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Reflecting on the Everyday Heroes of Healthcare on International Nurses Day

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When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, it could not have known just how highly regarded the health professionals would become this year as COVID-19 enveloped the world. The elevated status of sports stars and celebrities in society is often decried by those who point to the way we comparatively undervalue first responders like firefighters, paramedics, and, of course, nurses. 

In one of the few positives to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, that narrative has been flipped on its head with side-lined stars instead taking to social media to thank the nurses and midwives caring for everyone during this difficult time. Around the world, people have been standing outside to clap and cheer on a regular basis for health workers, in a heart-warming acknowledgment of their importance. 

 

Nurses touch all our lives 

We never know quite when we will need a nurse. A year and a half ago, I was run over by a motorbike, broke my femur, and spent 10 days in hospital at Agadir, Morocco, where I received excellent care from the nurses. 

As a solo traveler, I had made some friends at the hostel I was staying at, but spent most days alone except for when the nurses would check in on me. All were professional and very caring, but some went the extra-mile, making them more memorable than others. 

One nurse, who nicknamed herself “Madame Rainbow” because of her beautifully colorful hijab collection, was especially sweet. I sustained a nasty cut on the back of my head in the accident, and my very long hair was matted and tinged brown with dried blood. “Madame Rainbow” took the time to wash it, douse it in argan oil and gently brush out all the knots. She made me look much better and feel human again. I will never forget her thanks to this simple act of kindness.

I am also lucky enough to have a mum as a nurse, and have a first-hand understanding of the emotional and physical demands of her essential work. Once in nursing mode, my mum is practical and efficient, but she also takes the time and care to treat each of her patients as individuals, always with their best interests at heart. 

She is patient, friendly and usually knows just how to interact—whether it’s the time for a laugh, or a more somber tone. I know this because in my small community people often tell me how wonderful my mum is. One gentleman, for example, still thanks her whenever they cross paths for “saving his life” after a serious farm accident some years ago. 

Fortunately, my mum nurses in a little town in the countryside, yet to be affected by COVID-19, but many other nurses and midwives have bravely stepped up to fight the virus, regardless of the risks to their own health. 

Nurses on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight

The devastating impact on the physical and mental health of medical workers is becoming more apparent as the pandemic progresses. A new investigation by the Associated Press (AP) today further revealed the suffering of nurses and doctors dealing with the virus in Iran, the Middle East’s COVID-19 epicenter.

Authorities forced Iranian doctors and nurses to treat patients without personal protective equipment (PPE) due to shortages, and so as not to create fear among the general public. As a result, AP estimates approximately one Iranian health worker has died per day, during the first 90 days of Iran’s coronavirus outbreak.  

It also appears many COVID-19 deaths among Iranian medical workers have gone un- or under reported. 

A group of Iranian doctors believe at least 126 health workers have died from COVID-19 while another 2,070 have been infected by the virus, while the official health ministry figures put the numbers at 107 fatalities and 470 infections. Regardless of the true figures, it is undeniable that health workers have been martyred in the pandemic response. 

The toll on the living has been enormous as well. Doctors and nurses were forced to make gut-wrenching decisions about who to treat and provide ventilators to at Shafa Hospital in the Iranian city of Rasht—a devastating phenomenon that has been repeated in Italy, the US, and other countries whose medical systems were overrun by the virus. 

A nurse from Shafa Hospital, who remained anonymous of fear of reprisals, told AP, “death certificates were written before they [patients] died.” Presumed COVID-19 deaths were instead recorded on death certificates as “heart attack” or “respiratory distress,” according to the nurse.  

“It was my worst day in my life when they cut the oxygen. After work, when I went back home, I could do nothing but crying,” she added.

She is not alone. Nurses around the world are feeling the physical, mental, and emotional strain of being on the COVID-19 frontlines. They are often one of the only points of contact for coronavirus patients, since hospitals and care-homes were forced to implement strict no-visitation policies to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease.

While nurses have been busy brightening the days of thousands of coronavirus patients with a kind word or just their presence, they too are suffering, often in silence from the psychological burden of responding to the pandemic. 

