Inspired by the ghouls and monsters he usually encounters in his line of work, Filipino prosthetic makeup artist Rene Abelardo is warding off the coronavirus with style.

Philippine SFX makeup artist wards off virus with horror-inspired masks

A mobile barbershop in Myanmar is attempting to trim coronavirus fears by going door-to-door, offering customers haircuts at their doorsteps.

Myanmar barbershop on wheels trims virus worries by going door-to-door

Spain's Alhambra palace and fortress complex, considered Europe's jewel of Moorish architecture, reopened to visitors in Granada, southern Spain, on Wednesday (June 17) after being shut for three months due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The Alhambra, Spain's jewel of Moorish architecture, reopens after three months

Electric bikes are starting to fill bike lanes in Paris as many commuters wary of taking the metro in the post-coronavirus lockdown period have resorted to two-wheel transport.

Paris sees spike in e-bike sales as virus lockdown winds down

After the coronavirus outbreak prompted the normally bustling streets of Mexico City to empty out, out-of-work musicians looking to make ends meet have been filling roadways with the melodies of their marimbas, trumpets and güiros.

Mexican street musicians bring melodies to people stuck at home

Forget hydroxychloroquine. Try tea of jambu, also know as the toothache plant, that villagers in the eastern Amazon believe will help you keep new coronavirus at bay.

Amazon villagers take herbal tea to fight COVID-19

Hong Kong Disneyland on Wednesday (June 17) geared up for its grand reopening after more than four months of temporary closure due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong Disneyland gears up for reopening as virus restrictions ease

Low wages, poor and inadequate resources, understaffing, poor infrastructure, hollow promises and so on - the list goes on for French health care workers. The conditions have been made worse due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of doctors and paramedics took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions. Soon, the protest turned violent when hundreds of black-clad demonstrators started attacking French riot police. Riot police had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to the police, fringe groups had hijacked the protest and anarchist protesters known as "black bloc" were attacking the officers because of which the agitation turned violent. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/french-health-care-workers-protest-against-poor-services-301759#better-working-conditions-demanded-301742">In pics: French health care workers protest against poor services</a>

The police headquarters in Paris tweeted, "Violent groups are trying to escalate tensions at the peaceful demonstration held by healthcare workers."

Police have arrested at least 16 protests so far.

The health care workers' movement began last year, but had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. The workers say the coronavirus crisis has further exposed the cracks within the healthcare system.

They expressed their frustration with signs that read, "Applause during the COVID, what now?!" and "You count your euros, we count our dead." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-like-pandemics-are-a-direct-consequence-of-natural-exploitation-306526">Also Read: Coronavirus-like pandemics are a direct consequence of natural exploitation</a>

A 25-year-old nurse, Agathe Schlesser, said, "For a nurse that comes from the province (outside Paris), we're looking for stability in Paris, while it's currently impossible. we're seeing a gap in posts that are not renewed, people leave and we realise that in our healthcare service, we're lacking 18 nurses.''

The French government has promised a reform of the healthcare system, with massive investment and greater appreciation, but labour unions in support of health workers say the government response is insufficient.

"We expect salary increases and the recognition of qualifications. We want more beds, the hiring of more personnel, the re-opening of closed hospitals, and of course, for them not to think that the money we're putting into hospitals is a debt. on the contrary, it's an investment, and so we should stop talking about debt when it comes to public hospitals," said the leader of CGT Labour Union, Philippe Martinez. 
&nbsp;

