FIGHT AGAINST FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE THROUGH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PAGE-8 (OPINION)

NATIONAL NATIONAL U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for ASEAN Ministers on Energy and Minister of Foreign Affairs attends opening ceremony of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan discuss course for “Deputy Chief of Mission (2/2021)” effective collaboration in energy sector PAGE-4 PAGE-5

Vol. VIII, No. 64, 13th Waxing of Nayon 1383 ME www.gnlm.com.mm Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Diamond orb, pennant-shaped vane, golden umbrella hoisted atop Shwedagon Replica Pagoda with consecration, sharing merits gained for Saddhammajotika Ordination Hall at Myanmar Theravada Buddha Vihara in Moscow

State Administration Council Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is sprinkling scented water on the diamond orb, pennant-shaped vane and golden umbrella of the Shwedagon Replica Pagoda in Moscow on 21 June 2021. EREMONIES to hoist Ordination Hall yesterday after- Min Aung Hlaing, officer trainees ter. They performed the rituals madaw, officer trainees from My- diamond orb, pen- noon of local standard time, at- from Myanmar Tatmadaw and of golden and silver showers to anmar Tatmadaw in Russia and Cnant-shaped vane and tended by members of the Sang- Buddhist Russians. mark the successful completion well-wishers took place there. golden umbrella atop Shwedagon ha led by Abbot of the Vihara At the auspicious time, the of the ceremony. The Senior General donated Replica Pagoda took place at My- Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Senior General and party led The ceremony followed with cash for the construction of the anma Theravada Buddha Vihara Dr Bhaddanta Acchariya, dele- by the abbot Sayadaw hoisted the consecration of the pagoda. ordination and missionary fund, (Moscow) in Moscow of the Rus- gation members led by Chair- diamond orb, pennant-shaped Next, a ceremony to share merits the vehicle to be used in mission- sian Federation in conjunction man of the State Administration vane and golden umbrella atop gained for the donation of Sad- ary tasks and alms to the abbot with the consecration ceremony Council Commander-in-Chief of the pagoda. Then, these objects dhammajotika Ordination Hall Sayadaw. for donation of Saddhammajotika Defence Services Senior General were sprinkled with scented wa- contributed by leaders of the Tat- SEE PAGE-3

INSIDE TODAY

NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL LOCAL BUSINESS LOCAL BUSINESS Deputy Information Minister Inspection of Media council Newly harvested Domestic rice price inspects IPRDs, MRTV relay Labour Camps by releases statement summer sesame sold increases despite stations in Magway, Mandalay, MNHRC in June urging to follow well in Mandalay sluggish market Sagaing regions 2021 journalism ethics PAGE-4 PAGE-5 PAGE-5 PAGE-6 PAGE-6 22 JUNE 2021 2 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Nine Objectives

1. Political affairs (b) To develop a stable market economy and promote international investment (a) To build a Union based on democracy and federalism, through a disciplined in order to enhance the economic development of the entire National people. and genuine multiparty democratic system that is fair and just. (c) To promote and support local businesses to create employment opportu- (b) To emphasize the achievement of enduring peace for the entire nation in nities and increase domestic production. line with the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). (c) To continue implementing the principle of peaceful co-existence among 3. Social affairs countries through an independent, active and non-aligned foreign policy. (a) To ensure a strong and dynamic Union spirit, the genuine spirit of patriot- ism. 2. Economic affairs (b) To respect and promote the customs and traditions of all National peoples (a) To enhance production based on agriculture and livestock through modern and preserve and safeguard their cultural heritage and national charac- techniques and strengthen all-round development in other sectors of the teristics. economy. (c) To enhance the health, fitness and education quality of the entire nation.

Five-Point Road Map of the State Administration Council

1. The Union Election Commission will be reconstituted and its mandated tasks, including the scrutiny of voter lists, shall be implemented in accordance with the

law.

2. Effective measures will be taken with added momentum to prevent and manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Actions will be taken to ensure the speedy recovery of businesses from the impact of COVID-19.

4. Emphasis will be placed on achieving enduring peace for the entire nation in line with the agreements set out in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

5. Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair multiparty democratic elections will be held in line with the 2008 Constitution, and

further work will be undertaken to hand over State duties to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards.

Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports Order No 260/2021 12th Waxing of Nayon 1383 ME 21 June 2021 THE Ministry of Health and Sports hereby announced the order by exercising the authority stipulated in Sub-Section (b) of Section 21 of the Prevention and Con- trol of Communicable Diseases Law. 1. The Ministry of Health and Sports has taken preventive measures against (f) Allow one person only in addition to the driver in a vehicle for shopping Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in real-time. Therefore, people from in the ward and two persons except for the driver to go to hospitals or Pyu Township of Bago Region need to stay at home due to the number of clinics; confirmed patients on the rise in the township. (g) Abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) for trucks to ensure 2. Hence, the people residing in Pyu Township of the Bago Region are involved smooth flow of commodities in the township; in the Stay-at-Home programme. 4. People need to inform the relevant ward administration bodies about seeking 3. The people inclusive of the Stay-at-Home programme of the township need approvals to go outside the houses if they have reasons to raise the limit- to abide by the following disciplines: ed number of participants in the measures and other emergency issues (a) Reside at their homes only (except for the persons going to government mentioned in sub-paragraph (b), (c) and (f) of Paragraph 3. The relevant departments, organizations, companies, factories and workplaces for administrative bodies need not allow ingoing and outgoing persons, except serving duties); officials and those returnees from duty. (b) Arrange only one person from each house to go out shopping; 5. Action will be taken against those who fail to abide by the order under the (c) Arrange only two persons per house to go to hospitals and clinics; existing laws. (d) Wear masks if they go outside the houses; 6. The order came into force at 4 am on 22-6-2021. (e) Allow ferries and registered vehicles to transport returnees from Dr Thet Khaing Win workplaces to pass the wards; Union Minister 22 JUNE 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NATIONAL 3 M MNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNNM N Public security system N N POLITICAL protests were staged after Tatmadaw had taken the State power. Although the situation of taking over the State responsibilities has been explained N many times, some people understood it, but some so didn’t. Now, sabotages are committed via insurgents. They attend the explosive and sabotage courses in N the area of armed insurgents. They formed CRPH, NUG and PDF declared as unlawful associations to commit terrorist acts on the destruction route. Myanmar N Police Force and administrative bodies are to join hands for taking security measures through the public security system. N (Excerpt from the speech to the State Administration Council meeting made by N the Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on 25 May 2021) MNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNMMNN Diamond orb, pennant-shaped vane, golden umbrella hoisted atop Shwedagon Relipca Pagoda with consecration, sharing merits ...

FROM PAGE-1 egyin Nikaya Joint Shwegyin Sangharaja Sitagu Sayadaw Member of the State Ad- and donations of students and ministration Council Lt-Gen officer trainees from the My- Moe Myint Tun and delegation anmar Tatmadaw in Moscow members offered alms to mem- and well-wishers. The opening bers of the Sangha. ceremony was attended by the It was reported that My- Sitagu Sayadaw together with anmar Theravada Buddha members of the Sangha from Vihara (Moscow) is located Europe, Asia and America. 14 kilometres east of down- Myanmar Theravada Buddha town Moscow. It was opened Vihara (Moscow) or Myanmar on 1 July 2015 with the con- monastery is a focal point, pay- tribution of the Chancellor of ing homage to the pagoda and Sitagu International Buddhist holding religious ceremonies for Academies, Abhidhaja Maha the Buddhist missionary team Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga in Russia. The Abbot Sayadaw Maha Saddhammajotika Maha is carrying out religious tasks to Dhammakathika Bahujanahit- strive for the flourishing of the adhara Vice-Chairman of Shw- Buddhism.—MNA The Senior General and the congregation are sharing merits gained for the donation of Saddhammajotika Ordination Hall contributed by Tatmadaw leaders, officer trainees in Russia and well-wishers yesterday.

State Administration Council Chairman Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing holds separate meetings with Security Council Secretary of Russian Federation, Director-General of Rosoboronexport Company

TATE Administration between the two countries and Council Chairman Com- the two armed forces and coop- Smander-in-Chief of De- eration in all sectors. fence Services Senior General After the meeting, the Sen- Min Aung Hlaing who is cur- ior General and the Security rently in the Russian Federation Council Secretary of the Rus- held a meeting with Secretary of sian Federation exchanged the Security Council of the Rus- emblems and commemorative sian Federation Mr Nikolai Pla- gifts. tonovich Patrushev at the Sec- At 9 am local standard time, retariat of the Security Council the Senior General and party at 10:30 am local standard time received Director-General Mr yesterday. Alexander A. Mikheev and They frankly exchanged the party of Rosoboronexport views on cooperation in secu- Company at Metropol Hotel to rity measures between the two talk about cooperation in mili- governments of both countries, tary technologies and political political changes in Myanmar, changes. the leadership role of the Tat- The Senior General ex- madaw in the national politics changed gifts with the Direc- of Myanmar, plan to enhance tor-General of Rosoboronexport Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets Mr Nikolai Platonovich, the existing friendly relations Company. —MNA Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation yesterday. 22 JUNE 2021 4 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR State Administration Council Chairman Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing arrives in Russian Federation

THE delegation led by Deputy Minister for Defence Chairman of the State Ad- of the Russian Federation ministration Council Com- Colonel-General Alexander mander-in-Chief of Defence V Fomin, Minister Counsellor Services Senior General Min of the Myanmar Embassy to Aung Hlaing left Nay Pyi Taw Russia U Zaw Lin Oo, Military military airport by the special Attaché Commodore Kyaw Soe aircraft of Myanmar Airways Moe and officials. International (MAI) on the Next, the Senior Gen- morning of 20 June to attend eral and party proceeded to the 9th Moscow Conference on Metropol Hotel where they International Security-2021(M- spent the night. —MNA CIS-2021) in the Russian Fed- eration at the invitation of Min- ister of Defence of the Russian Federation Army General Ser- State Administration gei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu and Council Chairman arrived at Sheremetyevo Inter- Commander-in- Chief of national Airport in Moscow of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing the Russian Federation in the arrives in Moscow of the afternoon local standard time. Russian Federation on 20 The goodwill delegation June 2021. led by the Senior General was welcomed at the airport by

