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Volume No. 4424 Sunday May 03, 2020 Sawr 14, 1399 www.outlookafghanistan.net Price: 20/-Afs Key crossings to stay open 5 days a week for trade The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) says that has agreed to keep Torkham and Spin Boldak gates open five days a week for trade. In a statement, MoCI linked ’s decision to its strenuous efforts and cooperation from the Pakistan embassy in Kabul. The crossing-points will stay open Monday through Friday for transit trade vehicles. MoCI hoped with the easing of restrictions, prices of essential items would come down. Nangarhar Customs Director Nasrullah Sahibzada said they were striving to resolve the issues facing traders. He confirmed the routes would stay open five days a week. “We are striving to keep open the Torkham cross- Union: 2 Million Af- ing point for 24 hours,” he informed. Meanwhile, the governor’s house in Kandahar ghans Lose Jobs Amid verified the Spin Boldak Friendship Gate would remain open for transit five days a week. (Pajhwok) The National Union of Afghanistan Workers & Employees said on Friday that approximately two million workers and employees have lost their jobs due to the spread of the coronavirus and preven- Over 8,000 Afghans re- tive measures like the lockdowns in the cities. According to the union, the political crisis is the turn home from India, other reason of the unemployment in the country. “The political crisis, security threats, the lockdown UAE of cities and the reduction in international aid At least 8,200 Afghans stranded in India and the strongly concerns us. We want all to pay attention United Arab Emirates due to non-availability of to the situation and the problems,” said Marouf flights have been brought home, the Ministry of Qadiri, head of the National Workers Union. Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.. Mohammad Haroon, a former restaurant worker, The process of bringing home the Afghans from said that he has faced hard times since the restau- Agrees in principles with Presi- foreign countries was ongoing, a statement from rants have closed. the ministry said, adding 8,203 citizens returned on “We earned 400-500 Afs in the restaurant, it was dential Palace: Abdullah 15 Kam Air and Ariana flights from India and the sufficient for me. Now I work on the street with my UAE. Former Chief Executive Office count wrote: “Glad to assure the agreement on a range of princi- cart and deliver materials. Some people assist me Around 4,500 Afghans returned home from India Abdullah Abdullah on Friday people of AFG that efforts by re- ples. Work on details is under- also,” said Haroon. and 3,703 from the UAE. Talks with Saudi Arabia “Before we earned 300-500 Afs in a day. Now I am said progress has been made spected national personalities to way to finalize the agreement.” are ongoing on the return of the Afghans stranded earning 100Afs. I have nine children,” said Mo- during talks with Presidential resolve the political crisis have Presidential Spokesperson Sediq there. hammad Aziz Akbari, another worker. Palace and an agreement in borne fruit. Sediqi also confirmed to Pajhwok The Afghans to be flown home from Saudi Arabia Some of the street vendors--and government insti- principles had been reached. We have made progress in ne- progress on political crisis in the included some prisoners, the statement said, with- tutions--said that not only the lockdown has affect- Abdullah on his twitter ac- gotiations & reached tentative country. (Pajhwok) out providing details.(Pajhwok) ed them but the political crisis has hit them as well. 2 May 03, 2020 Main Page December 19, 2019 3 May 03, 2020

NATO mission stops reporting Taliban attacks

Following the US-Taliban peace deal two months ago, NATO’s military mission in Afghanistan has stopped re- porting the number of attacks by the insurgent group. In a new report to Congress on Friday, SIGAR said it could no longer assess the security situation in Afghani- Helmand’s Bost Castle to be Restored: Officials stan because the US military was withholding data about Officials of the southern province of Helmand said that “We have come here for a picnic and to see these plac- the uptick in Taliban attacks. the historical Bost castle (Qala-e-Bost), and four other his- es. It is a historical place for Afghans. The government “NATO Resolute Support torical heritage sites in the province, will be rebuilt in the should take care of it and rebuild the collapsed areas,” (RS) restricted from public current year, following concerns about the castle’s dete- said Noor Mohammad, a tourist. release data on the number of rioration. “We have heard that it is a historical place...it is a enemy-initiated attacks that Hamidullah Wayar, head of the Helmand’s information good place. The government should take care of it,” took place this quarter for the and culture directorate, said his department will take said Allawadin, another tourist. first time since SIGAR began measures to protect the castle. “I have come from Kandahar province. It is my first using it in 2018 to track the “We will allocate a special budget for the Bost castle and time seeing the castle. We have heard about the cas- levels and locations of violence,” said SIGAR head stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces. four other places,” said Wayar. “We will start work on tle but there are no services for tourists--no parking. John Sopko SIGAR claimed the spike in attacks was a viola- He called the data one of the last remaining met- tion of the spirit of secret annexes, in which the the locations in the current year… We will try our best to Some parts of the castle are destroyed,” said Sardar rics SIGAR was able