Low wages, poor and inadequate resources, understaffing, poor infrastructure, hollow promises and so on - the list goes on for French health care workers. The conditions have been made worse due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Low wages, poor and inadequate resources, understaffing, poor infrastructure, hollow promises and so on - the list goes on for French health care workers. The conditions have been made worse due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of doctors and paramedics took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding better working conditions. Soon, the protest turned violent when hundreds of black-clad demonstrators started attacking French riot police. Riot police had to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd. According to the police, fringe groups had hijacked the protest and anarchist protesters known as "black bloc" were attacking the officers because of which the agitation turned violent. In pics: French health care workers protest against poor services The police headquarters in Paris tweeted, "Violent groups are trying to escalate tensions at the peaceful demonstration held by healthcare workers." Police have arrested at least 16 protests so far. The health care workers' movement began last year, but had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. The workers say the coronavirus crisis has further exposed the cracks within the healthcare system. They expressed their frustration with signs that read, "Applause during the COVID, what now?!" and "You count your euros, we count our dead." Also Read: Coronavirus-like pandemics are a direct consequence of natural exploitation A 25-year-old nurse, Agathe Schlesser, said, "For a nurse that comes from the province (outside Paris), we're looking for stability in Paris, while it's currently impossible. we're seeing a gap in posts that are not renewed, people leave and we realise that in our healthcare service, we're lacking 18 nurses.'' The French government has promised a reform of the healthcare system, with massive investment and greater appreciation, but labour unions in support of health workers say the government response is insufficient. "We expect salary increases and the recognition of qualifications. We want more beds, the hiring of more personnel, the re-opening of closed hospitals, and of course, for them not to think that the money we're putting into hospitals is a debt. on the contrary, it's an investment, and so we should stop talking about debt when it comes to public hospitals," said the leader of CGT Labour Union, Philippe Martinez.

Protest by French health care workers turns violent

Cinemas were allowed to reopen in Italy on Monday (June 15) as the country continues to gradually ease restrictions put in place to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Cinemas reopen in Italy as gradual lockdown easing continues

The famed Inca citadel of Machu Picchu will restrict its number of visitors when it reopens in July as part of new protocols after the archaeological site was closed for more than three months due to the coronavirus.

Fewer visitors allowed once Machu Picchu reopens

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger.

The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa.

The new mask has a USB port that connects to a power source such as a standard cellphone charger that heats an inner layer of carbon fibers to up to 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), high enough to kill viruses.

Ein-Eli said disposable masks, in high demand globally during the health crisis, were not economically or environmentally friendly.

“You have to make it reusable and friendly, and this is our solution,” he said about the invention.

The prototype looks like a standard N95 face mask, with a valve at the front and rubber bands to hold it in place around the head.

The researchers submitted a patent for the mask in the United States in late March and say they are discussing commercializing the product with the private sector.

It will likely sell at a $1 premium over the price of a typical disposable face mask, the researchers say.

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger. The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa.

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger. The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa. The new mask has a USB port that connects to a power source such as a standard cellphone charger that heats an inner layer of carbon fibers to up to 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), high enough to kill viruses. Ein-Eli said disposable masks, in high demand globally during the health crisis, were not economically or environmentally friendly. “You have to make it reusable and friendly, and this is our solution,” he said about the invention. The prototype looks like a standard N95 face mask, with a valve at the front and rubber bands to hold it in place around the head. The researchers submitted a patent for the mask in the United States in late March and say they are discussing commercializing the product with the private sector. It will likely sell at a $1 premium over the price of a typical disposable face mask, the researchers say.

Self-cleaning mask can kill viruses with heat from phone charger, researchers say

As the reported cases of domestic violence against women continue to rise globally, microblogging platform Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt that will direct people looking for domestic violence-related keywords towards relevant information and sources of help on Twitter.

According to the company statement, this feature will be available on iOS, Android, and on mobile.twitter.com in India in English and Hindi languages.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sufficient-measures-present-to-safeguard-domestic-violence-victims-during-lockdown-aap-govt-to-hc-293292">Also Read: Sufficient measures present to safeguard domestic violence victims: AAP govt to HC</a>

With this initiative, Twitter has expanded #ThereIsHelp prompt, which was started to provide credible information on critical issues.

Data shows that since the coronavirus outbreak, violence against women and girls has intensified across the globe. The lockdown may help keep women safe from the coronavirus, but it has pushed thousands of them into something equally grievous. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-rise-in-domestic-violence-cases-as-covid-19-lockdown-turns-into-captivity-for-many-women-290213">Also Read: Global rise in domestic violence cases as Covid-19 lockdown turns into captivity for many women</a> 
 
According to a recent report by UN Women, 243 million women and girls aged 15-49 globally have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the past 12 months.

Twitter said the National Commission for Women (NCW)&nbsp;has recorded more than two-fold rise in gender-based violence in the lockdown period in India.

 
(With inputs from PTI)

As the reported cases of domestic violence against women continue to rise globally, microblogging platform Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt that will direct people looking for domestic violence-related keywords towards relevant information and sources of help on Twitter.