Deputy Information Minister inspects U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union IPRDs, MRTV relay stations in Minister for Foreign Affairs Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing regions

attends opening ceremony of DEPUTY Minister for In- formation U Ye Tint made course for “Deputy Chief of an inspection tour to the Department of Informa- Mission (2/2021)” tion and Public Relations in Myothit, Taungdwingyi, OPENING Ceremony of the course for “Deputy Chief of Mission Minhla, Minbu, Pwintbyu, Salin, Seikphyu, Chauk, Pa- (2/2021)”, which is conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, kokku, Pauk and Myaing took place at 9:30 am on 21 June 2021. townships in Magway Re- On the occasion, U Wunna Maung Lwin, Union Minister for gion; NyaungU township in Foreign Affairs delivered the opening remarks at the Ministry of Mandalay Region; Salingyi, Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Pale, Yinmabin and Monywa Also present on the occasion were Union Minister for Inter- townships in Sagaing Region on 18 and 19 June. national Cooperation, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Direc- During his inspection tors-General, senior officials and participants from the Ministry tour, he also visited the of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of International Cooperation. MRTV Relay Stations in The training will be conducted from 21 June to 16 July 2021 Minbu Township, Chauk in accordance with COVID-19 preventive regulations and will be Township and Pakokku departmental staff, he said to in matters of national stability participated by 27 participants ranging from Assistant Directors Township, and Newspa- value the job, to pay attention to and security, to redistribute the per Sub-Printing House in the performance of the depart- policies issued by the Union to Directors.— MNA Monywa Township. ment, to cooperate with region- Government, and coordinated At the meeting with al organizations and the public as necessary. — IPRD/GNLM

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THE Special Meeting of ASE- energy usage and appropriate AN Ministers on Energy and the measures to reduce carbon Minister of Economy, Trade and emission. Industry of Japan - SPECIAL Moreover, the meeting ex- AMEM-METI) was virtually changed views on ASEAN Plan held yesterday and Union Min- of Actions for Energy Cooper- ister for Electricity and Ener- ation-APAEC Phase II, 2021- gy U Aung Than Oo joined the 2025, technologies like Clean meeting. Coal Technology (CCT) to be The ASEAN Ministers on conducted between Japan and Energy, the Minister of Econo- ASEAN, Carbon Capture, Uti- my, Trade and Industry of Japan lization and Storage (CCUS), and the Secretary-General of hydrogen, energy-saving and ASEAN were also in attendance. effective use of energy, accel- The meeting was chaired by the eration of renewable energy Minister of Industry and Trade deployment, development of of Viet Nam. human resource capacity and The leaders discussed stip- further collaboration for Green ulation of regional energy policy Energy sector. — MNA of ASEAN and Japan, current Inspection of Labour Camps by MNHRC in June 2021

THE inspection teams led by of appropriate facilities for the Commission Members of them, whether there is health the Myanmar National Human care or not, is there torture in Rights Commission (MNHRC), Labour Camp and their living U Kyaw Soe and U Tin Aung condition in the Labour Camp. made the inspection visits to The inspection teams also met the Min Gone Labour Camp with the prisoner and detain- on 3 June 2021 and the Shwe ees who wish to meet with the Mya Yar and Hlay Hlaw Inn team privately and recorded Labour Camps on 11 June 2021 their reports. and Taw Kyi Tan Labour Camp While inspecting the la- on 21 June 2021. bour camps, the inspection During the inspection teams inspected the sleeping visits, in accordance with the quarters of the inmates, the provisions of the Myanmar kitchen, the food store, the National Human Rights Com- water tanks, the latrines and mission Law, the inspection the arrangement to prevent teams interviewed prisoners COVID-19 pandemic. and detainees freely and pri- The findings and recom- vately group by group and mendations of the inspection asked them whether there is teams will be put forward to any problem to see their fam- the relevant departments to ily members, the availability take necessary actions.—MNA Media council releases statement Health and Sports Ministry urging to follow journalism ethics opens COVID-19 call centre THE Myanmar Press Council cal media outlets, internation- supportive measure in a pro- released a statement saying al news agencies and foreign cess of reform. THE Ministry of Health and Sports opens the COVID-19 call they condemn the actions that embassies expressed false in- Some of the media out- centre at its office in Nay Pyi Taw as of 8 am on 22 June for affect the sovereignty of the formation regarding the fire lets and embassies intention- the reply to queries on health awareness about COVID-19 country including local and outbreak in Kinma Village of ally spread the fake news to and facts for abiding by the restrictions to the people on time. international peace yesterday. Pauk Township of Magway Re- support certain world organ- The people can dial the following telephone numbers The statement said the gion that occurred on 15 June, izations in putting pressure from 8 am to 9 pm on a daily basis for facts about the COV- media council issued a state- it read. timely on the internal affairs ID-19 disease. ment on 10 June to prevent It also said the official of Myanmar. Contact numbers: (1) 067-3411508 from spreading of fake news as news media provided the per- The statement also urged (2) 067-3411509 the four estates of the country fect information with video the local/foreign news agen- (3) 067-3411144 are making efforts for stabili- footages and such negative cies and international organi- (4) 09-882557991 ty, rule of law and community doings to spread the fake news zations to follow international (5) 09-882557991 peace. by violating the News Media media ethics. — MNA (6) 09-882557993 Some of the unlicensed lo- Law of Myanmar will not be a 22 JUNE 2021 6 LOCAL BUSINESS THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Newly harvested summer sesame sold well in Mandalay

THE newly harvested summer sesame this year is the same as sesame from Htigyaing, Singu, last year,” said U Soe Win Myint Madaya, Shwebo and Monywa from Soe Win Myint brokerage townships are being sold well at in Mandalay. regular prices in the Mandalay The newly harvested market. summer black sesame is priced “These summer sesame at K150,000 per bag (containing seeds have been grown with three baskets) while Japan white irrigated water before the water sesame is sold for K147,000 per festival period. The sesame is bag. The normal quality white harvested before the river water sesame is sold for K125,000 per rises and it is then sent to the bag while the normal quality market. Myanmar exports 90 per black sesame is sold for K120,000 cent of sesame products to the per bag and the brown sesame is China market as well as to Japan sold for K105,000 per bag. The newly harvested summer black sesame is priced at K150,000 per bag (containing three baskets) while annually. Last April and May, The strange thing about the Japan white sesame is sold for K147,000 per bag. The normal quality white sesame is sold for K125,000 per there was only demand for the sesame market in 2021 is that bag while the normal quality black sesame is sold for K120,000 per bag and the brown sesame is sold for black sesame while there was the sesame is sold for the same K105,000 per bag. no demand for other sesames. price as last year. Besides, the exported to foreign countries. sesames are refined at the the country will soon enter the But these days, people are peeling machines have been set Then, the farmers are being harvested time, he added. market in early August. — Min buying all the newly harvested up to produce finished products informed that the price could It is also learned that the Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Print- sesame. The prevailing price of and those are expected to be be higher in the market if the monsoon sesame grown across ing House)/GNLM Domestic rice price increases Corn price continues bullish despite sluggish market amid low supply THE price of corns remains up- through the land border, with a present, corn is cultivated in ward trend at K35,100 per 54-viss tonne of corn fetching up around Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kay- bag (a viss equals 1.6 kg) on the 8,000 baht. The arrival of trucks in states and Mandalay, Sagaing back of strong demand amidst declined from 500 to over 100 and Magway regions. Myanmar the low supply. amid low supply. has three corn seasons— cold The prices of Myanmar’s Myanmar’s corn exports season, summer and monsoon. corn are climbing up in the to foreign countries generated The country yearly produces 2.5- Mandalay market due to high revenue of more than US$331.49 3 million tonnes of corns. demand by Thailand and Chi- million in the first half (Oct-Mar) The corn crop is mostly na, coupled with the growing of the current financial year 2020- demanded by the feedstuff pro- demand in the domestic market, 2021, Myanmar Customs Depart- cessing business. This being so, traders from Mandalay depot ment’s statistics showed. it is a potential business for both Despite the inactive market, the prices of rice surged by K2,000 per bag. said. Thailand has granted tax domestic and external markets, At present, the rice variety which is highly consumed in the domestic Before Thingyan Festival exemption on corn imports be- said an official of the Ministry of market fetches K32,000-35,000 per bag. in April, the corn fetched only tween February and August. Commerce. THE price of rice in the domestic Festival (Myanmar New Year K28,000 per bag. Both the foreign However, Thailand imposed During last FY2019-2020 market continues rising regard- Festival in April). Shortly there- demand and domestic demand a maximum tax rate of 73 per ended 30 September, the coun- less of the inactive market, said after, the price usually goes up, prompted the sellers to raise cent on corn import to protect try exported 2.2 million tonnes U Than Oo, secretary of Bayint- he continued. the prices starting from the first the rights of their growers if of corns to the external market, naung Rice Wholesale Centre. The price is unlikely to fall week of May. Following a grad- the corns are imported during with an estimated value of $360 “Bayintnaung wholesale this month, Bayintnaung Rice ual upward trend, the corn was the corn season of Thailand, as million, the Ministry of Com- market showed a significant Wholesale Centre reported. priced above K35,000 per bag on per the notification of the World merce’s data showed. decline in the volume of trad- Only a small number of rice 21 June, Soe Win Myint depot Trade Organization regarding As per data from the Min- ing activity. The retail market export companies are buying the from Mandalay stated. corn import of Thailand, said a istry of Commerce, Myanmar is going regularly,” U Than Oo rice at present. Those traders Myanmar has been deliv- corn exporter. exported 1.5 million tonnes stated. are planning to export them to ering corns to the neighbouring With the local corn con- valued at $270 million in the Despite the inactive mar- Bangladesh only. countries Thailand and China via sumption growing, Myanmar’s 2018-2019FY, 1.4 million tonnes ket, the prices of rice surged by About 80,000 bags of rice the land border. The shipment corn export to foreign markets of corn worth over $290 million K2,000 per bag. At present, the and broken rice were earlier to Singapore, Malaysia and Viet is expected to reach 1.6 million in the 2017-2018FY, 1.2 million rice variety which is highly con- traded per day at the Bayint- Nam abruptly stopped owing to tonnes this year, the association tonnes of corn worth $250 mil- sumed in the domestic market naung Rice Wholesale Centre, zero demand, Myanmar Corn stated. lion in the 2016-2017FY, and, 1.1 fetches K32,000-35,000 per bag. whereas the trade volume plum- Industrial Association stated. Myanmar is the sec- million tonnes of corn worth $300 Normally, the rice fetches meted to about 30,000 bags at At present, Myanmar is ond-largest exporter of corn million in the 2015-2016FY. — a lower rate before Thingyan present. – NN/GNLM conveying corns to Thailand among regional countries. At HH/GNLM

