Friday, april 30, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3653 / 4000 RIEL Cambodia Airports turns to cloud platform May Kunmakara ways, search engines, travel agencies, passenger services, to rapidly deploy “With Amadeus Flow, Cambodia “At Amadeus we believe the air- tour operators and other travel play- new passenger handling capacity via Airports will harness the cloud to port industry has reached a tipping Cambodia’s three international ers to run their operations and im- the internet as needed. deliver passenger services from any point, with the pandemic signifi- airports have joined Spanish travel prove the travel experience, billions “With the new approach, Cam- location it chooses,” it said. cantly accelerating the move to the tech company Amadeus’ Cloud of times a year, all over the world”. bodia Airports can also temporarily Amadeus’ Asia-Pacific airport in- cloud. This provides a number of platform Amadeus Flow, which con- In an April 27 announcement, reallocate resources not in use. One ternet-technology head Sarah Sam- opportunities for airports as we ap- nects over 1.6 billion a year to travel Amadeus said: “Cambodia Airports, example would be by redistributing uel said: “Airports are at a crossroads ply new innovations like biometrics providers in over 190 countries an affiliate of VINCI Airports and the airline services between terminals, when it comes to investment in tech- to rebuild a better industry. around the world. developer and operator of the King- because its check-in desks and gates nology to meet the needs of travellers “We are delighted to partner with Amadeus describes itself as a dom’s three international airports, will no longer be tied to legacy fixed – should they embrace cloud com- Cambodia Airports and look forward builder of “critical solutions that help chose Amadeus Flow, Amadeus’ fully networks at specific points in the puting or continue to do things how airlines and airports, hotels and rail- integrated cloud platform for airport terminal. they’ve always been done? Continued – page 6 Military set to arm residents of red zones with vaccines Long Kimmarita Respiratory health expert Hen Phearak told The Post that HE Ministry of Nation- the campaign was key to break- al Defence is set to ing the chain of transmission kick off its 30-day vac- with many countries having cination drive in the had achieved great results. capital’sT designated red zones, He said people in Covid-19 with up to 450,000 people hotspots should be immu- expected to receive their first nised quickly to prevent the dose starting May 1. situation deteriorating. Ith Sarath, Deputy Command- In addition to vaccination, er and Joint Chief of Staff of the Phearak encourage the public Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to develop natural immunisa- (RCAF), announced the cam- tion thought consumption of paign on April 29 during a special nutritious food. forum broadcast on the National “I believe the government can Television of Cambodia (TVK). afford to provide nutritious food “From May 1-15, we are [to the people], because after we committed to inoculating designate each zone, gathering 450,000 people with their first would be minimal. The spending dose, and from May 16-30 we will be less than distributing food Fresh veggies will vaccinate them all with assistance to the wrong target. A woman sells vegetables along Hun Sen Boulevard in southern Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. The government aspires to increase their second shots,” he said. “When we already determine agricultural labour productivity – the annual output per agricultural worker – from $1,839 in 2019 to $4,625 by 2030, according to Minister of He said the campaign had an area as red zone, we can just Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon. HEAN RANGSEY been planned under the guid- bring fresh vegetables and fish ance of Prime Minister Hun Sen to them,” Phearak said. to immunise Phnom Penh resi- The red zones are current- dents against the disease and cut ly located in parts of five dis- off the chain of transmission. tricts including Tuol Kork, “We have prepared vaccina- Dankgor, Meanchey, Russey HIV self-test prices to be halved tion sites in the zones. We are Keo and Por Senchey. also preparing a list and timeta- In Tuol Kork, they include ble so that we know how many Boeung Salang commune’s vil- in 135 countries after Viatris deal people will be vaccinated in each lages 14, 16 and 17. district. We set up sites closest to Red zones in Dangkor dis- POORER countries are set to tools to help people more easily recognised as a key factor in limited number of poorer their residences,” he said. trict include Praka village in see their access to HIV self- discover their status and move meeting the global goal of 90 countries for $2, but else- Sarath said the ministry will Prey Sar commune and the vil- tests increase dramatically fol- towards the treatment they per cent of people knowing where the price is higher, and soon announce the designated lages of Mol, Thmey and Sam- lowing a deal to slash prices in need, and thus also to reducing their HIV status.” other options have cost sig- vaccination sites to residents bor in Dangkor commune. half and boost production, the HIV burden globally. In just the past six years, that nificantly more. in the red zones to prevent In Meanchey district, all Unitaid said on April 28. This is particularly relevant in rate has nearly doubled, from Giving countries more choice them from flocking to get the four communes are desig- The international health poorer countries, where con- 45 to 81 per cent, he said. when it comes to self-tests, Ver- jabs at the same time. nated as red zones -- Boeung agency said it had closed a deal cerns around stigma and diffi- But achieving broader testing hoosel said, would make “it According to Sarat, the min- Tompun I and Stung with US-based global health- culties accessing healthcare can has been hampered by the fact easier to acquire the products istry will begin vaccinations at Meanchey I, II and III. care company Viatris Inc that create significant barriers, said that the market for HIV self- and embed them in health sys- 90 targets on May 1. Red zones in Russey Keo will see blood-based HIV self- Unitaid, which works on inno- tests in low- and middle-income tems, with the ultimate aim of “We will get there [if] all the and Por Senchey districts are tests made available for under vations on major diseases. countries has been dominated helping the eight million people people are willing to get vac- the entire Tuol Sangke I and $2 across 135 low- and middle- Unitaid spokesman Herve by a single affordable oral HIV estimated to be unaware of their cinated to get the situation Chom Chao I communes income countries. Verhoosel said in a statement: test, the OraSure. HIV status know they are infect- back to normal,” he said. respectively. HIV self-tests are seen as vital “Access to self-tests has been That test is sold at cost in a ed and get treatment”. AFP

Don’t miss our Did Covid-19 take some Special Report heat off the condo sector? Inside page 8-9 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Official: Draft law on disabilities ‘inclusive’

Ry Sochan tect the rights of persons with disabilities, reduce discrimi- HE Kingdom has nation and give assistance to shrugged off con- persons with disabilities by cerns by two UN providing equal opportuni- special rapporteurs ties, creating jobs, increasing overT the current draft law on their overall employment, the rights of persons with dis- raising their incomes, facili- abilities, which they said is tating mobile travel and en- not in full compliance with hancing access to education, international human rights health, social work, participa- laws and standards. tion in political activities and In a joint letter, Rhona Smith social development. and Gerard Quinn – special He said the bill does not aim rapporteurs on the situation to castigate, but encourages of human rights in Cambo- responsible and inclusive par- dia and the rights of persons ticipation by everyone in the with disabilities, respectively pursuit of guaranteeing the – said the bill should be more rights of persons with disabili- conclusive and fully aligned ties and improving their qual- with the Convention on the ity of life. Rights of Persons with Dis- Sokkhoeurn also noted that abilities (CRPD). the law must prescribe sanc- “We are concerned, in par- tions for non-compliance if ticular, about the fact that the the Cambodian government draft law does not include a is to ensure its effective en- number of rights recognised forcement. by the CRPD, nor does it artic- The present draft text will be ulate the State’s responsibilities further consulted upon with as duty bearer to implement the Ministry of Justice and re- such rights. viewed by the Council of Min- “Additionally, we note that the isters before it is forwarded to draft law also contains a num- the bicameral parliament for ber of penalty provisions that debate and ratification, Sokk- do not align with international hoeurn said. human rights standards,” said “Cambodia remains com- the letter cited in a press release A disabled man confined to a wheelchair sells bottled water along Hun Sen Boulevard in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district.HEAN RANGSEY mitted to promoting the rights from the UN Human Rights Of- of persons with disabilities by fice of the High Commissioner tion and offered to help opti- Sokkhoeurn, responded in a ternational organisations of them are satisfied with this combatting negative attitudes in Cambodia and seen by The mise its compatibility with the letter that the present bill has advocating for persons with open, inclusive and transparent towards them and social ex- Post on April 27. CRPD and other international enjoyed two years of compre- disabilities and also foreign approach that the government clusion. Our goal is empower- Smith and Quinn recom- human rights standards and hensive and extensive consul- embassies and the Phnom has taken and the wide-ranging ing them for participation in mended that the government obligations. tations with all relevant stake- Penh-based offices of certain substance of the draft law. Cambodia’s inclusive, equita- do some further reflection and Cambodia’s ambassador to holders, including civil society UN agencies. Sokkhoeurn said the draft ble and sustainable develop- discussion on the draft legisla- the UN Office in Geneva, An organisations, local and in- “The overwhelming majority law seeks to promote and pro- ment,” he said. PM vow to ensure workplace safety Ove 130 foreigners held

Lay Samean for crossing VN border

Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 29 reit- Kim Sarom ground information, provin- erated his commitment to ensuring work- cial authorities will contact place safety and health in all factories, A TOTAL of 130 people includ- their partner authorities to enterprises and in the informal economy, ing Chinese and Vietnamese see what to do. Authorities even as the Kingdom grapples with con- nationals were detained by will then hold a meeting with trolling the spread of Covid-19. Svay Rieng provincial police relevant specialists,” he said. In a message released two days ahead on April 27 for illegally cross- A military official who re- of the 135th International Labour Day on ing the Cambodia-Vietnam quested anonymity said on May 1, Hun Sen expressed delight at the border led by a broker. April 29 that the operation was chance to celebrate with workers, em- Deputy provincial governor conducted in the early hours of ployers and other compatriots this year’s Touch Poliva told The Post on April 27 as Bavet town Military edition of the holiday, under the theme April 29 that police were still Police were patrolling the road Peace, Health and Labour. questioning them at Thansur and saw more than 100 people “Despite the difficult situation due to Buon Rodov guesthouse in including Vietnamese and Chi- Covid-19, the government continues to Bavet town. nese nationals get off transport strive to maintain existing jobs and create “Because of the ongoing out- at the guesthouse. all kinds of new positions for the people, break of Covid-19, we cannot Svay Rieng provincial Military bringing the impact on employment un- question them as we normally Police deputy commander Srey der controllable levels,” he said. did – it takes longer than usual,” Vutha told The Post on April For example, 103 factories and enter- he said, adding that police have 29 that police would take legal prises opened last year, providing over not collected all the detailed in- action after the questioning is 60,000 additional jobs. Prime MInister Hun Sen has reiterated his commitment to ensuring workplace safety and health formation from the foreigners complete. The police would ex- And the number of suspended contracts in all factories, enterprises and in the informal economy. Hean Rangsey because the questioning was pand the scope of the investiga- in factories and enterprises fell to 20,000 not complete yet. tion if other people were found at 150 locations in end-2020 from a peak The government also extended its $40 owners of commercial lease properties to “After taking their back- to be involved. in June of over 150,000 at 433 locations, payments to suspended employees in tour- refrain from terminating contracts with or and remains in a gradual downtrend. ism-related businesses, including hotels, evicting tenants that are unable to make Hun Sen stressed that the government guesthouses, restaurants and travel agen- timely rent payments. has introduced a slew of measures to cies for an additional three months to June. The prime minister reiterated a call on keep crucial economic sectors afloat – in- Hun Sen said the government extended workers and owners of factories and en- cluding textiles, garments, footwear, bags, the exemptions for all types of monthly terprises to voluntarily take part in the travel goods and tourism – amid the socio- taxes on these businesses for another Covid-19 vaccination campaign and ad- economic fallout spurred by the Covid-19 three months to June to offset some of here to the “three protections and three crisis, and exacerbated by the February 20 the economic damage being wrought by don’ts” guidelines as directed by the min- community transmission. Covid-19. istries of Health, and Labour and Voca- He said the government would contin- But they must be registered with the tional Training. ue to provide $40 per month for each sus- General Department of Taxation to be eli- He noted that Cambodia has observed pended worker employed in the textile, gible, he said. International Labour Day every year since garment, footwear, travel goods and bags Moreover, the government will extend its liberation from the Khmer Rouge’s sectors at least until June. a cash relief programme for poor and genocidal regime on January 7, 1979. At the same time, employers in these vulnerable households for another three Even with the world in the grips of sectors have to pay an additional $30 for months. Covid-19, the Cambodian government each suspended worker, amounting to The government will continue to advise will organise activities to commemorate Police are still questioning the Chinese and Vietnamese nationals at $70 per month in benefit. ministries, public institutions and private this historically significant day. Thansur Buon Rodov guesthouse in Bavet town. facebook THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National​ Impounded Kingdom second in ASEAN for jabs overloaded