to use to report publicly on Taliban promised to lower the level of violence. protect the castle and prevent its collapsing.” Mohammad, a tourist. the security situation in Afghanistan since RS dis- For its part, the NATO-led mission said the The Bost castle is an important historical place in Afghan- “We become sad to see the castle. It is the history of continued its previous system of assessing district exact number of Taliban attacks was a critical istan and is registered with the United Nations Educa- Helmand and Afghanistan. The government should control in 2018. part of deliberative interagency discussions on tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as protect it,” said Abdul Ghafoor, another tourist. Soon after signing a withdrawal agreement with ongoing political negotiations between the US a historical heritage site. Two employees of the information and cultural direc- the US, the quarterly report noted, the Taliban and the Taliban. (Pajhwok) Visitors urged the government to stop the deterioration torate of Helmand are responsible for protecting the of the historical place. Bost castle. (Tolo News)

Helmand’s Bost Castle to be Restored: Afghan Govt Assures Transparency in Allocating Officials COVID-19 Funds Officials of the southern province of Hel- Afghans. The government should take mand said that the historical Bost castle care of it and rebuild the collapsed ar- The Ministry of Finance on Friday reassured the interna- (Qala-e-Bost), and four other historical eas,” said Noor Mohammad, a tourist. tional community of accountability and transparency in the spending of the foreign assistance aid given to the country heritage sites in the province, will be re- “We have heard that it is a historical to fight the coronavirus, saying the government has estab- built in the current year, following con- place...it is a good place. The govern- lished a committee under the leadership of the first vice cerns about the castle’s deterioration. ment should take care of it,” said Alla- president to ensure better management of the funds. “We will allocate a special budget for the wadin, another tourist. “The Afghan government is fully committed to undertake Bost castle and four other places,” said “I have come from Kandahar province. the right management and transparent spending of the aid. Wayar. “We will start work on the loca- It is my first time seeing the castle. We There are certain sets of procedures outlined for this pur- tions in the current year… We will try our have heard about the castle but there pose which will ensure transparency, better management best to protect the castle and prevent its are no services for tourists--no parking. and effective use of the assistance,” said Shamroz Khan collapsing.” Some parts of the castle are destroyed,” Masjidi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance. The Bost castle is an important histori- said Sardar Mohammad, a tourist. Following the spread of COVID-19, the international com- cal place in Afghanistan and is registered “We become sad to see the castle. It is munity has pledged around $540 million dollars to Afghan- ated a committee under the chairmanship of First Vice with the United Nations Educational, Sci- the history of Helmand and Afghani- istan in its struggle against the deadly pandemic. President Amrullah Saleh, and the Afghan government entific and Cultural Organization (UNES- stan. The government should protect “Money was allocated for the fight against the coronavirus insists that this aid should be spent through the govern- CO) as a historical heritage site. it,” said Abdul Ghafoor, another tourist. from the national budget--there is also foreign aid--but poor ment budget instead of NGOs. Visitors urged the government to stop the Two employees of the information and management and poor monitoring systems cause doubts “They (the international community) feels fear about deterioration of the historical place. cultural directorate of Helmand are re- about the ability of the government,” said Ezatullah Adib, a a possible waste of money, and the people have raised “We have come here for a picnic and to sponsible for protecting the Bost castle. member of Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA)” complaints,” said Tariq Farhadi, a former presidential see these places. It is a historical place for (Tolo News) Recently the Afghan government announced that it had cre- adviser. (Tolo News) 4 Editorial and Opinions

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind Intergenerational model gives hope even during pandemics

By: Anjali Sunil, B Sai Sushma, Parv Julania, Pranav Raghuraman, Priya Sahu, K Shree Shantha

May 03, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is causing untold fear and suffering for older be extended, and that is the gap which this intergenerational model aims to people across the world”, said United Nations Secretary General Antonio fill. According to Chu Viet Nga, social-psychological care is the first crucial Guterres last week on the launch of the policy brief on older persons and part of the process. It primarily includes befriending lonely people, updat- coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “The fatality rate for older people is higher ing them on the latest information, especially about COVID-19 in the cur- E-Commerce Retails overall, and for those over 80, it is five times the global average.” Beyond its rent scenario, and helping accompany them to nearby places. They try to immediate health impact, the pandemic is putting older people at higher find other ways to provide support by reciting poetry to them and spend- hit a Bump in the risk of poverty, discrimination and isolation. It is likely to have a particularly