UNITED NATIONS, 25 March 2020 (APP):The United Nations on Wednesday launched a $2 billion plan to fight coronavirus in the world’s poorest countries countries, saying nobody was safe if such nations were left exposed.
“This is the moment to step up for the vulnerable,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said while unveiling the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19.
The virus – which began in China and spread fast through Europe – is now penetrating Africa, Asia and Latin America, hitting countries that already face humanitarian crisis because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.
Nations reeling from conflict, poverty and deficient health care will be unable to contain the coronavirus without significant international assistance, the UN chief said.
COVID-19 has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide and there are nearly 400,000 reported cases. It has a foothold across the globe and is now reaching countries that were already facing humanitarian crisis because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.
The response plan will be implemented by UN agencies, with international NGOs and NGO consortia playing a direct role in the response.
The plan will:
— deliver essential laboratory equipment to test for the virus, and medical supplies to treat people;
— install handwashing stations in camps and settlements;
— launch public information campaigns on how to protect yourself and others from the virus; and
— establish airbridges and hubs across Africa, Asia and Latin America to move humanitarian workers and supplies to where they are needed most.
In his remarks, Secretary-General Guterres said, : COVID-19 is menacing the whole of humanity – and so the whole of humanity must fight back. Individual country responses are not going to be enough.
“We must come to the aid of the ultra-vulnerable – millions upon millions of people who are least able to protect themselves. This is a matter of basic human solidarity. It is also crucial for combating the virus. This is the moment to step up for the vulnerable.”
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock said, “COVID-19 has already upended life in some of the world’s wealthiest countries. It is now reaching places where people live in warzones, cannot easily access clean water and soap, and have no hope of a hospital bed if they fall critically ill.
“To leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries to their fate would be both cruel and unwise. If we leave coronavirus to spread freely in these places, we would be placing millions at high risk, whole regions will be tipped into chaos and the virus will have the opportunity to circle back around the globe,” he said.
“Countries battling the pandemic at home are rightly prioritizing people living in their own communities. But the hard truth is they will be failing to protect their own people if they do not act now to help the poorest countries protect themselves.
“Our priority is to help these countries prepare and continue helping the millions who rely on humanitarian assistance from the UN to survive. Properly funded, our global response effort will equip humanitarian organizations with the tools to fight the virus, save lives, and help contain the spread of COVID-19 worldwide,” Lowcock added.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The virus is now spreading in countries with weak health systems, including some which are already facing humanitarian crises. These countries need our support – out of solidarity but also to protect us all and help suppress this pandemic.
“At the same time,”, he said, “we must not fight the pandemic at the expense of the other humanitarian health emergencies.”
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said, “Children are the hidden victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and school closures are affecting their education, mental health and access to basic health services.
“The risks of exploitation and abuse are higher than ever, for boys and girls alike. For children on the move or living through conflicts, the consequences will be unlike any we have ever seen. We must not let them down.”
At the virtual launch of the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, the UN Secretary-General was joined via video link by Lowcock, Dr Tedros and Ms. Fore.
Together they called on UN Member States to commit to stemming the impact of COVID-19 in vulnerable countries and containing the virus globally by giving the strongest possible support to the plan, while also sustaining core support to existing humanitarian appeals that help the more than 100 million people who already rely on humanitarian assistance from the UN just to survive.
Member States were warned that any diversion of funding from existing humanitarian operations would create an environment in which cholera, measles and meningitis can thrive, in which even more children become malnourished, and in which extremists can take control – an environment that would be the perfect breeding ground for the coronavirus.
To kick-start the response plan, Lowcock, the UN humanitarian chief, released an additional $60 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This brings CERF’s support to humanitarian action in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic to $75 million. In addition, country-based pooled funds have allocated more than $3 million so far.
This new CERF allocation – one of the largest ever made – will support: WFP to ensure the continuity of supply chains and transport of aid workers and relief goods; WHO to contain the spread of the pandemic; and other agencies to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to those most affected by the pandemic, including women and girls, refugees and internally displaced people. Support will include efforts around food security, physical and mental health, water and sanitation, nutrition and protection.

