarily halting passenger close parks across the country activities of groups ranging STOP AFTER ATTACK has carried out the blast,” he Iranian gas to Turkey annually, pose a partial curfew, the health fl ights and launching a nation- today, in a move that eff ectively from reporters to the printing Iran said yesterday its natu- told Iran’s state news agency frequently came under attack minister said a clearer picture wide disinfection drive as the blocks the family picnics that and distribution industry and ral gas exports to Turkey have IRNA, referring to the outlawed by Kurdish militants during the on the success of containment disease spreads in the region. traditionally mark the 13th day this could potentially increase stopped after an attack on a Kurdistan Workers Party. 1990s and up until 2013, when a eff orts would emerge by early Saudi Arabia, which has the of holiday. the disease’s spread,” said a pipeline inside the neighbour- Turkey’s state broadcaster ceasefi re was established. June. highest tally among the six Gulf Rouhani called on people to statement from Iran’s anti- ing country, an Iranian offi cial TRT Haber said the cause of the Jamshidi said that because of “If infection numbers sta- states, reported two more coro- “leave this tradition for some coronavirus committee. told state TV, Reuters reported. explosion was unknown. “The the new coronavirus outbreak, bilise, there may be a gradual navirus-linked deaths among other time” and said violators The outbreak has not spared “This morning, terrorists at- gas fl ow on the natural gas pipe- “the Turkish border guards easing of current measures,” expatriates to take its total to 10. would be fi ned. Iranian lawmakers or other of- tacked a natural gas pipeline line was cut and the fi re that had have left, but we have informed al-Sabah told Al Rai newspaper. It confi rmed 110 new cases to The authorities have also fi cials. inside Turkey near Iran’s Bazar- started was extinguished by fi re them of the explosion and are “But if the average rate of trans- reach 1,563. The UAE announced stopped the print editions of A parliament spokesman gan border with Turkey...Flow squads. Security forces are in- waiting for their response”, mission increases then... I do one more death, a 67-year-old all Iranian media until at least told the Tasnim news agency of gas has been halted,” said vestigating the cause for the IRNA reported. not rule out the cabinet enforc- Asian man with pre-existing ing a full curfew.” conditions, to bring its total to Saudi Arabia wants Muslims six, and recorded 53 more infec- to wait until there is more clar- tions to raise the count to 664. ity about the coronavirus pan- It had already extended a demic before planning to attend nightly curfew to April 5 to deep Hundreds of Tunisians protest over lockdown the annual Haj pilgrimage, the clean the country, but Dubai minister for Haj and Umrah said announced a 24-hour curfew on state TV, yesterday, Reuters would be imposed on the nor- AFP “Let me at least bring bread home for roads and burned tyres. Prime Minister councillor Imed Farhat said. “We’re ask- reported. mally bustling tourist and trade Mnilha my children,” the bricklayer said. Elyes Fakhfakh announced on March 21 a ing law enforcement to intervene. But Some 2.5mn pilgrims from district of Al Ras for two weeks In poor areas like Mnilha and Ettad- 150mn dinar ($52mn) economic support what can we do? We have to listen to around the world usually fl ock starting yesterday. hamen on the outskirts of the Tunisian package for those worst aff ected by the them.” Police have arrested 1,119 people to the holiest sites of Islam in “I am glad they are doing this everal hundred Tunisians demon- capital, healthcare facilities are limited lockdown but did not say when it would for violating the night-time curfew in Makkah and Madinah for the because it is for our protection,” strated in a working class district and the many people who work as day be distributed. place since March 17 and 242 for violat- week-long ritual. The largest said one rice trader who works in Sof the capital yesterday, demand- labourers are without income because of Then on Monday the ministry of so- ing lockdown orders in place since March annual gathering is scheduled Al Ras but resides in the UAE’s ing government support and protesting a coronavirus containment measures. cial aff airs announced that payments 22, interior ministry spokesman Khaled to begin in late July, but the Sharjah emirate. week-old lockdown against the corona- “I haven’t worked in 15 days,” a woman would be distributed until April 6, caus- Ayouni said. He did not say how many coronavirus outbreak has raised The trader, who declined to be virus pandemic that has disproportion- named Sabiha said. ing a rush to local government offi ces to were still detained. questions about whether it can named, told Reuters he was now ately impacted the poor. On Monday, angry residents marched register. Meanwhile, the presidency announced or should go ahead given the risk conducting business online. “Nevermind coronavirus, we’re going to the local government offi ce to de- “We’re trying to tackle the epidemic. yesterday it would release 1,420 prison- of spreading the disease further Dubai closed the main road to die anyway! Let us work!” shouted one mand welfare payments and permits to But every day it’s the same and they’re ers in an amnesty to alleviate crowding in in large gatherings. entrances to Al Ras and halted protester. leave their homes. Some even blocked gathering in front of the offi ce,” Mnilha prisons. Saudi Arabia has already sus- public transport to the area.

Syria air defences down Israeli missiles: Lebanon to allow state media Coronavirus cases in Palestine rise to 117 Syrian air defences intercepted several Israeli missiles fired expats to return QNA at targets in the centre of the Ramallah war-torn country late yester- day, state media said. “The air Reuters ordered a shutdown and an defences shot down a number Beirut overnight curfew until April wo new cases of coronavi- of missiles before they reached 12 in a country where dollar rus were confi rmed in the their targets,” official news shortages had drained the TWest Bank and Gaza Strip, agency SANA reported, without ebanon’s government healthcare system of critical bringing total number of infec- identifying the targets in Homs agreed a procedure yes- supplies months before the tions in Palestine to 117. province. Lterday to allow citizens outbreak. Palestinian governments The rockets were fired by the abroad to come back despite Prime Minister Hassan spokesman Ibrahim Milhem Israeli air force from Lebanese a coronavirus lockdown after Diab, whose government said that one case was reported airspace, it quoted a military its expat policy drew criticism was already grappling with a in Ramallah in a male in his 20s source as saying. from political leaders. severe fi nancial crisis before and was taken to the quarantine The Syrian Observatory for Parliament Speaker Nabih the virus hit, pledged strict centre in the city. Human Rights, a Britain-based Berri, one of the country’s measures to ensure safe re- The second is a male in his 50s war monitor, said the target was most powerful fi gures, had turns of expatriates, his of- who returned to the Gaza Strip a military airport where Iranian threatened to withdraw sup- fi ce said yesterday after a last week through Rafah crossing forces are present. port for the cabinet if it did cabinet session. and was placed in confi nement Contacted by AFP, an Israeli not act to bring home Leba- SUDAN CASES since then. He is the 10th case in army spokeswoman declined to nese stranded abroad during RISE TO SEVEN Gaza Strip while the rest are in comment. Since the start of the the pandemic. The Federal Ministry of the West Bank. A total of 18 have Syrian conflict in 2011, Israel has Beirut airport has been Health in Sudan announced recovered and one died.The Is- Palestinian workers with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), carried out hundreds of strikes closed to fl ights for two yesterday the registration raeli occupation forces arrested deliver food aid rations to the doorstep of a refugee family home rather than distribute it at a UN centre, in Syria targeting government weeks as part of eff orts to of the seventh case of coro- four Palestinians in Ramallah in Gaza City, yesterday, as a new measure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. troops as well as allied Iranian limit transmissions of the navirus infection for a male and Al-Bireh governate in the forces and fighters from Leba- virus, which has so far in- foreigner in his 60s, who West Bank on Tuesday. forces arrested two Palestin- QNA reported. The forces also of Ramallah, and seized his vehi- nese group Hezbollah. fected 463 people with 12 had arrived from abroad on The Palestinian news agency ians after raiding their houses in arrested a Palestinian lawyer in cle, while raiding a number of his deaths. The government has March 14, QNA reported. reported that the occupation Kobar town, north of Ramallah, the town of Badres, northwest family’s houses. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 AFRICA

Court says Chamisa is not legitimate Lagos in lockdown as opposition leader

Reuters Harare virus closures spread imbabwe’s Supreme Court yesterday declared Nel- son Chamisa’s leadership of the main opposition AFP they need to stop movement,” ZMDC was illegitimate and ordered it to hold an elec- Lagos 60-year-old engineer Ogun Nubi tion to replace him within three months, potentially weak- Victor told AFP. ening an already fractured movement. “But there is no money for the Chamisa’s deputy rejected the ruling and said it was an frica’s largest city Lagos citizens, people are just sitting at attempt by the government to usurp the party. yesterday appeared de- home, with nothing to eat.” Chamisa, 42, narrowly lost the 2018 presidential vote to Aserted after Nigeria locked In an attempt to ease the pain, Emmerson Mnangagwa. down its economic hub and shut- Lagos state authorities have He accused Mnangagwa of rigging the vote and does not tered its capital, in the continent’s pledged to supply basic food ra- recognise his presidency. latest eff ort to brake the jugger- tions to some 200,000 of the city’s He has refused to join political talks with the president naut of coronavirus. neediest households. over the country’s economic crisis and ways to solve the Businesses were closed, mar- Across all of Africa, countries intractable political disputes stemming from that election kets abandoned and streets empty have recorded more than 5,400 in the absence of a foreign mediator. as the usually chaotic megacity of cases and 172 deaths, according to The case against Chamisa was brought by a member 20mn, along with the capital Abu- a tally compiled by AFP. of a rival faction of his MDC (Movement for Democratic ja, shuddered to a halt on the fi rst The numbers have lagged be- Change). full day of a two-week shutdown. hind those of other continents, The court said the process that made Chamisa acting Police in protective equipment and there are still a handful of party president after Morgan Tsvangirai died in February manned checkpoints, trucks car- countries that had yet to detect a 2018 was illegal and therefore null and void. rying non-essential items were single case. Police had already sealed off the MDC headquarters in turned back and youths were spot- But experts have repeatedly Harare to prevent Chamisa’s executives from entering the ted playing football on a usually warned of Africa’s vulnerability, building. traffi c-clogged highway. describing its many confl icts, poor The ruling could open the door to Chamisa’s rival, “It is like putting people in sanitation, packed urban slums Thokozani Khupe, who leads the smaller rival MDC fac- prison,” minibus taxi driver Mutiu and under-equipped hospitals as tion and has been angling to take over the leadership of the Adisa told AFP. sources of potential catastrophe. larger MDC movement. “I don’t know how people can Tanzania and Mauritania yes- But political analysts said the ruling could be academic, survive for two weeks without terday became the latest nations to with Chamisa still enjoying popular support from grass- working to make money.” register fatalities, and Sierra Leone Soldiers of the South African National Defence Force looks on as law enforcement off icers arrests two men after roots MDC members who elected him, unopposed, as their Nigeria embarked late on Mon- confi rmed its fi rst infection. being caught with large amounts of drugs during an operation in Johannesburg yesterday. permanent leader at a congress last year. day on one of Africa’s most am- In Central African Republic — a “My position is that we as MDC we held our congress in bitious eff orts at social distanc- country ravaged by years of fi ght- the day and Botswana ordered a tions have highlighted the chal- which has the highest numbers of May 2019. Nelson Chamisa is our president and our next ing after recording 135 confi rmed ing — there are only three ventila- state of emergency from midnight lenges of enforcing curbs on confi rmed infections on the conti- congress is 2024. Full stop,” MDC vice president Tendai cases and two deaths. tors for a population of 4.7mn, the tomorrow. movement. nent, will start mass door-to-door Biti told reporters. Enforcing the stay-at-home Norwegian Refugee Council said. Guinean President Alpha Conde The police watchdog in South screening and testing for infec- “The government is trying to usurp our party.” order in the overcrowded slums Dozens of countries across the ordered a night-time curfew in a Africa, on lockdown since last tions, President Cyril Ramaphosa Supporters of Chamisa accuse the ruling ZANU-PF of Lagos will be a mammoth chal- continent have imposed restric- country already mired in political week, said on Monday it was in- said on Monday. party of using the courts to emasculate the MDC and to lenge as millions of poor depend tions from night-time curfews to crisis over suspicions its leader is vestigating an offi cer for allegedly The “unprecedented” exercise force him to accept Mnangagwa as legitimately elected. on their daily earnings to survive. total shutdowns to try to halt the trying to cling to power. killing a man who defi ed the regu- will be launched in the next few Tuesday’s ruling follows a similar judgment by a lower Offi cials insist the draconian disease. Oil-rich Angola saw strict re- lations. days, with at least 10,000 fi eld court last year when Chamisa was acting head of the party. measures are needed urgently to Uganda yesterday woke up to strictions imposed since Monday. The country’s defence minis- workers deployed across the coun- Chamisa appealed against that ruling. ward off an explosion in infections lockdown after President Yoweri “Nobody was ready for this,” ter also condemned “any type of try of 57mn people, he said in an He would have to raise constitutional issues with the that could swamp the weak health Museveni ordered his East African lamented local resident Osvaldo abuse” by security forces after address to the nation. Constitutional Court to appeal against this judgment. system in Africa’s most populous nation to shut up shop immedi- Malungo as he shopped for food at videos on social media showed “We are now entering a new nation. ately. a market in the capital Luanda. civilians forced to squat or roll on phase in the fi ght against the coro- “To reduce the number of peo- The Republic of Congo was Growing reports of brutality the ground. navirus pandemic,” Ramaphosa ple with coronavirus, we know gearing up to follow suit later in from security forces in some na- The regional powerhouse, said. Togo regulator suspends third opposition-friendly media Kenya probes shooting of Water crisis could sabotage Zimbabwe AFP teen during virus curfew Lome coronavirus pandemic lockdown AFP ogo’s media regulatory body has suspended pro- Nairobi opposition weekly Fraternite after it ran an article Tcriticising the suspension of two other newspapers. By Ish Mafundikwa, AFP The scene is played out all over greater but it is of questionable quality and is at The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication enyan police yesterday ordered a probe Harare Harare. times smelly. (HAAC) suspended the journal late on Monday for two into the shooting of a 13-year-old boy on City authorities have struggled to con- When run in a bathtub or a basin, months from April 1. Khis balcony in Nairobi as offi cers allegedly stantly supply water to the capital city of within minutes, brown gooey sediment It cited a March 25 article containing what it termed opened fi re to enforce a nighttime curfew. uckets and jerrycans in hand or in 4.5mn residents for many years. settles to the bottom. “discourteous, insulting and defamatory words” in criti- Residents of the slum where the shooting took wheelbarrows, dozens of Zimba- Across town in Mbare, the largest high A 2019 recent study by South Africa- cising the earlier bans on the L’Alternative and Liberte pa- place told AFP that a confrontation broke out Bbweans stand close to each other in density township, the queue is even long- based Nanotech Water Solutions found pers. Fraternite reported that “the HAAC, having called in shortly before 7pm on Monday as police started a long queue, patiently waiting at a bore- er. that Harare’s water contains toxins that a surrealist manner and in vain on the two organs to show forcing people into their homes for the start of hole in Harare’s middle-class Mabelreign There are many people milling around. can cause diseases of the liver and aff ect proof of claims in their publications, chose directly to the curfew, imposed to curb the spread of Cov- suburb to collect water. Housewife Epiphania Moyo had been the central nervous system. punish them.” id-19. While this is a daily sight, this week in the queue for a good part of the morn- While the underground water from The HAAC maintains that the off ending article “did The victim’s father Hussein Moyo told AFP things are diff erent. ing and is well aware of the need for bet- boreholes is widely believed to be safe not respect professional rules, in violation of journalists’ that his wife and children had been standing on The water-short southern African ter hygiene to halt the spread of the virus. to drink, a 2018 cholera outbreak which professional ethics and Togo’s press and communications the balcony watching the chaos when his son country is starting to enforce a 21-day “Of course, we have heard about coro- killed nearly 50, was traced to a borehole code.” “I fi nd the decision regrettable,” said Fraternite Yasin was shot, adding the bullet had “ripped lockdown to try contain the spread of the navirus, and we try as much as we can to in a Kuwadzana township. director Joel Vignon Kossi Egan, adding that a warning through his intestines”. deadly coronavirus. wash our hands, but sometimes we would An underground sewer pipe had con- would have been more appropriate than a suspension. “This operation was planned in the wrong People are supposed to be observing rather put it to other domestic uses.” taminated the water. The HAAC suspended Liberte and L’Alternative on way. The police arrive yelling and when people social distancing, stay indoors and above Hand sanitisers are a luxury she cannot Around 4,000 people died and at least March 23 for 15 days and two months respectively follow- see that they run scared. They beat and rob peo- all, wash their hands regularly. aff ord. 100,000 people fell ill in another cholera ing a complaint by the French ambassador to the West Af- ple, they also throw tear gas into our homes,” said But these instructions will not be easy “That’s for the rich, not for us who live outbreak in 2008. rican state, Marc Vizy. Moyo at his son’s funeral, attended by hundreds. to follow. in the ghetto.” Harare City Council cites a shortage of The two papers were accused of publishing articles con- “During the day we are fi ghting coronavirus, and “Of course I have heard about so- Coronavirus has brought Harare’s per- money to purify the water. taining “serious, unfounded and scurrilous accusations” yet we have to deal with bullets during the night.” cial distancing,” said 16-year-old Maxel ennial water woes under the spotlight. It says the water purifying plants, built against Vizy and against Franck Paris, French President A police statement said that Inspector General Chikova. Some parts of the city have gone for during British colonial rule, are woefully Emmanuel Macron’s Africa advisor. of Police Hillary Mutyambai had ordered a probe “But people were already queued up almost two decades without running wa- inadequate to supply the city’s burgeon- The papers suggested the pair were interfering in the “into the death of a thirteen-year-old boy who like this when I joined the line, so I just ter. ing population. electoral process in the run-up to last month’s presidential was hit by a stray bullet.” hope nobody has the virus.” The well-to-do have drilled boreholes The water distribution pipes date back election which saw incumbent Faure Gnassingbe re-elect- The Independent Policing Oversight Authority In the same queue is another teen, in their properties while the enterpris- to more than fi ve 50 years ago, and half of ed for a fourth term with nearly 71% of the vote according (IPOA) issued a statement condemning the inci- Winnet Mgaramombe, who is not in ing make money vending and delivering the purifi ed water is estimated to be lost to defi nitive offi cial results. dent, and said it had launched an investigation. school because of the virus restrictions. water in mobile tankers to those who can through pipes bursting. The opposition, and notably former prime minister and “They (police) were violent, they started beat- “We have heard about the coronavirus aff ord it. The government has been silent on defeated candidate Agbeyome Kodjo, rejected the result ing people and then we heard gunshots,” said but we need water for domestic use, so For the majority, public boreholes are how it will provide water to those whose alleging serious “irregularities. Kodjo, having recently Mercy Ngaira, a resident in the Mathare settle- corona or no corona we shall come to get the only option. taps have been dry for years or those been stripped of his parliamentary immunity, will today ment. water,” she said, carrying a yellow bucket. On rare days, water trickles out of taps, whose supply is sporadic. face police charges related to public order off ences. Coronavirus comes to rescue of Sierra Leone’s plundered rosewood

By Cooper Inveen, Reuters “No Chinese men are com- 1,100sq km of park are protected Fintonia, Sierra Leone ing here any more, and they’re by 27 unarmed rangers. the only people to come here “We are completely and totally and help us by buying what we overwhelmed by the infl ux of il- he unpaved road leading to cut,” said Ishmael Sessay, who legal activity that has been going Sierra Leone’s Outamba- has been harvesting timber from on in the park,” said Joseph Musa, TKilimi national park was Sierra Leone’s oldest park since who runs Sierra Leone’s National busy last month with men load- last year. Protected Areas Authority. ing rosewood logs into trucks for Chinese demand for rose- Determining how much forest export to China, an illegal trade wood, which serves a growing Outamba-Kilimi has lost is dif- that has devastated some West domestic furniture market, has fi cult. African forests. fuelled illegal logging across Most satellite data tracks the Now, the trucks are empty, West Africa, including in south- loss of high-canopy forests, but parked alongside piles of wood ern Senegal, where thick for- much of Sierra Leone, includ- blanketed in thick dust. ests have depleted fast in recent ing Outamba-Kilimi, consists Workers who once chopped years despite a ban. of low-canopy forest savannah, and lifted the wood drink tea in Sierra Leone’s President Julius loss of which is harder to detect. roadside shacks surrounded by Maada Bio banned exports after For now, though, the forest has scorched farmland. he took power in June 2018, ex- been granted a reprieve. A crash in demand for rosewood cept for wood already cut. “This coronavirus, I’m happy in China due to the coronavirus Logging for domestic use is al- for it. I don’t want anybody to outbreak has led to an abrupt halt lowed, but the government says die, but I feel pain in my heart in illegal logging in this lush pocket logging in the park goes far be- when I see this forest cut,” said of northern Sierra Leone — a rare yond what is needed to satisfy Musa Kamara, who worked as upside to the pandemic that has home demand, and it does not a ranger in the park from 1981- killed thousands and left much of have the resources to stop it. 2018. “This sickness is the only Men float rosewood logs across a river using empty jerrycans outside the town of Kamakwie, Sierra Leone. the planet under lockdown. In Outamba-Kilimi, more than thing keeping them away.” Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 7 AMERICA