Mom Kunthear ternational Airport. She noted trucks drop that the Chinese government ambodia is now has so far provided a total of 1.7 43% in April second only to Sin- million doses of vaccines as hu- gapore for the num- manitarian aid to Cambodia. over March ber of vaccinations “As per Prime Minister Hun he Ministry of Public itC has provided among the Sen’s order, we will use them Works and Transport ASEAN countries according to accelerate our vaccination Timpounded 161 trucks to Prime Minister Hun Sen, drive in Phnom Penh and Kan- overloaded with goods and who noted this achievement dal province to contain the on- fined them 222 million riel in remarks made on April 28 going outbreak,” she said. ($55,500) in total for the after another 400,000 doses To date, between humani- month of April, roughly 43 of the Sinopharm Covid-19 tarian aid and direct purchas- per cent fewer trucks than vaccines donated by China es from China, Cambodia has they impounded and fined arrived in Cambodia. obtained a total of 3.7 million in March according to a Cambodia has now vac- doses of vaccines – 1.7 million report from the Secretariat cinated 12.4 per cent of its doses of the Sinopharm jab for National Transit and population, which is second and two million of the Sino- Transport Coordinating after Singapore at 37.48 per vac, according to Sambath. Committee, released on cent, among the 10 ASEAN According to Sambath, an- April 28. member states. other one million doses of The ministry said the The 400,000 vaccine doses Sinovac vaccines will arrive overloaded trucks were that arrived on April 28 are in Cambodia on May 10, and damaging the nation’s the third shipment of the additional shipments of Chi- roads and presented Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines nese vaccines will continue serious safety issues for delivered to Cambodia, with to arrive in the future, with their operators and other 600,000 doses delivered in the some being donations and drivers. first on February 7 and then a others paid orders. The ministry also called second shipment of 700,000 The Chinese embassy in on all truck owners and doses on March 31. Cambodia stated that China drivers to follow the “Cambodia has managed and Cambodia are like broth- Another 400,000 doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine donated by China touched down at the Phnom government’s health guide- to vaccinate about 1.3 mil- ers and sisters or members of Penh International Airport at 9:30pm on April 28. Heng Chivoan lines including the “three lion people so far, making us the same family. protections and three the second most-vaccinated “In the fight against the shipment of a traditional Chi- Majesty King Norodom Si- fully overcome the Covid-19 don’ts” amid the ongoing nation in ASEAN after Singa- novel coronavirus, the Chi- nese medicine called Lianhua hamoni and under the wise virus soon,” the embassy en- outbreak of Covid-19. pore, which has vaccinated nese government and people Qingwen that is made from 13 leadership of Samdech Akka thused. Ministry spokesman a very impressive number of will always stand with the different herbs and is said to Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun In addition to the 3.7 million Heang Sotheayuth said that their people already,” he said. Royal Government and the date back as early as the Han Sen, Prime Minister of Cam- doses of vaccines obtained according to the report, Ministry of Health secretary Cambodian people together dynasty. The traditional med- bodia, that the Kingdom of from China, Cambodia has also the decrease was probably of state Youk Sambath was on to overcome all obstacles,” icine donation was purport- Cambodia and the Cambo- received 324,000 doses of the due to Cambodia having hand for the arrival of the latest the embassy said. edly valued at over $200,000. dian people will certainly be AstraZeneca vaccine through temporarily imposed inter- shipment of Sinopharm vac- According to the embassy, “We believe that under the able to overcome all obsta- the Covax Facility of the World provincial travel ban, which cines at the Phnom Penh In- Beijing recently donated a shelter and protection of His cles and be able to success- Health Organisation. has been lifted. Nov Sivutha S’ville factory workers suspended for breaking quarantine measures Voun Dara “Police in the area have to stop and impound vehicles from escapees and accomplices to Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch hold them until the lockdown is lifted. Then, Chamroeun ordered on April 28 that the we will solve the matter according to proce- owner of New Star Shoes Co Ltd freeze work- dure,” it stated. ers’ wages and other benefits and suspend a Provincial hall spokesman Kheang Phear- small number of workers who escaped from um said the factory employs 1,582 workers quarantine centres and locked down areas in with 847 still working and employment con- the province. tracts for 712 workers suspended while 23 had The factory, located in Commune I’s village gone on maternity leave. IV in Sihanoukville, had suspended opera- According to Article 22 of the control of tions since April 26 after some workers there Covid-19 and other contagious diseases, indi- tested positive for Covid-19. viduals who fail to follow quarantine rules are In a letter to the owner, Chamroeun said: subject to fines of between 500,000 and two “During the temporary suspension of the New million riel ($125 to $500). Star Shoes factory to curb the spread of Covid- Those who avoid quarantine or escape from Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian (left) presents the 88,000 boxes of the traditional Chinese medicine 19 and during testing of samples of staff … a quarantine sites face fines of up to five million Lianhua Qingwen to Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng (right) on April 29. Heng Chivoan small number of workers escaped from quar- riel, while people who escape from quaran- antine centres. This violates the law to prevent tine are subject to imprisonment of between the spread of Covid-19.” six months and three years and a fine of up to People who had left lockdown areas would 10 million riel if they are found to have trans- China donates traditional be punished, it said. mitted the virus to others. flu medicine to Cambodia Mom Kunthear ditional Chinese medicine, health sector. [The Kingdom] which is an additional contri- has received countless grants, THE Chinese government bution to the provision of lab- assistance to fight the Covid- has donated 88,000 boxes of oratory equipment in Preah 19 pandemic in terms of tech- the traditional Chinese medi- Sihanouk province and the nology, budget and medical cine Lianhua Qingwen to the Covid-19 vaccine,” Bun Heng equipment, as well as Covid- Cambodia. said at the ceremony held at 19 vaccines,” Bun Heng said. Minister of Health Mam Bun the health ministry. On April 27, the health min- Heng, together with Chinese He added that these dona- istry issued a registration cer- ambassador Wang Wentian, tions are especially impor- tificate recognising and allow- presided over the handover tant for the health and safety ing Lianhua Qingwen to be ceremony. of the people of Cambodia. marketed in Cambodia. The traditional medicine, The Chinese government has Lianhua Qingwen can be which has therapeutic value always supported the govern- used to help treat ailments such as detoxification and low- ment of Cambodia as well as such as detoxification and ering lung temperature, was its people. lowering the temperature in provided to Cambodia as part “Cambodia-China coopera- the lungs, and is used to treat of the Chinese government’s tion has been strengthened flu, fever, muscle aches, runny assistance programme. and expanded day by day in nose, cough, headache, and a “Today we received tra- all fields, especially in the dry or sore throat. Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun. supplied 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National CRC president stresses value of midwives, pregnant care Lay Samean Covid-related health compli- cations in pregnant women UN Rany, the wife of and receive postpartum care Prime Minister Hun advice,” she added. Sen and president She reminded pregnant of the Cambodian women to contact the hos- RBed Cross (CRC) called on pital immediately and fol- all pregnant women to take low their advice if they have appropriate precautions to a fever, cough or difficulty reduce the risk of contracting breathing. She also said that the novel coronavirus. pregnant women should ab- Her remarks were made solutely avoid crowded plac- in advance of International es and enclosed spaces with Day of the Midwife on May 5, no airflow. with this year’s theme being Bun Rany then called on all Follow the Data: Invest in national and international or- Midwives. ganisations, the private sector “Have regular check-ups and development partners to with your doctor to moni- continue to invest in Cambo- tor the growth and develop- dia’s capacity to build a nation. ment of your baby and give The International Day of birth at a health centre or the Midwife aims to highlight referral hospital in order to past achievements of mid- monitor the health of both wives and raise awareness Bun Rany, the wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen and president of the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), has reminded pregnant women to contact the mother and baby after de- among all skilled midwives hospital immediately and follow their advice if they have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.CAMBODIAN RED CROSS livery. Breastfeed and feed around the world about cur- the baby according to the in- rent challenges. and the World Health Organi- terventions and comprehen- However, if nothing further The study also shows that structions of the Ministry of Follow the Data: Invest in sation in the 88 countries with sive care by skilled midwives is done to address these is- fully trained midwives who Health,” she said. Midwives was chosen as a the highest maternal and new- for women and newborns by sues that could result in an adhere to professional eth- “If you live in an area affect- theme from a new study con- born mortality rates. 2035 the world will be able to estimated 552,000 maternal ics and follow global stan- ed by the Covid-19 outbreak, ducted jointly by the UN Pop- According to the report, if all reduce maternal mortality by and infant deaths above and dards are key players in sav- please contact your mid- ulation Fund, the Internation- countries can achieve univer- 67 per cent and reduce infant beyond current expectations ing the lives of women and wife to discuss any possible al Confederation of Midwives sal coverage of essential in- mortality by 64 per cent. for mortality. babies. Takeo factory closes after three test Covid positive Nov Sivutha down before authorities ar- tal and self-isolate for 14 days. rived to give the order. Takeo provincial governor TAKEO provincial authori- He added that the working Ouch Phea held a meeting on ties on April 27 closed PEEVI group was searching for the April 28, ordering all relevant Industry (Cambodia) Co Ltd addresses and names of the authorities to search for peo- after three people tested 764 factory workers to sub- ple who had been in contact positive for Covid-19 at the mit the provincial governor with the three so that they can factory. for further action. have their samples taken for Shortly after the factory In a notice on April 27, the testing and self-quarantine. shut, a working group found Bati district administration He said that If the infection 61 people who had been in called on people who had is severe, quarantine sites direct and indirect contact been in contact with the trio must be prepared including with the trio. to immediately report to lo- local schools or teacher train- One of the three were iden- cal authorities. So, they can be ing schools. The district au- tified as Vuth Sokhean, a 30- tested at the health centre and thorities will have to spray the Local police officers stand guard at the main road entering Battambang province recently.F acebook year-old resident of Khlaing the Bati district referral hospi- factory with disinfectant. Sambath village in the prov- ince’s Putsar commune. The B’bang reopens 11 markets, other two are Chinese nation- als Huang Hu, 48, and Wang Guo Qin, 46, both residing in sets new safety, health rules the factory. The trio’s cases were linked to the February Lay Samean The other three – Thma that long-stay travellers test 20 community outbreak. Koul Thmei and Khum Chrey for Covid and quarantine. “We just found three peo- Battambang provincial markets in Thma Koul district “Travellers who have mission ple to be positive for Covid authorities on April 22 tem- and Moung Russey market letters from public institutions yesterday [April 27]. The au- porarily opened 11 markets in Moung Russey district – or short-stay travellers [less thorities went down to give that had previously been or- would also reopen. than a week] must be tested for instructions and temporarily dered shut from April 21-29. “During the temporary re- Covid-19,” the notice said. shut the factory. Authorities also announced opening of the markets, Bat- The provincial administration “The factory will be sprayed that individuals entering the tambang provincial town, also banned people from selling with disinfectant and work- province are required to test Thma Koul and Moung Russey or consuming alcoholic drinks, ers will be allowed to resume for Covid-19 or quarantine. district administrations and playing games and sports. work on May 3,” provincial According to a notice signed the Market Board of Manage- But it allowed some busi- Department of Labour and by provincial governor Nguon ment have to maintain safety nesses to resume such as food Vocational Training director Ratanak on April 27, eight of requirements to contain establishments and coffee Moeung Virya told The Post the markets are in Battambang Covid-19. They also have to and drink shops, accommo- on April 28. town – Central (Phsar Nat); fine anyone who breaks the dation, tourist destinations Virya was worried about Boeung Chhoeuk; January 13; measures,” the notice said. and religious services. the spread to other workers Apsara (Phsar Leu); Rong Lk- Battambang administra- The administration reminded and transmission to villages hon; Wat Leap; Povong; and tion also requested that for 14 everyone to strictly implement and districts where they re- Takeo provincial authorities on Tuesday closed PEEVI Industry (Cambodia) Phuopuoy Supermarket. days from April 29 to May 13 health and safety standards. sided. But the company shut Co Ltd after three people tested positive for Covid-19 at the factory. FACEBOOK THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National​ Rules set for colour localities in capital