As the reported cases of domestic violence against women continue to rise globally, microblogging platform Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt that will direct people looking for domestic violence-related keywords towards relevant information and sources of help on Twitter. According to the company statement, this feature will be available on iOS, Android, and on mobile.twitter.com in India in English and Hindi languages. Also Read: Sufficient measures present to safeguard domestic violence victims: AAP govt to HC With this initiative, Twitter has expanded #ThereIsHelp prompt, which was started to provide credible information on critical issues. Data shows that since the coronavirus outbreak, violence against women and girls has intensified across the globe. The lockdown may help keep women safe from the coronavirus, but it has pushed thousands of them into something equally grievous. Also Read: Global rise in domestic violence cases as Covid-19 lockdown turns into captivity for many women According to a recent report by UN Women, 243 million women and girls aged 15-49 globally have been subjected to sexual and/or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the past 12 months. Twitter said the National Commission for Women (NCW) has recorded more than two-fold rise in gender-based violence in the lockdown period in India. (With inputs from PTI)

As cases of domestic violence shoot up amid COVID-19 pandemic, Twitter launches dedicated tool to help people combat the menace

With fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections mounting and rocking world financial markets, a Californian medical device manufacturer is preparing for a spike in demand for ventilators and is pushing other work aside to make more of the devices.

US ventilator makers prepare for coronavirus second wave

The lockdown in Manila, which was one of the world's longest and strictest, was relaxed on June 1 to reduce the economic damage of the pandemic. Restaurants in the capital on Monday (June 15) were allowed to reopen their dine-in services, provided they allow only a 30 percent seating capacity and adhere to strict health protocols inside the establishments.

Partial dine-in services resume in Philippine capital amid lockdown ease

With more than 7,000 Bangladeshi police infected with the new coronavirus, officials are hoping yoga will boost immunity and relieve stress for officers. On Monday (June 15), over 200 police officers in the capital of Dhaka attended a yoga session.

Bangladesh police turn to yoga as virus infections cross 7,000

Before the coronavirus hit New Delhi, Mohammad Aamir Khan was a taxi driver making a living in the Indian capital. But after work dried up during a nearly three-month lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, a friend suggested he take on a part-time job at perhaps the only booming business in the country - driving a private ambulance.

"Someone has to do it" - Indian taxi driver gets behind wheel of ambulance amid spiking virus cases

Fans deprived of live athletics action were treated to a mini pole vaulting competition on Friday (June 12) as German Torben Blech won the Flight Night event at a drive-in cinema in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Fans get to watch as Blech stars in drive-in pole vaulting event

Foreign visitors have begun to trickle back to the white sands and warm waters of Mexico's Caribbean coast as its popular beaches gradually reopen to tourism with new sanitary measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Tourists dip their toes in water as top Mexican beach getaway reopens

As the new coronavirus forces people to alter their daily lives, even long-standing traditions are being upended and people are having to adapt to a new reality. A couple in Peru on Friday (June 12) refused to allow quarantine measures to delay their happy day any longer and became the country's first virtual newlyweds.

Peru celebrates its first virtual marriage as coronavirus upends traditions

Over a hundred people gathered in China's financial hub of Shanghai on Sunday (June 14) to take part in the city's eighth annual Pride Run, one of a series of events happening over nine days to raise public awareness for the LGBT community.

Shanghai holds smaller annual Pride Run amid coronavirus pandemic

It is an ‘Act now!’ situation to stop Child labour by engaging and empowering Child protection Committees and increase investments on an urgent basis to improve education in rural and tribal areas&nbsp;

&nbsp;Reverse migration during the recent lockdown in India forced hundreds of children to even walk back to their villages along with adults. The most tragic was the death of 12-year-old child labour while walking over a 100 kilometres long distance from chilli farms in Telangana to her parents in Chhattisgarh. Evidently, children are the most vulnerable during disasters and poorer communities are targeted by traffickers during disasters to source cheap labourers put children at a higher risk.&nbsp;

In 2017, Ministry of Labour &amp; Employment launch a PENCIL portal for reporting child labour cases and so far has rescued more than 1.7 million children with a success of mainstreaming about 50 per cent of them into education. India has 10.13 million child labourers between 5-14 years in India as per 2011 census data and if compared between two Censuses, 2011 has witnessed 20 per cent decrease from 2001 Census data.&nbsp;