ISLAMABAD, 25 March 2020, TON: In an important development, Ulema from Rawalpindi and Lahore are not ready to accept that Ulemah from Egypt have issued any Fatwa regarding cancellation of Friday prayers and other congregational prayers at Mosques.  They said, “it is misleading statement, being attributed to have said by President Alvi that Islamic countries Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have already suspended congregational prayers.”
It is important to mention here that Surat-e-Jumma Ayat No 9 and 10 orders. “O people who believe! When there is call for prayes (Azzan) on the day of Jumma  (Friday), then proceed to the remembrance of Almighty Allah and close trading. That is better for you, if you only knew. And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah in abundance so that you may succeed. It is added that the Preamble and Article 2A of the Constitution of Pakistan provides, “Wherein the Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and requirements of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.”

As reported by APP President Dr Arif Alvi of Islamic Republic of Pakistan requested Al-Azhar Egypt, an authority on Islamic injunctions, permitting suspension of Friday prayers to control the spread of deadly coronavirus in the country. It has been claimed that Al-Azhar has issued a Fatwa on the request of President Alvi permitting suspension of Friday prayers.

Pakistani President said in a tweet on Wednesday, “I am thankful to Grand Imam Shaikh of Al Azhar and Supreme Council for responding to my personal request to provide guidance to us with regard to Farz Jamaat & Juma prayers in mosques during coronavirus attack.”
The president urged the Ulema in the country for urgent action on the Fatwa of Egypt’s Al-Azhar institution that termed it purely Islamic to cancel Friday prayers over coronavirus concerns.
The Fatwa stressed that public gatherings, including congregational prayers at mosques, could result in spread of coronavirus and the governments of Muslim countries had full jurisdiction to cancel such events. It also emphasized amending Azaan (call to prayer) with words ‘Salaat Fi Buyut-e-Kum’, meaning ‘pray in your homes’ instead of the usual ‘come to prayer. 

KABUL: 26 people died and 8 wounded on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, as a Sikh as unidentified militant carried out early morning bomb attack at religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul, witness at the site of bombing said. Afghan government claims that all the attackers were killed by the Afghan security forces. 

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said 25 people who had been in the religious compound had been killed, eight wounded and 80 rescued while all of the attackers have been killed. A Taliban spokesman, in a message on Twitter, denied responsibility for the attack. Otherwise, Taliban and Sikhs enjoy cordial relations. 

Narender Singh Khalsa, a member of parliament who represents the Sikh community said “Three suicide bombers entered a Dharamsala and started their attack at a time when the Dharamsala jam-packed.”  Sikhs are a small religious minority in Afghanistan with numbers fewer than 300 families.

Pakistan Foreign Office strongly condemned the ‘heinous terrorist attack’ on Gurdwara, “Such despicable attacks have no political, religious or moral justification and must be rejected outright,” Official statement issued by Islamabad said, “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost their loved ones in this inhuman act and we pray for the swiftest recovery of the injured. We also express our abiding solidarity with the fraternal people of Afghanistan.”

If we recall, New Delhi was aggrieved over the Sikh’s protests in foreign countries and campaign against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Amendment in Citizen Act. One of the Sikh woman who lost her husband blamed Indian Embassy at Kabul.

JUBA, 25 March 2020, TON: Sudan's Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Jamaleldin Omar died of in a mysterious condition in South Sudan, where he was holding peace negotiations between the government and  Dafur militant groups in Juba.

The Sudanese Army authorities said, General Omar was a member of the Sovereign Council that took power under a 39-month power-sharing deal with a civilian government after the toppling of former president Omar al-Bashir. It is being said that he suffered a heart attack.

The joint political and security arrangement was established with the support of the African Union to implement the security arrangements agrees on 27 September 2012 particularly preventing cross borders attack by militant groups.