AS THE modified lockdown measures take effect on April 29, the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has issued a directive that explains which businesses can operate in yel- low and dark yellow zones. In the directive dated April 28, Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng said all businesses in yellow zones can resume operations, includ- ing food and beverage outlets, but they must practice health and safety measures. “All markets, restaurants, food stalls, cafes, beverage shops, and all other food and beverage businesses in yellow zones are permitted – but all must be for take away,” Sreng Rapid Antigen Testing Kits for Covid-19. Ministry of Health said in the directive. All businesses in the yellow zones must require their staff and customers to abide by Covid-19 preventive measures Rapid testing kits key to curbing as directed by the Ministry of Health. In dark yellow zones, food and beverage businesses can viral transmission: health official reopen but can only provide takeaway service. All busi- Lay Samean “Some provinces have already been panels change colour indicating a posi- this system came after careful review of ness in red zones is forbid- using them. In fact, the ministry sent tive or negative result,” Cheng said. the technical aspects and its accuracy,” den. LMOST all provinces have them to the provinces a week earlier,” During a press conference about the he said. Sreng instructed all of the now been equipped with he said, adding that the kits produce ongoing lockdown on April 28, he said Recently, the health ministry has capital’s 14 district adminis- Rapid Antigen Testing Kits for the test results in roughly 15 minutes. a rate of between five and 10 per cent of permitted private hospitals and clinics trations, the Phnom Penh Covid-19 and have personnel The Ministry of Health purchased them people in high transmission areas have to test samples using these kits and to Municipal departments of trainedA in their use and ready to deploy after assessing that they were accurate tested positive, making these rapid test- treat mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 commerce and Tourism to them in the field as necessary, accord- and effective at detecting the virus. ing kits important for the authorities to patients by following standards proce- check that all establishments ing to Ministry of Health technical di- “The Rapid Antigen Covid-19 Test stop further transmission in a timely dures. in dark yellow zones do not rector-general Hok Kim Cheng. is not a piece of technological hard- manner. Kim Hab said more than 10 private violate these orders. Kim Cheng told The Post on April 29 ware or a device or a machine. They “In just 10 minutes, we can see the re- hospitals and clinics had already re- He said the directive will be that the kits have reached most prov- are chemically-treated latex panels. sults and that enables us to isolate the quested permission to provide these in place for seven days from inces, especially those provinces with We take a sample of a nostril swab and positive person from others to cut off services, three of which had been ap- April 29 to May 5, when a new severe transmission. smear it on the panels and then the the transmission. The approval to use proved so far. notice will be posted. Three provinces ease Pursat man held after allegedly Covid-19 restrictions attacking chief monk with knife Voun Dara Peam Ro district: Preaek Khsay Ka, Preaek Khsay Kha, Neak Kim Sarom THREE provinces have eased Loeung, and Peam Ro. Traffic restrictions and traffic is back in these communes has been THE Pursat Provincial Court on to normal after transmission of suspended since April 13 after April 28 issued a detention order Covid-19 was brought under Covid-19 cases were detected. for a man who allegedly attacked control in the areas. “Now, the situation in these a pagoda chief monk with a In Kampong Cham province, communes is improved and no knife, causing severe injuries on the provincial administration other cases found. To enable the night of April 26. lifted lockdown measures on a people to commute to work, Provincial deputy police chief facility for general treatment in Prey Veng administration has in charge of serious crime Mo Srey Santhor district referral opened traffic in these four com- Lida said on April 28 that the hospital, and Prek Po polyclin- munes from April 28,” the suspect, Chheng Chhay, 38, cut ic in Roka Tvea, in Srey San- administration announcement the chief monk, Tep Ouch, 53, thor’s Prek Po commune. Both said, calling on residents to prac- from his shoulder to under his were locked down on April 16 tice preventative measures. right rib. The injury required after Covid-19 infected people In Preah Sihanouk province, more than 60 stitches. The inci- had come for treatment. many facilities which had been dent happened at Baksey In Prey Veng, the provincial used as quarantine centres Chamkrong pagoda in O’Baktra administration has permitted have reverted to their regular village of Phnom Kravanh dis- travel in four communes in business. trict’s Prangil commune. “The man was charged with aggravated assault and drug possession and illegal use of weapon,” Lida said. District police chief Hun Chan Thea said on April 28 that Chhay, an O’Baktra villager, The suspect (left) and Tep Ouch, chief monk of Baksey Chamkrong pagoda in Prangil commune’s O’Baktra had previously been a monk village of Pursat province’s Phnom Kravanh district. Police but had a history of violence and bad habits, prompting the April 26, while the chief monk which point Chhay cut him. suspect escaped, but police chief monk to defrock him. was praying alone at the pagoda According to the district police arrested him the next morning. Later, he asked the chief monk on Vesak Bochea day, the knife- chief, monks and nuns heard “Chhay was angry with Ouch to let him enter monkhood wielding suspect crept in intend- the chief monk’s shout and ran because he had refused to let Trucks are seen travelling past Kampong Cham province’s Batheay again, but he refused. ing to stab him. The chief monk to help him then took him to the him become a monk again. district. Heng Chivoan He said that on the night of heard footsteps and shouted, at district referral hospital. The Chhay also used drugs,” he said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,060 1.2567 6.538 109.05 4.1465 1.3464 31.10 0.7608 1.1809 1.3705

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: April 29, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,660 16,600 16,660 16,520 2 GTI 4,400 4,280 4,400 4,200 3 PAS 13,040 13,040 13,060 12,980 4 PEPC 3,080 3,080 3,090 3,060 5 PPAP 13,620 13,680 13,680 13,200 6 PPSP 1,890 1,890 1,900 1,880 7 PWSA 6,780 6,680 6,780 6,660 Pepper exports eye record year ‘Smooth experience for passengers’ from Thou Vireak

he pepper indus- cloud platform move try plans to export 5,000 tonnes of Geo- Continued from page 1 management of Cambodia’s graphical Indication network of international air- (GI)T and non-GI peppercorn to working closely to realise ports serving the capital city this year to meet the growing their strategic vision and to of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, market demand in the region address new challenges and home to the UNESCO World and the EU. opportunities over the long Heritage Angkor Archaeo- Cambodia Pepper and Spice term,” she said. logical Complex, and the port Federation (CPSF) president Phnom Penh International city and beach resort of Siha- Mak Ny told The Post on April Airport general manager noukville. 29 that CPSF member com- Herve Bonin said: “Passen- “The shareholders of Cam- panies are targeting Vietnam gers expect a smooth experi- bodia Airports are France’s and Germany as the main ex- ence, and moving to the cloud VINCI Airports – 70 per cent port destinations. with Amadeus means we can – and Muhibbah Masteron According to Ny, Vietnam- deliver that now and into the Cambodia – 30 per cent, a based Olam plans to export future. Malaysian-Cambodian joint 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of pep- “Sharing our long-term vi- venture.” percorns to Vietnam and sion, Amadeus is the right Cambodia booked just Germany-based Fuchs aims partner to take care of this $1.023 billion in international to ship out 1,000 tonnes. complexity behind the scenes tourism revenue last year, In addition, local compa- Pepper cultivation in Cambodia covers 6,700ha and yields more than 20,000 tonnes each year. POST STAFF so we can easily deploy new representing a 79.4 per cent nies Seila Pepper Co Ltd and innovations that place our nosedive from $4.919 billion Signatures of Asia Co Ltd plan manager Chan Pich told The costing around 14,000 riel ($3.50) 1,200-1,500 tonnes of pep- customers, passengers and in 2019 due to the sweeping to export about 100 tonnes Post that his company plans per kilogramme, compared to percorns per year. airlines, at the very heart of effects of the global Covid- each, he said. to buy 100 tonnes of organic 10,000 riel a year ago. Cambodia In 2020, 70 tonnes of GI our airport model. 19 pandemic, the Ministry of In 2020, CPSF members pepper from Mondulkiri produces about 20,000 tonnes Kampot peppercorns were “Combining this leading Tourism reported on April 19. exported more than 3,000 province to process and ex- of pepper a year, he said. exported to more than 50 technology with recent key The Kingdom welcomed tonnes of GI and non-GI pep- port to Finland. “Our goal is to bring the pep- countries, mostly in Europe, investments in facilities up- 1,306,143 international tour- per, according to Ny. “This year, we bought more per sector together, which will with black pepper worth $15 grades, our platforms are well ists in 2020, down by 80.2 per “The companies that form pepper than last year, having make it easier for foreign inves- per kilogramme, red pepper prepared to welcome the next cent from 6,610,592 in 2019, part of our ranks plan to ex- bought only 40 tonnes last tors to see the potential of our $25 and white pepper $28, growth stage,” he said. according to the 2020 Tour- port a lot this year due to year. And we’ve seen that this pepper products and make it according to Kampot Pepper According to Cambodia ism Statistics Report. falling global pepper yields, year’s pepper market has im- easy to provide information on Promotion Association presi- Airports: “Under a public- It said the tourism and so every member is rushing proved a bit compared to last the pepper market,” he added. dent Nguon Lay. private partnership signed travel industry accounted for to buy up stock, expecting a year,” he said. The federation has 15 Pepper cultivation in Cam- with the Royal Government of three per cent of gross domes- strong market from now on,” According to Ny, the price of member pepper producer bodia covers 6,700ha and Cambodia in 1995, Cambodia tic product (GDP) in 2020, a the CPSF president said. non-GI pepper has jumped by communities that grow crops yields more than 20,000 Airports holds the conces- far cry from the 12.1 per cent Signatures of Asia general 20 to 30 per cent over to last year, on about 700ha and produce tonnes each year. sion for the development and chalked up in 2019. Inflation continues to rise in Laos amid Covid crisis The year-on-year inflation dollar are among the main rose by 1.41 per cent month- by 2.54 per cent year-on-year. der to minimise imports from instance, red onions, garlic, rate continued to rise in Laos drivers of inflation in Laos, on-month, and the rates of The cost of medical treatment neighbouring countries. carrots and mushrooms have last month amid economic despite the government’s at- fish and seafood by 2.03 per in hospitals rose by 4.15 per However, domestic produc- to be imported since the pro- distress triggered by the tempts to manage prices of cent. The price of pork surged cent year-on-year. tion is still not as strong as an- duction cost for these crops Covid-19 pandemic. products in domestic markets. by 14.25 per cent year-on-year, Costs in the communication ticipated and it is still unable to remains high in Laos. VIENTIANE According to the Lao Sta- The prices of rice, meat and beef by 8.8 per cent, poultry by and transport category rose by meet the market demands. For TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK tistics Bureau, the Consumer other fresh food items have 1.3 per cent, fresh vegetables 1.1 per cent month-on-month Price Index (CPI) stood at continued to rise, while the by 8.62 per cent, and season- and 3.41 per cent year-on- 114.42 points last month, in- price of fuel has gone up due ings by 12.64 per cent. year. For instance, the price of dicating an inflation rate of to taxes increasing in line with The cost of household goods vehicles rose by 3.15 per cent 2.48 per cent year-on-year. the cost of oil imports. went up by 0.22 per cent year-on-year, transport items This was up from the 1.91 per Vientiane mainly depends month-on-month, and 3.17 by 5.29 per cent and fuel by cent recorded in February. on food items supplied from per cent year-on-year. The 10.36 per cent. Economists are concerned different provinces, includ- price of internal decoration The value of beauty ser- that the interruption of eco- ing beef, pork and vegetables, items went up by 4.4 per cent vices surged by 1.04 per cent nomic activities by a second and travel restriction may im- year-on-year, furniture by 2.33 year-on-year, precious metals wave of novel coronavirus in- pact the prices of food prod- per cent, mattresses and mat- by 22.52 per cent, and deco- fections and lockdown mea- ucts in the capital. tress pads by 5.1 per cent, and rated gold by 27.87 per cent. sures imposed in the capital According to the Lao Statis- kitchen items by 2.71 per cent. In 2020, inflation in Laos av- Vientiane and other provinc- tics Bureau, the cost of food Prices of medical care items eraged at around 5.07 per es could further affect prices and non-alcoholic beverages climbed by 0.16 per cent cent, up from 3.32 per cent of products in local markets. surged by 2.81 per cent year- month-on-month and 3.36 recorded in 2019. Rising food prices and the on-year, and 0.94 per cent per cent year-on-year, and The government has en- weakening value of the kip month-on-month. the cost of medicines and couraged local farmers to The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages in Laos surged by 2.81 per against the Thai baht and US For instance, the price of rice medical equipment increased boost their productivity in or- cent year-on-year, and 0.94 per cent month-on-month. VIENTIANE MAI THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Ministry seeks understanding from buyers