However, there has been the decrease in rural child labour data (from 11.3 million in 2001 to 8.1 million in 2011) whereas urban figures have increased from 1.3 million in 2001 to 2 million in Census 2011. The increase in urban child labour also indicates a shift from engaging children in agriculture to now being trafficked to urban areas to work in the unorganised sector or as domestic help. As per ILO 2016 data, India has 23.8 million of 152 million children working in the world between 5-17 years.&nbsp;

Particularly, during situations like Pandemic, the worst hit is the economy affecting the small and medium businesses the most. Small and informal businesses for their survival and revival are looking for cheap labourers and therefore, it is non-negotiable that laws protecting children are enforced in full strength. The outreach for child protection workforce is a major constraint in India in absence of a front line cadre. The pockets that are receiving most of the reverse migrants, therefore, must be put on the spotlight for vigilance through District Administration engaging Child Protection Committees in the villages.&nbsp;

A quick reflection basis interaction with teachers and other service providers indicates that quarantine centres in the states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh have got an increase in as much as 20 per cent children in school going age due to reverse migration during lockdown period under Covid19. A sports teacher from one of the quarantine centre who was engaged in yoga sessions with children said that those who have migrated back wished to return to cities once the situation was normal. One of the main reasons quoted for returning is also poor education infrastructure in rural areas. The schools were already under-resourced and increase in children by 20 per cent would mean schools getting more burdened. They also feared the lack of education facilities will risk children and they will be engaged in agriculture and other works. Children, even if, drop out of school for a short duration are at risk of child labour and mainstreaming them back into education is challenging.&nbsp;

India, under Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 &nbsp;is committed to end child labour in all its forms by 2025. Also, take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Driving this, operation Muskaan is one of the successful campaigns by the Government, especially in the states like Telangana where every year a large number of children are rescued and repatriated. &nbsp;The Operation in the State has rescued children as young as 8 years working in bangle workshop in a dim basement for almost 12 hours a day. The State police in 2019 had reported rescued 3914 children (3453 minor boys and 461 minor girls) from railway stations, bus stations, religious places, traffic junctions, footpaths etc. Reportedly, out of 3914 children rescued, 1648 were reunited with their parents while 2266 children were admitted in rescue homes.&nbsp;

It is disheartening to see low repatriation rates with the families and a large number being sent to rescue homes. Following up on one such rescue and repatriation exercise, it was found that some rescued children were too young to tell even their native states or had lost track of their families as traffickers shifted them from one state to another. Children who could be reunited with their families were also not seen to be a very happy situation as their families struggled to survive with meagre earning options available to them and with no hope about a better future without good education opportunities in their villages. Food insecurity and poor education infrastructure seemingly is the key factor for the parents to push their children to early and forced employment.&nbsp;

Reverse migration has brought attention to providing livelihoods under MGNREGS and it is important that this moment is not missed out on adequately budgeting school infrastructure ensuring quality education in villages. The assurance and quick investment in improving education can help many children and their families from traffickers. &nbsp;

Child rights and child protection issues are entrenched in social norms and part of the community’s day to day life making the community completely oblivious to the existence of these issues. This makes these issues very sensitive and difficult for exploration and assessment as well. Thus, assessment of the situation related to children be it child labour, child abuse etc requires tools and techniques that are sensitive to the issue but at the same time are able to assess the reality. NRMC India, in its work on children's issues, has designed and implemented projective and participatory tools and techniques to undertake situation assessment and track and evaluate the progress of the interventions related to child rights and child protection. These techniques like vignettes, H tool, drawing (instead of expressing through words) found resonance with children, their parents and larger community. Promoting such techniques not only provides an understanding of the social norms and real situation related to children effectively but also empower the participants through discussions that ensue around these.&nbsp;

(The article is co-authored by Jayesh Bhatia. He is Founder Director, NRMC India) 
 
&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

It is an ‘Act now!’ situation to stop Child labour by engaging and empowering Child protection Committees and increase investments on an urgent basis to improve education in rural and tribal areas Reverse migration during the recent lockdown in India forced hundreds of children to even walk back to their villages along with adults.