595 new cases of COVID-19 reported on 21 June, total figure rises to 148,617

MYANMAR’S COVID-19 positive cases rose to 148,617 after 595 new cases were reported on 21 June 2021 according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Among these confirmed cases, 133,753 have been discharged from hospitals. Death toll stands at 3,265 after 3 died. —MNA 22 JUNE 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR WORLD 7 Indonesia hits 2 million virus cases as crisis deepens

INDONESIA passed two million real number. coronavirus cases Monday as in- “It’s starting to bubble up to fection rates soar and hospitals the surface, like a time bomb,” are flooded with new patients, said Windhu Purnomo, an epi- prompting warnings that the demiologist at Indonesia’s Air- Southeast Asian nation’s health langga University. crisis could spiral out of control. “This is just the beginning. The unwanted milestone Depending on how things are comes after daily case rates handled, we could end up with more than doubled in recent a major explosion like in India.” weeks and authorities identified Case numbers are spiking the presence of highly infectious as Indonesia grapples with new Covid-19 variants. virus strains, including the high- On Monday, official figures ly infectious Delta variant first showed that Indonesia had re- identified in India. corded a daily record high of The rise has also been 14,536 cases, taking the total to blamed on millions travelling just over two million with nearly across the Muslim-majority 55,000 deaths, among a popula- nation at the end of Ramadan, tion of nearly 270 million. despite an official ban on the But those figures are widely annual migration. A woman receives a dose of the Sinovac covid-19 coronavirus vaccine during a mass vaccination at a sports thought to be a severe under- Hospital occupancy rates centre in Banda Aceh on 19 June 2021. PHOTO : CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP count, due to low testing and have soared to over 75 per cent contact tracing -- some experts in Jakarta and other hard-hit edly jumped. “It’s worrying,” attended the funeral of a relative to follow government orders to have said that official cases may areas, while funerals for Cov- Jakarta resident Rahmani told who died of the virus. obey health protocols.” — AFP only be about 10 per cent of the id-19 victims have also report- AFP at a cemetery where he “As good citizens we have EU data watchdogs want ban on World economy back at pre- AI facial recognition pandemic level: data firm THE global economy has sur- “As recovery from the THE EU’s data protection agencies on Monday The ban would include any AI that would passed its pre-pandemic peak, Covid-19 recession is com- called for an outright ban on using artificial “categorise individuals into clusters based on data survey firm IHS Markit pleted, the global economy is intelligence to identify people in public places, ethnicity, gender, political or sexual orienta- said Monday, as the recovery moving into the sweet spot of pointing to the “extremely high” risks to privacy. tion”, the statement said. accelerates thanks to vaccina- the current expansion,” said In a non-binding opinion, the two bodies The opinion is intended for the European tion and the end of pandem- IHS Markit’s executive direc- called for a “general ban” on the practice that Commission. The EU’s executive arm unveiled ic-related restrictions. tor for global economics, Sara would include “recognition of faces, gait, finger- a proposal in April to regulate AI that fell short IHS Markit, which con- Johnson. prints, DNA, voice, keystrokes and other biom- of an outright ban on using the technology for ducts monthly surveys of busi- “World real GDP growth etric or behavioural signals, in any context”. public identification. nesses that are highly valued is picking up from an annual Such practices “interfere with fundamental The commission’s plan includes special by the market as a leading rate of 1.5 percent quarter on rights and freedoms to such an extent that they exceptions for allowing the use of mass facial indicator of economic activi- quarter in the first quarter to may call into question the essence of these recognition in cases such as searching for ty, forecasts that with 6.0 per rates of 6.0–7.0 per cent over the rights and freedoms,” the heads of the Euro- a missing child, averting a terror threat, or cent growth this year the global remainder of 2021,” she added. pean Data Protection Board and the European tracking down someone suspected of a serious economy will post its biggest IHS Markit’s 2021 global Data Protection Supervisor said. crime. — AFP expansion in nearly 50 years. GDP growth forecast is in line “The global economy has with that made by the Interna- reached an important mile- tional Monetary Fund in April. Iran’s Raisi calls for effective nuclear stone in the second quarter of However, the IMF empha- 2021, surpassing the pre-pan- sised the unevenness of the talks, rules out Biden meet demic real GDP peak attained recovery and said it expects in the fourth quarter of 2019,” many nations will not recover to ence since winning election country. the firm said in a statement. pre-pandemic levels until 2022 last week. Raisi, an ultraconserva- The second quarter ends or 2023. Raisi also ruled out tive cleric who heads Iran’s at the end of June. Both the OECD and World meeting US President Joe judiciary, will replace mod- The Asia-Pacific region Bank have also warned about Biden but said there were erate President Hassan recovered from the pandem- the recovery leaving some na- “no obstacles” to resuming Rouhani — whose landmark ic recession at the end of last tions behind, especially given diplomatic relations with achievement was a 2015 nu- year thanks to the resilience the lack of vaccines in many Saudi Arabia, the Sunni-ruled clear deal between Iran and of China’s economy. countries. Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim regional rival of Shiite Iran, world powers — in August. IHS Markit’s economists IHS Markit acknowledged Raisi smiles as he greets media which have been severed for “Any negotiations that estimated that US real GDP that Covid-19 flare-ups remain representatives during his first five years. guarantee national interests hit a new peak in May. a risk to economic recovery in press conference in the Islamic republic’s capital Tehran, on 21 June Raisi, 60, won Friday’s will certainly be supported, The firm estimates that Af- places where vaccination has 2021. PHOTO : AFP election in which more than but... we will not allow negoti- rica and the Middle East will proceeded slowly. half the voters stayed away ations to be for negotiations’ return to pre-pandemic GDP It also pointed to con- IRAN’S President-elect Ebra- after many political heav- sake,” Raisi said of the nu- in the third quarter that begins straints on the recovery posed him Raisi said on Monday he yweights had been barred clear talks. in July. disruptions in the supply of will not allow nuclear negoti- from running and as an eco- “Any meeting must pro- Europe and Latin America certain goods, including semi- ations for the sake of negotia- nomic crisis driven by US duce a result... for the Iranian will complete their recoveries conductors used in electronics tions, in his first news confer- sanctions has battered the nation,” he added. — AFP in the final quarter of this year. goods and cars. — AFP 22 JUNE 2021 22 JUNE 2021 8 OPINION THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR ARTICLE / NATIONAL 9 Fight against foot S.E. Asia struggles to increase COVID-19 vaccination ` Myanmar Daily Weather Report and mouth disease among peoples (Issued at 7:00 pm Monday 21 June, 2021) BAY INFERENCE: Monsoon is moderate over the Andaman through public Countries in Southeast Asia are struggling to increase vaccination rates among their peoples, with Sea and Bay of Bengal. FORECAST VALID UNTIL AFTERNOON OF THE less than 10 per cent of the population in many of them completing at least one vaccine shot to pro- 22 June, 2021: Rain or thundershowers will be isolated in participation tect against the coronavirus. Lower Sagaing and Northern Shan State, scattered in Manda- lay Region and Eastern Shan State, fairly widespread in Upper EING an agro-based country, Myanmar’s farmers emphasize HE region is also where proved eight vaccine products Vietnam is credited with ippines and Thailand in July, Sagaing, Magway Regions and Southern Shan, Kayah, Kayin breeding of farming cattle with the supply of feedstuff for China is actively conduct- for use, including those devel- keeping total infections at a rel- according to Foreign Minister States and widespread in the remaining Regions and States Btheir convenience because these cattle are used in various Ting “vaccine diplomacy” oped in the United States, China atively low level -- about 10,000 Toshimitsu Motegi. with likelihood of regionally heavy falls in Rakhine State and kinds of farming works such as harrowing and ploughing as well in a purported effort to increase and Russia. But vaccinations cases so far -- but it is struggling Safety concerns and low ef- isolated heavy falls in Yangon, Ayeyawady Regions. Degree as threshing paddy. its influence, but some people, have yet to gain traction, and to secure vaccine doses. ficacy rates had often been cited of certainty is (100%). Foot and mouth disease is a terribly infectious disease for clo- including Japanese expatriates, people cannot choose the type That is in large measure be- to avoid Chinese vaccines. But STATE OF THE SEA: Seas will be moderate in Myanmar ven-hoofed animals including farming cattle. As such, it is necessary remain skittish about using Chi- of vaccine they receive. cause, with historical anti-Chi- after approving Sinopharm vac- waters. Wave height will be about (6-8) feet off and along to emphasize prevention and treatment of such kind of disease. it is nese vaccines over safety con- “As Japanese, we want to na sentiment strong among the cine for emergency use in May, Myanmar Coasts. highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals compara- cerns. get inoculated with the vaccines public, Vietnam has not received the World Health Organization OUTLOOK FOR SUBSEQUENT TWO DAYS: Moderate tively easily through contact with contaminated farming equipment, Indonesia, the most popu- approved in Japan,” Nobuo Fujii, vaccine supplies from China. on June 1 approved a second monsoon. vehicles, clothing, and feed, lous country in Southeast Asia vice president of the Japanese It is the only country without Chinese vaccine, Sinovac. FORECAST FOR NAY PYI TAW AND NEIGHBOURING and by domestic and wild with over 270 million people, is Chamber of Commerce and In- Chinese vaccines among the The Chinese government AREA FOR 22 June, 2021: One or two rain or thundershow- predators. The virus causes also the country with the most dustry of the Philippines, said, 10 countries that make up the quickly seized on the devel- ers. Degree of certainty is (100%). Hence, it is a high fever lasting two to infections in the region, with expressing hope that Japanese Association of Southeast Asian opment to say that the WHO FORECAST FOR YANGON AND NEIGHBOURING AREA six days. some 1.9 million cases to date. expatriates in the Philippines Nations. authorization has validated FOR 22 June, 2021: One or two rain or thundershowers. De- the onus for Hence, it is necessary to The government has been giving will be able to get vaccinated at As of June 8, less than 2 per- Chinese vaccines’ safety and gree of certainty is (100%). consider vaccination, strict people free vaccine shots since Japanese diplomatic missions cent of its population had been efficacy. FORECAST FOR MANDALAY AND NEIGHBOURING monitoring, trade restric- January. Local artists paint murals on a wall along a street amid the COVID-19 there. given at least one vaccine shot. After ASEAN and China AREA FOR 22 June, 2021: Likelihood of isolated rain or all the na- pandemic in Tangerang in Banten province, Indonesia. PHOTO: AFP tions, quarantines, and the Even though jabs have also In Singapore, over 40 per Japan, eager to curry favour held a foreign ministers meeting thundershowers. Degree of certainty is (60%). culling of both infected and been given to workers and their cines and also covers foreigners. But the employee confided cent of its people have received with countries in the region as on June 7, Indonesian Foreign tional people healthy (uninfected) animals. families since mid-May -- paid One Indonesia-based Jap- a desire to get vaccinated in Ja- at least one shot of vaccine. Vac- it pursues its own vaccine diplo- Minister Retno Marsudi cred- In order to overcome the for by their employers -- roughly anese employee in marketing pan, so as to get inoculated with cination, which is now available macy, donated 1 million corona- ited the country with playing to inform challenges, a plan is under- 7 per cent of the population had thought of getting vaccinated a non-Chinese vaccine. Japan to people as young as 12, has virus vaccine doses to Vietnam an important role in inoculating way to establish the foot and completed at least one shot as when returning to Japan for a has so far approved vaccines been undertaken by not just on Wednesday. people in ASEAN, expressing health staff mouth disease control zone of June 9. temporary visit, but decided from Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. medical professionals but tem- Tokyo is also considering hope for further supplies of Chi- in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area The company-funded inoc- against it because of a manda- and AstraZeneca Plc. porary workers, including uni- donating COVID-19 vaccine to nese vaccines. and vet- as part of serving the inter- ulation drive uses Chinese vac- tory quarantine upon arrival. The Philippines has ap- versity students looking for jobs. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phil- SOURCE: KYODO ests of the farmers. Gener- ally, the infection of disease erinarians occurs in the monsoon. Hence, the Department U.S. to invest over 3 billion USD for COVID-19 antiviral medicines about infec- of Livestock Breeding and Veterinary decided to im- tion of the plement the foot and mouth The U.S. government is investing more than 3 billion U.S. dollars to accelerate the development and disease in the zone pilot pro- manufacturing of antiviral medicines, according to government authorities. disease in ject with the State budget. The project will firstly cover Tatkon Township of Nay Pyi HE plan, called the An- Institute of Allergy and Infec- “Throughout this public time so as to Taw Council Area. tiviral Program for Pan- tious Diseases (NIAID), and health emergency, we have Vaccination free of Tdemics, will respond to the U.S. Biomedical Advanced worked with industry to devel- provide nec- charge for fighting against the urgent need for antivirals Research and Development Au- op treatments to reduce severe the foot and mouth disease to treat COVID-19 by spurring thority (BARDA), according to illness, hospitalizations, and essary treat- will firstly cover 52 villages of the availability of medicines the HHS. deaths, and this proposal will Tatkon Township where the to prevent serious illness and Identifying effective treat- help us go even further to ac- ments for disease happened within the save lives, according to a state- ment options to prevent people celerate and deliver more safe last five years. Veterinarians ment of the U.S. Department diagnosed with COVID-19 from and effective treatments that and animal health workers of Health and Human Services progressing to serious illness are easy to administer,” said saving the started the vaccination for (HHS). and death are vitally important, BARDA Director Gary Disbrow. more than 27,000 farming an- This plan will support re- even as hundreds of millions Currently, a total of 19 ther- lives of farm imals and collection of blood search to identify and acceler- of Americans get vaccinated apeutic agents have been pri- samples from farming cattle ate availability of breakthrough against COVID-19 and cases, oritized for testing in rigorous animals. with more plan to inject vac- treatment options. It also will hospitalizations and death rates clinical trials for outpatients cine for the FMD to the an- build sustainable platforms for continue to fall, experts have and inpatients with COVID-19, imals from other townships developing antivirals for other said. according to the HHS. in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area. viruses with pandemic potential, Highly effective oral antivi- Last week, the Joe Biden Only when farming animals are free from any infectious dis- said the HHS. ral medicines that can be taken Administration announced that ease which may cause hindrances to farming works in addition to The plan provides more at home early in the course of in- it will procure approximately the livestock sector, will the agricultural productivity not decline than 300 million U.S. dollars for fection, similar to antiviral treat- 1.7 million courses of an inves- against the target yields. research and lab support, nearly ment for influenza, would save tigational antiviral treatment, In fact, both humans and animals need healthcare services re- 1 billion U.S. dollars for preclin- lives and prevent overwhelming People wait in line in Immokalee, Florida for services from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Partners in molnupiravir (MK-4482), for lying on medical doctors and health staff and veterinarians. Hence, ical and clinical evaluation, and surges in hospitalizations, ac- Health to test, educate and vaccinate the poverty-stricken community during the Covid-19 outbreak. PHOTO: COVID-19 from Merck, pending SPENCER PLATT/CSIS/XINHUA it is the onus for all the national people to inform health staff and nearly 700 million U.S. dollars cording to the HHS. approval from the U.S. Food and veterinarians about infection of the disease in time so as to provide for development and manufac- “New antivirals that pre- and death, especially oral drugs ly in the course of disease, would pandemic and saving lives,” said Drug Administration. necessary treatments for saving the lives of farm animals. turing through the U.S. National vent serious COVID-19 illness that could be taken at home ear- be powerful tools for battling the NIAID Director Anthony Fauci. SOURCE: XINHUA 22 JUNE 2021 10 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Setbacks for Le Pen, Macron parties in French regional vote