Hin Pisei

senior labour official urged buyers of Cambodian goods to be understanding and not penalise delays or divertA orders to other countries, as the Kingdom’s factories and enterprises face temporary closures and block- ades imposed to fight the spread of Covid-19 in the community. The government on April 26 ex- tended the lockdown of Phnom Penh and Takmao town of Kandal province for another seven days from April 29 to May 5. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training spokesman Heng Sour told a press conference on the lockdown extension on April 28 that the min- istry is working closely with unions, factory owners, the International La- bour Organisation, Better Factories Cambodia and other relevant parties to appeal to buyers for their under- standing. “We appeal to the owners of vari- ous brands that have ordered from Cambodia that our supply has been disrupted due to blockade measures. We urges the brand owners or buyers not to impose fines on the factory or divert orders to other countries,” he said. He said that Cambodia will strive to accelerate its production as soon as possible after the Covid-19 situation The Kingdom’s export of garments, footwear and travel goods fell by more than 10 per cent last year from 2019. Hean Rangsey eases. “We, the government, workers and [buyers] as fast as we can,” Sour said. down measures. hands to combat the spread of Covid- 2019 and could face significant direct employees, are committed to working Garment Manufacturers Associa- “We would like to appeal for your 19. We urge all of you not to punish losses from extended closures. together to respect health rules and tion in Cambodia (GMAC) on April 19 understanding to facilitate and make our members for this situation that is Outbound shipments in these sec- the administration set by the Royal also urged buyers and stakeholders arrangements to help accommodate beyond our control,” said GMAC. tors registered $10.6 billion in 2019 Government to the utmost, so that we not to penalise its members for failing this special situation. We all have to Exports of the garment, footwear and $9.5 billion last year, according can restart production at all levels of to honour pre-agreed delivery com- cooperate and obey the instructions and travel goods industries dropped to the Ministry of Commerce’s annual the chain and be able to supply them mitments during the ongoing lock- of the Royal Government and join more than 10 per cent last year over report. Fresh produce to enter grocer booths

Hin Pisei delivery. and is keen to recruit other supermar- Speaking at a press conference on the kets. The Ministry of Commerce will strive to extended lockdown at the Ministry of Jus- These partnerships will help the ministry add more fresh produce for sale at its gro- tice on April 28, Sovicheat said the com- to maintain price stability and a diversity cer booths in lockdown-restricted areas, merce ministry would work more closely of goods on the market as well, he added. which are predominantly stocked with with private companies to supply fresh He said the ministry is also working with dried foods, according to spokesman Pen goods such as fish, meats and vegetables the community to grow vegetables, spur Sovicheat. for sale to people in red and orange slaughterhouse and aquaculture produc- The remark comes after the government zones. tion and improve transport of produce to on April 26 issued Resolution 54 to extend He said the ministry would only choose consumers in restricted areas. the lockdown of Phnom Penh and Takmao “qualified companies” as partners to The ministry currently has 11 stalls – split town for another week from April 29 to ensure that the guidelines of the Ministry up into multiple booths – set up in red and May 5 in a bid to stem the spread of Covid- of Health are fully and effectively imple- orange zones, according to Sovicheat. 19. It classified regions as yellow, orange mented. Virak Buntham Express on April 26 or red zones. “We will have a wide range of additional launched 64 mobile units selling groceries The resolution encourages the ministry products for residents that can be ordered such as vegetables, fish and meat to 14 and authorities involved in carrying out via QR code on the Ministry of Commerce’s red-zone destinations, according to direc- blockades to coordinate with the private online marketplace or by phone.” tor-general Suo Vireak. sector the supply, transport and distribu- “I believe that residents should receive He told The Post: “We think people in tion of drinking water and essential food other goods besides the dried goods that blockaded areas are having a hard time items – including milled rice, instant noo- the ministry already has for sale to our peo- getting fresh food, such as vegetables, fish, dles, canned fish, fish sauce and soy sauce ple in both the red and orange zones,” meat, which we sell at reasonable prices, – to people in red or orange zones. Sovicheat said. so I decided to join the government, get- The commerce ministry would work more closely with private companies It also recommended listing products on He said the ministry is currently work- ting vehicles ready to transport supplies to to supply fresh goods such as fish, meats and vegetables for sale to online platforms and providing door-step ing with Virak Buntham, Makro and Aeon the people in lockdown areas.” people in red and orange zones. Hong Menea 200MW solar farm set for K Speu Thou Vireak This project includes the construction the project, including preliminary plan- of Cambodia’s largest solar farm, according ning, engineering, procurement and con- A 200MW solar project backed by a $200 to Hong Lai Huat Group general manager struction (EPC), financing, operation and million investment from two large com- and executive director Ong Jia Jing. maintenance. panies will be built in Aoral Eco-City, a Aoral Eco-City is a “mega integrated agri- After completion, the solar farm will sell joint statement said on April 26. culture eco-city” project currently in power to state-owned utility Electricite du Real estate developer Hong Lai Huat development by Hong Lai Huat in Kam- Cambodge (EdC), and Hong Lai Huat will Group Ltd and China Machinery Engi- pong Speu province’s Oral district. be granted the first right to purchase elec- neering Corp (CMEC) have signed a non- The companies estimate that at total tricity at the same price as EdC. legally binding memorandum of under- investment of around $200 million would Hong Lai Huat and CMEC will share the standing (MoU) to form a special purpose be required to build such a large-scale revenue from the sale of electricity under vehicle (SPV) and work together for at least solar park in the eco-city. the power purchase agreement (PPA), con- Men install solar panels at their home in Preah Sihanouk province. 20 years, with an option to renew the deal Under the MoU, CMEC will provide one- tingent on the signing of a legally-binding Heng Chivoan for an additional 20-year period, it said. stop, complete solar-plant solutions for deal. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Special​​ Reporteport R Did Covid-19 take some heat off Cambodia’s condo sector? A robust real estate sector, the foreign investment-driven condo segment has come under pressure, but it might be a well-deserved reprieve to correct itself

