An elderly man,, wearing a face mask, walks past a closed restaurant in Madrid, during the hours allowed by the government to exercise, for the first time since the beginning of a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 disease. AFP
An elderly man,, wearing a face mask, walks past a closed restaurant in Madrid, during the hours allowed by the government to exercise, for the first time since the beginning of a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 disease. AFP
An anti lockdown protester is detained by police officers in London, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, London, Britain. Reuters
An anti lockdown protester is detained by police officers in London, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, London, Britain. Reuters
A young boy from a migrant workers' family waves from a railway compartment before the departure of a special train to Agra in Uttar Pradesh state during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, at Sabarmati Railway Station on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. AFP
A young boy from a migrant workers' family waves from a railway compartment before the departure of a special train to Agra in Uttar Pradesh state during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, at Sabarmati Railway Station on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. AFP
Thailand's Queen Suthida as she sews a face mask that will be donated to the public as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bangkok. AFP
Thailand's Queen Suthida as she sews a face mask that will be donated to the public as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bangkok. AFP
People sit maintaining social distancing as Frontier Corps (FC) personnel distribute food on a street during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Quetta. AFP
People sit maintaining social distancing as Frontier Corps (FC) personnel distribute food on a street during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Quetta. AFP
People visit the Empty Sky Memorial as the The One World Trade Center in New York is seen from Liberty State Park after many New Jersey Parks set to re-open during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Jersey City, New Jersey. Reuters
People visit the Empty Sky Memorial as the The One World Trade Center in New York is seen from Liberty State Park after many New Jersey Parks set to re-open during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Jersey City, New Jersey. Reuters
An Imam wearing a face mask wait for the start of the awareness campaign and distribution of sanitary products to people of extreme vulnerability by the REVOCAP association, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Liberte 6 Baraka district of Dakar, Senegal. Reuters
An Imam wearing a face mask wait for the start of the awareness campaign and distribution of sanitary products to people of extreme vulnerability by the REVOCAP association, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Liberte 6 Baraka district of Dakar, Senegal. Reuters
Benjamin Hassan, a German ATP player wears a face mask as he warms up for an exhibition tennis match played without spectators and broadcasted by remote controlled cameras, during the spread of the coronavirus disease in a tennis academy in Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz, Germany. Reuters
Benjamin Hassan, a German ATP player wears a face mask as he warms up for an exhibition tennis match played without spectators and broadcasted by remote controlled cameras, during the spread of the coronavirus disease in a tennis academy in Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz, Germany. Reuters
A young girl reacts as a Kenyan ministry of health medical worker takes a swab during mass tasting in an effort to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease in the Kawangware neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
A young girl reacts as a Kenyan ministry of health medical worker takes a swab during mass tasting in an effort to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease in the Kawangware neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
A Vietnamese volunteer prepares packages of food and protective masks for Vietnamese people in need and living in Japan, amid the coronavirus disease, at Nisshinkutsu temple in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
A Vietnamese volunteer prepares packages of food and protective masks for Vietnamese people in need and living in Japan, amid the coronavirus disease, at Nisshinkutsu temple in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters
A man walks through smoke generated by Nairobi municipality worker in an effort to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease in the Kawangware neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
A man walks through smoke generated by Nairobi municipality worker in an effort to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease in the Kawangware neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
A staff member of the Ministry of Health takes samples from a boy during the first day of mass testing of the coronavirus in Djibouti. AFP
A staff member of the Ministry of Health takes samples from a boy during the first day of mass testing of the coronavirus in Djibouti. AFP

The Americas

Guterres: protect Journalists providing 'antidote' to misinformation about pandemic

The UN head marked World Press Freedom Day highlighting the role the media can play in promoting accurate, scientifically-backed and 'life-saving' public information

The National

May 03, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

More protection is needed for journalists providing the “antidote” to a pandemic of misinformation surrounding Covid-19, UN head Antonio Guterres said on Sunday to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Accurate information, he said, was a life or death issue amid a global pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 240,000 people and infected nearly 3.5 million. Over 1 million globally have recovered from the respiratory illness that can prove more fatal in the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.

“As the pandemic spreads, it has also given rise to a second pandemic of misinformation, from harmful health advice to wild conspiracy theories”, he said. “The press provides the antidote: verified, scientific, fact-based news and analysis.”

He explained that as time has gone on both the UN and the World Health Organisation have had to focus on countering misinformation in what the body’s head called an “info-demic.”

In his Press Freedom Day message, the UN chief thanked the media “for providing facts and analysis; for holding leaders – in every sector – accountable; and for speaking truth to power”.

He concluded by saying, “we call on governments to protect media workers, and to strengthen and maintain press freedom, which is essential for a future of peace, justice and human rights for all”, he concluded.

Mr Guterres has previously warned about “snake-oil solutions,” falsehoods, and wild conspiracy theories. He has urged social media organizations to do more to counter the misinformation and to “root out hate and harmful assertions about Covid-19.”

Last month, he said that the UN was getting in touch with social media companies to discuss more ways to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

Tech giants have taken some steps – such as popular messing platform WhatsApp has limited the number of times a message can be forwarded – in a bid to stop false messages spreading.

On the WHO’s coronavirus myth buster website, it says that “hot peppers, though very tasty, cannot prevent the spread of Covid-19.” Among dozens of warnings, the WHO also said that ingesting bleach, ethanol or methanol will not cure the virus and can be dangerous, that houseflies are not known to spread the virus and Covid-19 cannot be carried by or caused by radio waves - meaning that 5g mobile networks are not to blame.

While you're here
While you're here
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

If you go

The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.

The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).

When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

World Mental Health Day
If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Name: Samar Frost

Born: Abu Dhabi

Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends

Favourite singer: Adele

While you're here
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

The Indoor Cricket World Cup

When: September 16-23

Where: Insportz, Dubai

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

While you're here
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
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On Women's Day
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