FRANCE’S far-right led by Ma- than we expected that the elec- rine Le Pen insisted Monday tion is a foregone conclusion. it could recover from a disap- “There’s a second round pointing first round of regional and voters will have another polls marked by a strong result chance to express themselves,” from the traditional right and he added. another feeble performance by Traditional right-wing can- President Emmanuel Macron’s didates topped the vote in six ruling party. out of 13 regions in mainland The vote on Sunday was France, with the Republicans widely watched as the last na- (LR) party the dominant force tional electoral test ahead of nationally, while the traditional presidential and parliamenta- left led by the Socialists finished ry elections next year which first in five. polls currently show as being The National Rally emerged a close race between Le Pen in pole position in only one, the and Macron. southeastern Provence-Alpes- The National Rally (RN) of Cote d’Azur region, which is Le Pen badly underperformed home to Marseille, Saint-Tropez forecasts, while Macron’s cen- and Cannes. trist Republic on the Move party “Our voters didn’t turn received barely over 10 per cent French President’s Brigitte Macron (L) reacts as Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) speaks with Le Touquet’s mayor out,” Le Pen said on Sunday of ballots in an election marked Daniel Fasquelle (2nd R) and Pas-de-Calais’ deputy Robert Therry (R) near a polling station in Le Touquet, for night in comments from her the first round of the French regional elections on 20 June 2021. POTO: AFP by record high abstention. stronghold of Henin-Beaumont The vote determines who to be decided in second round ourselves questions,” RN morning. “But it’s a two-round in northern France. “I call on leads the 13 regions of mainland run-off on this coming Sunday. vice-president Jordan Bardel- election and it’s not because we them to respond urgently.” France, with the outcome due “Of course we’re asking la told RMC radio on Monday had results that were weaker — AFP Australia deputy PM loses job in Spanish PM heads to Catalonia government climate split before pardon to separatists SPANISH Prime Minister Pe- prise, Sanchez’s cabinet will ap- A climate change revolt in Aus- Prime Minister Scott Mor- But he echoed conservative dro Sanchez will deliver a ma- prove the pardons on Tuesday, tralia’s governing coalition on rison told G7 leaders last week talking points that strong climate jor speech in Barcelona Monday top-selling daily El Pais reported Monday brought in a new depu- that Australia wants to achieve change action posed a threat to as his government is poised to Sunday. ty prime minister likely to chal- net-zero carbon emissions “as Australia’s commodity-depend- pardon the jailed Catalan sepa- The Socialist premier is lenge the country’s already hes- soon as possible”, and preferably ent economy. ratists behind a failed 2017 inde- scheduled to address parliament itant moves to cut greenhouse by 2050. “If the National Party room pendence bid. on 30 June to defend the move. gas emissions. McCormack had reported- believes that the best deal for re- He is set to outline his Sanchez has sought in re- Barnaby Joyce, best known ly been accused by party col- gional Australia is to make sure roadmap for Catalonia during an cent weeks to rally support for internationally for threatening to leagues of failing to push back that we secure their jobs, is to address beginning at noon (1000 the pardons, arguing they are euthanise Johnny Depp’s dogs, against such accelerated climate make sure that we secure their GMT) to regional dignitaries at key to overcoming the political defeated incumbent Michael Mc- action, a charged topic among industries... that’s the view that the prestigious Liceu theatre in impasse over Catalonia’s sepa- Cormack in a snap internal party the Nationals’ rural conservative I’ll support,” he told reporters in the heart of the Catalan capital. ratist drive. vote, elevating him to the role of voters. Canberra. Joyce previously held The highly anticipated Catalonia has been a dom- deputy PM. On Monday, Joyce dodged the Nationals’ leadership but speech, called “Reunion: a plan inant theme in Spanish politics The vote for the leadership questions on whether he would stepped down in a 2018 scandal for the future for all of Spain”, ap- since the rich northeastern re- of junior coalition partner the Na- support Australia taking a net-ze- when it was revealed the mar- pears to be a final act before his gion in 2017 pressed ahead with tionals came as apparent cracks ro by 2050 target to November’s ried father-of-four had an affair government officially announces a banned independence referen- emerged in the ruling coalition UN Climate Change Summit in with a young adviser and she was the controversial pardons. dum which was marred by police over climate change policy. Glasgow. pregnant. — AFP Barring a last minute sur- violence. — AFP Israel-based i24News channel to open Dubai office