Sailors do Republicans wary as Trump not need to die, warns captain of pushes infrastructure plan virus-hit Reuters 163,539 cases, 2,860 deaths Washington The US Centers for Disease carrier Control and Prevention (CDC) S Republican lawmakers yes- yesterday reported 163,539 cases of Reuters terday signalled caution over coronavirus, an increase of 22,635 Washington UDemocratic plans to prepare yet cases from its previous count, and another large spending bill to battle the said the number of deaths had risen coronavirus crisis, even as President by 455 to 2,860. he captain of the US air- Donald Trump called for $2tn in spend- The CDC reported its tally of cases craft carrier Theodore ing, this time on infrastructure. of the respiratory illness known TRoosevelt, in a blunt letter House of Representatives Speaker as Covid-19, caused by a new confi rmed to Reuters yesterday, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said Con- coronavirus, as of 4pm ET on March has called on Navy leadership gress needs to take up a fourth corona- 30 compared to its count a day ago. for stronger measures to save the virus-related bill to focus on recovery in The CDC figures do not necessarily lives of his sailors and stop the the aftermath of the outbreak. reflect cases reported by individual spread of the coronavirus aboard But Senate Majority Leader Mitch states. the ship. McConnell, a Republican, urged a The four-page letter, the con- “wait-and-see” approach. tents of which were confi rmed by Trump, a Republican, took to Twit- tisan appeal of infrastructure spending. US offi cials to Reuters, described ter to urge Congress to pass a massive Democrats say shortcomings in in- a bleak situation on board the $2tn plan to update the country’s roads, frastructure have been underscored by nuclear-powered, 5,000-person bridges and other infrastructure, a the virus outbreak as students in some carrier as more and more sailors cause he has often espoused but never regions lack internet capability to take test positive for the virus. been able to accomplish with lawmak- online classes during school closures. The letter was fi rst reported by ers. But congressional Republicans say the San Francisco Chronicle. “With interest rates for the United Congress should see how “phase three” Captain Brett Crozier, the States being at ZERO, this is the time legislation works out before doing an- ship’s commanding offi cer, to do our decades long awaited Infra- other bill. In any case, Congress is out wrote that the carrier lacked structure Bill. It should be VERY BIG & until April 20. enough quarantine and isolation BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be fo- “The unemployment part of phase facilities and warned the current cused solely on jobs and rebuilding the three, I’m very worried about....I’m strategy would slow but fail to once great infrastructure of our Coun- very concerned that it may take six to A woman cycles along roads near the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall in Washington, DC. eradicate the virus. try! Phase 4,” Trump wrote in a tweet. eight weeks to get an unemployment In the March 30 letter, he Just this past Friday. Trump signed check,” Republican Senator Lindsey “Any kind of bill coming out of the infrastructure meeting with Demo- the needs of state and local govern- called for “decisive action” into law a $2.2tn measure aimed at help- Graham told Fox News yesterday. House, I would look at like Reagan sug- crats, and efforts to do something ments. “That is absolutely essential. and removing over 4,000 sail- ing workers and businesses harmed by McConnell also warned that the US gested we look at the Russians: Trust have foundered so many times that We need to do more,” she told MSNBC ors from the ship and isolating the coronavirus pandemic, the third bill Treasury is “wrestling” with the tasks but verify,” McConnell said on conserv- “infrastructure week” has become in an interview. them. that Congress has passed this month as under phase three, which include send- ative radio host Hugh Hewitt’s program. something of a standing joke around Before passing the $2.2tn package on “We are not at war. Sailors do it grapples with the outbreak. ing checks to individuals and providing Both McConnell and Graham spoke Washington. Friday, which was aimed at countering not need to die. If we do not act House Democrats are developing a loans to small businesses. before Trump’s tweet on infrastructure Democrats also want to accomplish the economic free fall that has followed now, we are failing to properly “phase four” measure including im- The Senate majority leader expressed spending. a lot of other things in the next phase, massive business closures, Congress take care of our most trusted as- provements in infrastructure, such as scepticism about the House Demo- Trump has long talked about repair- including eliminating out-of-pocket had passed an $8.3bn package on test- set — our sailors,” Crozier wrote. telecommunications, electricity and crats’ new eff ort, saying he worried they ing infrastructure, and Democrats have costs for coronavirus medical treat- ing and research, and a $100bn bill ad- The carrier was in the Pacifi c water systems. would try to slip unrelated policy items also been eager to do so. ment. dressing paid sick days, unemployment when the Navy reported its fi rst Pelosi has noted the generally bipar- into the next phase. But Trump once walked out of an Earlier yesterday, Pelosi pointed to benefi ts and food aid. coronavirus case a week ago. It has since pulled into port in Guam, a US island territory in the western Pacifi c. Remote concert “Navy leadership is mov- ing quickly to take all necessary Megachurch pastor charged with measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt,” a Navy of- defying stay-at-home orders fi cial said, speaking on condition of anonymity. US offi cials, also speaking on Reuters twice over the weekend imploring them to condition of anonymity, told Miami cancel Sunday’s services at the Pentecostal Reuters that nearly 80 people church, to no avail. aboard the ship had tested posi- The sheriff said Howard-Browne’s de- tive for the virus, a number likely he pastor of a megachurch in Tampa, fi ance was especially baffl ing because his to increase as all personnel on Florida, was arrested on Monday on 4,000-member congregation had the tech- the ship are tested. Tcharges of holding prayer services in nology to broadcast its services live on both Still, the Navy declined to violation of public health orders temporarily television and the internet. confi rm exactly how many peo- banning such gatherings to limit the spread of Howard-Browne quoted Biblical scripture ple aboard the Roosevelt have coronavirus infections, authorities said. in his own defence during Sunday morning’s been infected. Rodney Howard-Browne, co-founder of 3-1/2-hour service, livestreamed on social Reuters fi rst reported last the River at Tampa Bay Church, is accused media, declaring: “No plague shall come week that the US military has of presiding over two services on Sunday at- nigh thy dwelling, no weapon formed against decided it will stop providing tended by hundreds of parishioners, some of them,” according to the Tampa Bay Times. some of the more granular data them ferried there by bus transportation his Members of the congregation, many stand- about coronavirus infections church provided, Hillsborough County Sher- ing shoulder to shoulder, although some ap- within its ranks, citing concern iff Chad Chronister said. parently separated in church by empty seats, that the information might be “His reckless disregard for human life put cheered and applauded his remarks, the used by adversaries as the virus hundreds of people in his congregation at risk Times said. spreads. and thousands of residents who may interact Chronister disputed Howard-Browne’s as- But the Theodore Roosevelt with them this week in danger,” Chronister sertions that the public health orders in ques- is just the latest example of the told a news conference. tion exempted religious services as essential spread of the virus within the US Howard-Browne, originally from South gatherings or that they trampled constitu- military. Africa, was arrested at his home under a war- tional rights to freedom of religion. Navy offi cials say that sailors rant charging him with misdemeanour of- “It’s unfortunate that the pastor here is onboard a number of ships have fences of unlawful assembly and violation of hiding behind the First Amendment,” the tested positive, including an am- public health emergency rules, the sheriff ’s sheriff said. phibious assault ship at port in offi ce said later. State Attorney Andrew Warren also cited San Diego. The emergency health orders limit pub- scripture in supporting the sheriff . The fi rst US military service lic gatherings in the county to fewer than 10 “There’s no more important command- member, a New Jersey Army Na- people and require residents to stay at home ment than to love thy neighbour as thyself,” tional Guardsman, died on Sat- except as otherwise necessary. he said. urday from Covid-19, the disease The Tampa Bay Times reported the “Loving your neighbours is protecting caused by the coronavirus, the preacher posted $500 bond and was released them, not jeopardising their health by expos- Pentagon said on Monday. from jail shortly after he was booked on the ing them to this deadly virus.” As of yesterday, 673 active charges, each carrying a maximum penalty of Nearly 5,500 people have tested positive duty service members had tested Cellist Jodi Beder performs a daily concert on her front porch in Mount Rainier, Maryland near Washington, 60 days in jail and a $500 fi ne if he were con- in Florida for Covid-19, the highly infectious positive for the coronavirus, an DC. Beder started the performances to help people passing by and her neighbours cope with the coronavirus victed. respiratory disease caused by the novel coro- increase of more than 100 from pandemic. Chronister said his offi ce had contacted navirus, including more than 60 who have the previous day, the Pentagon the church’s attorneys and its leaders at least died. said in a statement. A one-man mission to clean up trash and help save sea life

DPA en for prey by seabirds, whales, “Literally the next morning I roadways, most of which are at a time. are heavy,” she said. “Dogs are smarter than that,” Philadelphia fi sh, and turtles. walked around the block with a cigarette butts and plastics, ac- He fi lls up a couple of large “He comes home as if he has said Pihlak. “They’re not going to In the wild, the loggerhead tur- garbage bag,” said Pihlak, who lives cording to a study by Keep Penn- black contractor bags with plas- been to the gym. It’s a big work- walk on that.” tles, which can live 80-100 years in the city’s Blue Bell Hill neigh- sylvania Beautiful and the state’s tics, glass, and garbage. out, and he’s a fi t guy.” In the few short months since adis Pihlak looked into and grow to 200-350 pounds, bourhood, where the Walnut Lane Departments of Environmental His most common fi nd? The neighbours, she said, “call starting his cleanup walks, Pih- the eyes of a loggerhead eventually become ill and die Bridge crosses high above the Wis- Protection and Transportation. Monster and Rockstar energy him a saint.” lak has noticed a decrease in the Msea turtle at a Florida of starvation as the indigestible sahickon Valley Park. “The next “The plastic is everywhere and drinks, and plastic water bottles. Pihlak has also turned his amount of trash being left on the rehab centre and knew he had to products fi ll their stomachs. day I went under the bridge.” the only way to deal with it is to “They’re everywhere,” he said. sights on invasive weeds that street. help. “You look at that face and For the endangered logger- Pihlak now spends his days stop using it,” said Pihlak, origi- There are also “a lot of” Wawa choke native trees, like the But if he takes time off , it picks they are so beautiful,” said Pih- head, the most common sea tur- picking up trash in the neigh- nally from Toronto. cups and wrappers, and Wendy’s American sycamore. up again. “Visual quality has val- lak, a retired Pennsylvania State tle in Florida, it’s often the inges- bourhood, and recycles what he It only took a few trash-clean- takeout food containers and As a landscape architect, he ue,” Pihlak said. University professor of architec- tion of plastics that bring them to can. ing outings before Pihlak’s back french fry holders. understands the lasting damage How roads are built can en- ture and landscape architecture. the Center for treatment. Each year, Philadelphia spends began to bother him. He recycles the aluminium the vines can infl ict on the local courage drivers not to litter. Phil- In January, Pihlak and his girl- Each year, up to 60 sea turtles, $48mn attending to its trash- So, he bought a short-handled cans he fi nds. environment as they crowd out adelphia roads have “great bones” friend, Toni A Flanigan, were vis- aged juvenile to adult, and over strewn streets and neighbour- grabber, which allowed him to Each is worth 1.7 cents when “understory” plants, like holly but have been trashed for so long iting the Loggerhead Marine Life 1,000 hatchlings, which can get hoods; 90% goes to cleanup, the pick up even more garbage. turned in, but Pihlak doesn’t col- and other shrubs, that hold top- that the beauty isn’t noticed. Center in Juno Beach, where they trapped in plastic tubes and car- rest toward litter prevention and “People look at me like I’m lect the cash. soil in place and prevent erosion. “People are trashing their city learned that a portion of the gar- tons, are rescued and cared for at outreach. odd,” he said. He views the contribution as Once, when he was hacking out and they’re not taking care of the bage generated by Americans will the Center. At the other end of the state, “Having the grabber makes me money the city doesn’t have to a nonnative species of the devils city,” Pihlak said. end up in waterways. For Pihlak, 66, learning that Pittsburgh spends $6mn to pick look more offi cial, and not like a spend. walking stick, a passerby com- “The biggest thing, before It gets washed into sewers, statistic was enough to move him up trash in the city. street person recycling stuff .” Flanigan went out to help him plained that dogs would end up tossing something out, is to moves into creeks, streams, riv- to action when he returned home There are more than a half bil- Pihlak hits the streets two to one day. walking on the sharp spines that think, really: Would you do this ers, and oceans, and gets mistak- to Philadelphia. lion pieces of litter on the state’s three times a week, a few hours “Within a half hour, your bags would soon sprout on new stems. in front of your house?” Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 AMERICAS

Canada toll jumps by 35%, Ottawa to US to build hundreds spend C$2bn on key equipment

Reuters of temporary wards Ottawa

By Susan Heavey and organization Samaritan’s Purse, Nick Brown, Reuters the makeshift facility is expected he Canadian death toll from the coronavirus outbreak Washington/New York to begin accepting patients soon, jumped by 35% to 89 in less than a day, offi cials said Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Tyesterday, and Ottawa said it would spend C$2bn to The converted convention cen- help buy key medical supplies and equipment. he United States aims to tre is blocks away from the Hud- Chief public health offi cer Theresa Tam said that by 9am build hundreds of tempo- son River pier where the US Navy eastern time (1300 GMT) the total number of those diag- Trary hospitals to ease pres- hospital ship Comfort docked on nosed with the coronavirus had risen by 15% to 7,708. sure on medical centres struggling Monday. The respective fi gures at 1200 ET on Monday were 66 to keep up with a surge of corona- The fl oating hospital will take deaths and 6,671 positive diagnoses. virus patients, offi cials said yes- up to 1,000 non-coronavirus pa- Tam told a daily briefi ng she was particularly concerned terday, a day after the number of tients. that the virus was spreading to enclosed settings where vul- US deaths hit a new daily high. Another temporary New York nerable people live, such as seniors’ residences, prisons and The US Army Corps of Engi- hospital is planned for the USTA aboriginal communities. neers, which converted a New Billie Jean King National Ten- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier said Ottawa would York convention centre into a nis Center where the US Open is invest $2bn to support testing and to purchase ventila- 1,000-bed hospital in the space played. tors and protective personal equipment such as masks, face of a week, is searching for hotels, In Los Angeles, the USNS Mer- shields, gowns and hand sanitizer. dormitories, convention centres cy, similar to the Comfort, is al- Procurement Minister Anita Anand told the briefi ng that and large open space to build as ready treating patients. Ottawa had already bought more than 157mn surgical masks. many as 341 temporary hospitals, Authorities in New Orleans, Los the chief of corps said yesterday. Angeles and Chicago were setting “The scope is immense,” Lieu- up fi eld hospitals and convention Indigenous Canadians head to the tenant General Todd Semonite of centres in their cities. the corps told the ABC News. In the New York City suburbs, wilderness to wait out virus crisis “We’re looking right now at nurses are bracing for a surge of around 341 diff erent facilities patients. Canada’s government announced on Monday a funding across all of the United States.” The medical surgery unit at plan to help some of its northern Indigenous communities The US caseload rose by more New York-Presbyterian Hospi- move out to the Arctic wilderness to wait out the coronavirus than 20,000 confi rmed cases on tal’s Hudson Valley branch has 17 A worker checks part of a delivery of 64 hospital beds from Hillrom to The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, pandemic. Monday, overwhelming hospitals coronavirus patients, more than New York City. Ottawa said it would provide authorities in the Northwest that are running out of doctors, half its capacity, said nurse Emily Territories with C$2.6mn (US$1.8mn) to help “families who nurses, medical equipment and Muzyka, 25. pire State Building yesterday il- personnel from the military, very, ci, director of the National Insti- would not otherwise be able to be on the land because of the protective gear. Muzyka, who is training nurses luminated the top of its tower in very quickly,” De Blasio told NBC. tute of Allergy and Infectious Dis- financial burden of acquiring necessary provisions.” The corps, the engineering arm on loan from other units, said she red with a pulsating light on its US health offi cials are urging eases, told CNN in an interview. Conventional physical distancing measures, such as staying at of the US Army, joined with New was trying to stay calm, but broke antenna that simulated an emer- Americans to follow stay-at- “But that does not take away home, don’t work in some Indigenous communities, where a York state offi cials to convert New down when a relatively healthy, gency siren. home orders until the end of April from the seriousness...We clearly shortage of housing has led to a big overcrowding problem and York’s Jacob Javits Convention 44-year-old Covid-19 patient de- The building’s website said to contain the spread of the virus, are seeing cases going up.” large intergenerational families living under one roof, according Center into a facility to treat non- clined quickly and required venti- this was an homage to the “heroic which originated in China and has At least 30 of the 50 states have to Kami Kandola, the chief public health off icer for the region. coronavirus patients. lation. Covid-19 emergency workers.” infected about three-quarters of a ordered people to stay home, Many families in the Northwest Territories have already begun The conversion will relieve the “I had a meltdown and cried to The temporary hospitals aim to million people around the world. leading economists to predict se- to move to hunting and fishing camps where they can keep pressure on hospitals treating pa- my boyfriend,” she said. free all of New York City’s 20,000 The US government’s top infec- vere economic contraction. safer physical distances, Kandola said in a statement. tients with Covid-19, the respira- No-visitor policies mean very hospital beds for coronavirus pa- tious disease expert said yesterday US House of Representatives Norman Yakeleya, the national chief of the Indigenous Dene tory ailment caused by the novel ill patients may die alone, adding tients, De Blasio said. there was some evidence that so- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Demo- group, said the remote communities are at higher risk. coronavirus. to the emotional toll. New York is still short on doc- cial distancing eff orts to slow the crat, said lawmakers needed to “Elders and knowledge keepers have always told us: ‘a day In addition, construction of a “I’ve held patients’ hands tors and nurses, and De Blasio spread of coronavirus were having take up another coronavirus eco- will come, when we will need to go to the land’ and now is 68-bed fi eld hospital began on through their fi nal breaths in the asked the US military for help. an impact, even though the situa- nomic relief bill, but Senate Ma- that time,” Yakeleya said in a statement. “Being on the land is Sunday in Manhattan’s Central past,” Muzyka said. “It’s a lonely “We are going to need a lot more tion remained very dangerous. jority Leader Mitch McConnell, a our way of life.” With all schools closed, the initiative is also an Park. death.” military presence. We’re going to “We’re starting to see glimmers Republican, said Congress should opportunity for families to pass on cultural traditions to their Provided by the Mount Sinai In a tribute to fi rst respond- need a lot more help from the fed- that that is actually having some “wait and see” whether another children that have sustained the Dene people for thousands of Health System and non-profi t ers, New York’s landmark Em- eral government, including medical dampening eff ect,” Anthony Fau- bill was needed. years, he added. FBI under fi re over surveillance warrants Unemployment offi ces sit on claims

Reuters The December report cited 17 “basic vised in 2001 after numerous errors Washington and fundamental” errors and omis- were discovered in FISA applications Reuters It has given states fl exibility to spokeswoman for the Colorado Labor sions in the FBI’s applications under submitted to the court in counterter- Washington amend their laws, allowing them to Department, said in a phone interview the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance rorism probes. provide benefi ts to workers temporar- last week. he FBI failed to keep all the Act, or FISA, for warrants to monitor Such procedures are meant to mini- ily unemployed because of the coro- By comparison, Colorado reported records it needed to justify wire- Carter Page, a former Trump campaign mise factual inaccuracies in FISA ap- ast week’s record-setting US navirus or who need to care for a sick less than 20,000 jobless claims to the Ttaps within the United States, adviser. plications and require the FBI to in- jobless claims number will be family member. Department of Labor last week.”Both a Justice Department watchdog said Those errors prompted a Foreign In- clude only “scrupulously accurate” Lquickly surpassed, economists “These changes will allow mil- the unoffi cial applications submitted yesterday in a report that raised new telligence Surveillance Court judge to statements. and state offi cials predict, as local la- lions more to fi le, and the Cares Act and the offi cial US DOL claims will go questions about a domestic surveil- issue a rare public ruling ordering the The inspector general’s offi ce said it bour offi ces digest a pile of pending removes still more restrictions,” said up,” in coming weeks, Haavind pre- lance program criticised by lawmakers FBI to provide details on how it would could not be certain the FBI met that applications, and the new stimulus bill Chris Low, chief economist at FHN dicted. in both parties and civil libertarians. correct its policies and procedures. standard in FISA applications, based extends benefi ts to the self-employed. Financial in New York. In Minnesota, offi cials are asking The fi ndings by Michael Horowitz, Critics have questioned whether the on a review of documentation under- According to a Reuters survey of “Anecdotally, we have reason to be- people to stagger their unemployment the department’s inspector general, rep- FBI is conducting unlawful surveil- pinning warrants from October 2014 economists, initial claims for state un- lieve many companies waited for the insurance fi lings to limit the strain on resented another setback for the FBI. lance and trampling on the privacy through September 2019. employment benefi ts probably climbed Cares Act to pass before letting work- their processing systems, with those Horowitz in a December report crit- rights of US citizens. It did not determine whether the to a seasonally adjusted 3.5mn for the ers go.” whose Social Security numbers end icised the FBI for its handling of sur- Republican lawmakers have ques- errors were material or could have in- week ended March 28. Estimates in the Some economists say the new bill in 0, 1 or 2 to fi le on Monday, 3, 4 or 5 veillance warrants in the early stages of tioned whether the surveillance court fl uenced a judge’s decision to grant a survey were as high as 5.25mn. would encourage unemployment on Tuesday, and those whose numbers its investigation into contacts between should be shuttered. warrant. That would be an increase of be- fi lings.”Inevitably the stimulus has end in 6, 7, 8 or 9 to fi le on Wednesday. President Donald Trump’s 2016 presi- The report released yesterday looked An FBI offi cial said the bureau ac- tween 220,000 and 1.97mn from the created some perverse incentives, po- Thursday and Friday are reserved dential campaign and Russians. at how the FBI follows procedures de- cepts Horowitz’s recommendations. prior week’s 3.28mn, refl ecting both tentially infl ating the unemployment for people who missed their desig- the newly unemployed as well as states numbers,” said Michael Pearce, a sen- nated day. catching up on previously fi led appli- ior economist at Capital Economics in “Many states reported severe back- Pandemic won’t save mom in college admissions scandal from prison cations that had not yet been captured New York. logs. Their systems were simply not de- in the system due to overwhelming “The $600 a week additional federal signed to process the sheer volume of A California mother was sentenced Prosecutors argued she deserved 26 more than 3,000 people in the United demand. unemployment insurance, equiva- claims they faced,” said Tim Quinlan, a yesterday to seven months in prison months in prison after she and her States. More states enforced “stay at home” lent to $15/hour for a 40-hour week, senior economist at Wells Fargo Secu- for paying $450,000 to help her husband, who founded speciality Aaron Katz, her lawyer, argued for policies last week. means there could be cases where rities in Charlotte, North Carolina. daughters gain an illicit edge in the finance lender Hercules Capital Inc, in home confinement, saying “it is A historic $2.2tn package, or Coro- workers will prefer to accept a tempo- US unemployment benefi ts college admissions process, despite October pleaded guilty and admitted entirely conceivable federal prison will navirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se- rary layoff .” processing is built around a decades- her lawyers’ arguments that she faced they were among several wealthy not be a safe place for Elizabeth until curity (Cares) Act, signed by President Some state offi cials say they’re old mainframe computer system, exposure to the coronavirus if she parents who took part in a vast there is a Covid-19 vaccine.” Donald Trump last Friday is making it struggling to process a fl ood of appli- which each state has modifi ed in dif- were incarcerated. college admissions cheating and fraud But US District Judge Nathaniel easier for workers to seek unemploy- cations, and to adapt computer sys- ferent ways, making the changes de- Federal prosecutors in Boston say scheme. Gorton said while he could delay ment benefi ts. tems to accept new types of claims al- scribed in the bill diffi cult to quickly Elizabeth Henriquez and her financier The Atherton, California, resident when she ultimately reports to It raised payments for the unem- lowed under the Cares Act. adopt nationwide. husband, Manuel Henriquez, sought appeared before the judge by video, prison, Henriquez deserved a seven- ployed by up to $600 per week per That’s creating a backlog of claims The unemployment offi ce is one to rig their two daughters’ college a social distancing step undertaken month term and a $200,000 fine for worker, and laid-off workers would get that aren’t yet showing in the offi cial place that is hiring. Colorado has entrance exam results and secure the by the court to deter the spread of committing an “inexcusable crime those payments for up to four months. fi gures. about 200 of its 500 labour depart- oldest one’s admission to Georgetown Covid-19, which is caused by the of greed, hubris and flaunting of The Labor Department’s easing of “We will fi nish the week out through ment employees working on process- University as a fake tennis recruit. novel coronavirus and has killed personal wealth.” fi ling restrictions is also believed to be tonight, midnight, with 75,000 ap- ing claims now, Haavind said, and is contributing to the surge in claims. plications submitted,” Cher Haavind, hiring another 90 temporary workers. Trump completes rollback of Obama-era vehicle fuel effi ciency rules