Concerns are growing about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among medical staff who are forced to make difficult decisions, witness death, and other heart-breaking scenes from intensive care wards globally on a daily basis. Many are also dealing with these traumas alone as they choose to self-isolate away from their families for fear of passing on the virus.

Last week, Villanova University’s Fitzpatrick College of Nursing in the United States launched a nationwide study into the long-term physical, mental, and social health impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers.

 “We’re very worried about post-traumatic stress disorder,” Nursing College Dean Donna Havens said.

“In many respects, some of these people may be very wounded after this experience,” she told local newspaper the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Back in Tehran, a local psychologist said he holds similar fears and has already begun treating nurses, doctors, and other first responders traumatized by their COVID-19 experiences. 

One nurse said she was having a recurring nightmare where she was forced to bury her parents alone. Others he treated were dealing with suicidal thoughts or suffering from panic attacks after spending weeks grappling with the disease outbreak in under-resourced and overwhelmed hospitals. 

“Do not try to be superheroes at the expense of your health in the long term,” UK psychotherapist and PTSD specialist Dr. Michael Duffy advised healthcare staff.

“We need you today and also in the months ahead,” he said back in March, before anyone knew just how extensive the COVID-19 pandemic would become.

Today as we reflect on their importance in the midst of COVID-19, WHO’s message that “nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services” has never been more poignant. 

Not only do they play a vital role right now, but they are central to progressing global health, too. Approximately 70% of the world’s health and social workforce are women—many are nurses and midwives who, despite their essential work, remain undervalued, under resourced, and overworked.  

If anything good is to come from this shocking pandemic, I hope it is an ongoing appreciation for the day-to-day contribution of nurses and midwives to our health care systems, and to society as a whole. I am optimistic that we will continue to hold up medical staffers as the everyday heroes they are, and applaud them not just at 8 p.m. during COVID-19 or on May 12 for International Nurses Day, but 365 days a year.

 

Read also: Could Inflammatory Infections in Children be Linked to COVID-19?

Uncertainty Plagues Morocco as Officials Question Lockdown End Date

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Moroccans’ hopes of spending Eid al Fitr together with family after two months of confinement were dashed over the weekend after two government ministers said the country’s battle with COVID-19 is far from over. They stopped just short of saying the country will extend a nationwide “sanitary isolation,” but have quelled optimism for a May 20 start of deconfinement. 

May 20 End Date Unlikely 

On Monday, Morocco’s National Education Minister and government spokesman, Said Amzazi, shared a graph on Facebook to demonstrate his warnings that the country is in a risky phase of its outbreak.

“Unfortunately, as shown in this graph, we are not yet safe from the pandemic,” Amzazi said in the May 10 post.

“In the previous week, we believed that the epidemic situation in our country had improved and that we overcame the dangerous phase and we were in control of the situation,” Amzazi said before adding, “all Moroccans should understand that the battle is not over yet.”

Morocco imposed strict “sanitary isolation” measures nationwide on March 20 after declaring a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The original state of emergency was scheduled to end on April 20, but officials extended the measure to May 20 as the scale of the country’s outbreak grew.  

The confinement is becoming increasingly difficult for those in precarious situations, out of work, or living in cramped conditions, as lockdown drags into its seventh week. Nevertheless, Amzazi encouraged everyone to stay vigilant and continue to respect COVID-19 measures.

“We have achieved a lot and avoided the worst thanks to the solidarity of everyone, so let us continue this resilience against the virus. We call on all Moroccans to act with awareness and responsibility and to respect the public health lockdown. Or else, we will all take responsibility,” he concluded.

Amzazi’s Facebook remarks come two days after Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb told his compatriots via national television that he “understood their impatience,” but it is “much harder to leave confinement than it is to enter it.”

According to Ait Taleb, as many as 6,000 lives have been saved thanks to Morocco’s swift and strict anti-coronavirus measures. The health minister, however, said deconfinement–when it does happen–will be progressive. Until that time, people must stay disciplined. 

The minister said he is worried about lifting restrictions, as “the number of cases had stabilized but now we are seeing a new spike.” For deconfinement to begin, Ait Taleb wants to see “the epidemic situation stabilize, a drop in the number of new cases,” as well as a reduction in the infection rate to 1:1 or less. 