ISRAEL-based i24News tele- coverage of the Middle East right UAE and Israel”, while Majed Al The state-owned Dubai Me- rocco and Sudan. vision network said Monday it from the heart of the region’s me- Suwaidi, the director of the Du- dia Incorporated said it signed a The accords have been con- would open an office in Dubai, the dia industry hub,” he added. The bai Media City, said that adding memorandum of understanding demned by the Palestinians as first to do so since the normaliza- news channel also announced a i24News to the centre “adds to the with i24News to cooperate on they break with years of Arab tion of ties between the Jewish series of agreements with the rich global diversity of media”. content creation, media tech- League policy which has held that state and the UAE. United Arab Emirates, including Two major Emirati telecom oper- nology and employee exchange there should be no relations with “In the last year, we have content exchanges with the pub- ators, Etisalat and DU, would car- programmes. The channel and Israel until it makes peace with witnessed regional diplomatic lisher of English-language daily ry content from i24News, which Dubai Media Incorporated also the Palestinians. changes that enable business Gulf News, and advertisements broadcasts in Arabic, English and said they connect their media Israel has already signed a ties and opportunities for part- from the UAE’s tourism ministry. French. with a “Fibre of Peace” an optical raft of deals with both the UAE nerships,” said Frank Melloul, Mona Al Marri, director In December, the channel line connecting the Gulf to Israel and Bahrain, ranging from tour- chief executive of i24News. general of the Government of based in Israel’s coastal city of Tel to share information. ism to aviation and financial ser- “The establishment of our of- Dubai Media Office, welcomed Avi signed a deal with Abu Dhabi Under the US-brokered ac- vices. This month, a first Emirati fice in Dubai Media City gives us “the establishment of cooperation Media for shared reporting and cords last year, Israel established student began study at an Israeli a strategic platform to expand our between the media sectors of the archival content. ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Mo- university. — AFP 22 JUNE 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR WORLD 11 In Berlin, a new push for lasting peace in Libya

GERMANY will seek to broker lasting peace in Libya on Wednes- day, gathering world powers in Berlin to extract a firm promise to withdraw foreign fighters and keep the North African country on track for its December 24 election. The efforts to end a decade-long spiral of violence in Libya would bring the country’s transitional government, as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to Berlin for the in-person UN-sponsored talks. In a phone call with Libyan interim Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush just days ahead of the meeting, Blinken “stressed the United States’ commitment to increasing diplomatic engagement to promote international efforts supporting progress in Libya.” Like host German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Blinken and Mangoush harked back to last year’s meeting and the pledges made but which have not been fully implemented. The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France had then vowed to end foreign meddling in Libya and withdraw foreign militants or troops. Since those talks, a formal truce was agreed last October that led to the creation of a transitional government under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a presidential council headed Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, waves as he stands atop an excavator on June 20, 2021, by Mohammad Younes Menfi which have promised to hold polls. in the town of Buwairat al-Hassoun, during a ceremony to mark the reopening of 300-kilometre road between However, the UN has warned that progress has stalled, notably the cities of Misrata and Sirte. Libya’s unity government today reopened the coastal highway linking the on a key requisite of the polls — the pullout of all foreign soldiers. country’s east and west, that was cut off in 2019 as eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched — AFP an offensive to seize the capital Tripoli. PHOTO: AFP

Israel to allow Gaza ‘limited’ Ethiopians vote in poll overshadowed by Tigray export of farm produce ETHIOPIANS voted Monday in Eritrea before sending troops But the spectre of famine a delayed national election tak- to confront the dissident lead- caused by the ongoing fight- ing place against the backdrop ership of Tigray late last year, ing in Tigray, and the failure to of war and famine in the north- has promised this election will stage elections on schedule in ern Tigray region and questions be Ethiopia’s most competitive around one-fifth of constituen- over the poll’s credibility. in history, free of the repression cies, means that promise is in It is the first electoral test that marred previous ballots. doubt. — AFP for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, 44, who came to power in 2018 championing a democratic re- vival in Africa’s second-most populous country, and a break from its authoritarian past. “This election is different,” said Milyon Gebregziabher, a 45-year-old travel agent voting A Palestinian police officer searches a truck’s fabrics cargo slated for in the centre of the capital Addis export at the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing in Rafah in the Ababa. “There are a number of southern Gaza Strip, 21 June 2021 PHOTO: AFP parties to choose from. In the past there was just one, we did ISRAEL said Sunday it will al- “this civilian measure, which not have the luxury of choice.” low the “limited export” of farm was approved by the political Abiy, a Nobel Peace laure- produce from Gaza, one month echelon, is conditional upon the ate who freed political prisoners, A staff member of the National Electoral Board marks a voter’s finger after a ceasefire with the en- preservation of security stabil- welcomed back exiles and ended before he votes at a polling station in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 21 June clave’s Hamas rulers to end an ity”. Goods will be allowed out a cold war with neighbouring 2021. PHOTO: AMANUEL SILESHI / AFP 11-day conflict. The crowded of the Gaza Strip through the Mediterranean territory, home Kerem Shalom crossing. to around two million Palestin- The fragile ceasefire that Germany arrests Russian scientist for ians, has been under an Israeli ended 11-days of air strikes by blockade since 2007. Israel and rockets fired from ‘spying’ for Moscow Extra restrictions since in- Gaza came into place on 21 May. tense violence last month has The conflict killed 260 Pales- German federal prosecu- tober 2020 at the latest”. allegedly “passed on infor- meant Gaza’s farmers have tinians including some fighters, tors said Monday they had Ilnur N. was employed mation from the university’s been unable to export goods as according to Gaza authorities. arrested a Russian scientist until the time of his arrest as dominion”. usual, creating a glut of produce In Israel, 13 people were accused of passing sensitive a research assistant for a nat- He is suspected of ac- such as tomatoes and strawber- killed, including a soldier, by information from a German ural sciences and technology cepting cash payments in ries, causing prices to tumble. rockets fired from Gaza, the university to Moscow in re- department at an unnamed exchange for his services. “Limited export of agricul- police and army said. In recent turn for cash. German university. German authorities tural produce from the Gaza days, ceasefire violations have They said in a statement Federal prosecutors be- searched his home and work- Strip” will begin Monday, said included Palestinian militants the suspect, identified only as lieve he met at least three place in the course of the ar- COGAT in a statement, the Is- setting off incendiary ballons Ilnur N., had been taken into times with a member of Rus- rest. The suspect on Saturday raeli military body that admin- to spark fires in farm land -- custody on Friday on suspi- sian intelligence between appeared before a judge who isters civilian affairs in Pales- and Israel responding with two cion of “working for a Russian October 2020 and June 2021. remanded him in custody. — tinian territories. It added that rounds of air strikes. — AFP secret service since early Oc- On two occasions he AFP 22 JUNE 2021 12 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Danger and demons: Yemen’s mysterious ‘Well of Hell’