By David Shepardson, Reuters been one of most ambitious US The coalition of states previ- to 923 additional million met- gies. “We are carefully reviewing Michael Brune, executive di- around $1,000 and reduce traf- Washington policies aimed at combating cli- ously challenged the Trump ad- ric tons of carbon dioxide being the full breadth of this fi nal rule rector of the Sierra Club, criti- fic deaths. mate change. ministration’s decision to revoke emitted and boost average con- to determine the extent to which cised the administration “for ex- Environmentalists dispute the The Trump administration California’s authority to set its sumer fuel costs by more than it supports these priorities,” it ploiting the cover of a pandemic analysis that the rule will reduce resident Donald Trump’s called the move its largest single own stiff vehicle tailpipe emis- $1,000 per vehicle over the life of said. to roll back the clean car stand- traffi c deaths. administration yesterday deregulatory action and said it sions rules. their vehicles. Obama’s environmental poli- ards, which are crucial public The fi nal rule acknowledges Pcompleted a rollback of ve- would will save automakers up- Under the Obama rules, au- EPA Administrator Andrew cies were intended to cut car- health safeguards,” referring to that drivers will pay more in hicle emissions standards adopt- wards of $100bn in compliance tomakers were to have averaged Wheeler said the rule “strikes bon emissions that drive climate the coronavirus crisis. higher fuel costs than they will ed under his predecessor Barack costs. about 5% per year increases in the right regulatory balance that change, while Trump has ditched The US Chamber of Com- save in new vehicle prices but Obama and will require 1.5% The policy reversal marks the lat- fuel effi ciency through 2026, but protects our environment, and numerous environmental regu- merce, a business group, said the said they will save more in overall annual increases in effi ciency est step by Trump, a Republican, to the industry lobbied Trump to sets reasonable targets for the lations that his administration fi nal rule provides a “workable vehicle ownership costs. through 2026 — far weaker than erase environmental policies pur- weaken them. auto industry.” deemed harmful to industry and path forward on a unifi ed nation- It said it will reduce up to the 5% increases in the discarded sued by Obama, a Democrat. The new requirements mean An automotive trade group has aimed to increase the use of al program that provides regula- 1.8mn crashes and lower “the rules. California Attorney General the US vehicle fl eet will average that represents General Motors fossil fuels. tory certainty while strengthen- auto industry’s costs to comply The announcement — con- Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, said 40.4 miles per gallon rather than Co, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Mo- Trump also pulled the United ing fuel economy standards and with the program, with a com- demned by environmentalists the Trump administration is 46.7mpg under the Obama rules. tors Corp and others, said that States out of a global climate ac- continuing emissions reduc- mensurate reduction in per- and lauded by big business — sets weakening “standards that pro- The Trump administration automakers need policies that cord and moved to reverse clean tions.” vehicle costs to consumers, the up a legal battle, with California tect our health and environment said the new rules will result support “a customer-friendly water regulations and pollution The administration said the standards enhance the ability of and 22 other states planning to from polluting contaminants in about 2bn additional barrels shift” toward electrifi ed and standards for coal-burning pow- revised rules will cut the fu- the fl eet to turn over to newer, challenge the rewrite of what had emitted by cars and trucks.” of oil being consumed and 867 other highly effi cient technolo- er plants. ture price of new vehicles by cleaner and safer vehicles.” Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 9 ASIA

Myanmar announces Indonesia declares state of fi rst Covid-19 emergency as virus toll rises death Reuters AFP perience in other countries, Yangoon Jakarta but we cannot copy them be- cause every country has its own characteristics,” he added. yanmar reported ndonesian leader Joko Wido- Yesterday, authorities said 136 its fi rst coronavirus do declared a state of emer- people had died after contract- Mdeath yesterday, a Igency yesterday as coronavi- ing the virus, with 1,528 con- 69-year-old man who also had rus deaths in the world’s fourth fi rmed cases of infection. But the cancer and died in a hospital most populous country jumped latter fi gure is widely thought to in the commercial capital of again, but he resisted calls for a be well below the real number Yangon, a government spokes- nationwide lockdown. in the archipelago of more woman said. Widodo’s administration than 260mn. He had sought medical treat- has been heavily criticised The Indonesian Doctors’ As- ment in Australia and stopped for not imposing lockdowns sociation has warned that the in Singapore on his way home, in major cities, including the coronavirus crisis is far worse according to the health capital Jakarta, a vast mega- than has been offi cially report- ministry. lopolis home to about 30mn ed and that the government’s “The patient passed away people where most of the response is “in tatters”. at 7:25am,” Dr Khin Khin Gyi, country’s virus deaths have Jakarta’s governor has said spokeswoman for the ministry of been reported. nearly 300 suspected or con- health, said. Indonesia’s leader off ered few fi rmed victims of the virus have Myanmar has confi rmed 14 details of the state of emergency been wrapped in plastic and cases of the virus, mostly in peo- beyond calling for stricter so- quickly buried in the city since ple who have travelled overseas. cial distancing, but announced the start of March. But the ministry of health $1.5bn in beefed-up social as- The capital’s top politician on Sunday warned the coun- sistance and subsidies for low- has been pushing for a total try was at very high risk of a income workers. lockdown of the city. “major outbreak” after tens of Tens of millions eke out Also yesterday, Indonesia’s thousands of migrants work- a living on poorly-paid jobs corrections agency said it is set ing in neighbouring Thailand in Southeast Asia’s biggest to off er early release to about rushed home before the border economy. 30,000 inmates to help stem closed. “To overcome the impact the spread of the virus in over- The country has a weak of Covid-19, we’ve chosen the crowded prisons. The number healthcare system after option of large-scale social amounts to more than 10% of decades of neglect under distancing,” Widodo told reporters. Indonesia’s 272,000 inmate People walk through a disinfectant chamber as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, before entering a shopping mall in the former ruling military “We must learn from the ex- population. Surabaya yesterday. junta. Vietnam Surrogate mothers Nepal nabs lockdown fl outers to enter from Cambodia with extendable claw devices lockdown given jail terms until April 15 Thomson Reuters Foundation uty head of the government’s DPA Phnom Penh counter-traffi cking taskforce, Kathmandu told the Thomson Reuters DPA Foundation. Hanoi group of 32 women who Cambodia was a popu- olice in Nepal have raised acted as surrogates for lar international destination eyebrows during the AChinese clients were for couples looking to have PCovid-19 pandemic with ll of Vietnam is to go un- found guilty of human traf- babies through commercial their unusual technique for der lockdown until April fi cking and handed suspended surrogacy, a practice made il- arresting violators of the na- A15 as the country boosts jail terms with an order to raise legal in 2016 after an uptick tionwide lockdown: a claw-like its eff orts to block the spread their children “well” in Cam- in the trade following a ban clamp attached to a rod that of the novel coronavirus, Prime bodia’s fi rst trial of surrogate by neighbouring Thailand the apprehends the off ender at a Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc an- mothers. previous year. safe distance. nounced yesterday. The 32 were arrested while However, a proposed law Police have arrested over According to the directive, pregnant in 2018 and, in the covering the trade is stuck 9,000 people wandering in pub- gatherings of more than two absence of laws covering sur- at draft stage, leaving the 32 lic places since Nepal on March people will be banned as of rogacy, charged under hu- women - and at least 14 more 24 began enforcing a lockdown, Wednesday and all residents will man traffi cking laws, drawing arrested since them - to face invoking the Infectious Disease be asked not to leave their home, criticism from human rights human traffi cking laws that Control Act which allows au- except for necessities, such as groups who said the women carry jail terms up to 20 years. thorities to give an off ender up buying food or medicine. should be treated as victims. “The authorities... wors- to one month in prison or a fi ne Only those working for busi- A Chinese man and fi ve ened their situation by charg- or both. nesses providing essential serv- Cambodian women arrested ing them under laws that More than 1,400 have been ices should leave their homes, alongside the 32, and a Cam- were not designed for their taken into custody using the and those doing so should remain bodian man and a Chinese situation,” said Chak Sopheap, “multi-functional arrest de- 2 metres apart and in groups of woman arrested since, were head of the Cambodian Center vice,” according to Deputy under 20. also sentenced on Monday for for Human Rights. Superintendent Pawan Ku- Public transportation will also their roles in organising the Sopheap said the law should mar Bhattarai, an expert on essentially cease as of today, with commercial surrogacy, said not criminalise surrogates who the apparatus who himself has People defying the lockdown are put inside an enclosure along the street, as a punishment during the all nationals asked to stay with court spokesman Y Rin. are “most likely at the sharp arrested dozens of people. eighth-day of the lockdown imposed by the government amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus their families in their villages, The spokesman said the end of various economic and “It’s not just easy to use, but disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Kathmandu yesterday. communes or districts. sentences among the 40 con- political hardships that caused very safe both for police and the The move marks the strict- victed ranged from three to them to make the decision”. off enders,” Bhattarai, an offi cer The sight of police running to prevent Covid-19,” said Ne- of such medical gear. est enforced social distancing 16 years, declining to give a “By eff ectively conditioning with Kathmandu Metropolitan behind people with the extend- pal police spokesperson Umesh On Sunday, Nepal bought sev- enacted so far in the South-east breakdown. them to raise a child, the Cam- Police Division who has trained able claw has become common in Raj Joshi. eral tons of medical supplies, Asian nation as cases of corona- The surrogates - who were bodian authorities are revic- 140 members of his team to use recent days. Joshi said that device was gear, and test kits from China virus continue to rise. set to earn about $10,000 each, timizing an already vulnerable the device, said. While some are released after brought into use to help prevent amid media reports that health Until now, only individual more than six times the aver- group,” Sopheap said. “We may have to run behind warning, others are taken to the the risk of infection by allow- staff are refusing to attend to the communities or streets have age annual salary - had their After their arrest in July the off ender if they try to escape, police station and detained for a ing police to keep a safe distance patients due to the lack of PPEs. been placed under quarantine. sentences suspended and were 2018, the 32 surrogates were but there is no escaping once the few hours. from the public. This is not the fi rst time police There have been signifi cant ordered to “raise the children detained for fi ve months be- fork catches the person.” “We usually release them af- Thousands of medical staff have used the claw. community outbreaks, linked well” or be sent to prison. fore being released on bail Each day, Kathmandu police ter a few hours after telling them and police are working on the Bhattarai said that they have most recently to Hanoi’s Bach “The court will monitor on compassionate grounds, deploy three or four mobile pa- why the government enforced front line without personal been deployed for other purpos- Mai hospital and popular expa- them closely on the outside on the condition that they trol units of offi cers equipped the lockdown and about the use- protective equipment (PPE) es, like pulling dead bodies out of triate hangout Buddha Bar in Ho - they are under strict super- look after the babies, some of with the special tool. fulness of the social distancing due to the widespread scarcity the water. Chi Minh City. vision,” Chou Bun Eng, dep- whom were born in detention. Thailand to give free mobile data for those homebound by Covid-19

Reuters so the public can stay home and limit certainties like the duration of the Bangkok the spread of Covid -19,” Takorn said heightened data use,” he said. The referring to the name of the disease company was considering increas- caused by the coronavirus. ing its annual capital expenditure hailand will give the public free Thailand yesterday reported 127 this year to 15bn baht ($457mn) mobile data as companies initi- new coronavirus cases, bringing the from 13bn baht, he said. Tate work-from-home policies national tally up to 1,651 since the The government declared a state of and schools use remote learning amid country’s fi rst case was reported in emergency last week and urged com- the coronavirus outbreak, a senior January. panies to adopt work from home poli- government offi cial said yesterday as There have been 10 deaths. cies to limit movement of people. operators considered investment to Third-ranked mobile operator, To- Top mobile operator, Advanced expand capacity. tal Access Communication (DTAC), Info Service has seen mobile data and “Individuals can register for 10 said it was considering accelerating broadband volume growth of over gigabytes (GB) of mobile data each investment to expand its mobile data 10% in the last month, said Prat- month starting April 10,” said Ta- footprint based on new patterns of thana Leelapanang, chief consumer korn Tantasith, secretary-general usage. business offi cer. of the National Broadcasting and In the past, data use has usually Video conferencing grew more than Telecommunication Commission. increased in areas with dense popu- 10 times, partly due to the increase in The commission would compen- lations, but the current increase is remote learning because of the closure sate the operators, a spokesman widespread, including residential of schools and universities, he said. said separately, but no details were areas outside city centres, DTAC Rival operator, True Corpora- available. Head of Investor Relations, Sirawit tion said last week it would triple its Thailand’s main three mobile op- Klabdee said. broadband capacity after seeing a 52% erators did not immediately respond “This is a challenge because increase in broadband use and 18.4% to requests for comment. (when) increasing capacity in ar- jump in mobile data usage in the last Motorists queue at a road checkpoint as authorities restricted people travelling in and out of in Thailand’s southern province “The government is giving the data eas outside the city... there are un- month. of Pattani as a preventive measure against Covid-19 coronavirus in Nong Chik district, in Pattani yesterday. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

‘I feel nothing’: coronavirus epicentre Wuhan buries its dead

AFP peated in recent days at Wuhan’s dled in red, gold or black fabrics One man with a box of ashes public gatherings remain. The demic-control reasons, authori- be accompanied to the graveyard Wuhan graveyards. and containing cremated re- said he was a community worker scenes at cemeteries and funeral ties have also essentially banned by minders. Whether from coronavirus or mains. tasked with burying another homes showed that one of the observances associated with “It’s my family business and I other causes of death, Wuhan’s Grim-faced, many declined man who “had no family left”. many things put on hold by the next weekend’s Tomb-Sweeping don’t want outsiders involved,” s China’s coronavirus ep- gradual re-opening in recent to speak to journalists, but He said no more before en- crisis were burials. Relieving Festival, an annual tradition in he said. One woman who has icentre Wuhan awakens days has off ered the first chance one woman arriving for a fam- tering the cemetery. As small that pressure is one of the fi rst which families honour ancestors written in online posts that her Afrom its long nightmare, in weeks for the dead to be bur- ily member’s burial expressed groups gathered quietly around things authorities have done, by cleaning their graves. husband died of the virus – formerly locked-down citizens ied, and for the bereft to vent numbness. gravesites on the hillside, a man organising a system in which The new regimented burial leaving her to raise their daugh- are beginning to reemerge, but over what one called a “hellish” “I don’t feel anything,” she draped in a blue plastic protec- families are notifi ed that cre- process, which allows only lim- ter alone – echoed the com- for many, their fi rst outdoor experience for the city. said blankly. Her relative had tive poncho stood silently near mated remains are ready to be ited numbers of mourners into ments of other Wuhan residents act in more than two months is At Biandanshan, authorities died of a stroke. She gave no the cemetery entrance, holding picked up, according to posts cemeteries for each funeral, who have expressed anguish at grim: burying loved ones. mindful of infection risks fun- further details, but many of a photo portrait of a woman who online by many next of kin. did not sit well with some al- having to wait so long for buri- At the Biandanshan Ceme- nelled groups into the hillside Wuhan’s 11mn residents have had died. Surviving family members ready angry over their loss. A als. Lamenting a “hellish period tery, downcast groups of masked facility in lines separated by complained online of uninfect- After citizens of Wuhan and are escorted to graves by gov- 52-year-old man who gave only in Wuhan”, she fi nally deposited residents fi led quietly past haz- chest-high yellow traffi c divid- ed loved ones dying from other the rest of Hubei province spent ernment-assigned minders who his surname, Zhang, told AFP he his ashes at a funeral home last mat-suit-wearing security per- ers, checking mourners’ tem- causes due to a lack of medical more than two months confi ned were dispatched, authorities say, believes his elderly father was week. sonnel and police yesterday to peratures and spraying them care during the epidemic, which at home, life is slowly inching to provide transportation since infected while in hospital for a “My poor husband can fi nally lay friends and relatives to rest with disinfectant as they en- overwhelmed the city’s hospi- back to normality, though many much of the city’s transport re- broken leg. His father died of rest,” she wrote, “and no longer under a leaden sky, a scene re- tered. Some bore boxes swad- tals. restrictions on movement and mains shut down. Citing epi- coronavirus. Zhang refused to needs to wander.” Tokyo records most new virus cases in a day

Reuters PM Abe and 2nd-in-command Tokyo Taro Aso to avoid joint meetings; Domestic cases top 2,000; calls apan’s capital recorded more than 70 new corona- for state of emergency Jvirus infections yesterday for its highest tally in a single the situation was precarious. symptoms in the survey was day, as pressure mounted on the “We’re just barely holding it to- markedly higher than Tokyo’s prime minister to order a lock- gether,” Nishimura told report- official figure of 443 infections down. ers. “If we loosen our grip even a by Monday. Only last Tuesday, Japanese cases topped little, it wouldn’t be surprising with a lockdown already in the 2,000, and public broad- to see a sudden surge.” offing, Japan and Olympic au- caster NHK said 78 cases in Infections have now exceed- thorities gave in to pressure Tokyo took its tally of infec- ed 770,000 worldwide, with from athletes and sporting bod- tions past 500. Media reports more than 37,000 deaths, as ies worldwide to delay Tokyo’s People cross a street at Tokyo’s entertainment district Kabukicho. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to stay away from karaoke said 7 people in the city had confirmed cases in the United 2020 Summer Games for a year. parlours, bars and nightclubs to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. died, five at one hospital. States, Italy and Spain overtake Some businesses in the capi- “This is the greatest increase mainland China, where the vi- tal are moving to curtail opera- ple’s movements, to help gauge up to now and is certainly of rus originated late last year. In tions even ahead of a lockdown. the effectiveness of a voluntary Japanese govt panel warns any possible high concern, and I’m worried Tokyo, there has been intense Yesterday, department store request. about what tomorrow’s figures speculation that a lockdown operator Isetan Mitsukoshi A director of Japan’s top or- eruption of Mt Fuji could paralyse Tokyo might show,” Tokyo Governor could come soon, fuelled by Holdings Ltd said it would close ganisation of doctors urged Yuriko Koike said. the rising number of cases. The six stores in Tokyo on weekends that an emergency be declared A government spokesman national total edged past 2,000 through April 12. before it was too late. Develop- A Japanese government panel last eruption could go on for of the world’s most seismically- said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe infections after a centre for dis- Koshidaka Holdings, an op- ment of medicines and vaccines has said any major eruption of two weeks, which the panel active nations and is rocked told cabinet members he and abled people in Chiba prefec- erator of karaoke and hot spring would be crucial to contain the Mount Fuji would rain so much included in its calculations. by earthquakes and volcanic his second-in-command, Taro ture, east of Tokyo, found seven outlets, said it would close 200 virus, Abe told Tedros Adhanom ash on the capital Tokyo that Mount Fuji last erupted more eruptions on an annual basis. Aso, would no longer attend more infections. There have karaoke outlets until April 13. Ghebreyesus, director general its transportation network of than 300 years ago, but it is In 2014, it suff ered its worst the same meetings to protect been 66 deaths. But any lockdown in Ja- of the World Health Organi- trains and highways would be active and occasionally goes volcanic disaster in over 90 the leadership from infection. With limited testing in Japan, pan would look different from zation, in a telephone call on paralysed in three hours. The through periods of activity that years when a peak crowded But the two were later shown there are questions about how mandatory measures in some Monday. panel, which is attached to the can produce several hundred with hikers blew up without at the same gathering -- al- widely the virus has spread. parts of Europe and the United Japan intends to promote Cabinet Off ice, said simulations tremors a month. “Measures warning, killing 63. Japan though wearing masks and sit- About 7.1% of nearly 64,000 States. Laws limit local authori- clinical research on an anti-flu had shown that even minute need to be taken both for an has 110 active volcanoes and ting apart. respondents said they had at ties to requesting people to stay medicine called Favipiravir with amounts of ash from such emergency response and also monitors roughly half of them, Last week, British Prime least one virus symptom, such at home. Tokyo Governor Koike other countries as a treatment, an eruption would make it recovery over the longer term,” but researchers say the budget Minister Boris Johnson was as high fever or a bad cough, has asked residents to avoid un- Abe said.The drug, also known impossible for above-ground Toshitsugu Fujii, professor has always been smaller than obliged to switch to running between Friday and Monday, necessary outings, while her as Avigan, was developed by trains to run in Tokyo, 100km emeritus at Tokyo University that for earthquakes and lacks the country from isolation after according to a survey of us- counterpart in the second big- Fujifilm Holdings Corp, shares to the northeast, and weigh on and the head of the panel, wrote suff icient equipment. testing positive for the virus. ers in Tokyo and neighbouring gest city of Osaka felt the gov- of which closed up 2.2%, after power lines. Several centimetres in a report published yesterday. Of Japan’s nine major volcanic Economy Minister Yasutoshi prefectures run by the chat app ernment should declare a state having risen as much as 6.6% in of ash would clog the filters at “Steps need to be taken now, eruptions since 1977, the longest Nishimura said Japan was not Line and the health ministry. of emergency, media said. Tokyo. The company later said power plants. Visibility would waiting until there’s an eruption warning was a week. Most were yet in a situation that required Such symptoms do not by The government said it would in a statement it was starting a diminish to zero. n eruption will be too late,” Fujii told NHK a matter of hours. a state of emergency, triggering themselves prove infection. But seek data from wireless carri- Phase III clinical trial in Japan on the scale of Mount Fuji’s public television. Japan is one a potential lockdown, although the 4,500 people who reported ers, such as statistics on peo- of the drug for the coronavirus. Growth in Australia virus cases South Korea cancels reopening of slows, but experts urge caution schools once again, goes online Reuters are seeking to “fl atten the curve” of the Australasian College for Sydney representing growth in infec- Infection Prevention and Con- Reuters again, given the persistence of the college entrance exam will be day. Of the new cases, 60 were tions by implementing social trol, said talk of curve fl attening Seoul outbreak. “We regret that we have postponed by two weeks to Dec 3, from the hard-hit southeastern distancing and other contain- was “premature”. “We need to not reached levels where chil- Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae city of Daegu, where a hospital ustralia yesterday re- ment measures so that hospitals have weeks on end of decreasing dren can go to schools safely even said. A government survey of par- saw more than 75 infections over ported a sustained fall in are not overwhelmed with criti- numbers of new cases on a daily outh Korea yesterday can- though we mobilised all our capa- ents and others this week showed the past few days, KCDC data Athe country’s rate of new cally ill patients. basis,” Russo said. “What we are celled the re-opening of bilities to substantially decrease 72% of respondents opposed the showed. coronavirus infections but offi - Peter Collignon, an infectious seeing now is quite possibly nor- Sschools next week as clus- risks of infection,” Prime Minister April 6 opening of schools and Another 29 were travellers ar- cials and experts warned against diseases physician and micro- mal daily variation.” ters of coronavirus infections Chung Sye-kyun told a televised 66% supported online teaching, riving from abroad, all but one of complacency, stressing the need biologist at Canberra Hospital, The government’s own cau- fl are and will launch online class- meeting of government offi cials. Yoo said. them Korean. for further strict social distanc- said while Australia stopped tion was highlighted by a deal to es while delaying the annual col- “It is diffi cult to guarantee the “We will explore measures to Starting today, everyone arriv- ing policies. short of full lockdowns imposed boost the public health system lege entrance exams. safety of children as the sizeable carry out actual classes and on- ing from abroad will have to spend To ensure compliance, state elsewhere, it had introduced so- with an extra 34,000 hospital After an early surge in cases, number of new patients emerge line lessons in parallel, possibly two weeks in quarantine under authorities enacted sweeping cial distancing measures rela- beds sourced from private hos- South Korea has brought down every day, and there are concerns starting in April, depending on rules aimed at curbing imported powers to impose hefty fi nes and tively early. pitals, along with thousands of its rate of new infections to about that it might spread again from the situation,” she told a briefi ng. cases. potential jail terms on anybody “We acted much earlier than doctors and nurses. Australia 100 or fewer a day, but groups of schools to homes and communi- The Korea Centers for Disease Some 7,000 people are ex- breaching rules that include a the likes of Italy and the United will also take delivery of more cases in churches, hospitals and ties.” Control and Prevention reported pected to land every day, most of ban on public meetings of more States,” Collignon told Reuters. than 5,000 ventilators at the end nursing homes, as well as import- Schools will launch online 125 new coronavirus cases yester- them students studying abroad. than just two people. “We had much less community of April, Health Minister Hunt ed cases, are still emerging. classes from April 9, Chung said, day, bringing the total number of Authorities have warned of a “ze- Health Minister Greg Hunt transmission and we still shut said. Authorities have postponed the promising to ensure students’ infections to 9,786. ro-tolerance” policy for anyone reported there were about 4,400 our borders and implemented Health offi cials said earlier beginning of the school semester access to technology at home to The death toll rose to 164 by late breaking quarantine rules, with coronavirus cases nationally, social distancing policies such they wanted to increase testing, three times from early March to minimise academic disruption. yesterday. The tally of new cases punishment of a year in prison or with the rate of growth in new as shutting down bars and pubs, especially in places of Covid-19 April 6, and have decided to do so The highly competitive annual marks an uptick from 78 on Mon- a fi ne of up to 10mn won ($8,210). infections slowing to an average and did much more testing.” clusters like Sydney’s Bondi of 9% over the past three days Collignon noted there may be area, which drew attention this from 25-30% a week earlier. an element of luck in the current month after people ignored so- Malaysia apologises for telling women not to nag during virus lockdowns The death toll in a country of trend, and backed offi cial moves cial distancing rules and fl ocked almost 25mn stood at 19, putting to keep social interactions to a to the beach. State offi cials said Malaysia apologised yesterday a series of online posters with voice of Doraemon, a blue robot department said in a statement. the death rate for Australian cas- minimum. the virus may have been trans- after telling women to speak the hashtag translating as cat from Japan that is hugely The apology came after the es below 1%, which is under the Several states introduced mitted in the Bondi commu- with a cartoon cat voice and #WomenPreventCOVID19. popular across Asia. online posters sparked a public 10% reported by some countries penalties yesterday for people nity via a backpacker unaware of avoid nagging their husbands One of the campaign posters The ministry also urged women outcry. and suggests “early promising fl outing social distancing re- having the disease. during coronavirus lockdowns, depicted a man sitting on a sofa to dress up and wear makeup The posters have since been signs of the curve fl attening,” quirements. The repercussions Qantas Airways Ltd said yes- a move that sparked a sexism and asked women to refrain from while working from home. removed. “(It) is extremely Hunt said. diff er from state to state, but terday that six baggage handlers row. Malaysia’s women’s aff airs being “sarcastic” if they needed “We apologise if some of the tips condescending both to “That’s an achievement to include fi nes of up to A$11,000 at Adelaide airport have tested ministry issued advice on how help with household chores. we shared were inappropriate women and men,” said Nisha which all Australians have con- ($6,780), a potential six-month positive for the virus, adding to avoid domestic conflicts Avoid nagging your husband, and touched on the sensitivities Sabanayagam, a manager at tributed,” he said in a televised prison term and the requirement that other employees who had during the partial lockdown, another poster said, but use of some parties,” the ministry’s All Women’s Action Society, a news conference. to wear an electronic tracking come into contact with the in- which began on March 18, with humour or imitate the infantile women development Malaysian advocacy group. Countries around the world device. Philip Russo, president fected staff would self-isolate. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Minimum wage rise of 6% to go ahead despite pay freeze call