After the health and education ministers’ statements, it seems likely that Morocco will extend its state of emergency beyond the scheduled May 20 end date. The length of an extension will undoubtedly depend on the number of new cases detected this week. 

Another 218 cases were recorded on May 11, a notable increase that takes Morocco’s total number of confirmed cases to 6,281. The COVID-19 death toll remains at 188, while 2,811

have recovered from the virus to date, representing a recovery rate of 44.8%. 

Director of epidemiology at the ministry of health, Mohamed El Youbi, blamed the latest increase on people ignoring preventative guidelines.  

Moroccans Still Waiting on Repatriation

Meanwhile, an estimated 27,850 Moroccans are still waiting for news from the government about when they can expect to be repatriated. Thousands of citizens have been stranded overseas for two months since Morocco closed its borders on March 15. This leaves them to spend a harrowing Ramadan in confinement, far from home and their loved ones.   

A group of Moroccans stuck abroad released a video on May 6 calling for their government to expedite efforts and help them return home. 

“Morocco forgot about us, but we did not. Bring us home, please,” the tourists told the government.  

A day after the video was released, government spokesman Amzazi encouraged them to remain calm and reiterated “the importance of ensuring the necessary conditions for their return.” The government says it is monitoring and supporting Moroccans abroad through its international diplomatic missions. 

“The return of Moroccans stranded abroad must take into account the evolution of the spread of the virus, within the framework of the overall approach adopted by the kingdom to face this pandemic, so that this return does not constitute a risk either for these people or for their country,” he said on May 7.

Moroccan and foreign governments arranged measures to repatriate thousands of foreigners since its borders closed, through a combination of special commercial and charter flights. Tunisia Press Agency (TAP) reported that 157 Tunisians returned from Morocco on a special NouvelAir flight that touched down at Habib Bourguiba Airport in Monastir on Sunday. Tunisia, unlike Morocco, arranged repatriation flights for thousands of its citizens stranded around the world. 

 

Read also: Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia enter state of emergency and lockdown to stop COVID19

Could Inflammatory Infections in Children be Linked to COVID-19?

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Doctors in the US and UK have raised the alarm over a reported increase in a condition described as “pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome” in children. New York City alone has reported 64 cases of children hospitalized because of symptoms associated with the disease.

One comforting fact about the pandemic is the virus has largely spared children. While children could carry their virus, the nimble immune systems that infants and children possess meant the virus posed little risk to young people. At the same time, physicians in the US and Europe are trying to raise awareness of the inflammatory condition that could be linked to COVID-19 infections.

Doctors describe the condition in question as having the symptoms of Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that causes inflamed lungs in adults but can cause inflammation throughout a child’s body. The condition can cause abdominal problems, neurological problems, seizures, and rashes, or induce a state of shock in children.

Uptick in cases

There is an ongoing increase in cases of the inflammatory syndrome, according to statements from several physicians in countries heavily affected by the virus, such as Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US. The condition has hospitalized dozens of children in New York state alone, causing the state’s governor to question a link with COVID-19 after two children and one teen died from the inflammatory disease.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome and do not match regular COVID-19 symptoms. The disease inflames the walls of arteries which can limit blood flow to the heart. Early symptoms include a high temperature for five days, a rash, swollen neck glands, cracked lips, redness in both eyes, and a swelling of the hands and feet.

Kawasaki disease can cause heart disease in patients later in life, making it the leading cause of acquired heart disease in the United States. Experts are now trying to understand its link with COVID-19 infections after most of the children found to have the inflammatory syndrome also had either antibodies or an active COVID-19 infection.

“Your immune system is overreacting to the virus, and because these are inflammatory diseases, this overreaction can cause a Kawasaki-like disease,” a pediatrician told CNN on May 9.

Awareness is key

The tragic deaths in New York stem from a lack of awareness regarding the disease and its link to COVID-19, according to doctors. The inflammatory disease does impact the immune system but is treatable and does not have to be fatal. “If these cases occur in our country, we can treat it without a problem, because there is a known treatment,” Cristina Calvo of the Spanish Pediatrics Association told Bloomberg on April 29.

Without an established causal relationship with COVID-19, awareness is essential to help parents and pediatricians recognize and treat the inflammatory disease. Italy has reported a higher number of children suffering from Kawasaki disease in areas with a high density of COVID-19 infections, which has prompted investigations into a possible link with the virus.