Sangeetha Amarthalingam

n owner of a real estate as- set will not often willingly describe their ownership position as distressed. ‘Instead,A a sign of this might be that they are willing to sell the asset at below what they purchased it for, have restructured their mortgage or stopped construction,” James Hodge, managing director of CBRE Cambodia shared in a brief inter- view last month. These consequences, though sub- tle, have been apparent since mid last year, evident from the sector’s performance which echoed the in- termittent Covid-19 upheavals. One example was that 13 per cent out of 279 green net projects con- sisting of large multi-ownership of multi-let projects, tracked by the real estate and investment firm in the first quarter of this year, was found to be on hold, with over 60 per cent at core construction stage and about 20 per cent at topping-off stage. This might be indicative of the de- veloper’s struggle to finance the de- velopment, or simply that they have decided to wait for the market to turn around before pushing on with their sales or leasing efforts. While defining the proportion and value of distressed assets is not pos- sible as it depends upon the indi- vidual circumstances of the owner, Hodge stressed that a good indica- tor is in the form of non-performing loan (NPL) rate for mortgages. As of January 31, 2021, NPL had fallen to 1.05 per cent, which was The condo market was among the fastest growing segments but has since come under pressure due to Covid-19. HENG CHIVOAN still slightly higher than a month back, but already “much lower” than The same with the mid-range seg- Management Co Ltd, the transac- a shareholder of DA&G Asset Manage- cludes an uptake from topped off its peak of 1.9 per cent in the middle ment, which sank below its $2,400 tion volume in the condominium ment, a property management outfit. projects last year. of the year, Credit Bureau Cambodia psm resistance threshold. market fell 15 to 20 per cent over the With the entry of these units into (CBC) data showed. However, the average prices for the year whereas sales price contract- Yield compression a soft market, the industry will likely Accordingly, CBC said the share of high-end and affordable segments ed by 20 to 30 per cent. This does Last year, seven out of 19 projects see a depression in pricing and fur- mortgage loans had been relatively sta- have since regained 4.8 per cent and not include a fire sale of the assets that were expected to be completed ther yield compression. ble at 16 per cent of the total consumer 3.5 per cent, respectively, in the first which saw prices retreating further were deferred to 2021, CBRE data Although sale prices have picked credit outstanding balance portfolio. quarter this year, CBRE data showed. between 40 and 50 per cent. showed. up since the fourth quarter of 2020 Here, Hodge noted that the NPL In contrast, average selling pric- “There is a short-term depression In that, some 10,825 units are ex- for the high-end and affordable seg- indicator might have revealed a posi- ing for the mid-range segment con- or recession in the market, and that pected to enter the market, seven ments, it was not clear how long it tive trend, as far as domestic investor tracted 0.4 per cent in that period. has to also do with the [percentage] per cent of which were delivered in would last when the sector has been solvency goes, but potential issues According to Anthony Galliano, of foreign ownership,” said Galliano, the first quarter of 2021. under pressure. might not show up in this data be- CEO of Cambodian Investment who is also chief financial officer and The total figure for this year in- “We will need to see some further cause of the loan restructuring that adjustments in pricing in order to took place last year, as well as the stabilise the yield,” Hodge contend- regular use of offshore financing for ed during the firm’s Fearless Fore- larger and foreign-owned projects. cast presentation on the real estate Still, he assured, when compared sector for 2021 in February. with other forms of debt, mortgages In the first quarter of this year, con- still exhibited a low rate of NPL. dominium rental rates recorded pos- Like the other segments, the con- itive movements, with high-end and dominium market, which saw ro- mid-range segments rising 1.3 per bust growth until last year, has come cent and 1.7 per cent, respectively. under pressure due to the pandem- The affordable segment posted ic, particularly with the collapse of the highest growth at 3.5 per cent international travel and tourism in quarter-on-quarter, highlighting a Cambodia and supply chain disrup- shift in focus towards the domestic tion in the construction sector. market, CBRE data showed. With up to 70 per cent ownership of However, CBRE noted that there condominiums by foreigners, the re- was a long way to go to make up the sulting drop in arrivals and sales saw decreases in rental rates that were downward price revisions for afford- recorded over 2020. able, mid-range and high-end units “In comparison, the high-end in the last three quarters of 2020. rental rates at the end of the first For instance, average sale prices quarter of 2021 were down 9.4 per for the high-end segment dipped cent year-on-year on average while under $3,000 per square metre mid-range rents were down 12 per (psm) towards the end of last year cent year-on-year,” it stated. after years of recording rates of just In his February presentation, below $3,600 psm. Hodge had mentioned that the mid- THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 Special​​ Report range segment had been bumpy, and that things could change when a new project is completed, given that it “still isn’t a quite deep enough segment”. PART 2: CONDOMINIUM “We really need to get a clear trend of where things are going to go but yields are in the right kind of range for Condominium Supply what we would expect,” he said then. While he maintained this view in Condominium Supply by Segment present time, he found that it was un- 40,000 140% likely to be a significant compression as prices are now more closely corre- 35,000 120% lated to rent due to the switch in focus 30,000 from developers towards local buyers. 100% This brings the issue of rent and out of 19 prices into the picture where the 7 25,000 80% real estate sector remains bullish Projects originally expected to complete in 2020 delayed into 2021 20,000 over the absorption rate for condo- Units miniums despite lower returns in 60% 15,000 the pandemic. 40% Here, mid-range developers were 10,000 more flexible over how they market 2021 Forecast Supply the project compared to high-end 5,000 20% developers who were more reluc- tant to adjust their sale prices. 0 0% “When rents come down, prices 7% 10,825 Units also adjust, this is the function part- ly in the secondary market. It is also Completed by 2021 Pipeline Affordable Mid-Range High-End % Change a function of the mid-range seg- Q1 2021 ment. When they are thinking about 793 Units Completed Q1 2021 pricing, they are trying to encourage that sale more closely,” Hodge said. © 2021 CBRE Cambodia Q1 2021 MARKETVIEW Yet, competition in the mid-range Source: CBRE Cambodia - Phnom Penh9 Marketview Q1 2021. segment, which is expected, will cause developers and owners to act in a “slightly different way” as ise, provided they carefully manage are not many countries where de- O’Sullivan is of the view, based on tion posed to him by O’Sullivan in a opposed to the high-end segment their cash and cashflow”. velopers have enjoyed 40 to 60 per his analysis, that Cambodia is not at recent webinar by Realestate.com.kh. where there is less competition. Noting that demand for rental cent profit margin,” he said. risk of oversupply. That being said, Hodge felt that apartments remained, developers As the economy rebounds, Phnom More breathing room absorption rates in condo units and who sold on GRR and were hop- `Getting rid of property’ Penh would ramp up in terms of ur- Looking at the whole picture, what how many are sold is likely to nar- ing to profit on monthly rents or In any case, industry experts speak banisation and multinational busi- the pandemic did to the real sector row, as people are not yet able to breakeven, might run at a loss. of changes that are already happen- nesses as investors and tourists re- was give it a new impetus to recon- travel to Phnom Penh. “For example, an apartment that ing in the condominium scene as turn to the Kingdom. sider methods to realise value from “Travel had a big impact. [How- was renting for $1,200 a month in developers pivot their sales to the “While there might be a slight price what it does. ever] we think the absorption rate 2019, might be leased out for $900 domestic market to stem losses. adjustment in the rental market due While the sector has cooled down, [for mid-range] should increase this a month today. Even in the current For instance, the removal of GRR to many developments completing landlords and developers are still year because of the changes to lend- market, if a developer is desperate, scheme and fixture and furnishing, in the next few years, I do not think keen to do deals as ever, Hodge said, ing options as well as developers’ they would be able to lease out units. which would bring down the prices it is a major risk. adding that “they just have to find approach to sales. At the end of the day, it is all based on for locals, O’Sullivan said. “We are experiencing some short- other ways to get those deals done”. “Therefore, we are more bullish on price,” O’Sullivan said via email. “The shift to the local buyers’ mar- term hurt due to Covid-19 but it is Asked if the pandemic saved Cam- their promotion and offers, and the He estimated that some 90 per cent ket worked very well throughout not a long-term problem,” he said. bodian from a property bubble, he ex- same really for the affordable seg- of developers who sold units on GRR 2020 ... all in all, this is a great thing Similarly, Hodge finds that the pan- plained that the Cambodian market ment,” Hodge said. in the last 18 months would be feeling as it meant that developers were fill- demic’s impact on rents and prices was already going through a typical the effects until international flights ing their local sales quota and con- would make for better value for money market cycle prior to the pandemic. `Gambling on returns’ return and the market opens up again. dos were now of less risk of being for overseas buyers and incoming ex- “And, if we look at price and rent That being said, he does not dismiss “However, I don’t believe that any uninhabited,” he added. pat tenants, which could help drive the trends in the last few years, we can the concern related to guaranteed developers that recently handed over These are plans that are “well- market in the future. hardly say there was a bubble [as] in- rental returns (GRR) which condo- or will soon hand over [units] have thought-out” by seasoned devel- Likewise, CIM’s Galliano believes dicators in most sectors hadn’t moved minium developers offer to investors, defaulted on paying buyers the GRR. opers as opposed to the first-time that the present situation might pro- a great deal in recent years, excluding typically foreigners, to entice sales. “Some developers even give the developers who were at risk of be- vide opportunities to buy properties land and borey sectors,” he said. “There is obviously a lot of pres- buyer a discount, equal to that of ing “caught out” for riding the real from foreign investors who are not Although there were no “big” up- sure at the moment on developers, the GRR. So in theory, the buyer gets estate “gold rush” in Cambodia. seeing a return on their investment. ward adjustments in rents and pric- who have been offering GRR back in it all upfront in this case,” he said. Meanwhile, Hodge said the pivot “Holding on to an inventory without es, there was a rising wave of devel- the really strong market days of 2018 towards the domestic market was a GRR scheme will cost you money opment, which acted to compound and 2019,” he said. Eating into profit margin apparent in the mid-range market because you are paying maintenance the effects of reduced demand seen Back then, developers offered six But as the effects of the pandemic where prices have been adjusted to fees and are not getting any return on as a result of the pandemic. to eight per cent per annum return move up a notch in Cambodia, strug- take account of the increased com- it. It is a horrible thing especially when Essentially, the pandemic and on prices which could create prob- gling developers might face more petition in the sector. the market is going south. downward adjustment in the mar- lems on their cashflow now. challenges as the longer the projects Ongoing or further disruption could “I see an opportunity in that area ket mean that there would be fewer It is not natural for developers to linger around, the costly they be- see further exacerbation of trends where foreigners who can’t come here new launches for a while. hold large amounts of cash in their come with interest rates racking up witnessed last year, in that developers would want to get rid of them, willing “This will give the market some bank accounts in order to pay back on their construction loans. might look to reducing prices or offer to take a hit rather than continue to breathing room to absorb incoming GRR, he said, adding that even if No doubt a “common occurrence” in more incentives to spur bookings. hold on to something that is not giv- supply before more space is added they built it into their sales price, any downturn, Hodge claimed, devel- However, putting Covid-19 aside, ing them returns,” he said to a ques- again,” Hodge said. they are usually spending that mon- opers will find it difficult to dispose of ey on their next project. their units while landlords spend a long “So, they are gambling on being time to secure prospective tenants. able to make an appropriate rental “Both are likely to face a situation PART 2: CONDOMINIUM return from tenants, and that is where they have to give away more more challenging now,” he said. in order to achieve a successful deal. Ordinarily, this would involve a This could be in the form of a rental, Condominium Sales Prices & Rents contract between the buyer and sell- price discount, or other incentives. Average Condominium quoting Rents er, and if the latter is not able to meet “Alternatively, they can look at of- Average Condominium Quoting Sale Prices QOQ (US$/SQM/Month) QOQ their obligations, there are various fering more services and points of $15.00 $3,500 $13.00 1.7% processes to go through including difference to compel the tenant or $11.00 pursuing a breach of contract claims, buyer to do the deal,” he said. 4.8% $3,000 $9.00 1.3% or filing for insolvency, if all else fails. However, all this puts pressure on $7.00 While this circles back to the ques- the project’s cash flow, and so, devel- 5.4% $2,500 tion of distressed projects and pos- opers would have to be very careful 0.4% Q12019 Q22019 Q32019 Q42019 Q12020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42020 Q12021 sible examples of failed obligations with their outgoings, prioritising those Mid-Range High-End Afforabable $2,000 in the “not too distant future”, Hodge elements that work for them, aiming opined that many developers would to maximise returns and hoping they 3.5% Condominium Quoting Sales Price Range $1,500 have priced the cost of the GRR out- do not have to seek additional fund- $4,500 Location $4,000 Primary goings into the purchase price of ing in order to complete the project. $3,500 $1,000 units and could rely on retained sav- Separately, O’Sullivan opined that $3,000 Secondary ings to keep up with payments. increasing cost of land, raw material $2,500 $2,000 Echoing him, industry expert, and labour could eat into the profit Q12017 Q22017 Q32017 Q42017 Q12018 Q22018 Q32018 Q42018 Q12019 Q22019 Q32019 Q42019 Q12020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42020 Q12021 $1,500 Thomas O’Sullivan, CEO of Real- margin of developers here, some of Affordable Mid-Range High-End $1,000 estate.com.kh said although Covid- whom enjoyed nearly 60 per cent in Affordable Mid Range High End 19 affected the profit margins of de- the past, assuming sales price does © 2021 CBRE Cambodia Q1 2021 MARKETVIEW velopers, “by and large they would not increase with fixed costs. Source: CBRE Cambodia - Phnom11 Penh Marketview Q1 2021. be able to deliver on the GRR prom- “But is this such a bad thing? There 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST April 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus ENTERTAINMENT WeWatch brings premium content for Cambodia’s TV market