Guardian News and Media crease to the legal pay fl oor. ernment, Frances O’Grady, general Treasury has confi rmed the rise Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, represents business leaders, said Nearly seven in 10 adults would London However, two of the UK’s lead- secretary of trade union body the will take place. pledged at this month’s budget to executives supported the aim to back a £10.50 legal wage fl oor, with ing economics thinktanks – the TUC, said wage rises were needed Sources said a delay would re- increase the living wage towards help those on low pay, but that the only one in 10 opposed, accord- Institute for Fiscal Studies and to support millions of low-paid quire changing legislation that has two-thirds of average pay levels in legal wage fl oor must be set in tune ing to extensive surveys and focus lmost 3mn workers across the Resolution Foundation – had workers struggling to make ends already been enacted and would Britain by 2024 to meet a pre-elec- with economic circumstances. group studies published yesterday Britain will today receive a urged the government to stage an meet as the pandemic spreads. be politically toxic at a time when tion pledge made by Boris Johnson “We shouldn’t write-off con- by the Learning and Work Institute Apay rise as the legal mini- eleventh hour U-turn, saying that “Britain is indebted to its army many are facing the prospect of fi - to raise wages to £10.50 an hour. tinuing ambitious increases if and the Carnegie UK Trust chari- mum wage rises more than 6%, postponing the rise would stop of minimum wage heroes. Many nancial hardship. However, the government the economy quickly rebounds to ties. despite calls for a delay to protect struggling businesses from laying – including care workers and su- Business sources also said fi rms warned the increase would only something like normal, but right Despite unemployment reach- jobs as the coronavirus outbreak off workers. permarket staff – are currently on had already altered payroll sys- come if “economic conditions al- now that’s a big ‘if’. Should fi rms ing the lowest levels since the escalates. Retailers are understood to have the frontline of the battle against tems to accommodate the change, low”. continue to struggle in the medi- 1970s before the coronavirus hit, Amid mounting job losses and privately lobbied for a delay, while coronavirus. They deserve every which would be administratively Once the coronavirus crisis has um to long term, government may average UK pay levels only sur- the country sinking into reces- the British Beer and Pub Associa- penny of this increase, and more,” costly to unpick. Nonetheless, been overcome, the government have to take another look at the passed the peak recorded before sion, pay for workers over the age tion urged the government to hold she said. questions are mounting over fu- could come under greater pressure current trajectory,” he said. the fi nancial crisis of 2008-2009 of 25 on the national living wage back to “prevent mass job losses Despite the lobbying eff orts and ture increases in the living wage as to soften its commitment. However, public support is after accounting for infl ation at the will rise by 6.2%, from £8.21 to and permanent pub closures.” the threat of widespread com- the economy enters what econo- Tej Parikh, chief economist at growing for further increases in the end of 2019, a lost decade of earn- £8.72 in the biggest ever cash in- Amid the pressure on the gov- pany failures as job losses rise, the mists say will be a deep recession. the Institute of Directors, which living wage to be forced through. ings growth. Police come under fi re for overzealous response

Reuters parks and beauty spots had been London packed, leading to the Archbish- op of Canterbury to tell people not to act selfi shly. rom a ban on shops selling But there appeared to be Easter eggs to fl ying drones confusion about how the new Fto spot people defying rules should be enforced, with a self-isolation guidelines, police number of regional forces taking measures to control the spread of much stricter approaches than the coronavirus have upset some others. Wild Kashmiri goats wander freely through Llandudno’s streets nibbling at hedges and springtime gardens as they go. The animals typically spend their time grazing on the Britons living in a nationwide In some areas, random road heights of the nearby Great Orme headland. But with so many fewer people out and about amid the coronavirus lockdown, some think the creatures have been drawn into lockdown. checkpoints to see where drivers Llandudno, Wales, this time by little more than inquisitiveness. Some feel the police actions were going have been brought in. are heavy-handed and applied Police in Derbyshire, central inconsistently. England, used drones to monitor One retired judge suggested beauty spots and put dye into a Britain was turning into a police lake to discourage visitors. state, although other countries Offi cers in some places have from Spain to Vietnam have ap- taken action against multiple plied more draconian measures. people from the same household New regulations brought in going to shops — even though Two Labour councillors last Thursday give police the there is no specifi c bar on this — power to issue instant £30 fi nes and police in Lancashire, north- to people who gather in groups ern England, said they had issued of more than two people or leave 123 fi nes over the weekend. their homes without good reason Other forces have not fi ned such as for work, food-shopping anyone. or exercise. Some commentators said the die from coronavirus The measures were introduced measures risked undermining to help stop the spread of Cov- public trust in the police, tradi- Guardian News and Media McDonnell, was among many fi g- formidable and tenacious fi ghter Rust, an 81-year-old councillor away this evening in Frimley Park id-19 after thousands of Britons tionally seen as far less authoritar- London ures in the party to praise Midg- for social justice. in Rushmore for 22 years, died at Hospital, a victim of the corona- appeared to be ignoring advice ian than in many other countries. ley’s decades of service to the city. “She introduced me and my Frimley Park hospital, in Camber- virus.” on social distancing. Many Britons still cherish the In a message to her son Neil, brothers to politics at an early age ley, Surrey. In a Facebook post on Rust was due to serve a second As the death toll in Britain rose image of the friendly “bobby on Labour councillor in Shef- McDonnell said: “The fl ood of and her values shaped mine. I am Monday Rushmore council leader, term as Rushmore’s mayor in the above 1,400 and hospitals strug- the beat”, although community fi eld has become the fi rst tributes to your mum shows just so thankful to her for that (despite Keith Dibble, said: “Rust passed next municipal year. gled to cope with thousands of policing has been hit hard by Aserving politician in the UK how loved she was and how re- the endless hours of leafl eting I cases, some people focused their spending cuts in recent years. known to have died from corona- spected for her dedication to her had to do as a child).” wrath on a reported Easter egg “The tradition of policing in virus. community to the end.” She said her mother’s schedule 381 deaths recorded in a single day ban. The Association of Con- this country is that policemen Pat Midgley’s last political act Her daughter, Joanne Midgley, “made me feel tired”. Her mother venience Stores (ACS) said some are citizens in uniform, they are was to vote for Sir Keir Starmer in said her mother was “feisty to the had been fi t and active, and had Britain reported a record said in a statement. The retailers had been told by police not members of a disciplined hi- the Labour leadership race on Sat- end” and insisted her vote was cast still been attending community daily coronavirus toll of 381 country’s previous highest and local authorities to restrict erarchy operating just at the gov- urday, a day before she died and in the Labour leadership election. meetings two weeks before being yesterday, more than double the daily toll was 260, recorded what they sold, including Easter ernment’s command,” Jonathan three days after testing positive for Writing in a Facebook post on admitted to Sheffi eld’s Northern number of nationwide deaths on Saturday, with the number eggs. Sumption, a former Supreme Covid-19. Sunday, the day her mother died, General hospital with symptoms posted in the previous 24 hours. dropping to 180 on Monday. “This is complete nonsense,” Court judge, told the BBC. Midgley, 82, who served on Joanne said: “We managed to carry of coronavirus. “As of 5pm (1600GMT) on Some 25,150 people have now ACS chief executive James Low- “This is what a police state is Sheffi eld city council for 33 years, out mum’s last wish yesterday by Speaking to Channel 4 News, March 30, of those hospitalised tested positive for the virus in man said. like.” was described by her family as a casting her vote for Keir Starmer. Joanne described the awkward- in the UK, 1,789 have sadly Britain, including Prime Minister To fi ght the coronavirus, the Martin Hewitt, chairman of “true woman of steel”. It was later She said that she would ‘never for- ness of saying goodbye to her died,” the health ministry said Boris Johnson, a daily increase government has ordered pubs, the National Police Chiefs Coun- announced than another Labour give herself’ if not.” mother while wearing a full hospi- on its Twitter page, up from of 3,009. Data published by the restaurants and nearly all shops cil, said they were looking to councillor, Frank Rust, a former Julie Dore, the leader of the tal gown, gloves, and a mask. “It’s 1,408 on Monday. The patients Off ice for National Statistics to close and drafted in new regu- ensure consistency in the police deputy mayor of Rushmoor coun- council, said: “I am heartbroken. diffi cult to talk to somebody, when were aged between 19 and 98, (ONS) for England and Wales lations. response as everyone got to grip cil in Surrey, died on Monday after This makes coronavirus all the you’re dressed like that. This is a and all but 28 had underlying yesterday revealed that the true The weekend before the new with the new “unprecedented contracting the virus. more real.” completely diff erent way of people health conditions, NHS England toll could be 24% higher. regulations were introduced, measures”. The shadow chancellor, John Joanne said her mother “was a ending their lives. Glut of donations Coal-power station Hampshire resident is shuts after 50 years

Guardian News and Media pany and the wider energy in- oldest man in the world London dustry, as the UK moves towards a net zero carbon future. Guardian News and Media its senior gerontology consult- I never thought that something “It’s made a huge contribution London ant, Robert Young, had been like this would happen – neither nergy giant SSE has drawn to the local area, but it’s the right scrutinising all available evi- did anyone else. I’ve never been a line on coal-fi red power thing to do as the UK continues dence since the previous title isolated before. I’ve had the fl u Egeneration by closing the to move to cleaner ways of pro- Hampshire resident has holder, Chitetsu Watanabe, and most children’s diseases, but Fiddler’s Ferry power station in ducing energy and take action on been offi cially recognised a farmer from Japan, died on never self-isolation. But there is Warrington, Cheshire, after al- climate change,” he said. Aas the world’s oldest man February 23 at 112 years and 355 nothing we can do about it so you most 50 years. “SSE is now the UK’s leading by Guinness World Records. days. might as well do what you can. The power plant began gener- generator of renewable energy Bob Weighton, who is 112 years On receiving the record, Never mind about the things that ating enough electricity to power and we have committed to tre- and two days old, was presented Weighton said: “I can’t say I you can’t.” 2mn homes in 1973 and closed bling our output by 2030,” he with his certifi cate by staff at was pleased to hear the previ- Weighton was born in Hull and offi cially yesterday ahead of the added. “We will back up this re- the assisted living home where ous holder had died but I am was the middle child of his three government’s ban on coal-fi red newable generation with super- he lives, while keeping the ap- very pleased that I’ve been able brothers and three sisters. He power from 2025. effi cient gas-fi red plants, which propriate distance because he is to live so long and make so many had three children of his own, has The shutdown of SSE’s last we are also looking to decar- isolating. friends.” 10 grandchildren and 25 great- remaining coal plant comes six bonise through emerging carbon A spokeswoman for Guinness Weighton lived through the grandchildren. months after EDF Energy closed capture and hydrogen technol- World Records said that because 1918-20 Spanish fl u pandemic He and wife, Agnes, travelled down the Cottam plant in Not- ogy.” of the Covid-19 outbreak, its and has had serious medical op- and worked around the world tinghamshire and leaves only fi ve SSE plans to rebuild its busi- offi cials were not able to reach erations but, like most, he has until settling back in the UK, remaining coal plants in the UK. ness based on clean energy tech- Weighton, who lives in a fl at in never endured self-isolation. where Weighton worked as a lec- SSE set out the “diffi cult de- nologies and energy networks Alton, to hand over the certifi cate “It is bizarre. I’ve never experi- turer in marine engineering at cision” to close Fiddler’s Ferry after selling off its supply busi- in person. enced anything like coronavirus City University in London until last summer, saying the plant ness – the second largest in the She explained: “Adhering to before,” he said. “I’m a bit frus- his retirement, aged 65, in 1973. was losing about £40mn a year UK – to challenger brand Ovo current UK rules around social trated but then again I’ve been in He and his wife, who passed and could not compete with the Energy for £500mn last year. distancing, we were unable to situations where you just had to away in 1997, spent much of their economics of modern gas-fi red The FTSE 100 energy giant meet Bob in person as we nor- accept what was happening.” retirement volunteering as mar- power stations and renewable expects to report a 25% jump in mally would. Instead the assisted He suggested people should riage counsellors and helping at energy. operating profi ts from its renew- living home where he lives pre- not continue thinking about youth groups in Alton. Stephen Wheeler, the manag- able energy business for last year sented him with his certifi cate, what they were unable to do Kane Tanaka is currently the ing director of SSE’s fossil fuel after its Beatrice off shore wind- all from a safe distance.” while in self-isolation. He said: oldest living person, celebrating Clothing donation containers overflow in London, Britain. business, said the closure is a farm began generating electricity Guinness World Records said “It’s alarming, it’s threatening. her 117th birthday in January. landmark moment for the com- at full power. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 EUROPE