Pediatricians should recognize early symptoms, but should experts say this should not cause panic. While the reports of dozens of cases in New York are disconcerting, it is important to realize that the US has more than 70 million children, showing how rare the disease is.

The discovery does not require parents to increase concern over their children’s health. If children display symptoms such as a persisting high fever for at least five days, a rash on their torso or groin, bloodshot eyes, and bright red swollen lips, it is important to contact a pediatrician. Medical experts have successful treatments ready for the condition.

Although the symptoms might be frightening, Kawasaki disease is treatable and most children recover without complications. The only question that remains is whether the disease is linked to COVID-19, or whether it is an unfortunate coincidence.

Saudi Arabia Introduces Painful Budget Cuts and Tax Increases

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The government of Saudi Arabia announced today it will implement new “painful” measures as the Kingdom attempts to mitigate its economic woes. The kingdom will increase its value-added tax from 5% to 15% starting on July 1, meaning prices on all products in the country will rise as consumers will pay more taxes on daily consumption.

The tax increase comes with a cut in the 1,000 riyals (roughly $265) per month allowance for state employees intended to assist with living costs.

In a statement, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said, “These measures are painful but necessary to maintain financial and economic stability over [the] medium to long term … and overcome the unprecedented coronavirus crisis with the least damage possible.”

Economic difficulties

The announced changes will likely be unpopular but provide an indication of the difficult position Saudi Arabia is in. With oil prices at unprecedented lows and supply overflowing, the Saudis face a significant gap in their national budget. 

In December 2019, the Saudi government had proposed a $272 billion national budget, with a predicted deficit of 6.4%. The country was preparing to spend roughly a trillion riyals while expecting revenues of 833 billion riyals.

However, the government presented the predicted deficit and the ambitious national budget just as oil prices were starting their downward slide. As news of the COVID-19 virus spread and countries started implementing lockdowns and curfews, the demand for oil plummeted even as Saudi and Russian negotiators failed to agree on a production cut that could have helped mitigate the collapse of prices.

The country now faces a large deficit and shrinking foreign cash reserves as the country is expecting its largest fall in growth since the turn of the millennium. Facing a 3.2% contraction in the Saudi economy, ratings agency Moody’s downgraded the country’s sovereign outlook from “stable” to “negative” on May 4 because of “the uncertainty regarding the degree to which the government will be able to offset its oil revenue losses and stabilize its debt burden and assets in the medium term.”

Calculated risk

Saudi Arabia is suffering from low oil prices, but is certainly not a powerless victim in the matter. The failure of Saudi-Russo negotiations in an effort to establish a production cut appears to have not been an accident. Both Russia and Saudi Arabia can produce oil at a relatively low cost and both countries appear to have made a calculated gamble in order to gain market share in the long term.

The current collapse in oil prices is felt the worst in the United States, where smaller-scale shale gas companies produce some of the highest-cost oil. By forcing oil prices down, Riyadh and Moscow appear to have attempted to eliminate its debt-ridden competition in the US. The collapse of the US shale gas industry would mean Russia and Saudi Arabia will have increased their relative market share after the fallout of the pandemic eases.

The ploy appears to be working. American shale gas is in deep trouble as the cost of producing a barrel of oil now costs significantly more than what it sells for. Because shale gas companies usually take on large amounts of debt to finance the purchase of oil fields and finance start-up costs, the industry is feeling the pain. Many US companies are facing bankruptcies as oil wells could be shuttered indefinitely.

Taxing the poor?

As small-scale US oil producers are starting to shut-in their wells, the Saudi gamble appears to be working. But as Saudi competitors start to crumble, its own proposed measure could cause a backlash in the country. By addressing deficits through value-added taxes and cutting benefits to state-employees, the Saudis appear to be shifting the burden onto their own middle class and the poor.

Value-added taxes disproportionately affect the poor, as more of their income goes directly to the purchase of goods. While VAT in the kingdom was significantly lower than in most countries, a 10% increase in prices could be problematic for the country’s least fortunate.