ing more time with them, for example. devastating effect on older people in developing countries, added Guterres. The second most crucial part is personal care support which is essential to Road amid COVID-19 The World Health Organization (WHO) also declared, “older people are elders as they grow older and doing mundane tasks, such as cooking and at highest risk from COVID-19, but all must act to prevent community cleaning, becomes difficult for them. HelpAge makes use of its volunteers With the worldwide spread of the pandemic CO- spread.” In India, government data shows that although only 19% of con- to pitch in and help them out with cooking food, cleaning the house and VID-19, the operations of e-commerce retail hit a firmed COVID-19 cases were among the elderly, 63% of deaths happened surrounding areas and other such tasks. Apart from this, the volunteers road bump, this outbreak has not only threatened among them. also help in the maintenance of personal hygiene such as taking care of According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), population nails, hair and bathing. the human life but also switching on a red signal to ageing has reached a level where it is having a significant impact on all sec- Thirdly, living support care is quintessential. Living support includes hav- the virtual business, given the weeks and months- tors of the economy. To deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals ing enough money (through local fundraising), helping them access their long lockdown imposed in many countries across (SDGs), governments need to ensure that people of all age groups can live pension and helping them out in their gardening and farming. Living sup- the world, the day to day business operations of the healthy, active and fulfilling lives. We cannot leave the older people behind! port also includes procuring devices such as walking sticks or wheelchairs The UNFPA adds: “In order to cope with the ageing of the population, it that will help them live with dignity. online retails hit a stumbling block in terms of fall in is therefore no longer sufficient to meet the expectations and needs of the Finally, the important thing in these uncertain times is health. There are their customer size and the downward sweep of the older population only, but it requires a more comprehensive approach to regular check-ups for diabetes and hypertension patients as well as inform- financial performance. address its effects on all population groups.” It recommends taking a life ing them about the ways they can/should take care of themselves. In case On March 15, Flipkart, one of the biggest E-com- cycle approach. Preparing for old age from youth time will be very useful their health situation deteriorates, referring them to the nearest hospital/ for a better life in old age and reduce the health burdens that may occur if medical centre is also an integral responsibility taken up by HelpAge vol- merce company, proclaimed a temporary suspen- unprepared otherwise. One generation can learn from one another, and aid unteers. sion of its business operations in view of the 21-day each other to build stable, healthy and wholesome communities. No person, young or old, is expendable long nationwide lockdown in India because of the Intergenerational approach This is a pandemic, that needs not only individual awareness but also a col- outbreak of COVID-19. The website of Flipkart In the ongoing Sustainable Development e-Talks (#SDGtalks) series, co- lective awareness and action, and thus there is a lot to learn from this model went on for a temporary break showing “ Hello hosted by Indian Institute of Management Indore and CNS, Chu Viet Nga adopted by HelpAge International. There are particular challenges we, In- from HelpAge International in Vietnam, shared that any programme aimed dians, face as a country. Though we are the second-most populous coun- fellow Indians, We are temporarily suspending op- at helping the elderly should not merely focus on food and medication. It try in the world, we do not have secure enough public health systems and erations. Your needs have always been our prior- should be fulfilling in a multitude of ways. One of the critical ways they try social security, and this has given us serious setbacks. António Guterres, ity and our promise is that we will be back to serve to achieve this is through an intergenerational approach, where the focus is the UN Secretary-General, pointed out last week that “No person, young you, as soon as possible,” as an emergency mes- on building interaction between different generations, such as children and or old, is expendable and that older people have the same rights to life and the elderly. The children train and spend time with the elderly and they, in health as everyone else.” He also added that, “Difficult decisions around sage. With the extension of the lockdown in India, turn, teach the children traditional arts and skills. life-saving medical care must respect the human rights and dignity of all.” Flipkart’s official website further added to its previ- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had also underlined this aspect Social isolation, self-quarantine and the fundamental concern for the well- ous message “These are difficult times, times like and said: “While physical distancing is crucial, let us not forget we are one being of others can take us all ahead by significant leaps and bounds. This no other. Never before, have communities stayed community and we all belong to each other. We need improved social sup- pandemic serves as a grim reminder that if even a single person amongst port and smarter efforts to reach older people…”. He added, “that is vital to us gets struck with