Russia’s top Covid-19 Spain imposes more doctor tests positive AFP spokesman told reporters. Moscow Protsenko said he tested posi- tive but “felt quite well”. Posting a picture of himself he head of Moscow’s wearing a mask and green scrubs main coronavirus hospital on Facebook, he said he self-iso- Twho met with President lated in his offi ce and would con- curbs to stem virus Vladimir Putin a week ago has tinue to work. tested positive, he said yesterday, Protsenko has become a high- DPA bringing the nation’s total to All those aff ected should con- Sanchez’s management of the Begona tested positive for the as the Kremlin announced the profi le fi gure on the frontlines Madrid more than 94,000. tinue to receive their salary and crisis, openly withdrew that sup- coronavirus. Russian leader’s health was fi ne. of Russia’s fi ght against the More than 2,500 patients make up for the hours they have port yesterday. The residents of Madrid, with Last Tuesday Denis Protsenko Covid-19 disease, posting daily were reported to have recovered, not worked. “The costs [of coping with the more than 3,600 deaths of the met with the Russian leader who on Facebook to inform Russians drastic and controversial bringing the total number of re- Many entrepreneurs and re- crisis] must not be borne by the 8,200 across Spain, wonder if inspected the Kommunarka hos- about his hospital’s work and pa- tightening of the curfew coveries to almost 20,000. gional presidents have sharply companies, they must be borne this is why the capital is the epi- pital while wearing a bright yel- tients. Ato combat the spread of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticised the new measures, by the state,” said People’s Party centre of the country’s crisis. low hazmat suit. Since the start of the pandem- the novel coronavirus came into announced at the weekend that claiming they will destroy up to (PP) head Pablo Casado. People are also resentful that But the 67-year-old Putin was ic, the Kremlin has started meas- force yesterday in Spain as the all workers employed in non- 4mn jobs. According to a survey pub- the government bought tens of also seen talking to Protsenko uring temperatures of people 24-hour death toll hit a record. essential sectors must stay home “That will not do! The gov- lished on Monday by the NC Re- thousands of defective test kits. without any protective gear. attending events with the presi- Spain’s health ministry said for approximately the next two ernment didn’t even ask us for port institute, more than 80% of Sanchez can’t aff ord more Kremlin spokesman Dmitry dent, asking journalists feeling the country saw 849 coronavi- weeks, a measure particularly advice,” Antonio Garamendi, Spaniards believe that Sanchez – mistakes, El Mundo warned. Peskov swiftly told Russian news unwell to stay home. rus-related deaths in the past 24 aff ecting construction and large president of the CEOE trade as- secretary-general of the Spanish The tightening of the curfew agencies that Putin took regular Observers say the Russian hours, the most in the country parts of industry. sociation, said in an interview Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) regulations is Sanchez’s “last tests and there was no reason to strongman appears to be excep- since the beginning of the out- From now on, soldiers are also with the radio station RNE. – reacted too late to the crisis. bullet”, it wrote yesterday. worry about his health. tionally conscious of risks to his break, bringing the total number supposed to initially monitor The paralysing of the economy Many do not understand why Sanchez’s PSOE won Novem- “Everything is fi ne,” the health. of deaths to 8,189. compliance with the curfew in 87 threatens “not only an economic the government allowed a huge ber’s parliamentary election but Yesterday is the fourth day municipalities. but also a social crisis”, he said. rally in Madrid on March 8 to fell short of an absolute majority. in the row that Spain registered Rule breakers have already “We are being driven into mark International Women’s He formed a coalition govern- Poland govt decrees that minors must more than 800 Covid-19 fatali- ended up behind bars. bankruptcy,” not only innumer- Day, at which tens of thousands ment with the backing of the be supervised outside the home ties, equivalent to just over one So far, all citizens who could able employers and employees took part, when the World Health largest Catalan party in January death every two minutes. not work from home had been criticized, but also the president Organisation (WHO) had already after a long political impasse and Poland has tightened measures aimed at slowing the spread of The coronavirus causes the allowed to continue going to and of the Spanish self-employed as- warned against mass events. two elections within a year. coronavirus, requiring young people to be supervised by adults outside Covid-19 disease. from their workplaces as part of sociation ATA, Lorenzo Amor. Among the participants at After Italy, Spain is the country of the house and restricting access to public areas. The number of recorded new the emergency status that has Meanwhile the opposition, the rally, three members of the in Europe most severely aff ected Minors under the age of 18 would from now on only be permitted to infections also rose by 9,000, been in eff ect since March 15. which had tacitly supported cabinet and also Sanchez’s wife by the coronavirus. leave the house under adult supervision, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said. Access to public parks, squares, beaches and local recreation areas would also be restricted, he added. Lockdowns saved Supermarkets, pharmacies and chemists would be open only for those aged 65 and over between the hours of 10am and 12pm, with no more than three people permitted at any till at the same time. New rules also require all customers to put on gloves before entering 59,000 lives in any shop. Hair and beauty salons and tattoo studios are to be shuttered and all bike rentals stopped. Poland introduced wide-reaching restrictions on public life to stem the Europe: study spread of coronavirus on March 13. The country currently has 2,132 confirmed cases of the virus and 31 fatalities, the health ministry said. Despite the increased restrictions, Morawiecki said he saw no reason AFP since it emerged in China late for Poland to declare a state of emergency. Paris last year. “At the current stage we have enough instruments to fight the The Imperial College study coronavirus,” Morawiecki said. said despite the grave strain on trict containment meas- the medical system in Italy, lock- Germany’s zoos ask Merkel for financial ures might have already down measures had “averted a Ssaved up to 59,000 lives healthcare catastrophe”, esti- aid to feed animals during crisis across 11 European countries mating that the containment ef- battling the spread of the new forts had saved 38,000 lives. Zoos in Germany have written to Chancellor Angela Merkel pleading for coronavirus, experts in Britain In Spain researchers estimate €100mn to help look after the animals during the coronavirus crisis. say. 16,000 lives had been saved, “Unlike other organisations, we cannot just run down our operations, Basing their modelling on while in France the number was our animals must be fed and looked after,” said Joerg Junhold, the numbers of recorded deaths 2,500, in Belgium 560, Germany president of the Association of Zoos, which has 56 members in from the Covid-19 disease, re- 550, the United Kingdom 370, Germany plus a few in Switzerland and Austria. searchers from Imperial College Switzerland 340, Austria 140, Zoo costs are as high as ever but with no visitors allowed, there is zero London said most countries it Sweden 82, Denmark 69, and income, said Junhold, meaning some bigger zoos were dealing with looked at had likely dramatically Norway 10. weekly losses of about €500,000. reduced the rate at which the vi- Epidemiologists from Imperial Berlin Zoo director Andreas Knieriem said he had been overwhelmed rus spreads. College are part of the group ad- by local support in the German capital but stressed that challenges Using the experiences of vising the British government on were enormous. countries with the most ad- its outbreak response. vanced epidemics like Italy and The study, which used as- 101-year-old Dutch patient recovers Spain, the study compared actu- sumptions about the proportion al fatality rates with an estimate of infected people not recorded A 101-year-old woman who contracted coronavirus in the Netherlands of what would have happened in offi cial fi gures, estimated that has recovered, off ering what her hospital said was “a spark of hope”. with no measures such as school 5.9mn people could have been The woman, whose name was not released, was admitted to the closures, event cancellations and infected in Italy up to March 28 IJsselland Hospital near Rotterdam a week and a half ago with lockdowns. – almost 10% of the population. breathing diff iculties and tested positive for coronavirus. “With current interventions In Spain, researchers noted a She was kept in isolation but has now recovered enough to leave remaining in place to at least the recent “large increase” in deaths hospital. end of March, we estimate that and estimated that some 7mn The centenarian, who lives independently, will rest in a nursing home interventions across all 11 coun- people – or 15% of the popula- before returning to her home, the hospital said on its website. tries will have averted 59,000 tion – have been infected. “She is a tough lady, and it’s great to see her following the medical deaths up to March 31,” said the It said it was too early to say advice, like sneezing in her elbow and even telling me to keep proper report, which was released on whether countries with lower distance,” pulmonologist Sunil Ramlal said. Monday. “Many more deaths will death tolls would see a compa- be averted through ensuring that rable impact of their interven- Migrant tests positive after giving birth interventions remain in place tion measures as those battling a until transmission drops to low more severe epidemic. Greece’s migration ministry said yesterday that an asylum-seeker from levels.” “We cannot say for certain a camp near Athens had tested positive for the coronavirus after giving Billions of people around the that the current measures have birth at an Athens hospital. world have been ordered to stay controlled the epidemic in Eu- The unidentified woman lives at Ritsona, a camp on the island of Evia, home to prevent the spread of rope; however, if current trends some 80km (50 miles) north of Athens. the novel coronavirus, which has continue, there is reason for op- Municipal police off icers stand at attention beside the flags of (from left) Europe, Italy and Rome, flying at It was not immediately clear if the infection had taken place inside the killed more than 38,000 people timism,” it added. half-mast during a minute of silence outside Rome’s city hall at Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio). maternity hospital. 12-year-old girl Russia expands restrictions as deputies rush through laws dies in Belgium A 12-year-old girl confirmed infected with Covid-19 disease AFP to introduce a lockdown, includ- exceptions for emergencies. – the biggest daily increase so far draft legislation imposing severe – legislation imposing severe has died in Belgium, health Moscow ing the Primorsky Krai on the Muscovites are also allowed – with most registered in Mos- punishments – including up to punishment – including up to off icials said yesterday. border with China in the east and to shop for food or medicines cow, which has become the epi- seven years in prison – for people fi ve years in prison – for people Fatality from the virus at such the exclave of Kaliningrad in the to take out trash and walk their centre of the outbreak in Russia. breaking coronavirus quarantine convicted of spreading false in- a young age “is a very rare ussia expanded yesterday a west. dogs, but are not allowed to go for President Vladimir Putin on rules. formation about the coronavirus occurrence”, said government lockdown to curb the coro- The measures will aff ect at a run or a simple walk outside. Monday defended the tough new If a quarantine dodger were and other life-threatening cir- spokesman Dr Emmanuel Andre, Rnavirus outbreak as parlia- least 100mn people, according to Russia, which has a popula- measures as justifi ed and warned found guilty of causing a person’s cumstances. adding that her death “shook us”. ment rushed to approve tough an AFP count, with more regions tion of 144mn people, reported that if entertainment venues death or intentionally infecting Lawmakers also approved a The girl had a fever for three penalties for violating quaran- expected to follow suit. 2,337 coronavirus cases and 17 were not closed across the coun- many people, they would face up bill allowing the government to days before her death, and tested tine rules and spreading false in- Moscow, Europe’s most popu- fatalities yesterday, but the real try regional offi cials might face to fi ve years in prison, and up to introduce a state of emergency positive for the disease caused formation. lous city with more than 12mn number of the infected is be- “criminal negligence” charges. seven years if two or more people across the country. by the coronavirus, said another Out of 85 regions of the world’s residents, took the lead on Mon- lieved to be higher. Yesterday parliament’s lower died. The upper house also swiftly spokesman, Steven Van Gucht. largest country by landmass, day, with authorities ordering Over the past 24 hours author- house, the State Duma, hast- The State Duma also rushed approved the legislation later in The government gave no other more than 50 have so far moved people to stay home, with a few ities have reported 500 new cases ily approved in all three readings through – with little scrutiny the day. details, notably not saying whether she had any other underlying health problems. The girl’s school is located in Italy records more deaths, but rate of contagion continues to slow the city of Ghent, whose mayor Mathias De Clercq issued a statement about the “sad news”, expressing condolences to the DPA cy, Italy’s death toll climbed to vio Brusaferro, head of the Na- rus rose by 7.6% to 15,729. at least until Easter, or April 12. Italian Family Minister Elena girl’s family. Rome 12,428, by far the highest fi gure tional Health Institute, said. Yesterday public buildings Italians are under strict orders Bonetti, deputy Health Minister It added that the girl, whom he in the world. “Reaching the plateau does not across Italy had their fl ags at to stay home unless for work, Sandra Zampa, and Alberto Vil- did not name, had not been at the Total infections, including mean that we have conquered the half-mast to commemorate the emergencies and unavoidable er- lani, the head of the Italian Soci- school since March 13, just before taly reported yesterday 837 recoveries and deaths, reached peak and now that’s it. It means victims of the epidemic. rands like buying food and medi- ety of Paediatrics, had called for a nationwide shutdown. more deaths linked to the 105,792, a 4% increase from we have to start the descent,” he The Vatican did the same with cines or taking the dog out. the concession in a joint state- It was the first death of a child in ICovid-19 disease caused by Monday. added, renewing calls for no let- its fl ags in a sign of solidarity. However, children were set to ment. the coronavirus crisis in Belgium, the novel coronavirus, but the It was the lowest daily varia- up in national lockdown meas- Italy’s outbreak, the fi rst and be granted some fresh air. Doctor Roberto Bernabei, a which has now recorded 705 spread of the epidemic in the tion registered since the start of ures. largest in Europe, began on Feb- According to press reports, government scientifi c adviser, deaths according to the latest country has continued to slow the outbreak. Active cases, excluding deaths ruary 20. the interior ministry issued new said in a press conference that off icial toll. down. “We are in a situation in which and recoveries, were up by 2.8% The country has been under guidelines allowing one parent the new guidelines would grant Last week, France reported With the latest daily bulletin we have reached a kind of pla- to 77,635, while the number of lockdown for most of March, and to take them out for short walks “the right to [enjoy some] sun the death of a 16-year-old from from the Civil Protection Agen- teau” in the contagion curve, Sil- patients who have beaten the vi- the restrictions are due to remain near home. and spring”. coronavirus in the Paris region. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 13 INDIA

Over 3,000 prisoners freed in W Bengal over Covid-19 threat

IANS the coronavirus outbreak in the ed 2,059 undertrials who have present situation related to Cov- cases due to the temporary clo- and became violent demanding manufacturing hand sanitisers Kolkata state. been granted interim bail. id-19. sure of courts owing to the coro- they be released,” Biswas said. considering their vast require- “On Monday, 3,076 inmates Besides, 1,017 convicts have “All prisoners will be dropped navirus scare. With the prisons now less ment in the state,” Biswas said. from 60 correctional homes been set free on a three-month off within the next four-fi ve Demanding that they be re- crowded, the authorities are “The violent agitation has, ver 3,000 prisoners have were released. Due to the ongo- parole. days,” he said. leased for their safety, the pris- taking all measures to ensure however, hampered these activi- been freed by the West ing lockdown in the country, the Biswas said the decision was At least four prisoners died oners attacked the jail guards and strict compliance of hygiene ties,” he added. OBengal government to freed jailbirds are being driven taken as it was diffi cult to im- and several police personnel sus- tried to demolish the prison walls and social distancing norms on Biswas said a number of con- prevent the spread of the corona- to their respective homes by the plement social distancing norms tained injuries on March 21-22 at in a bid to escape. the part of the prisoners and the victs have donated money to the virus infection, a senior minister correctional home administra- with so many prisoners lodged in the Dum Dum Central Jail after The police lobbed tear gas jail staff. chief minister’s relief fund from said yesterday. tion by following all norms of correctional homes. angry prisoners indulged in ar- shells, and opened fi re after the “There is now adequate the wages they are paid. The decision came following hygiene and social distancing,” The minister said the prison- son and attacked security forces situation worsened. number of hand sanitisers and “For instance, a group of con- a Supreme Court directive and Correctional Services Minister ers were being taken home in protesting against the bar on “We had then taken a decision masks in the correctional homes. victs in Midnapore Central Cor- unrest among inmates in vari- Ujjal Biswas told IANS. separate vehicles meant for each meeting family members and the to release the convicts on parole. In fact, the prisoners had been rectional Home has donated ous correctional homes after The released prisoners includ- of the districts considering the increasing number of pending The undertrials were aggrieved drafted in making masks and Rs50,000-60,000,” he said. Lockdown made things diffi cult: India plans to buy Tablighi protective health

Agencies New Delhi gear from China ndia sealed off the headquar- ters of a religious group yes- Iterday and ordered an inves- tigation into accusations it held meetings that offi cials fear may despite concerns have infected dozens of people with the coronavirus. One of the coronavirus hot Agencies relevant departments,” China’s “Regular cargo flights for spots that the Delhi city gov- New Delhi foreign ministry spokeswoman transporting critical medical ernment has fl agged is a place Hua Chunying told a news con- equipment and supplies be- where the 100-year-old Tablighi ference on Monday. tween the two countries are Jamaat group is based, after doz- ndia will buy ventilators and A second source with direct likely to be operated by Air In- ens of people tested positive for masks from China to help knowledge of the government dia from 3 April 2020 onwards,” the virus and at least seven died. Iit deal with the coronavi- plans said Chinese manufac- it said. Authorities said people kept rus, a government official said turers had shown keen interest z A former central Minis- visiting the Tablighi centre, in a yesterday, even though some in supplying protective health ter and sitting legislator from fi ve-storey building in a neigh- countries in Europe had com- gear to India, lodging queries Arunachal Pradesh has urged bourhood of narrow, winding plained about the quality of the with Indian diplomatic mis- the Indian government to file lanes, from other parts of the equipment. sions in Shanghai and Beijing. a case of biological warfare country and abroad and it held India has recorded 1,397 China was emerging as a fa- against China and seek com- sermon sessions, despite govern- cases of the coronavirus, with vourite possible supplier at pensation. ment orders on social distancing. 35 deaths, but health experts this stage as new virus infec- Senior Congress leader But Musharraf Ali, one of the say the country of 1.3bn people tions were slowing there and its Ninong Ering in a letter to administrators of the centre could see a major surge in cases factories were being pushed to the External Affairs Minister said the group had been seeking that could overwhelm its weak reopen, the second source said. S Jaishankar said the Indian help from police and the city ad- public health system. government must file a case in ministration to deal with people Prime Minister Narendra “I don’t think we need international forums such as streaming in. Modi’s government said it was Chinese support of any International Court of Justice But the lockdown had made trying to procure medical gear, kind for our healthcare... (ICJ) against China and ask for things more diffi cult. including masks and body Even if Indian fi rms compensation of $ 22bn. “Under such compelling cir- coveralls, both from domestic produce at a higher cost, Ering told the minister that cumstances there was no op- firms and from countries like it doesn’t matter” a united effort must be under- tion but to accommodate the South Korea and China, to meet taken with support of other stranded visitors with prescribed shortages. India needs at least 38mn countries. medical precautions until such “China, definitely we are go- masks and 6.2mn pieces of per- “India must unite with other time that the situation becomes ing to buy... Because scaling up sonal protective equipment as it nations on this and also de- conducive for their movement our domestic production will confronts the spread of corona- mand an international investi- or arrangements are made by the take time,” said a top policy of- virus, according to a report by gation on Wuhan novel corona- authorities,” the Tablighi said in ficial aware of the plan, who its investment agency. virus in China to ensure safety a statement. declined to be identified due to But Swadeshi Jagran Manch of the posterity from any such Authorities are trying to trace sensitivity of the discussions. (SJM) an influential nationalist incidents in future,” said Ering. the movements of the Tablighi The Netherlands has recalled group close to Modi’s Bharatiya The former minister said that members after the meetings in thousands of masks imported Janata Party, said India should reliable media reports suggest- Delhi and the people who were from China because of quality look at domestic alternatives ed that China has unleashed a exposed to them. issues, while Spain has com- because of widespread con- bio-warfare programme of Wu- More than 1,000 people have plained about defective im- cern over the quality of China’s han coronavirus and put world been quarantined or hospital- ported test kits supplied by a equipment. peace and security at the great- ised in the city, including the 24 Chinese manufacturer, media “I don’t think we need Chi- est threat. discovered to be “coronavirus have reported. nese support of any kind for “The whole of the world is positive”, Delhi Health Minister China’s foreign ministry said our healthcare... Even if Indian under lockdown now and it has Satyendar Jain said. several countries had raised firms produce at a higher cost, crumbled the global economies Tests were being carried out doubts about the quality of it doesn’t matter,” Ashwani including our country’s,” Ering on dozens of people showing products imported from China, Mahajan, a national co-con- said in his letter. symptoms. and acknowledged that there vener of the SJM, said. “Our state forms an interna- Authorities in the southern might be some problems. Meanwhile, the Ministry of tional boundary with China and state of Telangana confi rmed “A large number of Chinese Civil Aviation said Air India was is under constant threat and that six people died after they manufacturers are working likely to transport the critical fear of Chinese evil deeds,” he contracted the virus at the Delhi around the clock to help other medical equipment from China added. event. countries save lives. Our sin- starting April 3. Arunachal Pradesh shares A cleric who attended the cerity and assistance is real. If The ministry said Air India 1,080km borders with China, event died in Srinagar last week, problems occur in this proc- has established a cargo air- 520km with Myanmar and offi cials said. Pedestrians walk on a deserted road during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown in Mumbai yesterday. ess, the Chinese side will talk to bridge between India and China. 217km with Bhutan. PM shares yoga tips to 666,000 migrants moved beat lockdown blues to relief camps, says govt DPA While many people are stay- New Delhi ing at home and possibly doing IANS poor, destitute, migrant workers, ing enough supply for of food yoga exercises, tens of thousands New Delhi those who only need food, and grains. There is nothing to panic. of workers, often on foot and with for those who have reached their We are distributing the grains n an eff ort to encourage little food, have trudged dozens of destination, but have been quar- daily,” Kejriwal said. people to stay fi t during the kilometres or more home, amid he government yesterday antined. “We are also aiming to provide I21-day national lockdown, fears that they could carry the vi- said over 666,000 people Delhi Chief Minister Arvind ration to the poor with no ra- Prime Minister Narendra Modi rus to remote areas in the country. Thave been shifted to more Kejriwal said the city govern- tion cards. Meanwhile, you can is sharing yoga tips and animated Authorities are bracing for than 21,000 migrant relief camps ment was getting ready to serve take food from the hunger relief videos of himself performing a potential wave of coronavi- across India amid the coronavi- lunch and dinner to about 1.2mn camps,” he added. postures. rus cases with limited health rus crisis. people from today with the set- In Ranchi, Jharkhand Chief “I’m neither a fi tness expert nor care and medical facilities in the The Home Ministry said over ting up of an additional 2,000 Minister Hemant Soren yester- a medical expert. Practising yoga world’s second-most populous 2.3mn additional people are be- food distribution centres. day inaugurated a CM Kitchen has been an integral part of my life country with a 1.3bn inhabitants. ing provided food in various “From tomorrow, in about and said his government was for many years and I have found it There are a total of 1,397 posi- states and union territories. 2,500 schools and 250 night committed to ensuring that no benefi cial,” Modi said on Twitter. tive cases including 35 deaths, The ministry said it has been shelters, food will be distrib- one went without food during He shared the link of his according to health authorities. continuously monitoring the uted. Each centre will have the the lockdown. YouTube channel “Yoga with There are concerns that India lockdown across the country, capacity to feed about 10-12 Set up with the help of Round- Modi,” available in several Indian has not conducted enough tests, asserting that the enforcement lakh people. Till now, we were table India and Ranchi district and foreign languages, in which with only over 38,000 tests given is “satisfactory” and that sup- serving about 4 lakh daily from administration, the ‘Mukhya- an animated version of himself its huge population. plies of essential items are also 800 locations,” the chief minis- mantri Rasoi’ aims to feed strikes various poses. Some people took to social smooth. ter said. around 5,000 people in Ranchi “I hope you also begin practis- media to attack Modi for being “A total of 21,064 migrant re- Kejriwal said he was not ex- and adjoining areas who have ing yoga regularly....Happy yoga “insensitive” during the crisis lief camps have been set up in the pecting such a big number of been rendered jobless due to the practising.” being faced by the vulnerable states and UTs in which 666,291 people from the city but more lockdown. The videos include 14 pos- workers. people have been provided shel- number of hunger relief camps The chief minister also fl agged tures. “Mr Prime Minister, there’s ter facilities,” said Punya Salila will help in social distancing - off mobile vans which will dis- The Modi government has one fi tness exercise better than Srivastava, joint secretary in the crucial for coronavirus control. tribute food prepared at the come under growing criticism in your yoga! Migrant workers are Home Ministry. “Ration is being distributed kitchen in Morhabadi Maidan in recent days over the mass exodus already doing it. You can start Besides, 2.3mn people have through shops and people are Ranchi. of migrant workers from cities to walking from Kashmir to Kanya- been provided food facility, the coming in large numbers. There He inspected the kitchen and villages as well as the country’s kumari during the 21 days and see offi cial said, adding these fa- were reports that the shops had also tasted the food prepared Firefighters spray disinfectant over a residential area from a sky lift preparedness to fi ght the pan- the plight you have created in this cilities are being provided to the run out of ration. We are ensur- there. crane in Chennai yesterday. demic. country!” a Twitter user said. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 INDIA

Closure of most labs poses serious challenge to healthcare system

IANS MD (Pathology) degrees, some tients,” Transasia managing di- lab technicians are not permit- lief. But in the absence of proper kind of patients we are dealing enhance their safety norms suit- Mumbai 1,500 by institutions, diagnostic rector Suresh Vazirani told IANS. ted. We tried options like send- tests, diagnosis, medicines and with. Plus, there is a shortage of ed for a pandemic like Covid-19. chains or major hospitals and the Only bare minimum lab facili- ing vehicles for pickup-drops, treatment, there could be long- safety equipment for most of the “However, at a meeting today, rest by MBBS doctors, mostly in ties are available for cancer pa- but it was not practical, so even term repercussions on peoples’ smaller labs,” Bhide said. the APPI committee reviewed mid the unprecedented Tier I and II centres. tients, pregnant women or critical I had to temporarily close it health,” Vazirani said. He urged the government to their preparedness after the lockdown, a staggering “Since the lockdown, almost cases, with skeletal staff of 10-1%, down,” Bhide told IANS. Bhide said there was another se- consider extending the insurance lockdown is lifted and there is a A85% of India’s 100,000 85% of the path-labs remain said Dr Vipul Patel of the Associa- Vazirani, who is one of India’s rious issue for the private lab tech- cover to all the path-lab techni- fl ood of patients, the regular and pathological laboratories, an im- closed for various reasons. Pri- tion of Practising Pathologists of leading lab equipment and rea- nicians - roughly estimated to be cians, staff and doctors as they fresh ones, the safety procedures portant component of the public marily, the lab staff cannot com- India (APPI) Committee. gents manufacturers, said all regu- around 1mn in the country - who render very critical services to the and other aspects,” Patel said. health services, have downed mute to work, patients are scared Dr Milind Bhide, who runs the lar and periodic tests for hyperten- are not covered under the Rs5mn overall public health system. Vazirani, Patel and Bhide point shutters, industry sources said. because of Covid-19, hospitals Bhide Laboratory Services, said sion, diabetes, bilirubin (jaundice), insurance scheme announced by Patel added that the emergen- out how the total lockdown has Of these, roughly 80%, are run have slashed all their routine a majority of his technicians live malaria, urinary tract infection and the central government last week. cy services currently available hit supplies of medical raw ma- by technicians with diploma in surgeries/procedures, OPDs ca- in the suburbs and cannot travel diarrhoea are have been stopped. “Path-lab technicians are also are only in the labs managed by terials like chemicals or even al- Medical Lab Technology qualifi - ter to only emergency problems, due to the lockdown. “Even many medicines are not at the risk of the pandemic, their doctors who have upgraded their cohol as the wholesale markets cations in Tier III or IV centres, besides the prohibitive costs to “The skeletal public transport easily available, so many just pop families worry over the nature of safety standards, while others are shut, further hampering the around 3,000 run by doctors with keep labs running without pa- is only for government servants; a paracetamol for temporary re- the work as nobody knows what have no resources or access to work of path-labs. Maharashtra coronavirus positive cases surge to 302