SURROUNDED in mystery and hair, director-general of Mahra’s tigation,” he said. tales of demons, the Well of Bar- geological survey and mineral re- Over the centuries, stories hout in Yemen’s east — known as sources authority. “We have gone have circulated of malign, super- the “Well of Hell” — is a little-un- to visit the area and entered the natural figures known as jinns or derstood natural wonder. well, reaching more than 50-60 genies living in the well. Closer to the border with metres down into it. We noticed Many local residents remain Oman than to the capital San- strange things inside. We also uneasy about visiting the vast aa 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) smelled something strange... It’s hole, or even talking about it, for away, the giant hole in the de- a mysterious situation.” fear of ill fortune from a chasm sert of Al-Mahra province is 30 Sunlight doesn’t extend far which, legend has it, threatens metres wide and thought to be into the structure, and little can life on Earth itself. anywhere between 100 and 250 be seen from the edge except Yemenis have had enough metres deep. Local folklore says the birds that fly in and out of its bad luck as it is. The country it was created as a prison for the depths. Videographers seeking has been embroiled in a civil war demons — a reputation bolstered close-ups of the inside of the well since 2014 between the govern- by the foul odours rising from its have said they are almost impos- ment and the Huthi rebels. An aerial view taken on 6 June 2021 shows the Well of Barhout known depths. sible to capture — local supersti- The United Nations says as the “Well of Hell” in the desert of Yemen’s Al-Mahra province. Closer Yemeni officials say they tion has it that objects near the Yemen is suffering the world’s to the border with Oman than to the capital Sanaa 1,300 kilometres don’t know what lies below. hole can be sucked towards it. worst humanitarian crisis, with (800 miles) away, the giant hole in the desert of Al-Mahra province is 30 “It’s very deep — we’ve Babhair said that the well tens of thousands killed, millions metres wide and thought to be anywhere between 100 and 250 metres deep. Local folklore says it was created as a prison for the demons — a never reached the bottom of this was “millions and millions” of displaced and two-thirds of its reputation bolstered by the foul odours rising from its depths. PHOTO: well, as there’s little oxygen and years old. “These places require 30-million population dependent AFP no ventilation,” said Salah Bab- more study, research and inves- on some form of aid. — AFP McDonald’s to create 20,000 US, French astronauts make jobs in UK and Ireland ISS spacewalk US fast-food giant McDonald’s us,” said Paul Pomroy, chief has announced plans to create executive of McDonald’s UK 20,000 jobs in Britain and Ire- & Ireland. land to help meet an expected “There is no doubt the pan- boom in post-pandemic de- demic has had a huge impact mand. on many people’s employment McDonald’s said in a state- opportunities and threatened ment published Sunday that it the future of high streets up will open 50 restaurants over and down the country.” the next 12 months as Covid However, Pomroy also restrictions ease. cautioned over the weekend The US group currently that McDonald’s faced recruit- employs more than 130,000 ment difficulties, in line with the people at 1,400 restaurants in broader sector. Britain and Ireland. It is “getting harder and “It’s fantastic to be able to harder to recruit” staff, he told offer an additional 20,000 peo- the Sunday Telegraph newspa- ple an opportunity to work with per. — AFP

This NASA TV frame grab image captured on 20 June 2021 shows US astronaut Shane Kimbrough seen from ‘Steep’ surge in South Africa ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet’s helmet camera, fixing bolts, during unfolding and alignment of the solar panel during the ISS Expedition 65 US Spacewalk #75 to complete work on virus cases: Ramaphosa the IROSA Solar Array. The spacewalking duo were installing the first of six new rollout panels on 16 June 2021 — but problems with display and controls on Shane Kimbrough’s spacesuit forced him to return to the SOUTH Africa’s daily Covid-19 added. station to reset his systems. The time lost meant they were only able to manoeuvre the panel into position, infections have soared sharply South Africa is the conti- but unable to install the cabling and bolts needed to complete the process during Wednesday’s spacewalk of seven hours and 15 minutes. PHOTO: HANDOUT / NASA TV / AFP in recent weeks, jumping over nent’s worst affected country, 1,500 per cent from April, the accounting for 35 per cent of A French and an American as- The two men, who arrived The astronauts are slated president said Monday as the its total cases. tronaut completed a six-hour on the space station in late April, to complete the installation of country’s vaccination rollout Gauteng, the country’s spacewalk Sunday as they activated the internal batteries a second solar panel array on remained slow. most populous province and installed new solar panels to in their space suits at 11H42 Friday. The new panels, which “The climb in new cases commercial hub, is the epicen- boost power supplies to the In- GMT, then opened the hatch to will power both daily operations has been extraordinarily rapid tre of the outbreak. ternational Space Station (ISS), the ISS airlock. and the research and science and steep over the past few It has already seen new NASA said. They then continued the projects carried out on the ISS, weeks,” President Cyril Rama- infections exceed peaks in the “It is a huge team effort work of positioning, attaching are expected to have a 15-year phosa said in a weekly news- two previous waves. each time and couldn’t be hap- and deploying six new-genera- lifespan. letter published every Monday. The government last week pier to return with @astro_kim- tion solar panels, referred to as A first spacewalk on He said average new daily deployed army medical per- brough,” tweeted Frenchman iROSA, for Roll-Out Solar Array. Wednesday ran into several cases had risen from below 800 sonnel to help health workers Thomas Pesquet, referring to Another spacewalk Friday snags, notably problems with in early April to over 13,000 in battle the outbreak in Gauteng, his American colleague Shane The panels, 60 feet (19 me- Kimbrough’s spacesuit. He tem- the past week. where Ramaphosa said “hos- Kimbrough. tres) long when deployed, were porarily lost data on his space- “In other words, it in- pitals are reaching capacity, Pesquet is with the Euro- delivered to the station early suit display unit, and then suf- creased more than fifteen-fold and healthcare workers are pean Space Agency, Kimbrough this month by an uncrewed fered a brief spike in the suit’s from the last low point,” he exhausted”. — AFP with NASA. SpaceX flight. pressure reading. — AFP 22 JUNE 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR BIZ: WORLD/AD 13 Equity markets sink as traders contemplate Fed tightening

ASIAN and European ended slightly higher. markets tumbled Monday London, Paris and on growing expectations Frankfurt all tumbled soon the US Federal Reserve after opening. will begin lifting interest “We had expected rates as early as next year the Fed to start discuss- as it looks to prevent the ing tapering at last week’s economic recovery from meeting and to upgrade its overheating. interest rate forecasts,” In a bid to soothe trad- said Mansoor Mohi-ud- ers fretting over surging din at Bank of Singapore. inflation, central bank “But the central bank’s officials have for months tweaks clearly surprised pledged to maintain their the markets. Thus, in the ultra-loose monetary pol- near-term investors may icy until the rebound was keep unwinding reflation well on track. But last trades.” Still, the losses week it brought forward were not a surprise to its forecasts for tightening. some observers, as many The news was initial- markets are at record or ly broadly taken in stride multi-year highs and in- by investors as the Fed’s vestors were taking the so-called “dot plot” out- opportunity to cash in look for rates suggested profits. it would not begin hiking “The shift toward until 2023, and would dis- Pedestrians walk past a stock indicator displaying numbers of the Nikkei 225 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on 21 tapering and a pull for- cuss winding down its June 2021. PHOTO: AFP ward in first rate hikes bond-buying programme Bullard that liftoff could That sparked hefty And the selling con- Bangkok all lost more than may cause bouts of nerv- later this year. come as soon as late 2022, losses on Wall Street, tinued in Asia, with Tokyo one per cent. ousness in markets with But investors were adding that it made sense with the Dow and S&P 500 leading the way with a There were also loss- shares vulnerable to a spooked by comments for officials to become “a dropping more than one more than three per cent es in Seoul, Wellington, decent correction,” said from St Louis Federal little more hawkish” as per cent and the Nasdaq fall, while Hong Kong, Syd- Manila, Mumbai and Ja- Shane Oliver of AMP Cap- Reserve President James inflation surges. almost one per cent. ney, Singapore, Taipei and karta, though Shanghai ital.— AFP

Japan’s JMA Management Centre forms CLAIMS DAY NOTICE 1st overseas unit in Thailand M.V KOTA HALUS VOY.NO. (KHLU0177N/S) JMA Management Center nese representatives, an It will begin in Au- also plans to provide learn- Consignees of cargo carried on M.V KOTA HALUS VOY.NO. (KHLU0177N/S) are hereby notified that the Inc has set up its first over- official of the Tokyo-based gust in a tie-up with the ing programmes related vessel will be arriving on 22-6-2021 and cargo will be seas subsidiary in Thailand company told NNA. Its Thailand Professional to the internet of things, discharged into the premises of AWPT where it will lie to offer human resources core business is to provide Qualification Institute, a or IoT, and artificial intel- at the consignee’s risk and expenses and subject to the development services support for Thai workers government agency, with ligence. byelaws and conditions of the Port of Yangon. to Japanese companies hoping to acquire manu- correspondence courses The launch of the Thai Damaged cargo will be surveyed daily from 8 am to 11:20 am and 12 noon to 4 pm to Claim’s Day now aiming to expand into the facturing skills certificates. and training among the unit came nearly two years declared as the third day after final discharge of cargo Association of Southeast The support busi- key programs to be offered. after JMA Management from the Vessel. Asian Nations region. ness regarding the Thai The Thai subsidiary Center, which also engages No claims against this vessel will be admitted after JMAM (Thailand) Co version of the “production will also pursue ways to ex- in book publishing, opened the Claims Day. was formed in Bangkok meister” tests is based on pand its business in human a representative office in Phone No: 2301185 on 27 May with an initial the scheme undertaken resources development by July 2019 for marketing Shipping Agency Department Myanma Port Authority capital of 70 million yen by the Human Resources localizing its parent’s re- surveys and development Agent For: ($635,250) and five employ- Development Association sources, hoping to foster of goods and services.— ees, including two Japa- of Japan. future corporate leaders. It Kyodo News M/S ADVANCE CONTAINER LINES

Bitcoin dives as China widens crackdown on crypto mining

BITCOIN tumbled more than 10 per cent Monday after record near $65,000 in April, partly because of Beijing’s China broadened a crackdown on its massive crypto- crackdown. currency mining industry with a ban on mines in a key The notice reportedly instructed power companies southwestern province. to stop supplying electricity to all cryptocurrency mines Chinese mines power nearly 80 per cent of the global by Sunday. trade in cryptocurrencies despite a domestic trading ban It vowed a “complete clean-up” and ordered local since 2017, but in recent months several provinces have governments to carry out a “dragnet-style investigation” ordered mines to close as Beijing turns a sharp eye to to find and shut down suspected crypto mines. the industry. The province represents one of the largest bases for Authorities in the province of Sichuan ordered the mining in the country. A former cryptocurrency miner closure of 26 mines last week, according to a notice widely told AFP they had “closed everything” in line with the circulated on Chinese social media and confirmed by a requirements in recent days. former bitcoin miner. “There have been working groups coming to check... The price of bitcoin sank to as low as $32,309. The making sure we shut down operations and removed the unit has taken a severe hit in recent weeks, having hit a machines,” he said.— AFP 22 JUNE 2021 14 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant shut down over ‘technical fault’