the virus, we all are in danger. While we can go ahead apart to stay safe, never before, has been at home older people who may face great suffering and isolation under lockdowns and contribute our money for the cause in various relief funds set up all meant helping the nation’s safety. We urge you to and other restrictions.” over the country in this time of dire need, we can also do more by taking up stay home to stay safe. We will get there. And we That is why the intergenerational approach was developed for older people the psychological and social approach on a personal level. will get through. Together.” to help all generations stay supported in these times in Vietnam. The elderly As countries move into lockdowns, it not only affects the economy of the are denied their rights and are neglected even as they face new struggles country but can also affect the people in the country emotionally and men- However, according to the media reports, the de- that accompany new age. Dealing with age-discriminant workplace prac- tally. Especially in increasing feelings such as, a sense of doom, depression, livery of food items, pharmaceuticals, and medi- tices and lack of social support simply add to their woes. This involves a anxiety and loneliness. This is especially prevalent in people living alone. cal equipment have been exempted from the lock- multidimensional approach towards psychological, social and financial Being in touch with others despite distances is not difficult these days. A down, still, the halt in the supply-chain has caused support. HelpAge International has adopted and structured various activi- simple message, a timely phone call to your grandparents, and sharing a a depressing situation both for the online retails and ties around the intergenerational approach to bridge the gap between the meme on Instagram can go a long way to help people those who have ac- generations in an admirable effort. cess to these methods for a virtual connection. The lonely student in your the prospect customers. the spread of the pandemic “When individuals reach old age, the various problems that they have to class? Your maternal grandmother you have not spoken to in the last few has not only dented the E-commerce in India, but experience include a decline in health conditions, retirement, financial prob- months? Your mom living in a different city alone? They are just a text mes- the brunt of the outbreak is also borne worldwide lems, loneliness and dependence upon others,” wrote Dr Radhika Kapur, in sage away. These small activities not only promote emotional support, but by the online retails and is becoming uncontrolla- her research paper: “Problems of the Aged People in India”. Chu Viet Nga they also play a role in strengthening our bonds, because whether we like rightly pointed out that health support is not the only support that needs to it or not, the pandemic is going to change us and our future significantly. ble as the days pass by. On April 10, Amazon sus- pended shipping its typical products, nevertheless, the company continued shipping safety and hy- gienic items to the people such as masks and clean- ing equipment, “our top concern is the health and What Caused the COVID-19 Testing Deficit? safety of our employees. We made over 150 process updates to help protect employees, from enhanced By: Sachin Silva and Juergen Braunstein cleaning and social distancing measures to piloting The United States is the world’s richest country, and home to ten of the fore not the way forward. new efforts like using disinfectant fog in our New 20 largest diagnostics companies. And yet, it not only has suffered more Instead, national governments should support the creation of a global coor- York fulfillment center,” a tagline note by Amazon. deaths from COVID-19 than any other country, but also remains highly dinating platform for pandemic preparedness. Such a platform can take the The findings of a recently conducted research- re vulnerable to a continued escalation. The reason is simple: there are not lead in raising and pooling capital to channel toward rapid development, veal that the degree to which the general public enough diagnostic tests. production, and distribution of diagnostics for pandemic diseases. has avoided flocking to crowded places depends During a disease outbreak, medicines and vaccines understandably get a The blueprint for such a platform already exists. The Coalition for Epidemic lot of attention. But diagnostics are effectively a first line of defense against Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is a coordinating mechanism focused on on the severity of the outbreak in each country. For transmission, particularly for a disease like COVID-19, which can be spread advancing vaccine development and facilitating clinical validation, mass- example, as of March 2020, according to a statisti- by asymptomatic carriers. As the divergent experiences of the US and scale manufacturing, and stockpiling. By reducing uncertainty and mini- cal survey conducted by You Go, 85% of internet South Korea show, testing can be the difference between containment and mizing disruptions, CEPI makes vaccine markets more secure, accessible, users in China and 83% of those in Hong Kong have catastrophe. and dynamic. The COVID-19 outbreak began on a similar trajectory in both countries, CEPI relies on both traditional financing (large grants from governments expressed that, they had avoided crowded public with the number of confirmed cases increasing at a comparable rate. But and foundations) and innovative financing (the returns from instruments places in the past two weeks. Just more than a quar- South Korea’s government quickly took action to create a market for