IANS 1,000 camps - up from 262 on Mumbai Monday - starting to function yesterday. The number of Rs5 meals, n the sharpest spurt since the ‘Shiva Bhojan Thali’ has been in- lockdown started, Mahar- creased from the normal 25,000 Iashtra recorded a staggering a day to 100,000, with plans to 302 Covid-19 positive cases with raise more if required. the highest number from Mum- “The state has suffi cient stocks bai, offi cials said yesterday. of foodgrains, vegetables and In the past 24 hours, the medicines and there’s no need to number of cases surged from 259 panic,” the chief minister said. to 302 - an increase of 43. According to offi cial data, 39 The total positive cases now people have fully recovered and A doctor interacts with other doctors, nurses and medical staff at a workshop at the Gujarat Chambers of Commerce and Industries in Ahmedabad yesterday. stand at: Mumbai 151, Pune 48, discharged, while 23,914 are in Thane region 36, Sangli 25, Nag- home quarantine, and 1,434 in pur 16, Ahmednagar 8, Yavat- institutional isolation across mal 4, Buldhana 3, Satara and the state. Tope said the Indian Kolhapur 2 each, one each in Council of Medial research has Aurangabad, Sindhudurg, Rat- approved 23 new testing labs, nagiri, Gondia, Jalgaon, Nashik, including 13 in the private sector. besides one from Gujarat. In a related development, the Nineteen patients have died health authorities have sealed Doctors fi ght Covid-19 in Maharashtra, eight of them off the Worli-Koliwada, one of in Mumbai, said Health Minister Mumbai’s oldest fi sherfolk colo- Rajesh Tope. nies which falls in the constitu- Chief Minister Uddhav ency of Tourism and Environ- Thackeray again appealed to the ment Minister Aditya Thackeray, people to remain indoors and after at least fi ve positive cases maintain social distancing. were detected. with raincoats, helmets “The ‘war against virus’ has “Disinfection and fumigation reached a crucial stage and this is on along with contact tracing,” Reuters In Uttar Pradesh, India’s taliation from the authorities. India spends about 1.3% of its is the time to exercise extreme Thackeray tweeted yesterday. New Delhi most populous state, drivers of The hospital’s medical su- GDP on public health, among the precautions. Please do not step According to offi cials, one around 4,700 ambulances that perintendent in-charge, Dr Asis lowest in the world. out of your homes for your own of the reasons for the huge in- mainly serve government hospi- Manna, declined to comment. “We are living on a prayer, it’s safety,” Thackeray said. crease in cases is attributed to hortages of protective health tals went on strike yesterday, de- In northern Haryana state not that we can save ourselves He said that the problems of the Mumbai population density, gear in India are forcing manding proper safety gear and near New Delhi, Dr Sandeep by relying on the health sys- migrant labourers has been ad- especially in sprawling dingy Ssome doctors to use rain- health insurance. Garg of ESI Hospital said he had tem,” said a senior federal gov- equately addressed with around slums. coats and motorbike helmets while “We won’t risk our lives un- been using a motorbike helmet ernment official in New Delhi, fi ghting the coronavirus, exposing less our demand is met,” Hanu- because he didn’t have any N95 who declined to be named be- the weak state of the public health man Pandey, president of the masks, which off er signifi cant cause of the sensitivity of the system ahead of an anticipated Ambulance Workers Associa- protection against virus parti- situation. surge in Covid-19 cases. tion, told Reuters. cles. In a state-run hospital in the Prime Minister Narendra Mo- According to one projection, “I put on a helmet - it has a vi- city of Rohtak in Haryana, sev- di’s government said India was more than 100,000 people could sor in front so it covers my face, eral junior doctors have been trying to get personal protective be infected by mid-May, putting A doctor wearing a torn raincoat adding another layer over the declining to treat patients un- equipment in bulk domestically India’s underfunded health sys- stands at the major coronavirus surgical mask,” Garg said. less they have adequate safety and from South Korea and China tem and scarce doctors under disease treatment facility in The federal Health Ministry equipment. to meet the shortages. severe strain. Kolkata. did not immediately respond to They also established an in- More than a dozen doctors In the eastern city of Kolka- Reuters queries. formal Covid-19 fund, to which battling the outbreak, which has ta, junior doctors at the major tors there and photographs re- The plight of doctors in the each doctor contributed Rs1,000 so far infected 1,251 people and coronavirus treatment facility viewed by Reuters. pandemic has cast light on a to buy masks and other face cov- killed 32, told Reuters they were - Beliaghata Infectious Disease “We won’t work at the cost dilapidated and overburdened erings, one of the doctors said. concerned that without this Hospital - were given plastic of our lives,” said one of the public health system that has for “Everybody is scared,” the Noticeboards are pasted on barricades as they are set up to close the proper gear, they could become raincoats to examine patients doctors, who declined to be years been starved of funds and doctor said. “Nobody wants to entrance of a residential complex in Mumbai yesterday. carriers of the disease. last week, according to two doc- named because he feared re- an overhaul. work without protection.” Carry own grocery bag, wash DD to bring back fruits and vegetables: experts golden era shows IANS cast at 8:30pm on DD National. IANS said Dr Harjit Singh Mahay, of back and wash your hands or New Delhi The re-telecast of the follow- New Delhi Fortis Hospital in Delhi. sanitise them.” ing has begun on March 28. “Instead of thinking that Meanwhile, another doctor 1. Ramayan: from the stable every product bought from the said the existing non-commu- oordarshan is all set to make of Ramanand Sagar’s catalogue s grocery stores become store might carry the virus, nicable diseases, responsible for staying at home more en- comprising 78 episodes (35 min- the only point of contact people should thoroughly wash 72% deaths globally, have been Djoyable for people during utes each) and 30 episodes (30 Afor people during the na- fruits and vegetables and main- an aggravating factor for Cov- the lockdown by bringing its gold- minutes each) being telecast on tionwide lockdown, experts are tain simple hygiene. These are id-19 adverse outcome. en era shows back on television. DD National everyday at 9am urging people to practise social few important things one needs To counter the Covid-19 pan- The following shows are and 9pm. distancing and take enough pre- to keep in mind while visiting a demic, there is need to decrease scheduled for re-telecast 2. Mahabharat: 97 episodes cautions while visiting shops. grocery store,” Mishra said. its transmission by imposing 1. Chanakya: 47 episodes, (45 minutes) is being telecast at “People should make sure that Navneet Sood of Dharamshila travel restrictions, said J S directed by Chandraprakash 12 noon and 7pm. the store they are visiting is not Narayana Superspeciality Hospi- Thakur. Dwivedi, is planned for daily 3. Byomkesh Bakshi: 52 epi- too crowded and at all time they tal in New Delhi said people must Thakur stressed the need to telecast in the afternoon time sodes telecast for 1 hour daily at should practise social distanc- keep 1mn distance from each accurately evaluate all original bands of DD Bharti from the fi rst 11am ing,” R S Mishra of Max Super other “and don’t touch your face co-morbidities of people with week of this month. 4. Circus: 19 episodes featur- Speciality Hospital in Saket, told while you are out of the house.” Covid-19, because it had been 2. Upanishad Ganga: 52 epi- ing Shahrukh Khan is being aired IANS. Once buying is done, “cover seen that these patients often sodes, produced by Chinmaya at 8pm If the store is small, then a your groceries safely and take died due to their original co- Mission Trust and directed by Dr 5. Hum Hain Na: comprising large number of people should them home. Leave them inside morbidities. Chandraprakash Dwivedi, also 60 episodes started on March 28 avoid going in to prevent any the entry gate once you reach The percentage of deaths in scheduled for afternoon slots on as a daily serial at at 10pm on DD close contact, he said, adding home and go straight to the Covid-19 patients with preex- DD Bharti starting this week. National Network hand sanitisation is extremely bathroom and take a shower. isting conditions, such as car- 3. Shaktimaan: the famous se- 6. Tu Tota Main Maina: com- important - once people reach “If there are airtight plastic diovascular disease, diabetes, rial featuring Mukesh Khanna prising 26 episodes has been home they should sanitise and packets then wash them with soap chronic respiratory disease, hy- planned for a 1-hour daily telecast scheduled as a daily serial from wash their hands. water and take them to the kitchen pertension and cancer, was 13.2, on DD National network at 1pm. March 28 everyday at 10.30pm “Check if you can get some or or just leave them there at least 9.2, 8, 8.4 and 7.6, respectively, 4. Shriman Shrimati: the rib on DD National Network. all of your daily needs online, car- for fi ve hours if possible without at the global level. tickling comedy produced by Mar- The government has said it is ry your own bag when going to a touching them, then pick them up This is low in comparison kand Adhikari is scheduled for a mandatory for all the DTH/ca- grocery shop, maintain a distance for use,” Sood told IANS. to deaths of Covid-19 patients comeback on DD National at 2pm. ble operators to show all the DD of at least 3ft and avoid touching “Every time you touch any- with no preexisting condition at A migrant worker rests in a government-run temporary shelter at a 5. Krishna Kali: 18 episodes channels as well as Lok Sabha unnecessary items or surfaces,” thing outside the house, come 0.9%. school in New Delhi yesterday. are scheduled for a daily tele- and Rajya Sabha channels. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 15 LATIN AMERICA Costa Rican president vows to protect indigenous rights

Guardian News and Media claim ancestral land. The murder Costa Rica’s President, Car- enous territories. But from that people that for many years have pensation,” Alvarado said.“We are But Vanessa Jimenez, a lawyer San Jose happened just two weeks after an los Alvarado, has set up a fund to time until today, the state of Costa lived on the lands.” Under the 1977 going to be presenting a bill in the for Forest Peoples Programme indigenous leader of the Bribri in- compensate people who have lost Rica has not had the capacity – Indigenous Act in Costa Rica, 24 national assembly as well to pro- who works with indigenous de- digenous people in nearby Salitre their land. mainly economic – to protect the territories are protected for peo- vide a solution both to recover the fenders in Costa Rica, questioned osta Rica’s president has was shot in a surge of unpunished In an interview with the Guard- land rights of the people,” he said. ple with historical ties to the area. lands of the indigenous but, at the the president’s framing of the pledged to protect the violence against native commu- ian, the Costa Rican President, “There were people that were Earlier this month, the Inter- same time, have an integral solu- situation. Crights of indigenous de- nities in Costa Rica. Carlos Alvarado, said he was there before that declaration that American Commission on Hu- tions for the people that are Costa “This is an issue of political fenders following a spate of vio- Confl icts over land rights in committed to protecting indig- have rights also. But after 1978, man Rights expressed its concern Ricans that need a livelihood so- will, not economics. In Salitre lence against native communities Central America have driven a enous land rights while making many people had entered the about the situation in the Buenos lution. alone (where Rojas was murdered in his country. wave of violence and murders sure non-indigenous people liv- lands and, in some cases, bought Aires area of Puntarenas province, “These are quite complex solu- last year), eight eviction orders Last month, an activist, Yehry against indigenous activists in the ing in protected areas were com- that land without it being possi- the centre of the violence, a year tions but we are addressing it and have been active now for between Rivera, from the Broran indig- region. pensated. ble. Today, the situation we need to the day after the murder of Ser- we are following all the rights, not fi ve and seven years, but the gov- enous community in Terraba, In Costa Rica, activists have “I believe one of the problems to fi x is that we need to preserve gio Rojas, a Bribri land and human only on the rights of Costa Rica ernment has delayed executing Puntarenas province, was shot warned that state inaction over has to do a lot with the enforce- the rights we’ve already recog- rights defender. and international conventions, them – even before the recipients and killed after he was attacked by the violence is a question of po- ment of those rights. In 1978, nised and at the same time pro- “We recently started the fi rst but also the commission on hu- decided to involve the courts with an armed mob while trying to re- litical will. many lands were declared indig- vide solutions for many of the fund for buying land and for com- man rights in the region.” appeals,” she said. Lockdown broken as crowds US proposes gather for govt aid Venezuela

Thomson Reuters Foundation Bogota

olice in El Salvador used pepper spray to disperse transition Pcrowds of people seek- ing government subsidies to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, drawing criticism about the way fi nancial aid was being distributed. In long queues stretching across government streets, thousands of people stood close to one another in the capital Reuters Maduro’s staying power has sees elections, which Pompeo city of San Salvador, defying gov- Washington become a source of frustration for said the US hoped could be held ernment orders to stay at home to President Donald Trump, US offi - in six to 12 months. help stop the spread of the virus. cials have said privately. But in what appears to be a sof- The government of President he Trump administra- Maduro retains the backing of tening of tone toward Maduro, Nayib Bukele has pledged to give tion yesterday unveiled a the military as well as Russia, Chi- Abrams told Reuters the plan did $300 to some 1.5mn households Tproposal for the lifting of na and Cuba. not call for him to be forced into who work in the informal econ- Venezuela sanctions in exchange But the Trump administration exile and even suggested that he omy such as house cleaners and for creation of a power-sharing hopes the growing coronavirus “could theoretically run” in the street vendors who lack a fi nancial transitional government made up threat will help make Maduro and election. safety net. of members of the opposition and his loyalists more pliable. “If the conditions of the frame- The Central American nation President Nicolas Maduro’s So- “The regime is now under work are met, including the depar- of 7mn people has been under cialist Party. heavier pressure than it has ever ture of all foreign security forces,” a nationwide 30-day lockdown With the South American na- been,” US Special Representative Pompeo told reporters, “then all since March 21 to fi ght the pan- tion squeezed by low world oil for Venezuela Elliott Abrams told remaining US sanctions would be demic. prices, a spreading coronavirus Reuters. “Maybe this pressure will lifted.” Kept at home, workers who rely pandemic and a US economic lead to a serious discussion within Venezuela’s information minis- on their daily earnings to buy food pressure campaign, Washington the regime.” try did not immediately respond to and pay rent said they had no op- shifted to a more toned-down ap- The US proposal, which a request for comment. tions. proach aimed at promoting fair Abrams said was approved by Meanwhile opposition leader “We don’t have anything to elections as soon as this year to end Trump, calls for Maduro to “step Juan Guaido has urged President eat,” said Maria del Carmen Ze- the political crisis there. aside” and for the opposition- Nicolas Maduro to accept the US’ peda, a vendor standing with a US Secretary of State Mike controlled National Assembly proposal to set up a transitional crowd of people outside a govern- Pompeo formally announced the “to elect an inclusive transitional government in exchange for the ment offi ce hoping for aid. administration’s “Democratic government acceptable to the lifting of sanctions, saying it is “I don’t have a telephone. I have Transition Framework” for Ven- major factions.” This council of “the only option to overcome the nothing,” she told local media as ezuela, which off ers for the rstfi state would govern until it over- crisis.” her eyes welled up with tears. time a “sequenced exit path” from There have been 30 confi rmed tough US sanctions, including on Guaido summoned for ‘attempted coup’ coronavirus cases in El Salvador, the vital oil sector, if Maduro and according to government fi gures. his allies cooperate. The government took prompt But it will be no easy task to State prosecutors in Venezuela his head of security, Saab said. action with its stay-at-home or- draw Maduro onto a path of politi- have summoned opposition Colombian forces last week der and the closing of its land bor- cal reconciliation. leader Juan Guaido for an seized a cache of weapons linked ders and airports. He holds onto power despite es- alleged “attempted coup d’etat” to a retired Venezuelan general But critics weighed in on social calation of US eff orts to oust him and attempted assassination, wanted on drug traff icking attorney general Tarek William charges in the US. The shaven- media to say that distribution of and has shown no willingness to Saab announced yesterday. In headed general, Cliver Alcala, the subsidy has caused chaos and seriously negotiate an end to his a statement broadcast on state surrendered in Colombia and was confusion, especially among peo- rule. television, Saab said Guaido handed over to US authorities last ple who do not have bank accounts The initiative comes less than had been summoned to appear week. Alcala claimed ownership of or mobile phones. a week after the US government before prosecutors next Thursday the weapons discovered by police Mauricio Funes, a govern- took a more confrontational tack, following an investigation in Puerto Viejo in Colombia’s ment opponent and the country’s indicting Maduro and more than last week into the seizure of a Magdalena department on weapons cache in neighbouring March 23. He said in social media former president, said the initia- a dozen other current and former Colombia that he said was to messages the intention was to tives to provide aid had been “im- top Venezuelan offi cials on charges be smuggled into Venezuela. deliver them to Venezuela to provised” and rendered social dis- Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and Russia’s ambassador in Venezuela Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov of “narco-terrorism,” accusations The subpoena was delivered to “begin the liberation.” tancing impossible. touch their elbows while wearing masks due to coronavirus disease, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas. he dismissed as false and racist. Mexico declares Bolsonaro seeks end health emergency

Reuters minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell. to quarantine measures Mexico City Mexico has one of the world’s highest rates of both obesity and Reuters Bolsonaro said, adding that the porters outside the presidential diabetes, and experts have re- Brasilia question people ask him most is palace. exico has declared a cently sounded the alarm that when can they return to work. Bolsonaro last week warned health emergency and its population could therefore Brazil’s Senate passed a bill that Brazil could break with Missued stricter rules be more vulnerable than its rela- razil’s President Jair Bol- on Monday evening guarantee- “democratic normalcy,” citing aimed at containing the fast- tively young average age might sonaro said there can ing some of the country’s poor- the risk of rioting and suggesting spreading coronavirus after its suggest. Bbe no more quarantine est citizens income of 600 reais “the left” could capitalise on any number of cases surged past Foreign Minister Marcelo measures imposed on the coun- ($117) a month for three months, chaos, without elaborating. 1,000 and the death toll rose Ebrard, who announced the try than those already in place a package that could cost almost The right-wing populist, sharply. health emergency, said that peo- to combat coronavirus because 50bn reais. elected in 2018 on a pledge to Health offi cials reported a total ple or companies who ignored jobs are being destroyed and the According to Bolsonaro, all break with a corrupt political es- of 1,094 cases of coronavirus, up the rules would face administra- poor are suffering dispropor- measures to combat the crisis tablishment, has long defended from 993 a day earlier, and eight tive or penal actions. tionately. could cost 800bn reais, and the Brazil’s 1964-1985 military dic- more deaths, taking its total to The emergency would be in Speaking to Rede TV, Bol- economy, which is expected to tatorship as necessary to keep 28. force until April 30, he said. sonaro criticised self-isolation contract this year, could rebound communists out of power. They reiterated warnings that Unlike most regional peers, and other measures imposed and be back on track within a The coronavirus outbreak, the health system could be over- President Andres Manuel Lopez by local authorities to limit the year. which has now resulted in 4,579 whelmed if the coronavirus is not Obrador has not ordered a lock- spread of the virus, a view that Earlier, Bolsonaro had stepped confi rmed cases and 159 deaths contained. down or other drastic measures again appeared to put him at up his stand-off with state gov- in Brazil, has led governments The new measures to fight to control spread of the corona- odds with Health Minister Luiz ernments, branding governors around the world to call for the virus include a reduction virus due to concerns Mexico’s Henrique Mandetta. in the hardest-hit states “job- emergency powers, raising con- of the number of people who already slumping economy Mandetta on Monday urged killers” and suggesting that de- cerns among human rights ad- can gather to 50 and an exten- would take an even bigger hit. Brazilians to maintain maxi- mocracy could be at risk if the vocates. sion of a previously announced Meanwhile Spanish tenor mum social distancing to ease coronavirus crisis leads to social So far Brazil’s political lead- suspension of non-essential Placido Domingo said he is re- the strain on the fragile health chaos. ers have been eager to negotiate activities. covering from Covid-19 at home system and said that 200mn “When the situation is head- emergency measures such as a “This applies strictly – to after being released from a hos- personal protective equipment ing toward chaos, with mass un- “war budget” exempt from fi scal people older than 60 years, those pital in Mexico. (PPEs) items would be arriving employment and hunger, it’s fer- rules, but many have criticised who have hypertension, diabe- The 79-year-old opera star from China next month. tile ground for some to exploit, the president, who lacks a solid tes or are pregnant, regardless said on March 22 he had tested “You can’t impose any more seeking a way to reach power and alliance in Congress, for down- A member of the armed forces disinfects a hospital during the coro- whether their jobs are considered positive for the coronavirus. He quarantine than there already is,” never leave it,” Bolsonaro told re- playing health risks. navirus outbreak in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. essential,” said deputy health was later admitted to a hospital. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 PAKISTAN Imran calls in Rangers over Sindh supply lines ‘failure’ „ Goods transporters face implement the instruction. told to treat them well and not Yesterday Special Assistant to complain of various issues aris- Inter-district and inter-pro- Prime Minister Khan: expressed numerous hurdles due to She said that all export and im- treat them as criminals, and not the Prime Minister on Health Dr ing out of the healthcare crisis, vincial goods fares have de- displeasure ‘in strong words’ lockdown port activity takes place through to push them into quarantine,” Zafar Mirza confi rmed 1,865 cas- from lack of basic facilities on creased by more than 30%. over the Sindh government’s the Sindh shipping port, and due she said. es and 25 deaths from Covid-19, highways to rising transportation “Fares have dropped to failure to keep transport lines Internews/DPA to administrative measures and The adviser said that admis- the disease caused by the coro- prices, as well as a labour short- Rs100,000 from Rs130,000- open for essential goods. Islamabad/Karachi a transport lockdown, exporters sion into a quarantine facility navirus. age. Rs140,000 from other provinces are facing challenges. should be carried out respectful- The country had a further Prime Minister Khan has to Karachi,” he said. “In order to lowed to transport food items, “The supply goes all the way to ly with the patients’ approval and 15,709 suspected cases, with pointed this out multiple times encourage transporters, the gov- including sugar and pulses, but rime Minister Imran Khan Gilgit-Baltistan. With no loaders their families’ consent, and that more than 8,000 currently in that extreme measures taken ernment should ensure all facili- other non-food-related goods, had directed the Sindh present or those who pack goods all governments had been told to quarantine, the health minister by the provincial governments ties on highways for drivers.” including textile material, were PRangers to ensure that sup- or a lack of facilities, the supply strictly comply with this. said. would aff ect the supply chain and He also complained that po- not allowed. ply of goods from Sindh is main- chain is facing a delay. Yesterday Planning Minister Fearing an exponential rise in that adequate measures should lice personnel deployed near Port “If goods transport is allowed tained after it was found that the “The Rangers will ensure all Asad Umar spoke on the same the number of infections, politi- have been taken before lockdown Qasim and at other entry points to run smoothly, food security provincial government had failed obstacles in the transport of subject during a media confer- cians and experts have called on to make sure that this does not were harassing transporters and issue will not arise,” Aslam said. to implement a transport agree- goods are removed and the trans- ence, saying that this poor treat- the government to ramp up test- happen. demanding bribes. “Now transport from Punjab is ment “in true spirit”. port of goods is secured and en- ment discourages people from ing. Karachi Goods Carrier (KGC) “Port to port transport in Ka- coming for export. A lot of retail The federal government’s chief sured,” said Awan. coming forward to be tested. In response, Planning Minister president Rana Mohamed Aslam rachi is suff ering from police har- material used to come in, which spokesperson Dr Firdous Ashiq Khan’s adviser on information There have been reports that Umar pledged that the country said that while the federal gov- assment, which is delaying deliv- is not allowed for now.” Awan said at a media briefi ng also said that the prime minister police and other law enforcement would be able to test 900,000 ernment had exempted goods eries,” Aslam claimed. On the other hand, retailers after a cabinet meeting yester- was informed during the cabinet agencies had been tracking down people a day by April 15. transportation from the lock- He urged the authorities to in the city said that local trans- day that the prime minister ex- meeting that coronavirus pa- anyone with a history of interna- It was learnt yesterday that down, basic facilities needed on order offi cials of the various de- port and pick-up drivers had pressed displeasure “in strong tients are being treated as “un- tional travel. truckers continue to face prob- highways were not available. partments not to harass trans- increased the fare in the city by words” over the fact that de- touchables”. Some had been forced into lems on the highways. “Drivers are complaining of porters. around 50%. spite the National Co-ordination Awan said that this is a “crimi- quarantine, regardless of wheth- According to a report, goods not having food and workshop The KGC president also point- Due to workers’ shortage, the Committee’s decision for all nal act” and that the prime min- er coronavirus had been con- transportation activities have facilities on highways,” he said. ed out that the lockdown had re- transport was also in short sup- four provinces as well as Gilgit- ister expressed great disapproval fi rmed, the reports said. declined by 80% as hostel and If the government wanted a sulted in a shortage of workers, ply, and drivers increased the fare Baltistan and AJK (Azad Jammu of the fact. Pakistan has seen a steady in- workshop facilities on highways smooth supply of food items, it which was in turn aff ecting the to Rs1,600 per trip. and Kashmir) to keep transport “Law enforcement agencies or crease in coronavirus cases over remain suspended amid the lock- would have to ensure that the availability of transport and its Earlier, the rate was Rs1,000- lines open for essential goods, hospital security offi cials mis- the past week despite a nation- down. needed facilities are available cost. Rs1,200 a trip from in the city, a the Sindh government did not treating them have been strictly wide lockdown. Transporters and retailers along the highways, he added. Goods transporters are al- shopkeeper said.