In a country that does not have any personal income taxes, the increase in VAT clearly indicates the burden of the deficit will have to come from the pockets of the country’s working classes. A small income tax on top earners would undoubtedly increase tax revenue much more, revealing that a choice was made to target a less fortunate but less powerful section of society instead.

London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a document revealing that Saudi labor laws will be loosened, allowing private companies to cut wages by 40% and making it easier to fire staff. Outside of the private sector, state employees will now have to survive without the monthly allowance of 1,000 riyals (roughly 10% of an average salary) while they will see a rise in the prices on all consumer goods because of the tripling of value-added taxes.

 

Read also: UAE Assures Citizens It Will Not Follow Saudi Arabia by Raising VAT

COVID-19 Cases Stay Low in Tunisia Amid Deconfinement

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Tunisia further relaxed its COVID-19 containment measures today by allowing some businesses to reopen. Hairdressers, beauty salons, clothing retailers, second-hand clothes shops (but not market stalls), and small to medium malls are permitted to resume activities. 

The North African country began a staged deconfinement on May 4, and in a positive sign for its anti-coronavirus efforts,  reported no new cases or deaths from COVID-19 yesterday, May 10.

Nevertheless, health officials again warned that Tunisia is “not immune” from a potentially devastating second wave of COVID-19 if safety measures are cast aside too soon.

The Tunisian Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement that no new cases of COVID-19 were identified and no new fatalities from the disease appeared on May 10. Of the 1,032 cases of COVID-19 identified in Tunisia to date, 287 cases remain active, 700 patients have recovered, and 45 people have died from the virus. 

Health authorities detected the bulk of confirmed cases in the governorate around the capital Tunis (232 cases) and neighboring Ariana (99), plus the date-producing region of Kebili (106) in southern Tunisia. Health authorities still hold concerns about virus clusters in the Greater Tunis, Kebili, and Medenine areas.

The positive news comes as the country is slowly emerging from a nationwide lockdown that began on March 22. An increasing number of businesses and sectors have been allowed to get back to work since May 4, but high-risk places like large shopping centers and weekly street markets must wait until the second phase of the strategy begins on May 24 to reopen.

Immuno-compromised citizens, those over 65, children under 15, and pregnant women are excluded from the deconfinement and still required to stay in self-isolation. 

Despite easing some restrictions and low numbers of new cases, COVID-19 task force member Dr. Jalila Ben Khelil said the war against coronavirus is not over. Authorities are encouraging citizens to remain vigilant and continue to implement social distancing, hand-washing, and other COVID-19 precautions to prevent a second wave of the disease from plunging the country into a new lockdown.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Tunisian anaesthesiologist Mohamed Ghedira praised his country’s virus response, saying “even with its limited financial resources, there has been a strong determination of medical and paramedical staff and a tremendous mobilization of civil society.”

“Despite a health system weakened by structural problems, Tunisia was able to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in an exemplary manner,” the doctor from the coastal city of Monastir said on May 10.

World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Tunisia Yves Souteyrand echoed today Health Minister Abdellatif El Mekki’s April 29 warning, saying Tunisia is not immune from a second wave of the virus, despite strong efforts to contain the country’s outbreak.

“The development of indicators on the epidemiological situation in Tunisia during the second half of May and more precisely from May 20, must be monitored very carefully to decide on the risks of a second wave of Coronavirus in the country,” Souteyrand told the Tunisia Africa Press Agency (TAP).

“Due to a lack of resources, the Tunisian health system will not be able to cope with a strong (second wave of) epidemic, hence the need to continue to break the virus transmission chains and to develop a strong activity to identify positive cases,” he continued.

Souteyrand told TAP, “we are not immune,” adding that if WHO’s recommended COVID-19 measures are not respected, the virus could spread further, and it would take seven days to two weeks for new cases to become apparent due to the virus’s incubation period.

It remains to be seen if Tunisians will continue to respect sanitary measures and keep the pandemic at bay or if the staged deconfinement will prompt a dangerous second wave of infections.

 

Read also: Illegal Logging Surges in Locked-Down Tunisia

Iranian Military Exercise Accident Kills 19, Injures 15 in Gulf of Oman

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An unfortunate case of ‘friendly fire’ killed 19 Iranian sailors and injured an additional 15 on board a support vessel on May 10. Sunday’s accident happened during Iranian military exercises in the Gulf of Oman, when an Iranian frigate armed with anti-naval cruise missiles hit a support ship.