rapid like the International Finance Facility for Immunization, or IFFIm). In the ter (27%) of those in the US and 14% in the UK said innovation and fulfillment of testing demand, boosting its capacity to 15,000 event of an outbreak, CEPI uses instruments like Advanced Market Com- the same. With such facts, as much as people avoid tests per day and establishing drive-through centers to conduct them. mitments (AMCs) or volume guarantees – which can be structured through going outside, the trend line of the supply-chain for As of March 20, South Korea had carried out more than 300,000 COVID-19 mechanisms like the Global Health Investment Fund and InnovFin, or as tests – a rate exceeding 6,000 per million inhabitants – despite being home conditional pledges to IFFIm and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – to enable it to many E-commerce firms will collapse to none of the 20 largest diagnostics companies. Just over two weeks after scale up production quickly. With the continuous rise of COVID-19, other web- reaching 100 confirmed cases, the country flattened its curve, with very few This blueprint can easily be replicated for diagnostics. All that is needed is a based businesses such as intellectual property and – if any – new cases per day. specialized entity – an institution or initiative that couples research and de- consulting firms have also witnessed a detrimental In the US, by contrast, delayed government intervention left markets in velopment with market access. Everything else could function just as CEPI charge of meeting accelerating demand. As of March 20, the country had does: the platform would receive funding from member states, increase change in terms of consumer loss, as there have al- performed roughly 100,000 tests – some 300 per million people. New cases spending power by investing in the IFFIm, and scale up production when ready been evident hints of negative change in the – and the death toll – continued to rise. necessary using AMCs or volume guarantees. behavior of consumers, the virtual business firms Simply put, swift government intervention worked in South Korea, where- Such an entity could even work directly with CEPI. A diagnostics-vaccines fear the aftermath caused by COVID-19. Self-quar- as the market’s invisible hand failed in the US. partnership, built on a common market-access and financing platform, antines and escalating concerns about roaming out- Globally, the development of diagnostics has long been left to markets, could reduce inefficiencies and transaction costs. So, in a pandemic scenar- many of which are highly specialized. But while there are diagnostics mar- io, as researchers develop and test vaccines, diagnostics could be produced side in public places or delivering items other than kets for major infectious and non-infectious diseases, and even neglected fast and deployed widely, thereby drastically limiting transmission. safety equipment result in the loss of customers for tropical diseases, there is none for pandemic diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that, left to their own devices, markets many retail. Governments can of course counteract market deficiencies, but the com- will not produce the kind of responsive diagnostics production that is vital monly used mechanisms still require a trace level of demand, which does during a disease outbreak. It has also shown that this failure can quickly not exist for pandemic-disease diagnostics until the brink of an outbreak. produce a public-health catastrophe, even in an advanced economy with And national governments, subject as they are to political and ideological leading diagnostics firms. Unless action is taken to correct this failure and constraints, cannot be relied upon always to create markets with the same ensure broad access to COVID-19 testing (and to testing for future disease swiftness demonstrated by South Korea. Reactive market creation is there- outbreaks), one dreads to think what awaits poorer countries.

Chairman / Editor-in-Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Vice Chairman / Exec. Editor: Moh. Sakhi Rezaie Email: [email protected] Phone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019 www.outlookafghanistan.net

The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authers and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Daily Outlook Afghanistan. 5 May 03, 2020 International require oxygen supplementation. US Vice President Mike Pence Neighbor News said the 1.5 million vials would start being distributed to hospi- tals on Monday. Gilead said the federal govern- Kazakh president says ties ment will coordinate the donation with China mutually and distribution of remdesivir beneficial to hospitals in cities hardest hit by COVID-19. Citing the drug’s Kazakh President Chinese market also limited supply, the company said Kassym-Jomart To- offers tremendous op- hospitals with intensive care units kayev said on Friday portunities for Kazakh- and other hospitals that the gov- that his country’s part- stan. ernment deems most in need will nership with China is China is a traditional receive priority.There have been natural and mutually consumer of Kazakh more than 3.2 million people in- beneficial. energy resources, and fected by the novel coronavirus During an interview there has been an in- worldwide and over 232,800 have with Russian broad- creasing supply of Ka- died, according to a Reuters tally. caster MIR TV, To- zakh goods to China, The recent clinical data has raised kayev said China is one he said, adding that hopes remdesivir might be an ef- of Kazakhstan’s larg- demand for Kazakh fective treatment. est trade and economic food is also expanding A draft study abstract released in- partners. in