Lahore Safari Park Children coping with crisis sells 14 lions to Pakistani diaspora in private farms The Punjab Wildlife and Parks US to buy ventilators Department has sold 14 African lions from the Lahore Zoo Safari Park to private breeding farms for their motherland out of a total of 39 big cats because of the lack of space, sources said. Internews resenting Pakistani physicians Sources said some eight or Islamabad in North America, has contacted nine African lions would also suppliers in China. be sold from Lahore Zoo once APPNA has also opened a the situation arising from hysicians of Pakistani de- command centre in Lahore for the coronavirus lockdown scent based in the United providing N-95 and KN-95 normalises. PStates are being asked to fi - masks, protective gowns and The sale of the 14 lions nance the purchase of ventilators other equipment to doctors in were carried out before the from China to help their country Pakistan. coronavirus pandemic broke. of origin amid the coronavirus In the US, the Pakistan embas- Punjab Wildlife and Parks director outbreak, said an embassy of- sy is working with APPNA and Naeem Bhatti, when asked about fi cial. Pakistani restaurants to provide the sales, said that owing to Children play in front of their “They are on the forefront in free meals to those stranded be- lack of space at Zoo Safari and house in Rawalpindi. the fi ght against this disease in cause of the lockdown. to avoid inbreeding issues, the the United States and are also “We are working with the US department decided to sell the Right: Children look out a willing to do whatever they can offi cials to send those Pakista- African lions. window as they stay indoors to help the country of their ori- nis home on the fi rst available He said the big cats were sold at at their home in Islamabad. gin,” Pakistan ambassador Asad fl ights,” said the ambassador. the government rate – Rs150,000 Majeed Khan said. “We are also working with the per animal. Left: Boys walk past a gold Like the rest of the interna- US embassy in Islamabad to Bhatti said another factor was shop market in Islamabad tional community, Pakistan also bring back Pakistani-Americans that all the lions that were sold that has been shut down. needs medical supplies, particu- stranded there.” were partially crippled, but were larly ventilators, to deal with this Pakistanis stranded in the US still productive for breeding. Below: A boy sells face masks crisis, as it has only a few thou- are also concerned about their “We explained to private while his brother takes a sand of these life-saving instru- visas, which would expire if they breeding farm owners that the break on a street in Karachi. ments. continued to stay. lions were partially crippled One option was to urge the US “We contacted US State De- before the sales, and they had no government to send some venti- partment offi cials on this issue objection to that. lators to Pakistan. and they assured us that those “The sales were carried out by “But we realise that there’s stranded in the US because of an arrangement done by Punjab an acute shortage of ventilators this epidemic will get a 180-day Wildlife Department and Parks in the United States as well,” he grace period,” he said. head off ice at the approved rated said. “So, we are asking Pakistani For those Pakistani students in by the finance department on physicians and others to fi nance the US on scholarships who need a first-come, first-served basis,” the purchase of ventilators from to return, “the embassy will ar- she said. China.” range fl ights for their return”, he Bhatti said the remaining lions APPNA, an organisation rep- added. at the zoo would be cross-bred with the lions gifted by the United Arab Emirates some time back to avoid inbreeding; similarly, the private farmers who had bought Financial assistance lions from the department would also be able to avoid inbreeding, by crossed their own lions with sought for musicians the ones they bought from the department. Internews to help them out in the current Peshawar lockdown, while no government Journalist exiled offi cial or civil society members have turned up to extend assist- in Sweden has enior artists and singers ance to them, said Murad Afridi, gone missing: RSF have asked the government a noted tabla player. Sto include poor and deserv- Ustad Khial Mohamed said A Pakistani journalist living in ing musicians, instrumentalists that artists had been already suf- exile in Sweden has been missing Pakistan Railways converts coaches into wards and performers in the scheme of fering due to unfavourable con- for nearly a month, stoking cash and food relief package be- ditions, even before the corona- concerns that his disappearance ing prepared for daily wagers. virus lockdown. is related to his reporting on Internews novel coronavirus, which causes converted into mobile isolation pitals are managed by Pakistan Pashto ghazal maestro Khial “I make a strong appeal to the Baluchistan, a press rights group Islamabad the Covid-19 disease. wards. Railways and numerous dispen- Mohamed, as wells as veteran higher authorities to remember said yesterday. These mobile isolation wards Each coach has nine com- saries are also available for pa- folk artists Ahmad Gul Ustad artists during this crisis. They Sajid Hussain went missing on are now ready and can be sent partments, which means in one tients aff ected by coronavirus, and Zarsanga Bibi, have appealed should be included in the relief March 2, according to police. hile the country- to any part of the country con- compartment nine wards are the railways minister said. to the government to extend the package plan,” he added. Originally from Baluchistan, he wide passenger train nected with railway tracks upon available. Pakistan Railways had an- relief package to the needy and Veteran folk artist Zarsanga has been living and working as a Wservice remains sus- request by the authorities in In addition, 100 beds each in nounced suspension of all pas- poor artists and their families. complained that even the charity part-time lecturer in the Swedish pended for an indefi nite period, case the existing health facili- all the seven divisions of Paki- senger trains countrywide in Rashid Khan, president of Hu- organisations remained indiff er- city of Uppsala. Pakistan Railways has con- ties are unable to cope with the stan Railways – Rawalpindi, Pe- order to check the spread of nari Tolana Welfare Society, said ent when it came to helping the He is also chief editor of the verted all its business class and number of coronavirus patients, shawar, Lahore, Karachi, Quet- coronavirus. that more than 700 artists, folk artists and singers. online news outlet, Baluchistan air-conditioned sleeper coaches Railways Minister Shaikh Rash- ta, Sukkur and Multan – are now However, freight train service singers and performers in the “I know a large number of art- Times. into mobile isolation wards to id Ahmad told reporters at the available, each equipped with continues without disruption as province are in dire need of cash ists and singers living in Min- According to RSF (Reporters Sans accommodate around 2,000 Rawalpindi railway station. one ventilator. the food supply is of utmost im- and food. gora, Mardan, Nowshera, Bannu, Frontieres, Reporters Without beds for patients suff ering from In all, 220 coaches have been Services at all the seven hos- portance. He said that most of them Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Charas- Borders), Hussain was last seen support their extended families adda and Peshawar, and even in boarding a train from Stockholm Punjab approves malaria medicines for critically-ill Covid-19 patients and have no source of income, tribal districts, who have closed to Uppsala “with the aim of and depend on earnings from down their performances and collecting the keys to his new The Punjab government has allowed the caused by the coronavirus. the seriously ill patients of coronavirus at the the occasional performances at look to the authorities concerned apartment and leaving some treatment of critically-ill Covid-19 patients 19 China had treated critical patients with the Mayo Hospital, and initial reports suggest wedding ceremonies during the and philanthropists for help,” she personal eff ects there”. with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, drugs, and the US has also allowed its use. that the drug is yielding positive results,” said spring season, and that too has said. He has not been in contact with besides expanding the capacity of beds The decision was taken by the Punjab Mayo Hospital Lahore chief executive Prof Dr been lost due to the unexpected Ahmad Gul, another septua- anyone since. across the province. government after the US Food and Drug Asad Aslam Khan. lockdown. genarian folk artist, regretted “No one, including his family, has The government has procured 50,000 Authority (FDA) granted approval to using Meanwhile, the government is planning to Artists, singers and perform- that every successive govern- heard anything from him,” Erik tablets of the said medicines. hydroxychloroquine, which is originally used rent two three-star hotels in the city to use ers living in the cities are af- ment, whether federal or provin- Halkjaer, president of the Swedish Mayo Hospital had earlier started using the to treat malaria. their rooms to isolate suspected patients of fected the most, because even cial, have ignored the plight of branch of RSF, told AFP. drug on critical patients of Covid-19, which is “Our physicians have started medication of coronavirus. their neighbours are reluctant the artists. Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 17 PHILIPPINES

Rice imports Govt reports largest daily planned to boost rise in virus deaths, cases stocks Reuters Manila Reuters Manila he Philippines recorded yesterday its largest daily Tincrease in coronavi- he Philippine govern- rus deaths and infections, as it ment is looking to import ramped up testing with the ar- T300,000 tonnes of rice to rival of thousands of kits from ensure suffi cient domestic sup- abroad and the opening of new ply of the staple while it seeks to laboratories. contain the spread of the coro- Ten more deaths took the toll navirus in the Southeast Asian to 88, while the tally of infec- country, a senior offi cial said tions rose to 2,084, with 538 yesterday. additional cases, said health The Philippines became the ministry offi cial Maria Rosario world’s biggest rice importer in Vergeire. 2019 with purchases estimated The ministry has opened new at a record 2.9mn tonnes. labs and run more than 15,000 It usually buys from Vietnam tests, a fi ve-fold jump from along with some volumes from about 3,000 last week, she said, Thailand. adding that more hospitals were Vietnam, the world’s third- seeking government approval to largest rice exporter, has tempo- function as testing centres. rarily suspended new rice export “We have six more laborato- contracts while undertaking a ries to conduct tests,” Vergeire review of its stockpiles to ensure said. “We are also conducting it has enough domestic supplies contact tracing to fi nd possibly to cope with the coronavirus infected persons.” outbreak. Philippine hospitals are Rice traders, however, said on struggling with a shortage of Monday that Vietnam was ex- protective gear, manpower and pected to lift the suspension this testing capacity, as are hospitals week, with the government im- elsewhere. posing a quota. The Philippines, the third The Philippines’ Inter-Agency country after China and Italy Police personnel hold up placards reminding people to stay at home amid concerns of the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Manila, yesterday. Task Force on the Emerging In- to order home quarantine for fectious Diseases has sought a large part of its population of President Rodrigo Duterte’s 107mn had until recently re- approval for a government-to- ported fewer cases than expect- government rice purchase ar- ed, with many deaths. rangement, said Cabinet Secre- Authorities had attributed tary Karlo Nograles. that to a lack of testing kits and The Department of Agri- lab capacity. culture and other government President Rodrigo Duterte agencies were now reaching out has put retired generals among to Southeast Asian rice suppliers his cabinet in charge of the task to negotiate for a deal, said Nog- force battling the crisis, saying rales, who is also the task force its management requires mili- spokesman. No further details tary-style discipline. were immediately available. Coronavirus testing is ex- The Philippines’ fresh rice pected to increase substantially demand comes at a time when in coming days in the Philip- export prices are at multi-year pines, where the high number peaks particularly in Thailand. of deaths relative to confi rmed Global food security concerns cases refl ects lower testing so are mounting as some govern- far, a World Health Organisation ments contemplate restricting offi cial said yesterday. the fl ow of staple foods with “With respect to the high around one-fi fth of the world’s proportion of deaths in the Homeless Filipinos rest on makeshift beds in a Catholic school’s gymnasium which turned into a shelter for the homeless following the enforcement of a community quarantine population under lockdown to Philippines, that’s essentially in the main island to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Manila, yesterday. Right: A man wearing a protective face mask reads a book while others play a board game fi ght the widening coronavirus because of the way Philippines at a shelter for the homeless, in Manila. pandemic. has chosen to test,” WHO tech- Cambodia will also ban some nical advisor Matthew Griffi th increase substantially in the the Philippines is requesting operations, the airlines said in Air Inc, Philippine Airlines emergency credit lines and rice exports to ensure local food told a news conference, refer- coming days.” government help, saying they a letter seen by Reuters. and the local unit of Malaysia’s waiver of navigation and air- security during the coronavirus ring to the focus on testing only AIRLINES SEEK face a threat to their survival as The letter, dated March 25, AirAsia Bhd as its members. port fees, due to the “cata- crisis. the most severe cases until now. GOVT SUPPORT the global push to contain the was sent by a domestic airlines The airlines said they were strophic impact” of the Under government rules, the “We expect the testing to An association of airlines in coronavirus spread hampers association that includes Cebu not seeking handouts, but coronavirus. Philippine International Trading Corp, which is attached to the Department of Trade and Indus- try, is now in charge of importing Anti-fl u drug rice to boost state stockpiles. The Philippines last year ‘very promising’ WHO urges Asia-Pacifi c to brace for long-term battle scrapped caps on rice imports for treatment that were in place for more than 20 years, allowing the private The Food and Drug Administra- DPA it has changed our system and Kasai said there are currently “common tactics” of fi nd- are people around the world sector to buy unlimited volumes. tion (FDA) has said a Japanese- Manila put a strain on people’s lives in 50 candidate vaccines against ing, isolating and testing cases working 24 hours, seven days, The government, which used developed anti-flu medication an unprecedented way,” said Covid-19, with several already early as well as putting physi- they’re doing their best to fi ght to import rice through the Na- appears to be “very promising” Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional undergoing clinical trials. cal distance between members Covid-19. But it’s unlikely this tional Food Authority, can only for treating coronavirus disease sia-Pacifi c countries director for the Western Pacifi c He added that the WHO is of communities to help stop or virus will disappear next week bring in shipments during emer- 2019 (Covid-19) patients, Manila need to brace for a long- region. conducting trials to test the slow down the transmission in or even next month.” gencies. Times reported. Aterm battle against the “Let me be clear — the epi- safety and eff ectiveness of the meantime. According to the WHO, Last week, Agriculture Secre- “It is very promising. It looks coronavirus, warned the World demic is far from over in Asia treatment protocols, and urged “These measures can buy there are 103,775 confi rmed tary William Dar assured Filipi- like one of the antivirals. This is Health Organisation yesterday, and the Pacifi c,” he told an on- countries to take part in the us valuable time to prepare for Covid-19 cases, including nos that the country has enough directed to treatment of Covid-19 stressing the need for nations line press conference from the studies to help produce output large-scale community trans- 3,649 deaths from the disease rice for the next four months, patients,” said FDA Director Gen- not to let their guard down regional offi ce in Manila.”This that can be analysed. mission,” he said. in the Western Pacifi c region, taking into account current state eral Eric Domingo said, referring even if case counts taper off . is going to be a long-term bat- While research was moving “We still don’t know how which covers 37 countries with stockpiles, the incoming local to the drug Avigan. “This is a pandemic unlike tle and we cannot let down our at a “remarkable speed,” Kasai long this Covid-19 fi ght will a combined population of al- dry-season harvest, and contin- The drug is still in the early stage the world has ever seen, and guard.” said countries need to practice continue,” Kasai added.”There most 1.9bn. ued importation. of development, but Covid pa- tients had a positive response to it, Domingo told radio DZBB. Avigan has not gone into com- mercial production and has no distributor in the Philippines, he said. China’s Ministry of Science Actress Sanchez, Marcos Jr test positive for Covid-19 and Technology has reportedly said clinical trials on favipiravir, an active ingredient of Avigan, By Iza Iglesias Feleo, “Tita I just saw this. Will ate reporters by his lawyer Vic- have been completed. The trials Manila Times include you in my prayers!!! Pls tor Rodriguez, through Honey using the drug as a treatment for fi ght and be well.” Kathryn Ber- Rose Mercado, the senator’s Covid-19 reportedly showed “very nardo and JM de Guzman also former spokesman. The results good clinical results.” ctress Sylvia Sanchez posted emojis of praying hands. were released on March 28. Avigan, which is being developed and husband, busi- Sanchez and Atayde have Even before the results were by a subsidiary of camera maker Anessman Arturo “Art” four children — actors Arjo and out, Marcos was seen on social Fujifilm, has licensed the patent Atayde, tested positive for the Ria, Gela and Xavi. Sanchez is media in a room at his Makati for favipiravir to Chinese com- coronavirus disease. currently the lead actress for residence. pany Zhejiang Hisun Pharma- Sanchez herself announced the afternoon drama series Rodriguez said Marcos was ceutical, according to an earlier their test results on her Insta- “Pamilya Ko,” which was sus- one of the thousands of Filipi- report. gram page yesterday afternoon, pended due to the government- nos fi ghting the deadly virus. While Domingo appeared informing the public that on imposed enhanced community Quoting Marcos, Rodriguez enthusiastic about the potential March 24, she her husband were quarantine. said the only time the former of Avigan, he was cautious about taken to the Cardinal Santos Former Senator Ferdinand senator went out of his house the use of another drug, Prodex- Memorial Hospital in San Juan. “Bongbong” Marcos Jr also was last March 22 when he went B, for treating Covid-19. The actress said she was having tested positive for the corona- to an emergency room of a pri- Domingo said Prodex-B is a drug chills while Aytayde was cough- Sylvia Sanchez and husband Arturo Atayde. Right: Ferdinand Marcos Jr virus disease 2019 or Covid-19 vate hospital after experiencing combination of procaine and ing and had shortness of breath. but assured the public that he shortness of breath. dexamethasone with vitamin B. “We were made to take the itor for symptoms of shortness orders, we will get there,” she Messages of support from has followed government-is- He said the hospital conduct- He said procaine is an anaes- Covid-19 swab test and since of breath, cough, fever, LBM wrote. colleaguesin showbiz immedi- sued health protocols. ed tests on him and later allowed thetic used to reduce pain on then, Art and I have self-iso- and sore throat,” she added. “Until then, we will keep you ately poured in with Bea Alonzo Marcos had himself tested at him to go home but advised him injections while dexamethasone lated. A week later, we fi nally Sanchez, however, noted that updated on how this progresses. fi rst to comment, “Love you!” the Research Institute for Trop- to go into self-quarantine. is a corticosteroid that must received the results and we both they were “getting better each Stay safe, healthy and take your Other posts came from Ge- ical Medicine (RITM) on March Marcos did not mention the be used cautiously because of came out positive for Covid-19,” day.” 1000mg of Vitamin C and neva Cruz who wrote, “I’m 14, a day after he arrived from name of the hospital. its side eff ects, which includes the post continued. “Although this is slower than 20mg of zinc daily! Most praying for you and your hus- Spain, which has one of the Marcos is the son of the late the weakening of the immune “We would like to request our usual recovery, we know importantly, stay home to help band. God bless;” Aiko Melen- highest number of Covid cases President Ferdinand Marcos system. those whom we saw prior to the that with prayers and strict prevent the spread of the virus,” dez, “Ate praying for you and and deaths in Europe, according and brother of Senator Maria community quarantine to mon- compliance with our doctor’s Sanchez ended. Kuya Art’s recovery;” and Ina to a statement released to Sen- Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Haven assets: The run for safety amid market worries Amid growing concerns that the coronavirus pandemic will lead to a deep world recession, about $9tn was wiped off global stocks in the nine days up to March 6, according to a Bank of America research note. Markets go up and down in normal times, and traders like a dose of volatility. Betting on volatility levels has become a market of its own. For sure, these are not normal times, and worries are growing that extreme fi nancial turbulence may now be Leaning into my new normal feeding on itself. The Covid-19 outbreak has set in motion a massive re-allocation of capital, as investors move money into so-called haven assets: Those thought to be We need to keep moving forward, as leaders and managers to allow for despite the uncertainty of it all? safe in a global economic downturn. pushing past the fear and lean into the fl exibility? Leaning in means everything above. That has brought turmoil in stock markets, record low change that we are facing. Did we make tough decisions, some It means to work, play, rest, care, smile, borrowing costs for the US government and higher prices What does that mean? It means new of the toughest we’ve ever had to make, laugh, cry. It means fi nding new ways to rules. with consideration for the greater good? move forward even in those moments for gold bracelets. It means making the time to enjoy a Did we consider that our children look when it all seems like too much. In the fi nancial markets, the term “haven asset” is peaceful family breakfast each morning to us as examples, and that they may never We need to accept that things aren’t applied to a range of assets, primarily those whose values because you don’t have to rush out the remember the details of the situation itself, the same, and that they may well never are expected to rise when global market sentiment sours door for a morning commute. but the feelings and behaviours they were be the same. It means letting the kids play a little exposed to at this time? But we have a chance to learn, to into a so-called “risk off ” environment. longer on their electronic devices and Did we act responsibly when sharing grow, to change. We have a chance to Haven assets are also expected to be very liquid, not worrying about screen time. information so as not to add to the reassess and readdress our values as meaning they can be bought or sold in big sizes with ease It means spacing your workday at a problem? individuals and as a society, and simply nearly anytime. pace that works best for you because Did we try to fi nd compassion, do better. even if the expectation to work normal beauty, and love in everything around us 5-4-3-2-1-GO. US Treasuries are the hours is still there, there is nothing US Treasuries global safe-haven asset of normal about having to juggle the choice, as nobody expects demands of all of your identities at the are the global the US to default on its Ghenwa Yehia, Content Development same time. It means re-committing to our values debt obligations. America’s Specialist at QF member Hamad Bin safe-haven Khalifa University Press on how to and beliefs through prayer, meditation, ballooning defi cit over recent meet the challenge of balancing and simple acts of kindness. asset of choice; years has created an ample working from home with family life It means staying connected with supply of about $16.7tn. The amid the coronavirus crisis friends – a phone call, FaceTime, or nobody chatting – who are probably feeling the suddenly insatiable demand same way. expects the US by worried investors for the ur worlds are colliding. Iden- It means connecting to an online securities has sent long-term tities such as ‘mother’, ‘wife’, fi tness class or wellness app to take care to default Treasury yields to all-time ‘employer’ and ‘employee’ of your physical and mental health (it’s are forced to coexist in the never too late to start!) lows. O same headspace, at the same time – and It means asking for help and Among the more than $5tn in currencies traded each in my case, in the same very small two- advocating for yourself. day, the US dollar, Japanese yen and Swiss franc have bedroom apartment with three other It means turning off the news and tended to be favoured havens (although not always, with people. shutting out the external hysteria and It’s been more than a week of focusing on internal peace. the yen going a bit off sides lately). practising social distancing, and it looks It means being kind to yourself when Gold has long been a haven asset. When the prospect of like it’s going to be much longer. When you lose it for a minute and snap under strong returns elsewhere diminishes – again on “risk off ” the initial roll-out of school closures the pressure. Lean into the emotions – – gold becomes more attractive as a way for investors to and work-from-home policies was frustration, anger, stress, fear, sadness – announced, I was happy to do my part and really feel them. And then 5-4-3-2- get returns as the world sours. to help the situation. How hard could 1...Let them go. But there risks when everybody does this at the same it be? What a small sacrifi ce I am being Some of these things apply to normal time. Behind the rally in Treasuries lurks a potential disaster asked to make when others have it so life in general, but, now more than ever, waiting to happen if any downturn gives way to a rapid much worse. we need to adapt our expectations, With the overzealous attitude that of others and of ourselves, to be able rebound; what’s known as a V-shaped recovery. That could is characteristic of any perfectionist, I to better navigate our current reality send yields sharply higher and make prices tumble. had prepared a schedule for the kids and realistically. Every week, economic teams and experts are now myself so things could remain as normal Lean into whatever feels best for you, downgrading growth outlooks across the world. The as possible. I posted it up in our living whatever feels best for your family. Lean room and explained to everyone that into whatever makes sense for your US and eurozone’s economies could take until 2023 to this 60cm x 40cm white board would be children. Lean into whatever makes recover from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, according our beacon – guiding us through each sense: anything that provides you the to consultancy McKinsey & Company. and every school/workday. Each hour mental and emotional space to get by for Amid growing uncertainty, it’s now very dicey to would be realistically and thoughtfully the next couple of weeks. planned to ensure adequate activity There’s no right or wrong way to forecast how this pandemic will play out on global using diff erent mediums, variation deal with what’s happening as parents, markets. While the crisis may lead to the deepest to cover a wide variety of topics, and spouses, employers, employees, and recession in modern-day fi nancial history, it could also be enough instruction so that I’d have human beings. We just need to do the the shortest. the freedom to focus on my own work. best we can remembering that when Business as usual, right? this is all over, the big takeaway is how All of these lead to an inevitable question for investors: Wrong. we acted during this time. Is any asset really safe? Today, I woke up physically, mentally, Did we fi nd a balance that allowed The standard portfolio where 80% is invested in stocks and emotionally exhausted. Exhausted us to meet our personal needs while and 20% is invested in bonds, and watching the money from the nagging and the bickering maintaining our responsibilities as children who, in normal situations, get employees? grow at 10% a year, may be over, says Jared Dillian, the along great. Exhausted from having to Did we manage our expectations investment strategist at Mauldin Economics. repeat “Can you hear me now?” because Returns will now be undoubtedly lower, forcing people the quality of web-based conference to save more and consume less. It’s, in turn, is not what is calls is so bad as a result of everyone using the Internet at the same time needed for an economic recovery. for working and learning. Exhausted by the fear caused by the constant bombardment of fact mixed with To Advertise fi ction; the worry that I’m not doing enough to do my part; and the guilt [email protected] knowing that what I’m facing is nothing Display compared to so many others in much more dire circumstances. 44466621 44418811 Still in bed, I turned over and reached for the worn copy of Mel Robbins’ The 5 Classified Second Rule on my nightstand. 44466609 44418811 5-4-3-2-1-GO. I reminded myself of the Rule: “When Subscription you feel yourself hesitate before doing something that you know you should [email protected] do, count ‘5-4-3-2-1-GO’ and move towards action. ... If you do not take action on your instinct to change, you © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved will stay stagnant. You will not change.” Gulf Times Wednesday, April 1, 2020 19 COMMENT The responsibility to report