RIYADH, 24 March 2020, TON:  Minister of Education Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, in the presence of Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, inspected the Virtual School Content Production Center in Riyadh that serves distantly 6 million students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period of the schools suspension.
At the outset of the inspection tour, the ministers were briefed on the services of the virtual school through a documentary film that tells the story of distance education in the public education, the educational operations that take place by the efforts of teachers and supervisors in preparing the educational content for the daily lessons according to the study plan, and transferring them directly through 20 channels of IEN educational channels. They were also briefed on the statistics and numbers of distance education in public and university education since the decision of schools suspension.
At the end of the inspection tour, the Minister of Education explained that after 10 hours of the announcement of the schools suspension, the Ministry shifted from an educational system dependent on the attendance of students to another educational system dependent on the option of distance education, stressing that this transformation was not easy, but the Ministry was able to serve 6 million students in the public education within hours, and about 1 million and 600,000 students in the universities sector through technical platforms and programs.
The Acting Minister of Media praised the great efforts exerted by those responsible for the virtual school with the support and guidance of the Minister of Education, as well as the efforts of teachers and their dedication to deliver the education message without stopping, stressing the role of every mother and father in supporting their sons and daughters to continue their studies distantly.
He affirmed that the Coronavirus crisis has created a united team capable of achieving an educational achievement that we are proud of.
Then, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology said that the digital infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is solid today with the support and directives of the leadership, adding that the rate of internet access has exceeded 94 percent.
He affirmed that these numbers come with a support of a network of optical fibers, which reaches today to 3,500,000 houses.

NEW DELHI, 24 March 2020, TON: After the release of Farooq Abdullah father of  National Conference (NC) vice-president and former puppet Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday 24 March Indian Government released Omar Abdullah after detention of 232 days in preventative detention. Omar Abdullah was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).

The development comes days after the Supreme Court asked the government to informt whether it was considering releasing Omar Abdullah, or else it would hear a plea by his sister. Syed Ali Geelani, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Yasin Malik, Mehbooba Mufti and other leaders were detained on 5 August 2019, the day the New Delhi withdrew special status of the disputed state of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir State.

ISLAMABAD, 24 March 2020,TON (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced a relief package aimed at providing financial support to the different sectors of economy affected by the economic slowdown unleashed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) all over the globe. Government has decided to allocate Rs 200 billion for the labour class, which had been hit hard in the difficult times. To help the industrial sector and especially the export sector, it was decided to release tax refunds amounting to Rs 100 billion, besides, deferring of the interest payment to bolster this sector.

For the small and medium industry, and agriculture sector, another amount of Rs 100 billion was set aside with deferred interest payment. In addition, concessional loans would also being extended to the sectors to bring down the input costs for the farmers. Other packages included additional amount of 50 billion for the Utility Stores, Rs 280 billion for the wheat procurement, slashing of petrol and diesel prices by Rs 15 per liter for which the government would have to bear the burden of Rs 75 billion. An amount of Rs 100 billion was allocated separately for the emergency situation. A sum of Rs 50 billion was also allocated for the medical staff. The National Disaster Management Authority would get Rs 25 billion for purchase and procuring of kits. It was also announced that for the vulnerable families who were bearing the brunt of the difficult time an amount of Rs 150 billion for a period of four months was allocated.

WASHINGTON, 23 March 2020, TON: The Spokeswoman of the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus has strongly refuted Iranian leader Khamenei's repetition of allegations that the United States created the coronavirus "Wuhan Virus" (SARS-CoV-2). On 23 March 2020, in a speech broadcast live to the Iranian nation, Khamenei turned down the United States' offer of help in dealing with the coronavirus epidemic in Iran including sending medicines to fight the outbreak. Khamenei said to US, "Use what you have for your own patients." Khamenei also said Iran could not trust the US because they could be giving medicines that spread the virus or cause it to remain and alleged that a section of the virus was created to match the genes of Iranians. In a tweet on, Morgan Ortagus quoted a tweet from Khamenei's account to the same effect and said the "conspiracy theories about the Wuhan Virus" by Khamenei are harmful, irresponsible, and 100 percent false.

RAWALPINDI, 23 March 2020, TON: Special Corps Commanders’ Conference on COVID-19 was held through video link on evening 22 March 2020. Chaired by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Corps Commanders participated in the conference through video link from respective Corps Headquarters. The conference deliberated Pakistan Army’s readiness to assist civil administration to contain the pandemic. The COAS placed
all available troops and Armed Forces medical resources to be prepared to assist civil administration on short notice with regard to COVID-19. The plan of action has, however, not been shared.
 In Punjab, Pakistan Army is being called to assist civil administration in tackling Coronavirus challenge, said Punjab’s Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday.

TOKYO, 23 March 2020, TON: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday said a postponement of Tokyo Olympics would be unavoidable if the Games cannot be held in a complete way because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He was commenting on the International Olympic Committee's plan to examine the situation over the next few weeks and make a decision, which could include the option to postpone.

Prime Minister Abe hoped the IOC will make a decision early if it is postponed, because the process would involve a lot of work and should start soon.