China. advertently by the World Health Last year, the trade vol- “We are building a mu- US Approval Broadens Use of COVID-19 Drug Organization (WHO) last week ume between the two tually beneficial eco- said remdesivir failed to improve countries reached near- nomic partnership, and Remdesivir patients’ condition or reduce the ly 14.5 billion U.S. dol- cooperation between Gilead Science Inc’s donating 1.5 million vials of the course of infection.With sioner Stephen Hahn said pathogen’s presence in the blood- lars, the president said. Kazakhstan and China (GILD.O) antiviral drug the drug to help patients. many countries reeling from during the meeting. stream. The drugmaker said the Tokayev said China of- is absolutely natural,” remdesivir was granted The donation is expected the coronavirus pandemic, Remdesivir was previously findings were inconclusive be- fers a key transit point said Tokayev.Besides emergency use authoriza- to be enough for at least interest in Gilead’s drug has available only for patients cause the study was terminated for Kazakh goods to en- Kazakhstan, many oth- tion by the US Food and 140,000 patients, depending been high because there are enrolled in clinical trials or early.Remdesivir, which previ- Drug Administration for on the number of days they currently no approved treat- for patients cleared to get ously failed as a treatment for ter the Asia-Pacific -re er countries have also COVID-19 on Friday, clear- need to be treated. ments or preventive vaccines the drug under expanded Ebola, is being tried against CO- gion, while Kazakhstan engaged in cooperation ing the way for broader use Gilead said on Wednesday for COVID-19. Doctors are use and compassionate use VID-19 because it is designed to is also a major transit with China, Tokayev of the drug in more hospitals the drug, which is given desperate for anything that programs. Through Gilead’s disable the mechanism by which channel for goods from said.More than 120 around the United States. by intravenous infusion, might alter the course of the trials, more than 181 hospital certain viruses, including the new China to Europe. countries and nearly During a meeting in the Oval had helped improve out- disease that attacks the lungs locations around the world, coronavirus, make copies of them- “It takes at least 40 days 30 international orga- Office of the White House comes for patients with and can shut down other including hospitals in 27 US selves and potentially overwhelm to ship goods from Chi- nizations have joined with President Donald COVID-19, the respiratory organs in extremely severe states, have been administer- their host’s immune system. na to Europe by sea, China’s Belt and Road Trump, Gilead Chief Execu- disease caused by the novel cases.“It’s the first autho- ing the drug. Shares of Gilead, which have whereas it takes just 15 Initiative, which aims tive Daniel O’Day called the coronavirus, and provided rized therapy for COVID-19, The FDA authorization ap- gained 26% so far this year, were (days) to deliver goods to improve trade and move an important first step data suggesting it worked so we’re really proud to be plies to patients hospitalized up 2.7% at $82.10 in after hours on land through Ka- transport corridors and and said the company was better when given earlier in part of it,” FDA Commis- with severe COVID-19 who trading. (Tolo News) zakhstan and Russia,” open up new ones, To- he said. kayev noted. The president said the (Xinhua) Coronavirus gives airlines Spotlight: WHO maintains ‘unprecedented shock’ highest alarm over COVID-19, Iran Corona Death Toll appreciates Wuhan people’s Kim Jong-un has ap- Nears 6,000 peared in public for the fighting efforts first time in 20 days, The World Health Or- treat every case, and North Korean state media ganization (WHO) said trace every contact,” says. on Friday that the CO- WHO Director-Gen- KCNA news agency re- VID-19 outbreak still eral Tedros Adhanom ports that the North Kore- constitutes a Public Ghebreyesus said at a an leader cut the ribbon at Health Emergency of virtual press confer- the opening of a fertiliser International Concern ence from here. factory. (PHEIC), the WHO’s Following over three It adds that people at the highest level of alarm. months of an ardu- factory “broke into thun- The PHEIC was de- ous fight, Wuhan, the derous cheers of hurrah” clared on Jan. 30 over central Chinese city when he appeared on the novel coronavirus once hardest hit by the Ian’s death toll from the Nearly 74,000 of the pa- Friday.The reported ap- What does the state me- march for accomplish- more than one man. It is outbreak, when there coronavirus outbreak, virus known to cause tients have recovered pearance - his first since dia report say? ing the great cause of a country of 25 million were only 82 COVID-19 cleared all COVID-19 COVID-19 neared 6,000 and 2,965 are in critical an event on state media According to Korean prosperity”, KCNA people who are often cases outside China. cases in hospitals on on Wednesday, rough- condition. on 12 April - comes amid Central News Agency says.Let’s be clear. Kim overlooked. Today, Mr “HATS OFF TO YOU” April 26. ly accounting for 2.7% Jahanpour added, “Iran global speculation over (KCNA), Mr Kim was Jong-un could have been Kim’s reappearance was The WHO director- The PMI for Britain’s of global fatalities from has carried out 453,386 his health.The latest re- accompanied by several ill, or he could have had at a fertiliser plant. The general has the respon- manufacturing sec- the disease in 210 coun- coronavirus tests.” ports from North Korean senior North Korean of- some sort of surgical headlines will of course sibility to determine a tor dropped to 32.6 tries and territories that President