By Carl Bildt action that could have prevented the as well as a macroeconomic Stockholm coronavirus epidemic from spiraling perspective. What would happen if out of control. the next highly contagious novel virus It is worth remembering that when emerges in Taiwan or Iran? If there n unprecedented threat Sars (which was also caused by a are unnecessary hurdles blocking an demands an unprecedented coronavirus) emerged in southern immediate response, we will be right response. Rarely, if ever, China in late 2002, the outbreak was back where we are now. Ahave governments had to covered up for more than a month Under the current framework, shift into crisis-management mode before the Chinese authorities the duty to report new contagious as quickly as they have in the past few acknowledged the seriousness of the threats to international authorities weeks. So far, the focus has been on threat. Likewise, in the early days like the WHO rests with national the most immediate medical, political, of the Covid-19 outbreak, police in governments. One critical reform, and economic issues raised by the Wuhan actually silenced medical then, would be to extend that duty to Covid-19 pandemic – as it should be. professionals who tried to raise the medical and public-health personnel But gradually, governments’ attention alarm, and massive public gatherings at all levels – that is, from states to will have to turn to the longer-term were permitted well after the danger of individuals. In addition to reducing consequences of the crisis, and to the the outbreak had become obvious. the time it takes for a multilateral need to prevent such disasters in the According to one recent study, response to shift into gear, adopting future. if Chinese authorities had openly a universal “responsibility to report” There have been several severe acknowledged the threat and would make it more difficult for global health threats in the past responded properly just three weeks local or national authorities to two decades. The epidemics of earlier than they did, the spread of suppress information they consider Sars in 2003, Mers in 2012, and Covid-19 could have been reduced inconvenient. Ebola in 2014-16 are just three by as much as 95%. Because local With national borders being closed examples of outbreaks that required negligence, ignorance, and censorship in response to the Covid-19 crisis, a sustained multilateral response. prevailed at the critical moment, some commentators are already Each episode had its own unique the entire world is now paying an arguing that the era of globalisation features: Sars emerged in China, enormous price. is over. But the trends in population Mers in Saudi Arabia, and Ebola in While the WHO has undoubtedly growth and urbanisation will continue, West Africa. But the lessons from played an important role in combating and viruses will not suddenly start all three are similar. Epidemics global health threats over the years, it, carrying passports or observing and the emergence of new diseases too, has faced criticism for being overly national borders. In the past decade become more likely as a result of bureaucratic and slow to respond. alone, viral threats to global stability population growth, urbanisation, Indeed, during the Ebola crisis, it was and prosperity have emerged from deforestation, and production and the United States, not the WHO, that China, Africa, and the Arabian distribution processes that crowd stepped in to prevent a wider disaster. Peninsula, which suggests that the together many different species. And In any case, even if the WHO’s next one could originate just about the expansion of global supply chains performance this time turns out to anywhere. and international commerce, not to have been impeccable, it is already Now is the time for the world to mention the growth in international obvious that we need a much stronger A TV grab taken from the World Health Organisation website shows WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus via video link come together and agree on a new, more air travel, enables contagious global mechanism to deal with the as he delivers a news briefing on Covid-19 (novel coronavirus) from the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Monday. eff ective early warning and response diseases to spread around the world threat of pandemics. Stumbling from system. This pandemic was avoidable. more quickly than ever. one crisis to another simply isn’t institution would need to have the diplomatic disputes from hampering Similarly, the US has continued to There can be no excuse for not doing Just in the past decade, the World an option. Covid-19 is the worst authority and the means to intervene global pandemic response eff orts. pummel Iran with sanctions, thereby everything in our power to prevent the Health Organisation has had to declare pandemic since the outbreak of so- as intrusively as necessary to stop In the current crisis, even after it making it harder for that government next one. - Project Syndicate a health emergency no less than six called Spanish fl u in 1918, and there is a contagious outbreak in its tracks. was obvious that Covid-19 would to manage the epidemic within its own times. Clearly, we have not taken the no reason to believe that the next one Reaching an agreement on such a reach the level of a pandemic, China borders. z Carl Bildt is a former prime steps needed to meet new outbreaks won’t be even worse. mechanism will not be politically easy; still has seen fi t to bar Taiwan from This behaviour is simply minister and foreign minister of with the kind of rapid, decisive Among other things, a new global but it is clearly needed to prevent petty global discussions on how to respond. unacceptable from a humanitarian Sweden. The digital world can support our need Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 320c for social interaction during Covid-19 Minimum Temperature : 200c THURSDAY Maximum Temperature : 290c video chats where you are looking platforms are asymmetric ones. on using social media platforms, we Minimum Temperature : 220c at the camera to interact with your Although these platforms enable you can ask our friends to post at least FRIDAY colleagues and friends, on a daily to hear from people you know, several one positive message daily, or we can Maximum Temperature : 310c basis. Although it may seem a little of their properties can make them engage in joint activities such as watch Minimum Temperature : 220c awkward at fi rst, by scheduling such potentially harmful. First, due to their parties, where we can watch a live or Fisherman's forecast chats they can soon become part of asymmetric nature, back and forth recorded video simultaneously with our daily habit – a practice we may interactions are inherently limited. our friends. WARNING soon start looking forward to. There may be a facility to comment The bottom line, given the Inshore : Nil When engaging in such chats, or reply, but they generally feel forced limitations on face-to-face Offshore : Strong wind and high though, it is important to focus on the impersonal and do not elevate to the interaction, is that some digital sea at first positive aspects of our lives, such as level of dialogue. For these reasons, we socialisation tools can be invaluable WEATHER our family and work. It is easy to slip should, therefore, avoid spending too in partially satisfying our need for Inshore : Relatively hot daytime into discussing the Covid-19 situation much time on social media platforms. positive daily social interactions, with some clouds and its implications on our lives. Secondly, much of what is currently but others should be limited or even By Dr Kareem Darwish WIND Doha Indeed, it is inevitable that we feel being shared on such social media avoided if we are to remain positive Inshore : Northeasterly-South- inclined to discuss it, but we should platforms is related to news about during these testing times. easterly 04-14 KT Offshore : Northwesterly-North- try to resist the temptation. Covid-19 and is mostly negative. One easterly 05-15/25 KT ith the evolving coro- Another digital option that can of the human cognitive biases is so- zDr Kareem Darwish is a principal navirus (Covid-19) really help us during the current called availability bias, where things scientist at Qatar Computing Research Visibility : 4-8 KM situation forcing most of situation is engaging in joint activities that we see more often occupy a large Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa Offshore : 2-4/8 FT Wus to work remotely, the with others. Such activities may part of our consciousness compared to University. level of social interaction we are used include having a reading group; things we encounter less frequently. to has inevitably dropped, and that can attending online classes together; Thus, given the preponderance zThis article is submitted on leave many, particularly those who are agreeing to memorise parts of the of negative information on such behalf of the author by the HBKU single, feeling isolated. Holy Qur’an and then reciting it to platforms, negativity would be front Communications Directorate. The views expressed are the author’s own Around the region This can lead to a variety of each other; having lunch virtually and centre in our minds – possibly Weather Weather psychological ailments including with others over video calls; watching leading to a greater feeling of sadness and do not necessarily refl ect the University’s offi cial stance. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min depression and mental decay, so it is a programme at the same time while and potentially depression. If we insist Cloudy 32/15 M Sunny 27/14 important to utilise the options we chatting about it via text; and playing Baghdad Kuwait City Cloudy 28/19 Sunny 28/18 have available in the absence of face- either collaborative or adversarial M Sunny 29/22 Sunny 31/21 to-face interactions. online games with friends, family, or About Hamad Bin Khalifa University Manama Muscat Sunny 28/22 Sunny 29/24 We all need multiple positive human colleagues. S Showers 18/11 Showers 18/09 interactions every day and there are This list is by no means complete, Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow Tehran several digital means of socialisation and there are many other possible that may partially satisfy the social digital socialisation tools at our Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), pacity through an enriching academic needs of individuals. disposal. Such interactions should a member of Qatar Foundation for experience, innovative ecosystem, These include chats, audio/video become part of our daily routine to Education, Science, and Community and unique partnerships. HBKU deliv- calls, social media, online games, ensure we still receive frequent doses Development (QF), was founded in ers multidisciplinary undergraduate watch parties, and collaborative of positive social interactions at a time 2010 as a research-intensive university and graduate programs through its learning. However, not all digital when the world is social distancing. that acts as a catalyst for transforma- colleges, and provides opportunities means are created equal and, Some social media platforms tive change in Qatar and the region for research and scholarship through depending on how we use them, they can, however, provide negative while having a global impact. Located its institutes and centres. For more can be helpful or in fact harmful. socialisation that could lead to in Education City, HBKU is committed information about HBKU, visit www. One highly eff ective form of depression and an even greater feeling to building and cultivating human ca- hbku.edu.qa. interaction is chats, preferably of isolation. Most notable of these

Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Live issues Athens S Showers 17/08 M Sunny 16/07 Beirut T Storm 18/14 P Cloudy 18/14 Bangkok Sunny 36/28 Sunny 36/28 Berlin P Cloudy 09/02 M Cloudy 11/05 Clear messages about quarantine are key to success Cairo P Cloudy 25/14 Sunny 26/16 Cape Town Sunny 24/13 Sunny 25/14 Colombo Sunny 31/26 M Sunny 31/25 By Kate Kelland disease outbreaks found that quarantine “In the era of ‘fake news’, consistent and if they also believed the disease itself Dhaka Sunny 38/24 P Cloudy 38/24 London adherence rates range from 0% to more messaging is diffi cult, but leaving the is risky, then adherence tended to be Hong Kong Cloudy 21/18 M Cloudy 21/19 than 92%, and that clarity is key. information needs of the public unmet better - especially if lockdown measures Istanbul Cloudy 10/07 Rain 11/06 If instructions or language are can be dangerous. Public health teams began fairly swiftly to slow the spread of Jakarta S T Storms 32/24 T Storm 32/25 lear and consistent messaging unclear, then people tend to make up should provide clear, authoritative the disease. Karachi Sunny 29/21 Sunny 31/22 about lockdown measures, their own rules, the research found, and information...and then check the Rebecca Webster, who co-led the London P Cloudy 11/03 M Cloudy 13/04 why they are needed, and social pressure from others to comply messages are getting through.” study, said it showed that because Manila Sunny 36/27 P Cloudy 34/26 about the practicalities of with quarantine is also important. Published in the journal Public people vary so much in their adherence Moscow M Cloudy 04/00 Cloudy 06/02 C Sunny 32/19 Sunny 31/17 social distancing such as food and “The eff ectiveness of quarantine Health, the research analysed data to quarantine, “public health offi cials New Delhi fi nances, are crucial to their potential depends on how many people do it, so it from 14 studies from around the world should provide a timely, clear rationale New York P Cloudy 13/04 M Sunny 14/07 for slowing outbreaks of disease, is important to know what makes people looking at adherence by diff erent groups for (it)”. Paris Sunny 12/02 P Cloudy 12/06 researchers said yesterday. more likely to comply,” said Simon to quarantines during a range of disease “Our research also showed that Sao Paulo P Cloudy 29/18 P Cloudy 31/22 With hundreds of cities worldwide Wessely, a professor of psychological outbreaks including Ebola, Severe Acute messaging around the benefi t...could Seoul P Cloudy 19/02 M Sunny 17/02 already using isolation and quarantine medicine at King’s College London’s Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), the H1N1 be infl uential, as well as ensuring that Singapore P Cloudy 33/27 T Storm 32/27 during the Covid-19 pandemic caused Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology fl u pandemic and mumps. suffi cient supplies of food, medication Sydney S Showers 23/18 S Showers 23/18 by the new coronavirus - and more & Neuroscience, who worked on the If people believed that quarantine was and other essentials are provided,” she Tokyo Cloudy 15/09 Clear 19/09 likely to follow - a study of previous research. benefi cial in controlling the outbreak, said. — Reuters Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, April 1, 2020 QATAR Education City Mosque: A spiritual place combining modernity and heritage

istinctive and designed in can study Islam. The idea was a way that connects her- to reenergise existing histori- Ditage with modernity and cal psychology. We unwrapped originality, the Education City the learning space and put the Mosque – one of the landmark mosque at one end, with the buildings of Qatar Foundation, courtyard in the centre, and es- and of Doha – is a special place as sentially this is the same layout well as a spiritual one. as a historic building, But I feel With the fi fth anniversary it’s how the spaces are sequenced of the building – now named which makes it a little bit con- Minaretein – being marked this temporary.” month, its architects Ali Mangera Bravo, who is Mangera’s wife and Ada Yvars Bravo returned to and partnered with him to de- Qatar to share their experience of sign the Education City Mosque, designing an architectural mas- says the combination of learning terpiece that has already won and worship makes the building global acclaim. unique. “What is interesting is that, in “It’s not just about going to Qatar, they have retained a sense a mosque, it’s about absorbing of spirituality while wanting to Ali Mangera and Ada Yvars Bravo share their experience. knowledge and interacting with embrace new ideas,” said Man- people, and what we also aimed gera. “There are not many places ent with it.” Mangera – who, with main tourist attractions in Qatar to do was design it in a way that that want to do new things when Bravo, is a director of Mangera and it brings in non-Muslims as ensured it blends it with the uni- it comes to a building that must Yvars Architects – comes from an well as Muslims, enabling them versities and the community that retain the essence and the core of Islamic background, which gave to familiarise themselves with surround it. Islam.” him insight into diff erent Muslim Islam and see it as a contempo- “It has been amazing to see the “The project is unlike any societies. But he says that people rary faith.” building become to reality, and other we have been involved in so from all over the world, regard- He emphasised that this wider what we really love is how people far. One of the things we wanted less of their religion and culture, audience helps to break down around QF and Qatar use it, how to do was to create a very con- have taken an interest in the idea barriers and spread knowledge people around Doha and beyond temporary building in order to il- of faith. and understanding, saying: “I come here to pray, and this is one lustrate that Islam is compatible “A place of faith should be believe we can educate people of the main achievement for us. with modernity, and refl ect this embraced and invite people in, about faith through architecture, “Part of the architectural lan- in the building’s identity. and this was our goal when we and we’ve done a lot already to guage of the building came from “But we also wanted to ensure worked on the Education City change the way society thinks. the idea of teaching. That’s why we draw in people who have a Mosque,” he explained. “The way we set about doing the artwork explains the diff er- more traditional outlook, and the “This was always was in our this was to choose to incorporate ent facets of Islam, so everything way we set about doing that was minds: what we can do that goes elements such as calligraphy, and about visiting it involves an ex- to use Islamic calligraphy and further? How do you make this project messages, which are quite perience – the experience of Is- diff erent verses from the Qur’an place more welcoming for people subtle. lam.” which is integrated into the fabric from diff erent religions? At the same time, the com- As for the emotions the build- of the building. “I think that, as architects, ponents of the building have so ing stirs in those who created it, The idea is to enable people to we can make the world a better many stories – such as the fi ve Bravo says: “Starting from the associate modernity with these place, and also create a better un- pillars that it stands on, repre- design and all the way through verses and the architecture, to derstanding between faiths.” senting the fi ve pillars of Islam. to construction, I think everyone understand that this is a contem- Speaking about the response Once people understand these enjoyed working on this project porary building, but it has at its from people who have visited the meanings, they will embrace because it was something diff er- heart a message which is at the building simply to explore and them. ent and special. heart of Islamic tradition. admire it, Mangera says: “I’m re- “It’s a modern building based “It was a mega-project for us “I felt it would be inspiring to ally happy and proud of the com- on very established principles: a in terms of architecture. And it do a project which is related to ments we have received – some- place for learning and praying, a taught us a lot and gave us such Ali Mangera and Ada Yvars Bravo visiting Minaretein (Education City Mosque), which they designed. faith, but to do something diff er- one told me it was one of the home for colleges where people an experience as well.” Iconic Pearl Monument shifted to roundabout in Al Wakra Old Souq he Public Works Authority monument was inspired by the The Pearl Monument was moved to enable Al Wakra as it is directly connect- (Ashghal) has completed tranquil coastal nature of Al ed to the newly opened Express- Tthe relocation works of Wakra city. Pearl monument the reconstruction of the Pearl Roundabout way projects of G-Ring Road and the Pearl Monument to Al Far- is symbolic for residents of Al the southern part of Doha Express dah Roundabout in Al Wakra Old Wakra city as it refl ects the pearl into a signal-controlled intersection as part Highway. Additionally, it serves Souq adjacent to Al Wakra port in diving heritage of the city. the residential complexes, located an attempt to preserve the cul- Engineer Saleh al-Sheiba from of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project on both eastern and western sides tural heritage of the country in Highway Projects Department of the road. The main road of Al accordance with Qatar National said that the relocation of the the Highway Projects Depart- and its intersection that extends Al Wakra Main Road serves a Wakra will also be integrated with vision 2030. concrete structure required a ment, described the relocation from Ras Bu Funtas and Barwa large number of neighbourhoods the metro station. The relocation works, accord- precise mechanism. process required some main- City towards Pearl Roundabout. and residential and commer- The upgrade of Al Wakra main ing to an offi cial statement by “A metallic base was manu- tenance works to restore some Ashghal continues the upgrading cial complexes in Al Wakra and road is one of the key projects of Ashghal, was carried out in col- factured for fi xing the two shells parts aff ected during transpor- works of Al Wakra Main Road that Al Wukair. The vital expressway Qatar’s expressway network. It laboration with the Private Engi- weighing a total of 12 tonnes on tation. “Following the identifi - extends over 5.5km from the old project in the southern area will will have a signifi cant positive neering Offi ce as part of the ex- the structure,” he said. cation of the new location, we Pearl Roundabout to Woqod station alleviate traffi c for the commut- impact on the traffi c movement pressway project for the upgrade “Ashghal, in collaboration with had to fi nd technical solutions to located towards Mesaieed city. ers coming from Al Wakra and in the country’s southern areas of Al Wakra Main Road. the competent authorities and the overcome the high groundwater These include the conversion directly heading to Doha in the and contribute to reducing pres- The Pearl Monument was re- General Directorate of Traffi c, im- level,” al-Joof said. of the Pearl, Ooredoo and Afj a North and to Mesaieed in the sure on existing roads in other located to enable the reconstruc- plemented adequate measures to Ashghal has commenced the (known as Jabal roundabout) South. The upgraded road ex- areas of Al Wakra by 60%. tion of the Pearl Roundabout into ensure smooth traffi c during the construction works for the con- roundabouts to signalised inter- tends for 9km and the traffi c ca- Several leisure facilities are ac- a signal-controlled intersection relocation process of the monu- version of roundabouts all over sections. Additionally, two new pacity will be upgraded from two cessible via Al Wakra main Road as part of Al Wakra Main Road ment and throughout the project Al Wakra main Road to signalised signalled intersections will be to three lanes in each direction. including Al Wakra Old souq, Engineer Saleh al-Sheiba from Upgrade Project. implementation period,” he added. junctions following the success- constructed in Al Razi street and Al Wakra main road creates a Al Wakra family beach, and Al Ashghal’s Highway Projects Constructed in the 80s, the Engineer Nouh al-Joof from ful opening of Al Wakra tunnel towards AlWukair Road. strategic link between Doha and Wakra Celebration Halls. Department.

The Pearl Monument at its new location. The Pearl Monument as seen from Al Wakra Old Souq.