Off the coast of the Iranian port town of Bandar-e-Jask, Iranian naval forces were scheduled to perform regular training exercises. The drills featured Iran’s modern cruise-missile firing frigates and a range of support ships that would communicate targets to the frigates to fire at. 

In what was described as a case of human error, the frigate “Jamaran” accidentally fired a cruise-missile at one of the ships providing the fleet with coordinates for its targets.

Cruise-missile mishap

The Jamaran is one of Iran’s most advanced naval assets. The anti-submarine frigate is armed with several torpedoes and four Chinese Ying Ji-802 anti-ship cruise missiles that can hit targets within 170 kilometers with an accuracy of 98%.

The chance of the missiles misfiring is slim, and the accident likely occurred because the coordinates of the support ship were entered into the targeting system.

The unfortunate support vessel was the “Konarak,” a Hendijan-class, Dutch-made support ship, built-in 1988 with a maximum capacity of 40 sailors.

Although the ship holds some missile-launching capacity, it was used to provide targets to the larger frigates. Typically, support ships transfer two sets of coordinates, that of their target, and that of their own, for safety.

It appears the two coordinates were mixed up by the Jamaran’s crew, with disastrous consequences for the support vessel’s crew.

Iranian state television reported that the Kanorak had strayed too close to one of the targets set during the exercises, but the accuracy on the cruise-missile used would suggest that the support ship was either still setting the target, or its own coordinates were used in error.

Unless the ship had casually stayed within 10 meters of the intended target, it is unlikely such a missile would have hit the ship by accident, indicating that the fault was likely with the frigate, not the smaller vessel.

Second missile calamity

The naval accident has become the second time this year that an Iranian missile has caused significant casualties. In January, a civilian Ukrainian Airlines Boeing-737 airliner was shot down after takeoff from Tehran International Airport. Amid tensions following the assassination of Iran’s top general, overzealous Iranian air defense fired two surface-to-air missiles at the civilian plane after mistaking it for an American cruise missile.

Following the accident, the Iran Civil Aviation Organization and Ukrainian experts concluded that the jetliner had received no warning and had not transmitted any distress calls. The investigations concluded that the jetliner had not diverged from its planned path and that a missile operator in Bidganeh, Tehran province, had acted independently after having mistaken the civilian aircraft for a hostile target.

The earlier denial of the use of Iranian missiles by Iranian authorities had soon been disproven and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on January 20 admitted it had fired two Russian-made Tor-M1 missiles at the aircraft. 

Ukrainian authorities honored the casualties of the downed flight in a ceremony upon the return of 11 of the recovered bodies to Ukraine. Amid significant tensions between Iran and the US, the investigation over the tragedy continues as a collaborative effort between Iran, Ukraine, France, and Canada.

 

Read also: Iran Ready for Prisoner Swap, Waiting on US Response

UAE Assures Citizens It Will Not Follow Saudi Arabia by Raising VAT

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The undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Finance, Younis Haji Al Khouri, has reassured the UAE population and businesses that it will not hike the country’s value-added tax (VAT). The announcement comes as a relief to UAE business lobbies who have called for the VAT to be deferred for six months. 

Al Khouri said the finance ministry is not interested in austerity measures but will instead “reorient the financial resources to prepare for the future and continued growth to ensure the security and safety of the communities.”

“We at the Ministry of Finance are studying our financial systems to ensure their readiness to manage the next stage and support all vital sectors,” the undersecretary added.

Saudi Arabia announced today it will triple the country’s VAT and cut a “cost-of-living” allowance introduced in 2018 to help Saudi public servants cope with the rising cost of living. 

“The cost of living allowance will be suspended as of June 1, and the value-added tax will be increased to 15% from 5% as of July 1,” Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan declared.

Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group representative Abdul Salam K.P said retailers from the Emirate were hoping the VAT would stay put, or be deferred to boost the local economy, which has been struggling through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“In fact, we are hoping there would be a six-month deferment of VAT payments until business levels stabilize and consumer confidence returns,” he said.