eWatch Co Ltd (Cambodia) rolled out its over-the-top (OTT) service in April Wpromising an access to premium content – all translated in Khmer for the local audience. WeWatch, the subsidiary of the Singapore-based WeWatch Pte Ltd, the OTT TV service provider is gearing up to serve a diverse audience in the Kingdom – catering to the youth and older generations – with live news, movies, dramas, anime series, and educational programmes. Audiences can expect exciting, quality content from WeWatch Co Ltd (Cambodia) after parent company WeWatch Pte Ltd acquired 1,000 hours of content that includes award- winning dramas, movies and lifestyle programmes from Singapore’s Mediacorp. With an OTT service, film and 1,000 hours of content to be made Mediacorp of bringing quality television content is provided via available, Cambodian viewers will be content to the region. We are the internet directly to the audience, able to enjoy a committed to providing localised unlike traditional networks – and wide variety of Mediacorp services and have invested a great WeWatch is ramping up its services genres,” Mediacorp’s head of content deal of effort to translate and embed to capture the growing digital market distribution Jesslyn Wong said. local languages in our licensed in the Kingdom. Enabled by a leading OTT platform contents,” WeWatch Pte Ltd CEO “Our target is the Cambodian and WeWatch’s local operations, Sarah Wang said. audience, thus we have put in a lot content will be distributed directly of effort and investment in content over the WeWatch Super Box and localisation. the “WeWatch- Everywhere” app as To enjoy WeWatch on big screen “For instance, in Cambodia we brand linear and video-on-demand TVs, mobile phones and tablets, have launched the live channels channels, as well as indirectly please visit the WeWatch website – in Khmer. Moreover, we highly through local telecom and media www. wewatch.asia – and Facebook encourage and empower our local players in the respective markets. page – www.facebook.com/wewatch. staff to lead our key business areas. “We share a similar vision with asia. “WeWatch is open for internships WeWatch Cambodia CEO Andrey Sheen. SUPPLIED for university and college students. We strongly believe in the potential of local employees who can fly high,” WeWatch Cambodia CEO Andrey Sheen told The Post. WeWatch has entered the market at an opportune time. Better disposable incomes, changing lifestyles, advancements in technology and a greater availability of internet services are set to drive the OTT services market in the Kingdom, while Covid-19 travel restrictions are also fuelling further demand. Under WeWatch’s business strategy, Cambodia is the first country to enjoy access to its quality content, followed by Indonesia and other Southeast Asian markets in future rollouts. “We are glad to partner with WeWatch in its inaugural launch in Cambodia, where we can further extend the reach of our content. With THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 World India tops 200,000 fatalities US feds raid Trump lawyer’s apartment amid deadly Covid-19 wave in Ukraine inquiry NDIA’S Covid-19 death toll US FEDERAL investigators torney, the mayor of New York shot past 200,000 on April raided the New York City City and the personal lawyer 28 as a relentless wave apartment of former presi- to the 45th president of the of new cases swamped dent Donald Trump’s person- United States?” he asked. Ihospitals and sent desperate al lawyer Rudy Giuliani early According to reports, the families out into the streets of on April 28 as part of a probe Federal Bureau of Investiga- the capital in search of oxygen into his dealings in Ukraine. tion (FBI) and the Depart- supplies and medicine. Investigators with search ment of Justice’s prosecutor in Infection and death rates warrants combed Giuliani’s New York had sought search are soaring in the vast country residence and a separate office, warrants for Giuliani’s phones of 1.3 billion people, in con- seizing electronic devices. last year, but were denied that trast with the US and some They also seized a phone while Trump remained in of- European nations which are from a Washington attorney, fice, until January 20. taking tentative steps back Victoria Toensing, who has Under the new attorney towards normal life. advised Trump and worked general, Merrick Garland, in The virus has now killed with Giuliani on Ukraine- the administration of now- more than 3.1 million people related matters, according to President Biden, the warrants worldwide, with India driv- news reports. were evidently approved. ing the latest surge, record- Giuliani, himself once a top The FBI and Justice Depart- ing 360,000 new infections – a New York prosecutor and then ment declined to comment on global record – and more than mayor of the city, was a per- the raids or the investigation. 3,000 deaths on April 28. sonal lawyer for Trump when Investigations of lawyers, Offering a glimmer hope, the the president was impeached especially those who repre- co-founder of BioNTech – which Car parks have been converted to crematoriums in India’s capital to handle the flood of dead.AFP in December 2019 for seeking sented a president, are highly developed a Covid-19 vaccine political help from Ukraine. sensitive, given protections with Pfizer – said he is confi- “No matter how much time transmissible, deadly or able “We are still testing the Indi- Giuliani spent months try- they have for privileged deal- dent the shot works against the it takes, I have to wait here … to dodge vaccine protections. an variant, but the Indian vari- ing to help Trump find dirt in ings with clients. variant that is plaguing India. I only have my mum.” Many nations have rushed ant has mutations that we have Ukraine on election rival Joe Nevertheless, a previous per- In the capital New Delhi, car Despite the rising cases, on to help, sending desperately already tested for and which Biden and Biden’s son Hunt- sonal attorney for Trump, Mi- parks have been converted to April 27 around 25,000 people needed oxygen and aid. our vaccine works against, so I er, during 2018-2020. chael Cohen, was sent to prison crematoriums and the soaring took part in the final bathing As part of the global effort, am confident,” said Sahin. But the investigation behind in 2019 after pleading guilty to body count has sparked a short- day at the Kumbh Mela reli- Singapore on April 28 said it had As India battled horrific con- April 28’s raid could be honing charges including paying hush age of wood for funeral pyres. gious gathering in the north- sent two plane-loads of oxygen ditions, the Dutch feted the in on Giuliani doing paid work money to two women who said Desperate relatives of the ern town of Haridwar, drawn to supplies, and Germany will de- end of curfew and the opening for Ukrainian businessmen at they slept with Trump, for tax sick are crowding outside the banks of the Ganges by an liver 120 ventilators and plans of cafe terraces on April 28. the same time, violating US fraud and for lying to Congress. hospitals and pharmacies in “auspicious” full moon, festival to set up oxygen production. The lifting of measures fol- laws against unregistered lob- The impeachment investiga- search of treatment and med- official Harbeer Singh said. Russia said it was sending low similar moves in Italy, bying for foreign entities. tion into Trump revealed exten- icines, often in vain. The gathering has attracted emergency help to the coun- Portugal and Switzerland that Two Ukrainian-born men, sive involvement by Giuliani in Arriving in cars, rickshaws millions of pilgrims, mostly with- try – including oxygen support, have recently peeled back Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, Ukrainian affairs. He appeared and ambulances, patients out masks, sparking criticism of ventilators and medicine – restrictions – even as govern- who helped Giuliani in those to take part in a push by pow- and their families desperate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s while Switzerland was sending ments scramble to roll out efforts were arrested in Oc- erful Ukrainian business and for oxygen flocked to a tent Hindu-nationalist government $1 million in aid for hospitals. much-needed vaccines. tober 2019 and charged with political figures to have Trump outside a Sikh place of wor- for allowing it to go ahead. India also appears to be a The EU is eager to speed illegally funnelling large do- remove the US ambassador, ship on the outskirts of the A variant of the virus feared leading contender for some up its sluggish immunisation nations to a pro-Trump fund- Masha Yovanovitch. capital this week. to be contributing to the cat- of the millions of AstraZeneca drive after it sued the British- raising committee. He also helped pressure the Priyanka Mandal, 30, had astrophic wave in India has vaccine doses the US has said Swedish firm AstraZeneca for Giuliani’s son Andrew Giu- government in Kiev to provide been searching for oxygen for now been found in more than it will export. allegedly breaking their pur- liani condemned the raid information that would sup- her mother since she became a dozen countries, the World And Ugur Sahin, co-founder chase agreement. outside his father’s apartment port Trump’s baseless claim sick a week ago. Health Organisation (WHO) of BioNTech, said the vaccine The EU and the pharma- building, calling it “disgusting” that his Democratic election “Medicines are also not avail- said on April 27. his company jointly developed ceutical giant are set to meet and accusing the Justice De- rival Biden was involved in cor- able … I’ve visited five, six big But the WHO has stopped with Pfizer appears to protect in court on May 26, a Belgian partment of a political agenda. rupt dealings in the country. medical stores,” she said. short of saying it is more against the Indian variant. court said on April 28. AFP “Anybody, any American, On January 11, the US Trea- whether you’re red or blue, sury imposed sanctions on should be disturbed by what four Ukrainians who it said happened here today, by the helped Giuliani in the effort continued politicisation of to smear Biden ahead of the the Justice Department,” he 2020 presidential election. Ivory Coast: Elephants endangered told reporters. The Ukraine affair isn’t the “If this can happen to the only legal case facing Giuliani. ELEPHANTS face extinction in Ivory try, Kouame Me, said the elephant popu- the former French colony. former president’s lawyer, this In January he was sued by Coast where they are a national emblem, lation in the West African country has Cultivation of cocoa – the country’s can happen to any American. a voting machine maker for with numbers decreasing by half in the dwindled to fewer than 500. top export – has brought about defores- Enough is enough,” he said. $1.3 billion for spreading past 30 years, the country’s water and “The population of pachyderms tation that has seen a nearly 90 per cent Giuliani’s own attorney, Rob- claims after the November forestry ministry said on April 28. was 100,000 individuals in the 1960s,” reduction in the country’s forest cover ert Costello, told the New York presidential election that its Blaming the decline on deforestation Kouame said, adding that more than over the past 50 years. Times that the raids on April machines were part of al- and poaching, a top official at the minis- 200 animal species face extinction in Today Ivory Coast is the world’s top co- 28 were “legal thuggery”. leged massive voting fraud coa exporter, enjoying some 40 per cent “Why would you do this to that caused Trump’s loss. of the market. anyone, let alone someone No significant fraud has Deforestation has endangered the last who was the associate attor- been demonstrated in the refuges of forest elephants, environmen- ney general, United States at- election. AFP tal experts say. Elephants are also threatened by poach- ers and rapid urbanisation that is en- croaching on the beasts’ natural habitats. The government launched a conserva- tion drive in 2016 in the Mont Peko game park in the west of the country, home to the world’s last dwarf elephants. The illicit trade in ivory is the third most lucrative after drugs and arms traf- ficking, fuelled by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine and in ornaments. Ivory can fetch up to €7,000 ($8,400) Former US president Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is Ivory can fetch up to $8,500 per kilogramme. AFP per kilogramme. AFP under investigation for his dealing in Ukraine. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 12 ASEAN Laos sets three-part Thai PM granted sweeping approach to combat powers to curb pandemic spread of Covid-19 HAILAND’S cabinet THE Lao government is rolling The number of people con- has granted Prime out three specific approaches tracting Covid-19 in Vientiane Minister Prayut Chan- to prevent the spread of Covid- continues to increase and more o-cha sweeping new 19, namely the lockdown of cases have surfaced in the prov- powersT aimed at curbing Cov- the capital Vientiane, tracking inces of Champasak, Savanna- id-19 that critics fear could be of new cases, and requiring khet, Xekong, Bokeo, Oudomx- used as a political tool to sup- everyone to comply with pre- ay, Luang Prabang, Phongsaly, press dissent. ventive measures such as the Xayaboury and Vientiane. The country is struggling wearing of face masks, social Everyone is urged to be on to contain a third wave that distancing, handwashing and their guard, to stay at home, and has seen a jump of more getting vaccinated. avoid meeting other people. than 32,000 cases since an The three-pronged ap- The Ministry of Health and outbreak was detected in the proach was outlined by Dep- other government bodies are capital’s nightlife district. uty Minister of Health, Asso- setting up makeshift hospi- Mandatory mask-wearing ciate Professor Dr Phouthone tals in various parts of Vien- and restrictions on daily life Muongpak, at a daily media tiane to ensure that everyone have done little to slow the briefing recently. infected with Covid-19 has rising death toll, with Prayut’s He said the lockdown in access to healthcare. leadership coming in for criti- Vientiane became essential Mittaphab, Mahosot and cism for failing to bring the after numerous people con- 103 hospitals will be used to outbreak under control. tracted the virus and it began treat those who need specia- Thailand has also been slow to spread rapidly. The lock- lised care in Intensive Care in vaccinating its population down was aimed at stopping Units. The health ministry has compared to regional neigh- The Thai cabinet passed a resolution on Tuesday transferring the portfolios of several ministers to Prime the spread the virus until it asked all hospitals to increase bours, inoculating just 1.2 Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, placing him in charge of laws ranging from the Arms Control Act to the was contained, he said, and their intensive care capacity million people since its roll- Computer Crimes Act. AFP was intended to ensure that to prepare for a possible rise out started two months ago. emergency situation”, said an “It is time for General Prayut At its peak, tens of thou- no one entered or left Vien- in more severe cases. On April 27, the cabinet announcement in the Royal to stop clinging onto power, sands of protesters took to tiane, especially people at- The government will begin passed a resolution transferring Gazette, a government website which doesn’t belong to him the streets to call for Prayut’s tempting to enter illegally. using temporary facilities to the portfolios of several minis- that publishes new legislation. in the first place – return the resignation. The second approach is to accommodate patients when ters to the premier, placing Pr- Authorities said the new power to the people.” But the movement has identify and test all those at hospitals reach their capacity. ayut in charge of laws ranging powers were aimed at tack- A former general who mas- slowed this year partly due risk of contracting the virus, The goal is to provide an extra from the Arms Control Act to ling the health crisis. terminded a 2014 coup, Pr- to Covid-19 but also because to quarantine certain individ- 500 beds. the Computer Crimes Act. The leader of the opposition ayut was voted in as prime in recent months authorities uals and provide treatment Two temporary hospitals The latter is a controversial Move Forward Party lambast- minister after 2019 elections have hit pro-democracy lead- for those who are unwell, Dr are planned at the Lane Xang law critics say broadens the ed Prayut on April 28 for what administered under a mili- ers with criminal charges. Phouthone said. indoor stadium in Don Koy scope of the government’s it said was his administration’s tary-scripted constitution. “The bill is not entirely He said the third approach village and at the Lao Football surveillance and censorship “incompetent” handling of Widespread discontent about Covid itself. It’s meant to tackling the spread of the Federation in Huayhong vil- powers. the coronavirus outbreak. over the silencing of opposi- to be used as a political tool virus is aimed at preventing lage. Authorities are also con- The move allows Prayut “They can’t resolve the po- tion voices – coupled with by the government,” said an- people from meeting up and sidering a plan for patients “the permission, approval, or- litical and economic crises pandemic-spurred economic alyst Titipol Pakdeewanich. from transmitting the virus to with mild or no symptoms to der and command to help in with a crisis of people’s faith losses – later brewed into a “They want to have abso- others through compliance be accommodated in quaran- preventing, correcting, sup- added to the list,” Pita Lim- pro-democracy protest move- lute power like what they had with hygiene measures, as tine centres. VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA pressing, and deterring an jaroenrat said. ment against his government. before.” AFP well as being vaccinated. NEWS NETWORK Indonesia police seize meth Fresh Myanmar junta airstrikes worth $82 million, arrest 17 MYANMAR’S military launched air assaults for the second day in a row into INDONESIAN police on April 28 said The incarcerated suspects were rebel-held territory after gunfire was they have smashed a drug smug- key players in the drugs ring from heard from neighbouring Thailand, a gling ring that moved 2.5 tonnes of behind bars, they added. Thai official said on April 28, as fighting methamphetamine into the coun- The Southeast Asian archipelago has escalates along the border. try from Afghanistan, a haul worth become a key destination and transit Myanmar has been in turmoil about $82 million. point for international drug trafficking. since the junta ousted civilian lead- One Indonesian suspect was shot In 2018, Indonesian police said two er Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 dead while 17 others including a separate busts resulted in the seizure coup, its power grab angering much Nigerian were arrested during a se- of about three tonnes of metham- of its population. ries of police raids in Sumatra’s Aceh phetamine coming from Taiwan. The anti-junta movement has also province and the capital Jakarta in This month, 13 members of a traf- garnered some support from some recent weeks, they said. ficking ring, including threeI ranians ethnic rebel groups, which control Some of the meth had been placed and a Pakistani, were sentenced to territory along Myanmar’s border inside food containers and then hid- death for smuggling 400kg of meth- regions. den in boats or lockers on land. amphetamine into Indonesia. The Karen National Union (KNU), The haul was displayed in piles at Several foreign and Indonesian one of the most prominent, has been The KNU’s Fifth Brigade on Tuesday attacked and razed an army base right by the a Jakarta press briefing on April 28. nationals have been executed by fir- among the junta’s most vocal oppo- Salween River – which demarcates a border between Thailand and Myanmar – and Some of the suspects who were ar- ing squad in recent years for drug nents – blasting the junta for violence the military retaliated with air offensives. KAWTHOOLEI TODAY/AFP rested are already in prison on drugs trafficking, including Australians against anti-coup protesters. offences including a number con- Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukuma- Clashes with the military in KNU’s borders Myanmar’s Karen state. is extensive power compared to the demned to die for trafficking under ran in 2015. territory along the eastern border Two Myanmar military airplanes might of” KNU’s militia, he said. Indonesia’s tough drug laws, police The pair were the accused ringlead- have increased since February 1, with then “launched an air strike and aerial “They need to target military, but said, without giving details. ers of the Bali Nine heroin gang. AFP the junta deploying air assaults last gunfire”, followed by rockets fired from now all we see are civilians getting month – the first instance in Karen helicopters around noon, he said. hurt.” state in over 20 years. Sithichai added that 68 Myanmar Both the Thai governor and KNU The KNU’s Fifth Brigade on April residents crossed into Thailand this could not confirm any casualties 27 attacked and razed an army base morning for refuge. from April 28’s air raids. on the banks of the Salween River – The day before, a 45-year-old There were also air raids in north- which demarcates a border between Myanmar national had crossed over ern Kachin state on April 28, Colonel Thailand and Myanmar – and the in the evening after April 27’s fighting Naw Bu, a spokesman for the Kachin military retaliated with air offensives. to seek medical help for his wounded Independence Army (KIA) said. “Both On April 28, gunfire and bomb ex- wrist. He is now “stable”. sides have casualties,” he said. plosions could once again be heard KNU’s head of foreign affairs Padoh More than 24,000 people have been around 9am near Myanmar’s Dar Saw Taw Nee confirmed the air raids, displaced from their homes since the Gwin military base – located just but said their soldiers “did not attack military launched its first air strikes in north of the previous day’s skirmish. anything today”. the area last month. “It is suspected that [Myanmar] He also criticised the junta for Within Myanmar, the junta’s secu- soldiers opened fire to protect launching air assaults on an area rity forces have killed more than 750 their base,” said a statement from where there are civilians. civilians since February 1, according Police guard the bags of seized methamphetamine during a press conference in Sithichai Jindaluang, the governor “This is not the proper way for them to a local monitoring group tracking Jakarta. AFP of Mae Hong Son province, which to retaliate because the air strikes the death toll. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Opinion