It is an ‘Act now!’ situation to stop Child labour by engaging and empowering Child protection Committees and increase investments on an urgent basis to improve education in rural and tribal areas Reverse migration during the recent lockdown in India forced hundreds of children to even walk back to their villages along with adults. The most tragic was the death of 12-year-old child labour while walking over a 100 kilometres long distance from chilli farms in Telangana to her parents in Chhattisgarh. Evidently, children are the most vulnerable during disasters and poorer communities are targeted by traffickers during disasters to source cheap labourers put children at a higher risk. In 2017, Ministry of Labour & Employment launch a PENCIL portal for reporting child labour cases and so far has rescued more than 1.7 million children with a success of mainstreaming about 50 per cent of them into education. India has 10.13 million child labourers between 5-14 years in India as per 2011 census data and if compared between two Censuses, 2011 has witnessed 20 per cent decrease from 2001 Census data. However, there has been the decrease in rural child labour data (from 11.3 million in 2001 to 8.1 million in 2011) whereas urban figures have increased from 1.3 million in 2001 to 2 million in Census 2011. The increase in urban child labour also indicates a shift from engaging children in agriculture to now being trafficked to urban areas to work in the unorganised sector or as domestic help. As per ILO 2016 data, India has 23.8 million of 152 million children working in the world between 5-17 years. Particularly, during situations like Pandemic, the worst hit is the economy affecting the small and medium businesses the most. Small and informal businesses for their survival and revival are looking for cheap labourers and therefore, it is non-negotiable that laws protecting children are enforced in full strength. The outreach for child protection workforce is a major constraint in India in absence of a front line cadre. The pockets that are receiving most of the reverse migrants, therefore, must be put on the spotlight for vigilance through District Administration engaging Child Protection Committees in the villages. A quick reflection basis interaction with teachers and other service providers indicates that quarantine centres in the states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh have got an increase in as much as 20 per cent children in school going age due to reverse migration during lockdown period under Covid19. A sports teacher from one of the quarantine centre who was engaged in yoga sessions with children said that those who have migrated back wished to return to cities once the situation was normal. One of the main reasons quoted for returning is also poor education infrastructure in rural areas. The schools were already under-resourced and increase in children by 20 per cent would mean schools getting more burdened. They also feared the lack of education facilities will risk children and they will be engaged in agriculture and other works. Children, even if, drop out of school for a short duration are at risk of child labour and mainstreaming them back into education is challenging. India, under Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 is committed to end child labour in all its forms by 2025. Also, take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Driving this, operation Muskaan is one of the successful campaigns by the Government, especially in the states like Telangana where every year a large number of children are rescued and repatriated. The Operation in the State has rescued children as young as 8 years working in bangle workshop in a dim basement for almost 12 hours a day. The State police in 2019 had reported rescued 3914 children (3453 minor boys and 461 minor girls) from railway stations, bus stations, religious places, traffic junctions, footpaths etc. Reportedly, out of 3914 children rescued, 1648 were reunited with their parents while 2266 children were admitted in rescue homes. It is disheartening to see low repatriation rates with the families and a large number being sent to rescue homes. Following up on one such rescue and repatriation exercise, it was found that some rescued children were too young to tell even their native states or had lost track of their families as traffickers shifted them from one state to another. Children who could be reunited with their families were also not seen to be a very happy situation as their families struggled to survive with meagre earning options available to them and with no hope about a better future without good education opportunities in their villages. Food insecurity and poor education infrastructure seemingly is the key factor for the parents to push their children to early and forced employment. Reverse migration has brought attention to providing livelihoods under MGNREGS and it is important that this moment is not missed out on adequately budgeting school infrastructure ensuring quality education in villages. The assurance and quick investment in improving education can help many children and their families from traffickers. Child rights and child protection issues are entrenched in social norms and part of the community’s day to day life making the community completely oblivious to the existence of these issues. This makes these issues very sensitive and difficult for exploration and assessment as well. Thus, assessment of the situation related to children be it child labour, child abuse etc requires tools and techniques that are sensitive to the issue but at the same time are able to assess the reality. NRMC India, in its work on children's issues, has designed and implemented projective and participatory tools and techniques to undertake situation assessment and track and evaluate the progress of the interventions related to child rights and child protection. These techniques like vignettes, H tool, drawing (instead of expressing through words) found resonance with children, their parents and larger community. Promoting such techniques not only provides an understanding of the social norms and real situation related to children effectively but also empower the participants through discussions that ensue around these. (The article is co-authored by Jayesh Bhatia. He is Founder Director, NRMC India) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Reverse migration amid coronavirus crisis will force more children into work

In this video, watch WION's special series- Hard Reset.