The government of Dubai began three days of post-coronavirus talks on Sunday, May 10. Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid is leading the virtual meeting and said the gathering of local and federal authorities, and international experts will focus on boosting economic activity in key sectors. 

“New teams are required to work faster, more thoroughly, and more responsively to the fast-changing daily developments,” bin Rashid said.

“Our national priorities need to be reviewed to cope with the post-COVID-19 world. Our financial and human resources need to be redirected to strengthen our medical, food, and economic security through new programs and projects,” he stressed.

The finance ministry echoed bin Rachid’s sentiments, saying it is important to ensure economic stability but the health and well-being of Emiratis remains the country’s top priority.

“We are devising several programs and projects to enhance our ability to continue the development process and to put people as our top priority. This is essential to build a secure future and achieve the well-being and stability of our society,” Al Khouri said.

 

Read also: Emirates Group Warns of ‘Huge’ Future COVID-19 Impact Despite Profit

Iraqi PM Kadhimi Promises Transparency, Release of Detained Protestors

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Newly sworn-in Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced yesterday at the first session of the Council of Ministers the release of all detained protestors, affirming his administration will adopt transparency rather than being a government of “dark rooms.”

The PM outlined the formation of a fact-finding committee regarding the events of the Iraqi protests, which erupted in October 2019. The committee is set to hold those involved in the killing of protestors and security services accountable, compensating the families of the victims, and caring for the injured, Kadhimi said.

“The detainees will be released except for those involved in the blood of the Iraqis. We will hold the negligent accountable and provide compensation to those affected,” Kadhimi said.

Kadhimi also announced the formation of a crisis cell composed of specialists in foreign affairs and international relations to review a strategic agreement between the US and Iraq that protects the country’s “unity and sovereignty.”

Kadhimi stressed that his government is committed to transparency and appealed to the media to be careful in conveying information and decisions issued by the cabinet.

The Iraqi PM went on to say that he had issued a decision to form a committee of experts to coordinate with the relevant authorities to overcome obstacles to conducting “early, fair, and free elections.” Finally, he announced his decision to appoint Lieutenant General Abdel Wahab Al-Saadi as president of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service.

Despite the new PM’s optimistic rhetoric, hundreds of Iraqis rallied May 11, 2020, in Baghdad to express their rejection of the new government. 

Relations with America and Iran

Kadhimi stressed during diplomatic meetings yesterday that Iraq will not be an arena for settling scores between the US and Iran. 

Speaking with the American ambassador to Iraq, Matthew Toler, the PM underlined “the necessity of cooperation between [the US and Iraq] in the economic and security fields and confronting terrorism and regional stability,” but said “Iraq will not be the arena for the liquidation of accounts and the attack on any neighboring or friendly country.”

Toler affirmed that his country is ready to support Baghdad in all fields and help the country confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a separate discussion with the Iranian ambassador, Iraj Masjedi, Kadhimi said “Iraq is keen to establish the best relations with Iran and all neighboring countries in a way that serves the interests of the two neighboring countries and security and stability in the region.” 

“Iraq will not be a passage or headquarters for terrorism or a starting point for attacking any country or arena for settling scores,” he reiterated to the Iranian diplomat. 

Like Toler, Masjedi expressed his country’s aspiration to develop bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields, according to Iraqi government sources. 

Neither Washington nor Tehran issued a statement about the content of the diplomatic meetings.

 

Read also: US Aims to ‘Reaffirm Ties’ with Iraq’s New Prime Minister

Iran Ready for Prisoner Swap, Waiting on US Response

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Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei released a statement on Sunday announcing Iran is ready to move ahead with a prisoner swap deal, but is waiting on a response from Washington. 

“We have announced that we are ready without any preconditions to exchange all prisoners and we are prepared to discuss the issue but Americans have not responded yet,” Rabiei said in a statement circulating among the Iranian government website and state-news outlets. 

“We hope that as the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease threatens the lives of Iranian citizens in the US prisons, the US government eventually will prefer lives to politics,” Rabiei said. 

The United States has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, while Iran has been the epicenter of the disease outbreak in the Middle East. Both countries have granted thousands of prisoners early release or temporary furlough in a bid to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in the cramped and often unsanitary jail conditions.  