Biden’s star trek on climate change www.phnompenhpost.com EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Opinion Ly Tayseng Managing Editor Andrew Sheng Sam Rith Deputy Managing Editor S PRESIDENT Joe Biden phuon Chansereivuth used April 22, Earth Day, to Chief of Staff call a Global Summit on phak Seangly climate change. The theme Business Editor thisU year was to Restore our Earth May Kunmakara after last year was marked by the Deputy Business Editor pandemic, unprecedented natural Sangeetha Amarthalingam disasters and the second-hottest year Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk on record. It also witnessed record pan Simala stock market prices coupled with ris- Senior Reporters ing poverty, indicating a growing Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng wealth gap. Reporters The 40 global leaders invited to the Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, global summit included not only Long Kimmarita, Hin pisei, Mom Kunthear, heads of Group of 20 (G20) countries Hong Raksmey, pann Rethea, Voun Dara, but also of small nations like Bhutan, Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, Gabon, Antigua and Barbuda and Marshall Islands. Within the Asian Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha region, leaders of non-G20 members Photographers like Vietnam, Singapore and Bangla- Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey desh joined heavyweights like Chi- Web Editor nese President Xi Jinping, Indian Leang phannara Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indo- Digital Team nesian President Jokowi Widodo, Jap- Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy anese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga SIEM REAP BUREAU and South Korean President Moon Offi ce Manager Jae-in. Significantly, this was German Sophearith Blondeel Chancellor Merkel’s last global sum- PRODUCTION & PRINTING Head of Desktop Publishing mit appearance, while Pope Francis US President Joe Biden delivers remarks and participates in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 5: The Economic Opportuni- Nhim Sokphyrak was also invited to add a moral tone. ties of Climate Action from the White House in Washington, DC, on April 23. afp President Biden’s opening remarks Desktop Publishing tackled not just the existential threat of $5.1 trillion – $0.9 trillion under Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria – with doing bad things make them right? Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath climate change but also jobs and get- Trump, $1.9 trillion in February and neighbouring countries teetering on Third, fixing the domestic economy ting the economy moving through $2.3 trillion for infrastructure – in the brink of failure amid refugee by relying mainly on foreign funding clean investments. He urged global stimulus and infrastructure spending influxes, overwhelmed infrastruc- with a US net liability to the rest of Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna leaders to take concrete action to pre- plans, equivalent to nearly a quarter ture and, today, the pandemic the world of $14 trillion, or 67 per vent the Earth’s temperature from ris- of GDP. Economically, in the medium catastrophe. cent of GDP, is highly risky. As former HEAD OFFICE ing more than 1.5C. To show American term, the US is set to have the fastest Simply put, the strategy behind Treasury Secretary Larry Summers Post Media Co., Ltd. leadership, he committed the US to recovery ahead of Europe and Japan, the Climate Summit was to regain has warned, the large stimulus pack- The Elements Condominium Level 7, two significant steps. The first is a for- though not China. the moral high ground that Trump age will in the short run lift the econ- Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, mal commitment to cut US emissions Given bipartisan support for US ceded by signalling a global race to omy, but at the cost of growing infla- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom in half from 2005 levels by 2030. The foreign and national security policies, the top on climate action, rather tion risks. Any interest rate hikes will Penh, Cambodia second is to double his country’s annu- Biden has retained many of Trump’s than a race to the bottom through kill the asset bubbles and may trigger Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 al public climate financing for devel- hard-line actions on China. If any- another arms race. However, both the next financial crisis. Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 oping countries by 2024. thing, the tone has sharpened in will likely be pursued. In essence, Biden is trying to steer Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 How significant was this Global Cli- maintaining China tariffs, sanctions Three points stand out from Biden’s what American futurologist Buck- SIEM REAP mate Summit? Optically, it could be and the decoupling of technology maiden 100 days. First, the funding minster Fuller called in 1978 the Crit- No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune the Green New Deal of the Century. and reshoring of manufacturing. commitment to help the rest of the ical Path of Spaceship Earth between Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Practically, it’s all about delivery – The second phase of Biden’s foreign world tackle climate change is mini- two existential threats of nuclear COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT whether the US can lead the world policy is his decisions to pull out of mal. Doubling current US climate destruction or climate burning. In Chief Operating Offi cer out of the climate warming trap with Afghanistan and make overtures to financing of $2.5 billion to $5.7 bil- the TV series Star Trek, the USS James Ong Soon Teck action and not just words. If America Iran. The Afghanistan war is the long- lion by 2024 is a mere 0.03 per cent of Enterprise ventured into deep space Advertising Department is not able to put its own house in est in American history and has end- 2020 GDP – hardly generous com- where no man has gone before, fully Chap Narith, 017 996 241 order in terms of social inequality, ed exactly as the Korean and Vietnam pared to the 1948 Marshall Plan of armed to the teeth, but with the Hun Channet, 017 578 768 economy and climate change, it will wars – in defeat disguised as with- $12 billion or 4.3 per cent of GDP. Prime Directive of Non-Interference prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 cede leadership elsewhere. drawal. The history books have been Furthermore, this aid amounts to 0.3 in alien societies’ development. Keo puthy, 012 966 605 So far, Biden has had most of his proved right: Afghanistan is a grave- per cent of the $175 billion in US President Biden has boldly and phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 nominated officials approved, so that yard for empires, from Alexander the weapons exported last year, or 0.19 rightly staked his reputation on sav- Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 tested professionals are now busy Great’s army to the British to the Rus- per cent of the $3 trillion in quantita- ing the planet through climate CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION cleaning up Trump’s legacies. This is sians to American military might tive easing created by the Fed last action. Acting Distribution Manager a calmer and more effective White today. year. As planetary citizens, we salute him. Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 House, in sharp contrast to the con- What the latest Afghanistan war Second, on what moral or legal We will watch the next episode with Circulation Supervisor Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 stant barrage of angry and wild proved is that intervening with grounds can the US justify condon- great anticipation. THE NATION (THAILAND)/ Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 tweets emerging from the Trump “humanitarian” intentions can end ing Japan’s move to dump millions ASIA NEWS NETWORK ADMINISTRATION White House. in worse human right abuses by of gallons of Fukushima nuclear Admin & HR Manager Under Biden, the US has led the destroying families, communities wastewater into the Pacific Ocean Andrew Sheng writes on global issues with pich Socheat vaccination rollout, allowing the and even nations. This tragedy has without the approval of those an Asian perspective. The views expressed Assistants Admin & HR Manager economy to reopen, and committing been repeated time and again – in affected? Does transparency in are his own. Nhel Soaphea Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

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ISF has urged football organisations around the world to try out Socially Distanced Football, a way to enjoy ISF welcomed Tottenham Hotspur’s Global Football Development coaches who worked with participants the game while avoiding direct contact with others in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. SUPPLIED and volunteer coaches to support grassroots football initiative in Phnom Penh. SUPPLIED Tottenham Hotspur to wear ISF Cambodia logo on jerseys in match against Sheffield United

Hong Raksmey experience in using the power of sport to create life-changing oppor- AST year, the Indochina tunities at home and abroad. Starfish Foundation (ISF) “ISF is one of a number of good – an NGO providing edu- causes we have supported alongside cation to underprivileged AIA as we continue to work together to childrenL in Cambodia – made promote health and well-being across global headlines with its “socially the Asia-Pacific region, where we have distanced” football initiative. a significant fanbase,” Cullen said. This year, a world-class football Aside from providing direct edu- club – Tottenham Hotspur FC – will cation to children in impoverished wear special edition jerseys to show communities, ISF Cambodia also use their support for ISF Cambodia at sport to attract thousands of children the club’s home match against Shef- to participate in their programmes. field United on May 2. AIA Cambodia and ISF Cambodia Tottenham Hotspur, along with have been teaming up for a number a long-term partner, the insurance of years, but now they will be assist- and finance corporation AIA, will ed by the Tottenham Hotspur Global replace the corporate logo on the Football Development coaches who front of the team’s jerseys for this work with the kids and with volun- match and add a logo to promote teer coaches to support the ISF’s the causes that the ISF champions. grassroots football initiatives in The club’s players will add their Phnom Penh. signatures to their match-worn jer- “We are thankful to receive this in- seys and then put them up for auc- valuable support through ISF’s part- tion to raise funds for the ISF and nership with Tottenham Hotspur the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, and AIA. Having the ISF logo on a charity connected to the team that the jerseys during an EPL match is works with their local community. a great honour for our organisation, Donna-Maria Cullen, executive our children and all people in Cam- director at Tottenham Hotspur, was bodia,” said Vicheka Chourp, ISF’s Tottenham Hotspur football stars sporting ISF shirts. SUPPLIED quoted as saying: “We have seen country manager. the positive impact of ISF Cambo- “This is not only a great recognition with ISF as a community partner Four Asia-based football coaches est communities in Phnom Penh dia in Phnom Penh first-hand and of our work; it is added motivation since 2017 to help bring education from the Tottenham Hotspur Global who are otherwise unable to attend are pleased to be supporting such for us to continue supporting thou- to disadvantaged children. They use Football Development support AIA school are able to cram two school- a worthwhile cause to help raise its sands of underprivileged children in sport – particularly football – to en- by running a grassroots football years of national curriculum into profile and provide valuable funds, Cambodia – making a difference, one courage friendship and fun amongst programme, providing football op- one year to catch up to their correct alongside our partners at AIA. child at time,” Chourp said. the Cambodian children. portunities to over 65,000 players grade for their age so that they can “As a football club with a truly As the group chief marketing offi- “We are delighted to be able to offer and coaches since 2017. then enroll at a state school. global platform, we have extensive cer of AIA, Stuart Spencer has worked ISF the global exposure that comes “This is the third time that Totten- In the area of sport, more than through our partnership with Totten- ham Hotspur has worn special edition 3,000 young players including ham Hotspur and we hope a broader shirts in support of AIA’s international children with disabilities and HIV- audience will be able to recognise charity partnerships, having sup- positive children are provided with and support ISF in the future.” ported the AIA China Youth Football sport-for-development activities. AIA Cambodia stated that it was Development Programme in 2015 ISF has also urged football organi- their honour to be a part of this initia- and AIA Thailand’s ‘Sharing a Life’ in sations around the world to try out tive and continue their longstanding 2016,” according to ISF Cambodia. Socially Distanced Football, a way partnership with Tottenham Hotspur “We are extremely grateful to every- to enjoy the game and get some ex- and ISF, especially to support under- one at Tottenham Hotspur and AIA for ercise while avoiding direct contact privileged Cambodian children. making this possible. We will be watch- with others in order to prevent the “Funds raised will not only be ing the match from Cambodia, cheer- spread of Covid-19. channelled towards these children, ing the team on,” added Chourp. ISF has received enquiries from but also contribute indirectly to- With over 15 years of experience, around the world and has worked wards creating more awareness ISF Cambodia uses education, sport with an Indian NGO on how to among Cambodians that there’s so and community development ini- adapt this version of the game for much more we can do as a society to tiatives to give vulnerable children their country. improve the welfare of the country’s and their families the tools to lift For more information, please visit underprivileged young,” said Pauline themselves from poverty. https://isfcambodia.org/ or Face- AIA ISF Youth League. SUPPLIED Teoh, the CEO of AIA Cambodia. Children from some of the poor- book page: @isf.cambodia. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Lifestyle Thinking caps