Hard Reset: Travel & tourism in a post-COVID world

In this segmnet of WION, know about the lessons we can learn from Spanish Flu to combat COVID-19.

Lessons from Spanish Flu to combat COVID-19

Watch today in 'WION In Focus': Some stories related to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

WION In Focus: Some stories related to Coronavirus pandemic | COVID-19 | Coronavirus News

Venetian protesters formed a human chain along one of the city's iconic canals on Saturday (June 13), demanding responsible tourism in the post-coronavirus period.

Italy: Venetians protest against mass tourism

COVID-19 cases in Pakistan reached over 132,000 after a record 6,472 new infections were detected, the death toll in Pakistan is over 2,500.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Pakistan struggles to contain COVID-19

Loss of smell or taste has been added to the list of COVID-19 symptoms, according to the revised clinical management protocols released by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

Indian Health ministry: Loss of smell or taste added to list of COVID-19 symptoms

In a recently released, it's been said that the most dominant route for the spread of COVID-19 is through air.

Researchers makes new revelations on COVID-19

WION In Focus: Some stories related to Coronavirus pandemic

At Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron Hospital, COVID-19 survivors attend the rehabilitation centre to recover motor skills lost as a result of being sedated and hooked up to a ventilator, as well as complications, like strokes, generated by the virus.

COVID-19 survivors re-learn motor skills | Coronavirus Outbreak

A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is raising its ugly head. It is putting Middle Eastern leaders at a crossroads as they struggle to contain the disease and tackle its economic fallout.

The question is whether they are getting the message: neither containing and controlling the virus nor economic recovery is a straight shot. Both are likely to involve a process of two steps forward, one step backwards, and no state can successfully tackle the multiples crises on its own.

The Middle East is a part of the world in which conflicts and problems are not just complex but inherently interconnected. The pandemic poses not only political, economic, and social challenges. It also calls into question regional security arrangements that reinforce fault lines rather than create an environment that allows rivals to collectively manage disputes as well as diseases whose spread is not halted by physical and other boundaries.

At stake is not just regional but also global security. Focused on their own healthcare and economic crises, Western nations ignore Middle Eastern and North African instability at their peril. They risk waking up to threats that could have been anticipated.

Suspected Russian hopes that an end to the Libyan war would allow for the creation of a Russian military base on the southern shore of the Mediterranean that would complement facilities in Syria would be one such impending threat.

“Russia wants a foothold in Libya, and that’s a fact,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst at the Jamestown Foundation. US officials warned that a permanent Russian presence would enhance Russia’s efforts to weaken the already strained trans-Atlantic alliance.

The prospect of increased Russian influence in the Mediterranean coupled with China’s expanding sway over ports in the Eastern Mediterranean raises the spectre of emboldening Turkey as it aggressively seeks to grow its control of energy-rich waters in the region in violation of international law.

“To avoid the worst outcomes for an already fraught region, there is no substitute and frankly no alternative to some form of cooperation among regional actors. . . . With the Middle East likely to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis more fragile and potentially explosive than before, a cooperative architecture that can build regional resilience is an imperative,” said strategist Steven Kenney and international relations scholar Ross Harrison in a just-released Washington-based Middle East Institute report.

The economic part of the message is already evident: Putting an end to the pandemic and economic recovery will be a painful and long-drawn-out process.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, and Israel are witnessing first signs of the pandemic’s second wave.

Increasing the likelihood of a cancellation of this year’s Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca scheduled for late July, Saudi Arabia re-imposed a lockdown in the Red Sea port of Jeddah, the haj’s major gateway, after a spike in coronavirus infections. The lockdown involves a two-week, 15-hour curfew from 15:00 PM to 06:00 PM

A dramatic surge in infections in Iran, averaging 3,000 new cases a day, has rekindled the Middle East’s largest outbreak, weeks after the country appeared to have tamed the virus.