“We hold America responsible for Iranians’ safety amid the new coronavirus outbreak,” the Iranian government spokesman added. 

Swap candidates

Likely candidates for a swap include US Navy veteran Michael White, who is currently on furlough but has been imprisoned in Iran since 2018. The three other US citizens known to be jailed in Iran are father and son Siamak Namazi and Baquer Namazi and US-Iranian conservationist Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British citizenship. 

Another candidate may be Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent and private investigator who disappeared from Iran-controlled Kish Island in 2007, never to be seen again except for 2011 proof-of-life images.

On March 27, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied Levinson had even been in the country, let alone jailed there, just days after the man’s family and White House officials declared they believed he had died in Iranian custody.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sirous Asgari could be the Iranian returnee, after Reuters reported on May 5 that the Iranian engineer and scientist was ready for deportation back to Iran, pending health clearance, after being acquitted of stealing trade secrets in violation of sanctions last November.

The last prisoner swap to take place between the two foes occurred in December 2019 when US PhD. student Xiuye Wang was returned in exchange for Iranian stem-cell scientist Masoud Soleimani. 

“US’ administration is aware of Iran’s readiness and we believe that there is no need for a third country to mediate between Iran and America for the prisoner exchange,” Rabiei clarified, as the US does not have a diplomatic mission in Iran and is generally represented by the Swiss Embassy. 

Swap would be a win-win for Ira

Despite Rabiei’s proclamations, the prisoner swap has little to do with the Iranian government’s supposed concern for its citizens’ welfare and is more so being used as an opportunity to make America look bad if it chooses not to cooperate.

Whether the US agrees to the swap or not, by getting in first and declaring its readiness to engage in a rare, co-operative exercise, Iran is only set to gain. 

At present, by stating the US is yet to respond to its request, Iran paints Washington as recalcitrant and unwilling to negotiate in good faith to achieve the release of American citizens. If Trump authorizes the prisoner swap, he may be seen domestically as softening on his hard-line anti-Iranian stance, a move that could be unpopular among his right-wing Republican base. 

“Bringing home wrongfully detained Americans is a top priority for President Trump. We work with the Swiss every day on the health, safety, and release of US citizens wrongfully held in Iran,” a US State Department spokesman said on May 5.

If the “unconditional” swap goes ahead, Iran will have a foreign policy win to crow about domestically amid the country’s ongoing coronavirus crisis. The Trump administration’s failure to unwillingly cooperate would provide fresh fodder for the Iranian propaganda machine. 

Tensions have been running high since Trump unilaterally pulled the US from the Iran nuclear deal and were aggravated in 2020 when a US drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in January, and retaliatory airstrikes on an Iraqi base killed US troops. 

 

Read also: US Grants Iraq ‘Brief Extension’ on Iranian Energy Imports

GNA Intelligence Chief Reported Dead After Militia Kidnapping

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The head of the General Intelligence Service of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), Major General Abdel Qader Al-Tohamy, is reported dead in Tripoli, and his death’s mysterious circumstances have prompted conflicting reports.

The GNA appears reluctant to reveal the details of Al-Tohamy’s death, which occurred two days after the Al-Nawasi militia affiliated with the GNA’s Ministry of Interior reportedly arrested him. 

Sources close to the GNA claim Al-Tohamy succumbed to a heart attack at a hospital, while others report that Al-Nawasi handed over Al-Tohamy’s body to his family, suggesting foul play.

Al-Tohamy has been leading the intelligence service in the Government of National Accord since April 2017 and was a prominent officer in the external security apparatus under the late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Al-Tohamy returned to the current Libyan scene 6 years after the overthrow of the previous regime and become the director of the National Center for Combating Illegal Immigration. After four months, the GNA assigned him to head the intelligence service.

A militia linked to Libya’s interior ministry also abducted Reda Gergab, Libya’s top anti-corruption official, on May 4. The ministry did not deny the kidnapping but instead argued it directed its military force to abduct the official to stop him from investigating the distribution of funds intended to combat the local spread of COVID-19.

The abductions reveal the interplay between GNA ministries and their militia forces and the structural corruption that defines the Libyan government.

 

Read also: Libyan Government Kidnaps Its Own Anti-Corruption Official