IRAN’S southern Bushehr nu- The statement said the plant plant”. The company said that expected to take 10 years. Iran started rolling black- clear power plant has been tem- will be reconnected to the grid the repairs may continue until the Iran’s Gulf Arab neighbours outs in May after Tehran and porarily shut down over a “tech- and the issue will be resolved “in end of the week, which is Friday have often raised concerns about several other cities were hit by nical fault”, the country’s atomic a few days”, but did not elaborate in Iran. the reliability of the Bushehr fa- unannounced power cuts that energy body said in a statement. further. The Bushehr plant, which cility and the risk of radioactive sparked complaints from con- “Following a technical fault Iran’s national electricity produces 1,000 megawatts of leaks in the event of a major sumers and an apology from the at Bushehr power plant, and after company had in a statement on power, was completed by Russia earthquake. energy minister. a one-day notice to the energy Sunday called on Iranians to min- after years of delay and officially In April, Bushehr province The shortages were blamed ministry, the plant was tempo- imise consumption during peak handed over in September 2013. was shaken by a 5.9-magnitude on heat, drought impacting hy- rarily shut down and taken off the hours due to a “predicted rise in In 2016, Russian and Iranian earthquake, leaving five people dropower generation, and surg- power grid,” the Atomic Energy temperature” and “limitations firms began building two addi- injured but causing “no damage” ing electricity demand blamed in Organization of Iran said on its in power generation due to on- tional 1,000-megawatt reactors at to the nuclear complex, according part on crypto-currency mining. website around Sunday midnight. going repairs at (the) Bushehr Bushehr. Their construction was to authorities. — AFP EU targets key Belarus sectors German conservatives to after plane diversion unveil post-Merkel plan EU foreign ministers eyed GERMAN conservatives will day in a show of unity ahead of a sanctions on key sectors of unveil Monday a plan to win final meeting to finalise the de- the Belarus economy Monday, voters in a future without An- tails of their election platform. as the bloc ratchets up pres- gela Merkel, as chancellor can- “Certainly there were a sure on President Alexander didate Armin Laschet looks to few moments in recent months Lukashenko after the forced extend his lead ahead of Sep- where we were in dispute, but landing of an airliner. tember’s election. we are now on course togeth- Ministers meeting in Laschet, the head of er,” Soeder said. Luxembourg were discussing Merkel’s Christian Democrat- broad-ranging measures tar- ic Union (CDU), and Markus Life after Merkel geting major revenue sourc- Soeder, the leader of the small- The CDU-CSU alliance, es for the Belarusian regime: er Bavarian Christian Social also known as the Union, has potash fertiliser exports, the Union (CSU), are to present dominated German politics for tobacco industry, petroleum the alliance’s manifesto togeth- 70 years but faces a struggle to and petrochemical products, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borell answers journalists’ er after months of damaging rebrand itself without Merkel, and the financial sector. questions as he arrives for a European Union Foreign ministers meeting, in in-fighting. who despite many ups and “We will consistently con- Luxembourg, on 21 June 2021. PHOTO: AFP A public spat between the downs remains immensely pop- tinue on the path of sanctioning surveillance equipment to Be- an assets freeze and visa ban two over who would be chancel- ular. “For a long time, Merkel Lukashenko and his regime. larus and tightening of an arms blacklist. lor candidate has been one of alone was the Union’s manifes- We will no longer only sanction embargo. Seven of the individuals several setbacks for the bloc in to,” the Bild daily wrote recent- individuals, but we will now also But EU foreign policy chief being sanctioned are linked di- the run-up to voting on 26 Sep- ly, suggesting that Laschet had impose sectoral sanctions,” Josep Borrell warned no final rectly to the incident involving tember — the first election in been “rushing from meeting German Foreign Minister decision would be taken until the Ryanair passenger jet last 16 years not to feature Merkel. to meeting” in a scramble to Heiko Maas said. after the bloc’s leaders meet month and the rest are targeted But the conservative alli- finalise a new strategy for the “We want to contribute in for a summit in Brussels later over the government’s broader ance has gained momentum in alliance. this way to the financial drying this week. crackdown on opposition, dip- recent weeks, bringing home a The conservatives have up of this regime.” “We’re going to hurt the lomats said. thumping win in a key region- faltered as Merkel prepares to Austria’s top diplomat economy of Belarus heavily,” Belarusian strongman al election and now polling on bow out, provoking anger over Alexander Schallenberg said Borrell told journalists. Lukashenko sparked interna- around 28 per cent, ahead of the government’s pandemic he expected ministers to give The ministers were set tional outrage by dispatching the Greens in second place with management and a corrup- “unanimous” backing for eco- Monday to formally sign off on a fighter jet on 23 May to inter- about 21 per cent. tion scandal involving shady nomic sanctions that would placing 86 additional individu- cept the flight from Greece to Laschet and Soeder ap- coronavirus mask contracts.— also include a ban on sales of als and entities in Belarus on Lithuania.— AFP peared together in public Sun- AFP US Navy tests warship’s metal with megablast THE US Navy has started a se- showed an enormous burst of demanding mission require- ries of tests on its newest and water shoot from the ocean as a ments under harsh conditions most advanced aircraft carrier result of what US media called they might encounter in battle,” by detonating powerful explo- a 40,000-pound (18,144-kilo- it said in the statement. sions to determine whether the gramme) explosion. The US Geo- After the trials, the warship ship is ready for war. The first of logical Survey said the explosion, will undergo maintenance and the tests, which are known as which occurred in the Atlantic repairs. The tests are being con- Full Ship Shock Trials, occurred Ocean off the Florida coast, reg- ducted “within a narrow schedule Friday when the Navy set off a istered as a 3.9 magnitude earth- that complies with environmental In this handout image courtesy of the US Navy the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completes the first scheduled explosive event giant explosive event near the quake. The Navy “conducts shock mitigation requirements, respect- of Full Ship Shock Trials while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 18 June USS Gerald R. Ford, according trials of new ship designs using ing known migration patterns of 2021. The US Navy has started carrying out what it calls ‘Full Ship Shock to a statement. live explosives to confirm that our marine life in the test area,” the Trials’ by detonating powerful explosions to test whether its aircraft Images and video footage warships can continue to meet Navy added. — AFP carriers are ready for war. PHOTO: AFP 22 JUNE 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR GLOBAL AFFAIRS 15