Israel closed dozens of schools and ordered any school reporting a virus case to shut down following a surge in coronavirus cases that swept through classrooms two weeks after they were allowed to reopen.

Mass social and economic protests in Lebanon, a country on the brink of financial collapse, have heightened the risk of a second wave of the pandemic.

The surge bodes ill for economic recovery.

Based on a survey of 1,228 CEOs, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce warned that a &nbsp;staggering 70 per cent of businesses in the emirate expects to close their doors within the next six months.

The warning came as the UAE government extended a nightly curfew following a doubling of infections after it eased lockdown restrictions.

Government-backed UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways have since extended reduced pay for staff until September as they try to preserve cash.

Austerity measures threaten to bring the social unrest that has swept the Middle East and North Africa for the past decade closer to the Gulf.

“If it’s temporary, one or two years, I can adapt. My concern is that more taxes will be permanent — and that will be an issue,” said Mohammed, a Saudi government worker after his $266 USD a month cost of living allowance was cancelled and sales taxes were tripled as part of painful austerity measures announced by Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan.

Mohammed’s words were echoed in a rare pushback against the government by columnist Khalid Al-Sulaiman, writing in the Okaz daily, one of the kingdom’s tightly controlled media outlets.

“I was hoping [the minister] would say [the tax hike] would be reviewed after the coronavirus crisis is gone or contained, or when oil prices improve, but he did not say that. Citizens are feeling concerned that pressure on their living standards will last longer than the current crisis,” Al-Sulaiman said.

The challenges Gulf states face of an ongoing healthcare crisis and a painful, protracted, and complex road toward economic recovery, coupled with debilitating regional conflicts that not only fester but appear to be expanding, are almost insurmountable obstacles.

Kuwaiti efforts to resolve the rift in the Gulf and pressure by US President Donald J. Trump on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to lift their three-year-old air embargo of Qatar have raised, perhaps prematurely, the hope of an end to the conflict. Although there is no public indication that the parties are willing to seriously engage.

The proxy war in Libya, in which the UAE-backed forces of rebel commander Khalifa Haftar are on the defensive, is extending into the Eastern Mediterranean as Turkey claims rights in energy-rich territorial waters in violation of international law.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi-based English language newspaper The National, despite UAE efforts to reduce tension with Iran, seemed, to stop just short of inviting Israel to attack an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps’ command and control center on the outskirts of the main airport of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

“For now, the Glass House remains unshattered,” The National said in a detailed expose of the centre dubbed The Glass House.

Middle Eastern leaders are confronting the worst pandemic of crises since independence.

Addressing those predicaments requires regional and global leadership which looks beyond immediate survival and ideological and geopolitical rivalries; a leadership which recognises that stability and solutions to shared threats must be vested in longer-term managing and cooperation in tackling common challenges rather than maintaining conflict.

The problem is that few leaders seem willing or able to step up to the plate. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is raising its ugly head. It is putting Middle Eastern leaders at a crossroads as they struggle to contain the disease and tackle its economic fallout.