Hassan Rou- media could not be inde- ficials, including his sister procedure in the last focus on his return, and PHEIC and the decision in April, according to have so far reported the hani in his weekly Cab- pendently confirmed. Kim Yo-jong. two weeks. Or he could on where he has been should be reviewed ev- data published by IHS infection. inet meeting empha- State media later re- The North Korean leader have been lounging on rather than on whether ery three months, under MARKIT/CIPS, as out- The second worst-hit sized that there is no leased images that it said a yacht near his villa in cut a ribbon at a ceremo- this factory will help the the International Health put, new orders and Middle Eastern country timetable for the end of showed Mr Kim cutting a ny at the plant, in a region Wonsan laughing at the country tackle chronic Regulations. employment all con- recorded 80 overnight the pandemic. ribbon outside a factory. north of Pyongyang, and world’s wild specula- food shortages. “As we have done clear- tracted at the fastest deaths on Wednesday, “We need to prepare Asked about Mr Kim’s re- people who were attend- tion. His 20 day absence I assure you, that for the ly from the beginning, rates in nearly 30 years. bringing its total to ourselves for work, ported reappearance, US ing the event “burst into is not without prec- people of North Korea we will continue to call Any reading below 50 5,957, Health Ministry knowledge, science and President Donald Trump thunderous cheers of edent. right now, that is just as on countries to imple- percent indicates the Spokesman Kianoush research in the society, told reporters that he ‘hurrah!’ for the Supreme But there is one thing important as the unex- ment a comprehensive manufacturing sector Jahanpour was quoted based on the assump- didn’t want to comment Leader who is command- that has been lost in all plained absence of their package of measures is generally contract- as saying by ISNA. tion that the virus will yet. ing the all-people general of this. North Korea is leader. (BBC) to find, isolate, test and ing. (Xinhua) Iran has so far reported stay with the people for 93,657 infections, up by a while,” he said. (Fi- Chinese medical experts com- Indian auto companies report zero sales in April 1,073 from a day earlier. nancial Trubune) plete mission in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait amid nationwide lockdown PTM’s Arif Dies from Indian automobile com- Shooting in South Waziristan panies had a complete wash-out in April sales Arif Wazir, a leader for Ghani’s inaugura- following the nation-wide of the Pashtun Tahaf- tion in February. lockdown due to the CO- fuz Movement (PTM), Seven members of Arif VID-19 pandemic, as per died in Islamabad on Wazir’s family were the updates filed with the Saturday after he was killed in a clash with stock exchanges on Satur- attacked on Friday militants near Wana day.Maruti Suzuki, Ma- by unidentified gun- in 2007, according to hindra and TVS Motors men outside his home Dawn. His father, Saa- reported zero sales in the in Wana, South Wa- dullah Jan, and uncle, domestic market during ziristan, Pakistan’s Mirza Alam, were the month of April. Dawn reported. among the dead. Chinese medical ex- spiratory diseases, and “During the month of Dawn reported that Arif Wazir was re- perts returned to China other fields.During April 2020, TVS Motor according to Wana leased from jail on bail Saturday after complet- their stay in Saudi Ara- Company had zero sales Station House Officer about one month ago, ing their mission to help bia, the Chinese experts in the domestic market. Usman Khan, Wazir according to Dawn. fight against the novel shared experience with Following resumption dra, said “We are work- said that it also had zero as Green Zones. passed away after was Rights group Amnesty coronavirus disease and offered training for of operations at Chennai ing hand in hand with all sales during April in the Considerable relaxation transported to Islam- International in a state- (COVID-19) in Saudi Saudi Arabian medical Port, 8,134 units of two- stakeholders, especially domestic market. has been offered in or- abad for treatment. ment on Saturday said Arabia and Kuwait. staff on the preven- wheelers, and 1,506 three- our dealer and supplier Meanwhile, following ange and green zone, Citing an official, Dawn “the Pakistani authori- The medical team com- tion, control, diagno- wheelers were shipped partners, to get our eco- resumption of port op- where the impact of the reports that Arif Wa- ties must carry out an posed of eight experts, sis and treatment of utilising the stocks from system started, once the erations, the first export COVID-19 is seen less zir was walking out- independent and effec- lockdown is lifted.” shipment of 632 units or negligible. However, who were selected by COVID-19. They also March 2020 while ensur- side his residence in tive investigation into “We are hopeful that our was undertaken from all metro cities includ- the health commission provided epidemic ing utmost safety,” said Ghwa Khwa, near yesterday’s attack in the company that manu- dealerships will open the Mundra port, ensur- ing Mumbai and Delhi of northwest China’s prevention training for Wana, when armed South Waziristan on factures two and three- soon and have stocks to ing that all guidelines have been included in Ningxia Hui Autono- overseas Chinese there. men opened fire on him Arif Wazir, a member wheeler and is the part of cover the first few weeks for safety were fol- red zones or considered mous Region. On April 27, the experts from a vehicle. of the Pashtun Tahaf- 8.5 billion U.S. dollar TVS of sale. In the export mar- lowed, the Maruti state- hotspots for the CO- The experts