US, Japan, S Korea envoys meet to discuss North Korea NEWS TOP US, Japanese and South Korea’s official name. rean Central News Agency. eral meeting. At the first US- IN BRIEF Korean envoys on North Korea The administration of US Monday’s meeting was the North Korea summit in 2018 in met face to face in Seoul on President Joe Biden has re- first trilateral talks as US spe- Singapore, Kim Jong Un and Japan hopes Iran Monday to strengthen their cently finished a review of its cial envoy for North Korea for Biden’s predecessor Donald will help stabilize coordination, with the new North Korea policy and sig- Sung Kim, who was appointed Trump agreed Washington Middle East under US representative expressing naled its readiness for dialogue to the position last month. He would provide security guaran- hope for a positive response with North Korea, while build- also doubles as ambassador to tees to Pyongyang in return for new president from the North following US ing on a 2018 bilateral agree- Indonesia. “complete” denuclearization of overtures for dialogue. ment that included Pyong- “Our policy calls for a cali- the Korean Peninsula. JAPAN hopes Iran will help “We continue to hope that yang’s commitment toward brated, practical approach that At his meeting with South stabilize the Middle East the DPRK will respond posi- denuclearization. is open to and will explore di- Korean President Moon Jae under president-elect Ebrahim tively to our outreach, and our North Korean leader Kim plomacy with the DPRK, as In in May, Biden signaled Raisi, Japan’s top government offer to meet anywhere, any- Jong Un last week “stressed we seek to make practical that his policy would build spokesman said Monday, time without preconditions,” the need to get prepared for progress that increases the on the 2018 agreement, fo- following the election of the Sung Kim, the US special en- both dialogue and confron- security of the United States cusing on the denucleariza- conservative hard-liner last voy for North Korea, said at the tation, especially to get fully and our allies,” Kim also said. tion goal as well as improving week. “We hope Iran will play a outset of the meeting. DPRK prepared for confrontation” A meeting between the relations between the Unit- constructive role in easing ten- stands for the Democratic Peo- with the Biden administration, US and South Korean envoys ed States and North Korea. sions in the Middle East and ple’s Republic of Korea, North according to the state-run Ko- was held ahead of the trilat- — Kyodo News stabilize the situation under President-elect Raisi,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Free Covid vaccines for all Indian adults as Modi hails yoga ‘shield’ Kato told a press conference. “Peace and stability in the INDIA opened up free vaccina- 275 million shots, with barely four region is extremely important tions to all adults in an attempt percent of people fully vaccinated. to Japan,” given about 90 to bolster its inoculation drive on The government aims to in- per cent of Japan’s crude oil Monday, as Prime Minister Nar- oculate all of India’s almost 1.1 imports come from the Middle endra Modi kicked off a muted billion adults by the end of the East, Kato said. International Yoga Day hailing year. He added the government the practice’s “protective” prop- “The vaccination drive is ex- intends to deepen bilateral ties erties against the virus. pected to pick up speed now... the with Iran, which already has The country’s vaccination daily vaccination has picked up a friendly relationship with drive has significantly slowed in over the last week and is expected Japan. — Kyodo News recent months due to a shortage to strengthen further,” communi- of jabs and hesitancy, even as it ty health expert Rajib Dasgupta battled a vicious surge in cases in told AFP. “However, both existing Armenia PM party April and May that overwhelmed inequities as well as hesitancy wins majority in the healthcare system in many Practitioners perform a yoga position during an event to mark merit deeper attention to make snap polls places. International Yoga Day at the Red Fort in New Delhi on 21 June this a success.” Case numbers have since 2021. PHOTO: AFP The free rollout came as ARMENIAN Prime Minis- fallen sharply and the authorities Modi marked the annual Yoga ter Nikol Pashinyan’s par- have again relaxed many restric- 1 May, but states and private hos- tack, announcing it would procure Day event with an early-morning ty won 53.9 per cent of the tions, sparking fears of another pitals had to procure and buy the 75 per cent of vaccine supplies address to the nation as it emerg- vote in snap parliamentary wave. shots themselves for the younger and distribute them to states so es from the surge, saying that the polls called in an effort to The government had ex- age group, leading to confusion that they can inoculate people practice had again proved itself to defuse a political crisis after panded the vaccine rollout to in- and shortages. for free. be a source of “inner strength”.— a war with Azerbaijan, offi- clude all adults aged below 45 on But New Delhi later changed So far it has administered AFP cial results showed Monday. An alliance led by his rival, ex-leader Robert Kochar- Tokyo Olympic organizers to decide on spectator limits yan, came second with 21 per cent, according to the atives of five organizing bodies, Organizers have said they results based on ballots from including International Olympic will apply the Japanese govern- 100 per cent of precincts Committee President Thomas ment’s policy on spectator caps counted. A winning party or Bach and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko at large events to the Olympics, bloc needs to obtain at least Koike, will finalize a policy on implying they will allow 50 per 50 percent of seats plus one spectator limits, having already cent of venue capacity or up to and can be assigned addi- barred those from overseas. 10,000 fans, whichever is smaller. tional seats in order to form They are expected, how- For the Olympic opening a government. ever, to leave open the option ceremony at the National Sta- Pashinyan hours earli- of holding the games without dium, which can accommodate er claimed victory based on spectators in case the infection 68,000 fans, the spectator cap early results, but Kochar- situation worsens before or after is expected to comprise both yan’s grouping swiftly con- the Olympics begin on 23 July. ticket holders from the general tested the vote and alleged The Japanese organizers public and officials related to the election fraud. had initially sought to set the games, according to officials fa- A record four electoral policy by the end of spring, but miliar with the planning. Organ- blocs and 21 parties ran for File photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on 8 June 2021, shows the schedule was delayed as izers were considering allowing election on Sunday. the National Stadium, the main venue of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. PHOTO: KYODO NEWS Tokyo has been under COV- about 20,000 spectators in total, The vote was seen as a ID-19 states of emergency for but they have been trying to cut two-horse race, with both THE Tokyo Olympics and allow up to 10,000 spectators to most of this year due to multiple the number of games officials, Pashinyan, 46, and Kochar- Paralympics organizers started enter each games venue, provid- waves of infections driven by possibly by several thousand yan, 66, drawing massive a meeting Monday during which ed it does not exceed 50 per cent highly contagious coronavirus people, the officials said.— Kyo- crowds in the run-up to the they are expected to agree to of a venue’s capacity. Represent- variants. do News polls. — AFP 22 JUNE 2021 16 SPORT THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Asian Qualifiers playoff draw ceremony to be held on 24 June

A draw ceremony for the playoff Cambodia and Indonesia A total of 22 nations includ- Kong, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Ne- The winners will join 13 matches of the Asian Qualifiers are in Pot 1, while China Tai- ing Myanmar have qualified pal, Myanmar, Yemen, Mongolia countries that have already will be held in Kuala Lumpur, pei and Guam are in Pot 2. The directly for the third round and Bangladesh. qualified for the Asian Cup Final Malaysia on 24 June, said the first-leg match will be played and the teams are Tajikistan, In the third-round Asian stages, including China, Syria, AFC football authorities. on 7 September, followed by the Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, qualifiers, the qualified teams Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, In the playoff round, Cam- second-leg battle on 12 October. Jordan, Palestine, Malaysia, will be divided into six groups. Qatar, Japan, Oman, the United bodia, Indonesia, China Taipei The two winning teams will the Philippines, Turkmenistan, The winning teams or top 11 Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Guam will fight for the next advance to the third round of the Kyrgyzstan, India, Thailand, teams will advance to the 2023 Iraq, Lebanon and Viet Nam. stage. Asian Cup. Singapore, Afghanistan, Hong AFC Asian Cup Finals. —GNLM England shutting out Euro 2020 Switzerland forced to ‘noise’, says Sterling wait for knock-out fate despite Shaqiri double RAHEEM Sterling says England are shutting out the “noise” and XHERDAN Shaqiri scored Gunes brought centre-back “panic” from outside their Euro twice as Switzerland beat Tur- Merih Demiral back after drop- 2020 camp after their laboured key 3-1 in Baku on Sunday but ping the Juventus defender last goalless draw against Scotland. they will have to wait to see if time out, with his side looking The Manchester City for- they reach the last 16 of Euro to avoid a third straight com- ward was part of Gareth South- 2020 as one of the four best petitive defeat for the first time gate’s team that was booed off third-placed teams. Wales held since Euro 1996. Switzerland the pitch at Wembley on Friday on to second place in Group A opened the scoring in the sixth and came in for widespread crit- thanks to a superior goal differ- minute, silencing the 17,000 icism from elsewhere. ence after their 1-0 loss to Italy. crowd supporting Turkey due to But the 26-year-old, who Shaqiri’s goals came af- close historical and diplomatic scored the only goal in England’s ter Haris Seferovic’s first-half ties between Ankara and Baku. opening win against Croatia last opener and either side of Irfan Seferovic buried a low ef- week, said the players knew how Kahveci scoring Turkey’s only fort past Turkish goalkeeper to ignore the external pressure. England’s forward Raheem Sterling gestures during the UEFA EURO goal of the tournament. “Over Ugurcan Cakir for his 22nd in- “I do feel there’s a bit of an 2020 Group D football match between England and Scotland at the next few days I can’t do any- ternational goal, after Zuber’s overreaction... I just feel there’s Wembley Stadium in London on 18 June 2021. PHOTO : CARL RECINE thing. We have to wait,” Switzer- turn and pass. Zuber was in- / POOL / AFP more of a panic on the outside land coach Vladimir Petkovic volved again for the second 20 than inside the building,” he we can inside the building the can top Group D if they beat the said. “I’m optimistic we will minutes later, as Seferovic held said. best thing we can do is focus on Czech Republic at Wembley on reach the next round.” Turkey up possession and his pass de- “At the same the players the training field, focus on what’s Tuesday. boss Senol Gunes said he would flected to the Eintracht Frank- who have been at a few tourna- being doing inside.” That would guarantee a not consider standing down de- furt winger’s feet. The former ments, who have huge experi- “The more you listen to out- last-16 tie at Wembley, though spite his team finishing bottom Hoffenheim man then fed Sha- ence, try to help the other ones. side noise, the more it can affect it would be against world cham- of the group. “My thought is not qiri who curled a sublime effort “I don’t see anyone in the you,” he added. pions France, Germany or de- about resigning now,” Gunes past a helpless Cakir from the camp that feels any pressure or Despite the disappointing fending champions Portugal. said. “I’m very sad to be going edge of the box. feels hard done by. As much as result against Scotland, England — AFP out after this. This team is good Shaqiri should have dou- enough to overcome this. I be- bled his account for the match lieve in their talent.” less than two minutes later Petkovic made two chang- when a bursting run put the Rahm wins US Open to take first major es from Wednesday’s heavy loss Liverpool midfielder clear with to Italy, including giving Steven just the goalkeeper to beat, but crown, top ranking Zuber his first start of the cham- Cakir saved with his foot. — JON RAHM made tension-packed long birdie putts for the sixth time in his career. pionship. AFP on the last two holes Sunday to win the 121st US Open “I played good. Just fell a little short again,” and capture his first major title, defeating South Oosthuizen said. “Jon played a great round of golf. African Louis Oosthuizen by one stroke. Errant tee shot on 17 just cost me. I fought really The 26-year-old Spaniard curled in a spectac- well to stay in it and just fell short again.” ular birdie putt from just inside 25 feet at the par-4 Rahm fired a four-under par 67, the only leader 17th hole then made his fourth birdie of the week at to go bogey-free on the back nine, to finish 72 holes the par-5 18th, blasting out of a bunker and rolling on six-under 278 with Oosthuizen on 279 and Amer- in an 18-footer to seize the lead. ican Harris English third on 281. “I have a hard time explaining what just hap- “He was a major champion in waiting. It was pened because I can’t even believe I made the last just a matter of time,” four-time major winner Rory two putts,” Rahm said. McIlroy said of Rahm. “To shoot 67 out there was After stunning, fist-pumping putts to reach the a really good round.” clubhouse, Rahm could only watch 2010 British On the same course where he won his first US Open champion Oosthuizen play the last four holes. PGA title in 2017, Rahm became only the fourth US Switzerland’s midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri scores his team’s third At 17, Oosthuizen sent his tee shot left into Open winner to close with back-to-back birdies, goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A football match between bushes and made bogey to fall two adrift and a matching Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Ben Switzerland and Turkey at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on 20 June, closing birdie only made him a major runner-up Hogan. — AFP 2021. PHOTO : VALENTYN OGIRENKO / POOL / AFP