A second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is raising its ugly head. It is putting Middle Eastern leaders at a crossroads as they struggle to contain the disease and tackle its economic fallout. The question is whether they are getting the message: neither containing and controlling the virus nor economic recovery is a straight shot. Both are likely to involve a process of two steps forward, one step backwards, and no state can successfully tackle the multiples crises on its own. The Middle East is a part of the world in which conflicts and problems are not just complex but inherently interconnected. The pandemic poses not only political, economic, and social challenges. It also calls into question regional security arrangements that reinforce fault lines rather than create an environment that allows rivals to collectively manage disputes as well as diseases whose spread is not halted by physical and other boundaries. At stake is not just regional but also global security. Focused on their own healthcare and economic crises, Western nations ignore Middle Eastern and North African instability at their peril. They risk waking up to threats that could have been anticipated. Suspected Russian hopes that an end to the Libyan war would allow for the creation of a Russian military base on the southern shore of the Mediterranean that would complement facilities in Syria would be one such impending threat. “Russia wants a foothold in Libya, and that’s a fact,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst at the Jamestown Foundation. US officials warned that a permanent Russian presence would enhance Russia’s efforts to weaken the already strained trans-Atlantic alliance. The prospect of increased Russian influence in the Mediterranean coupled with China’s expanding sway over ports in the Eastern Mediterranean raises the spectre of emboldening Turkey as it aggressively seeks to grow its control of energy-rich waters in the region in violation of international law. “To avoid the worst outcomes for an already fraught region, there is no substitute and frankly no alternative to some form of cooperation among regional actors. . . . With the Middle East likely to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis more fragile and potentially explosive than before, a cooperative architecture that can build regional resilience is an imperative,” said strategist Steven Kenney and international relations scholar Ross Harrison in a just-released Washington-based Middle East Institute report. The economic part of the message is already evident: Putting an end to the pandemic and economic recovery will be a painful and long-drawn-out process. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, and Israel are witnessing first signs of the pandemic’s second wave. Increasing the likelihood of a cancellation of this year’s Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca scheduled for late July, Saudi Arabia re-imposed a lockdown in the Red Sea port of Jeddah, the haj’s major gateway, after a spike in coronavirus infections. The lockdown involves a two-week, 15-hour curfew from 15:00 PM to 06:00 PM A dramatic surge in infections in Iran, averaging 3,000 new cases a day, has rekindled the Middle East’s largest outbreak, weeks after the country appeared to have tamed the virus. Israel closed dozens of schools and ordered any school reporting a virus case to shut down following a surge in coronavirus cases that swept through classrooms two weeks after they were allowed to reopen. Mass social and economic protests in Lebanon, a country on the brink of financial collapse, have heightened the risk of a second wave of the pandemic. The surge bodes ill for economic recovery. Based on a survey of 1,228 CEOs, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce warned that a staggering 70 per cent of businesses in the emirate expects to close their doors within the next six months. The warning came as the UAE government extended a nightly curfew following a doubling of infections after it eased lockdown restrictions. Government-backed UAE carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways have since extended reduced pay for staff until September as they try to preserve cash. Austerity measures threaten to bring the social unrest that has swept the Middle East and North Africa for the past decade closer to the Gulf. “If it’s temporary, one or two years, I can adapt. My concern is that more taxes will be permanent — and that will be an issue,” said Mohammed, a Saudi government worker after his $266 USD a month cost of living allowance was cancelled and sales taxes were tripled as part of painful austerity measures announced by Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan. Mohammed’s words were echoed in a rare pushback against the government by columnist Khalid Al-Sulaiman, writing in the Okaz daily, one of the kingdom’s tightly controlled media outlets. “I was hoping [the minister] would say [the tax hike] would be reviewed after the coronavirus crisis is gone or contained, or when oil prices improve, but he did not say that. Citizens are feeling concerned that pressure on their living standards will last longer than the current crisis,” Al-Sulaiman said. The challenges Gulf states face of an ongoing healthcare crisis and a painful, protracted, and complex road toward economic recovery, coupled with debilitating regional conflicts that not only fester but appear to be expanding, are almost insurmountable obstacles. Kuwaiti efforts to resolve the rift in the Gulf and pressure by US President Donald J. Trump on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to lift their three-year-old air embargo of Qatar have raised, perhaps prematurely, the hope of an end to the conflict. Although there is no public indication that the parties are willing to seriously engage. The proxy war in Libya, in which the UAE-backed forces of rebel commander Khalifa Haftar are on the defensive, is extending into the Eastern Mediterranean as Turkey claims rights in energy-rich territorial waters in violation of international law. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi-based English language newspaper The National, despite UAE efforts to reduce tension with Iran, seemed, to stop just short of inviting Israel to attack an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps’ command and control center on the outskirts of the main airport of Damascus, the capital of Syria. “For now, the Glass House remains unshattered,” The National said in a detailed expose of the centre dubbed The Glass House. Middle Eastern leaders are confronting the worst pandemic of crises since independence. Addressing those predicaments requires regional and global leadership which looks beyond immediate survival and ideological and geopolitical rivalries; a leadership which recognises that stability and solutions to shared threats must be vested in longer-term managing and cooperation in tackling common challenges rather than maintaining conflict. The problem is that few leaders seem willing or able to step up to the plate. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Middle East struggles to contain coronavirus spread and tackle its economic fallout

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