were sent departed for Kuwait, He was initially ad- fuz Movement. The to help Saudi Arabia where they exchanged Group. ket we have sold 733 ve- ment said. VID-19 with stringent mitted to the District suspected perpetrators fight against the virus experience with lo- Stating that domestic hicles during April,” said India, which has been norms for movement of Headquarters Hospi- must be held account- on April 15 with medi- cal health experts and sales during the month the CEO. under lockdown for al- cargo and people. tal, in Wana, but later able.” Former presi- cal supplies including medical staff, and pro- were completely im- India’s ace car-manu- most five weeks, has As per the latest update shifted to an Islamabad dent Hamid Karzai in masks, nucleic acid test- vided necessary medi- pacted by the pandemic, facturer Maruti Suzuki, now divided itself into on Saturday evening, In- hospital, Dawn reports. a statement extended ing kits and infrared cal guidance and con- Veejay Nakra, the chief which claims over 50 per- three zones, of which dia has 26,535 active cas- his condolences over thermometers. They sultation for overseas executive officer (CEO) of cent share in the car mar- 130 districts are desig- es of the COVID-19 with Arif Wazir is the first specialize in virus test- Chinese in Kuwait. the Automotive Division ket of Asia’s third largest nated as Red Zone, 284 1,223 deaths reported so cousin of MNA Ali Wa- the death of Arif Wazir. ing, infectious and re- (Xinhua) at Mahindra & Mahin- economy in its statement as Orange Zone and 319 far. (Xinhua) zir, who visited Kabul (Tolo News) www.outlookafghanistan.net www.thedailyafghanistan.com facebook.com/The.Daily.Outlook.Afghanistan facebook.com/The.Daily.Afghanistan Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019 Phone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019 Add: In front of Habibia High School, Add: In front of Habibia High School, District 3, Kabul, Afghanistan District 3, Kabul, Afghanistan Back Page Sunday May 03, 2020

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Taliban, Afghan government need 179 New Coronavirus Cases Reported in Af- ghanistan, Total 2,469 to accelerate release of prisoners The Ministry of Public Health spokesman Wahidullah Mayar said on Saturday that in the past and lower violence: Khalilzad 24 hours, 179 positive cases have been recorded across the country, and the country total is 2,469. Mayar says that 179 out of 591 samples from 12 provinces came back positive in the last 24 hours. The 164 new cases were reported in Kabul (75), Herat (23), Balkh (18), Jawzjan (16), Kandahar (15), Ghazni (10), Baghlan (7), Logar (5), Takhar (4), Ghor (3), Zabul (2) and Helmand (1). Mayar said that 249 medical per- sonnel are currently infected with the coronavirus, up from 228 yes- terday. In the past one week, at least 7,000 tests for COVID-19 were done, which shows is 331, while 72 have died. that “capacity is developing.” The number of deaths from COVID-19 globally is According to the ministry, so far more than 11,068 more than 238,826, and more than 3.3 million have samples have been tested. been infected with the virus, according to Johns The number of reported recoveries in the country Hopkins University.(Tolo News) US troop drawdown ahead of schedule: CNN The Trump administration is ahead of troop pullout from Afghanistan in line with the US-Taliban peace pact, CNN reports. The Taliban and the government quarter of 2020, Khalilzad noted number and lethality of Taliban In two months after the signing need to accelerate efforts to re- that casualties fell 29% from the attacks endanger these gains.” of the agreement, the US has cur- lease prisoners and lower vio- same period last year and are He said that the violence has gen- rently less than 10,000 military per- lence, which is the fastest means lower than any first quarter since erated a violent response from sonnel in Afghanistan down from to intra-Afghan negotiations and 2012 due to “momentum created the ANDSF. “The result is an es- more than 13,000. a comprehensive permanent by the Reduction in Violence in calatory cycle which is complex US troop levels have to be further ceasefire, US special envoy said late February.” but inarguably a negative trend slashed to 8,600 until mid-July in on Saturday. “But civilians still suffer from that must be reversed.” accordance with the treaty. But that “Delay means more civilian losses IEDs, targeted assassinations, The US-Taliban deal stipulated goal could now be attained months from Afghans fighting each other and other consequences of the the release of up to 5,000 Taliban before the deadline. when the real war should be Af- ongoing war. To protect them all prisoners and 1,000 government An unnamed defence official told ghans united against COVID-19,” sides must act now to end the vio- prisoners by March 10 when in- the network that the Covid-19 pan- US Special Representative for Af- lence,” Khalilzad said. tra-Afghan talks would begin. demic had sped up the troop with- ghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay “Similarly, ANDSF and Taliban However, the government has re- drawal process. The Department of Defense said: “US Forces-Af- Khalilzad said on Twitter. casualties fell substantially in leased 550 prisoners and the Tali- In view of operational security concerns associated ghanistan continues to reduce force levels and ex- Citing a recent UNAMA report the first quarter,” Khalilzad said. ban has freed 112 so far. (1TV) with the drawdown, the report said, the Pentagon pects to be at 8,600 US troops within 135 days (mid- on civilian casualties in the first “But the recent increase in the refused to give updates on the current troop levels. July) …” (Pajhwok)