Pet stylist Luiz Renato grooms Shih Tzu dog at a pet shop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in March. AFP Pet market dodges Covid malaise in dog-crazy Brazil hile the coronavirus crisis has services has skyrocketed as well. depressed most sectors of the “People who used to pay for grooming ev- economy in Brazil, the country ery 15 days now pay for grooming every week, with more dogs than children because they don’t want to have the dog dirty Wsplurged much attention, and money, on its inside the house,” said Renato, whose revenue pets in 2020. has doubled. As lockdown measures compelled people to Sergio Zimerman, the founder of online pet see less of their human friends, many turned store Petz, said the company grew 46.6 per cent “STUNNED” their attention to their four-legged ones. in 2020 from 2019. Sales of pet food and accessories rose a high- He said toy and snack sales boomed, as did ACROSS 52 Khan’s title 19 Have an ambitious plan er-than-expected 13.5 per cent in 2020 from sales of cleaning products as more and more 1 Jason’s wife, in myth 53 ___ Heels (North Carolina team) 21 Make a contact the previous year, according to the Brazil Pet people seeking to socially distance from others 6 Catamaran feature 55 Failures come to this 22 Not many Institute, an industry body, after nearly dou- started washing their dogs at home. 57 “Go ahead, make my day” movie 23 French novelist Pierre bling in the past five years. 10 Imitated a bird Essential service 14 Some kind of a nut 61 Lice and the like 24 Daily Planet reporter Pet adoption has soared too – the upside of 29 Caesar’s seven 15 Very small 62 Toys with tails a rise in abandonments as the pandemic cost The sector was aided, in large part, by being 30 LPs and 45s 16 Hip bones 66 Author Bagnold many people their income. designated an “essential” service. 32 Balance-sheet item 17 Away 67 Diamond and Abner “I spent a lot of time at home, and the lone- Along with pharmacies and supermarkets, 34 “Excuse me ... “ 18 Ingresses 68 Dangerous bacteria liness started to weigh on me,” said Bruno pet goods stores could continue operating 36 Certain grad 20 Unprepared tourist’s surprise 69 Nuclear-plant measurements 38 Ridges on ranges Soares, a 36-year-old computer technician even as many other businesses have had to 70 Dundee denizen 22 Its pH is higher than 7 39 Melted caramel, e.g. who is one of many to have brought a dog – close their doors during intermittent lock- 25 Certain snake 71 Aquariums Brazil’s pet of choice – into his life during the downs since March last year. DOWN 40 Word with “Island” or “division” 26 Two-finger sign 41 Brightly colored fish global pandemic. Inserra told AFP that the rise in pet adop- 1 Sixth-day creation 27 “Them” 42 “What ___ wrong?” Soares has many anecdotes about Max, who tions has flattened somewhat as the pandemic 2 Prefix with “system” 28 Street-smart 46 Open-mouthed one 3 “i” lid now shares his 45sqm apartment in central Sao has drawn on, though it was still higher than 31 That is, in Latin 47 Arboreal lizard 4 “All My Children” vixen Paulo, and recounts with a mix of annoyance before. 33 Sicilian erupter 48 Prado site 5 Negates and tenderness how the white mongrel ate two Market observers do not expect the econom- 35 Second-sequel indicator 49 Book or movie reviewer 6 “It’s OK after all” in editing of his shoes. ic impact of the health crisis – which claimed 36 “___ you sure?” 50 Single serving, like sugar 7 Japanese aborigine more than 375,000 lives in Brazil to date – to 37 How some knockouts occur 54 Indigo-yielding shrubs 8 Where work accumulates, for Toys and snacks 43 Before, of yore 56 Central New York city change the country’s obsession with pets. many 44 What U sometimes means 58 Male parents Marina Inserra, who runs an animal refuge The country of 212 million had some 54.2 9 Harps’ kin, of yore 45 Act like a sot 59 Dramatic introduction? in the city, said there had been a three-fold in- million dogs in 2018, according to the Brazil 10 Hyperbolic function 60 “Hey, over here!” crease in adoptions in March last year – with Pet Institute. 46 Conceded easy score 11 Recess or small room 63 Couple thousand pounds some 15 animals finding a new family every This was out of a total of 140 million com- 49 Walk heavily 12 Auntie’s daughters 64 Reindeer’s kin 51 One of the Bobbsey twins 13 O-ring, e.g. day. panion animals – with cats, birds, fish, reptiles 65 A sib “The kennels no longer had dogs . . . many and small mammals also popular. people who lived alone wanted to buy a Brazil is the world’s second-biggest market Thursday’s solution dog or a cat,” added pet store owner Luiz for dog food after the US, and the third for pet Renato, who says demand for his grooming food in general. AFP

Thursday’s solution

A woman wearing a face mask walks her dog at Ipanema neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a country with more dogs than children. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Pochettino’s PSG left hoping for another big away day after Man City win in Paris

aris Saint-Germain’s to beat either side in Paris. is the most important thing,” best results this season It was a similar story in the added Pochettino. have come away from group stage, when they lost 2-1 The Argentine can also take home and coach Mau- at home to Manchester United some inspiration from what ricioP Pochettino remains opti- under Tuchel but triumphed happened when he took Tot- mistic they can reach the 3-1 at Old Trafford. tenham Hotspur to play City in Champions League final “Of course it’s going to be the Champions League quar- despite throwing away the lead difficult but we need to really ter-final second leg in 2019, to lose 2-1 at home to Man- believe we can do something even if the circumstances were chester City in the semi-final there in Manchester,” a bullish different. first leg on Wednesday. Pochettino said as he looked On that occasion Spurs had PSG held a deserved half- ahead to next Tuesday’s sec- won 1-0 in the first leg and then time lead at the Parc des Princ- ond leg. lost 4-3 in a remarkable second es after Marquinhos headed “They are a very good team leg to progress on away goals. them in front in the 15th but we need to believe, and we Such a result would not do for minute, but City fought back have the talent. Tonight was a PSG next week though, and after the break with Kevin De painful night, the way we con- Pochettino added: “We need to Bruyne scoring from a cross ceded the goals was painful but go to Manchester thinking we and RiyadMahrez from a free- we need to look forward, try to need to win and that we need kick to swing the tie their way be optimistic, be positive and to score two goals.” before next week’s return. believe we can win the game They will go into that game However, Pochettino has rea- and be in the final.” without midfielder IdrissaGa- son to be confident going to the naGueye after he was sent off Etihad Stadium, as PSG aim to Mbappe the key for a nasty tackle on IlkayGun- go a step further in Europe than Since arriving at PSG in Janu- dogan late on in Paris. last year, when they lost the ary, Pochettino has drawn on However they will hope for final to Bayern Munich under the devastating pace of Kylian- another big away performance former coach Thomas Tuchel. Mbappe in particular to turn City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (left) fights for the ball with PSG’s Brazilian defender Marquinhos from Mbappe, who scored a After all, PSG have already the French club into a potent during the UEFA Champions League first leg semi-final football match on Wednesday.AFP hat-trick in Barcelona and a reached this stage of the com- counter-attacking force, in brace in Munich, and also petition on the strength of their stark contrast to their often Princes this season. to Lille, other title rivals Lyon ond leg against City. scored at the Etihad Stadium as away performances, beating woeful home results. Meanwhile they sit second in and Monaco, as well as Mar- “It is going to be different a fresh-faced 18-year-old with Barcelona 4-1 at the Camp Nou It is a wonder that they Ligue 1 with four games left, seille this season. next Tuesday. We need to see Monaco in 2017. in the last 16 and defeating Bay- remain in a position to reach but they are just a point behind PSG have another home what form we are in. We played “We need to show character,” ern 3-2 in Munich in the quar- the Champions League final surprise leaders Lille and so league game on Saturday, well in Barcelona away from said Marquinhos. “If we don’t ter-finals, results that enabled next month in Istanbul given could still retain their domestic against Lens, before they home and at Bayern Munch believe, there is no point in us them to advance despite failing their results at the Parc des crown despite losing at home can focus fully on the sec- but of course having the belief going there.” AFP

Portugal the stage for Lewis vs Max – Act III NBA fines Porter The third instalment of what when P2 on the grid turned into is shaping up to be one of For- P11 at the chequered flag. $50,000 for violating mula One’s finest title duels in “Imola was a missed oppor- years moves to Portugal’s sun- tunity as I think we should have blessed Algarve this weekend finished one-two, but hope- Covid safety rules with Lewis Hamilton leading fully we can achieve that this Max Verstappen by a single weekend,” said Perez. Houston Rockets guard benched for Rockets home point. “In Portugal I hope to be in Kevin Porter Jr was fined games on Thursday against That the seven-time champion the mix and get everything out $50,000 by the NBA on Wednes- Milwaukee and Saturday tops the nascent drivers’ stand- of the car.” day for violating the league’s against Golden State with a ings is for once a surprise with Yuki Tsunoda is another driv- Covid-19 health and safety pro- possible return Sunday at home Red Bull enjoying a rare speed er arriving in the Algarve with tocols by visiting a Miami club against New York. superiority over the Mercedes. aspirations of atonement. last week. So far this season, the 20-year- But a Verstappen error con- The Japanese rookie had The violation came April 19 old shooting guard is averaging tributed to Hamilton’s opening made an eye-catching debut after the team traveled to 15.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 win in Bahrain and a timely in Bahrain to score points in Miami following a Sunday rebounds a game in 22 appear- safety car intervention played ninth but a crash at Imola in game in Orlando and report- ances for Houston. kindly into Hamilton’s hands Q1 left him at the back of the edly was at a strip club. Porter averaged 10.0 points, after an uncharacteristic mis- grid for an eventual 12th place Porter violated NBA regula- 2.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds a Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen (R) drives ahead of Mercedes’ take at Imola. British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) during the Emilia Romagna Formula finish. tions that prohibit attending game last season in his rookie A probable pointless finish One Grand Prix on April 18, 2021. AFP “It was definitely possible to indoor social gatherings of 15 NBA campaign for Cleveland. after planting his car in a grav- get some points this time. or more people or entering The Rockets, with an NBA- el pit was almost magically mula One.” the first time in his career. This is a learning curve, so I bars, lounges, clubs or similar worst record of 15-47, have transformed into second The Algarve International Last time out’s Emilia need to not do it next time establishments. already been eliminated from behind the Dutch driver, with Circuit holds a special place in Romagna Grand Prix was a and just do a better race week- Porter is expected to be playoff contention. AFP a fastest lap giving him the Hamilton’s heart as it was here chaotic classic which saw Lan- end in Portimao.” slimmest of leads. six months ago that he notched do Norris toasting a sparkling Sunday’s race is the third in For Mercedes team chief Toto up his 92nd Grand Prix win to third for McLaren but left Valt- this record 23-race season, with Wolff, Red Bull were guilty of surpass Michael Schumacher teriBottas feeling bitter after a Hamilton not alone in welcom- failing to exploit their cars’ evi- as the most successful F1 driv- crash with the Williams of ing the emergence of a serious dent speed advantage. er of all time. George Russell led to an angry title challenger after seasons “To come away leading both And the Portimao track can exchange between the pair. when the likes of Ferrari have championships almost felt like play a part in another personal Another leaving Imola frus- failed to fire. a get out of jail free card, milestone. If Hamilton heads trated was Verstappen’s new “I think this is really the first because our rivals didn’t max- the timesheets after Saturday’s teammate Sergio Perez. time in a long time that Red imise the opportunity we gave qualifying it will be his 100th The popular Mexican cele- Bull have had a championship- them,” he told the German pole. brated his first ever front row winning car,” said Hamilton. team’s website. start when qualifying just “So I think it’s going to be “And it just proves what a ‘Championship winning car’ 0.035seconds shy of Hamil- close all the way through the History beckons for Verstap- challenging season we have ton. year – and it’s just going to be, Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr was fined $50,000 by the NBA ahead of us and how quickly pen too - with victory lifting him But super Saturday was fol- hopefully, more and more of on Wednesday for violating the league’s Covid-19 health and safety things can turn around in For- into the championship lead for lowed by substandard Sunday these battles.” AFP protocols. AFP