LET’S CUT OFF INFECTION CHAINS OF COVID19 DURING SUCCESSIVE HOLIDAYS PAGE8 OPINION

NATIONAL NATIONAL One million units of COVID19 Yangon Region Disaster Management Committee vaccines arrive from China in discusses natural hazards preparedness, response second batch plan PAGE2 PAGE3

Vol. VIII, No. 112, 2 nd Waxing of Wagaung 1383 ME www.gnlm.com.mm Monday, 9 August 2021

Relief supplies stockpiled in Five-Point Road case of natural disasters in Map of the State Mandalay 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

Packages and boxes of relief supplies are stored at warehouses of Disaster Management Department. PHOTO: MAUNG enduring peace for the entire nation in AYE CHAN RELIEF supplies have been stock- He urged the people to work to- The department is preparing line with the agreements set out in the piled to provide in the event of nat- gether with relevant departments itself to be ready for performing Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. ural disasters in Mandalay Region, and administrative bodies to build search and rescue works with the according to the region Disaster a resilient society. In addition, the use of speed boats depending on the 5. Upon accomplishing the provisions of Management Department. Region Fire Services Department is Ayeyawady River, he added. the state of emergency, free and fair The supplies are stockpiled at responsible for fire safety as well as In case of a fire or natural disas- nine townships and five districts as natural disasters, search and rescue ter, people are urged to notify to the multiparty democratic elections will be well as the region department with operations. Fire Department by reaching at 191. readiness for 2,550 households in the “There is a risk of floods right In the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year, there held in line with the 2008 Constitution, and region. Official of the Mandalay Re- now, and search and rescue opera- were 304 times of natural disasters in further work will be undertaken to hand gion Disaster Management Depart- tions as well as public welfare meas- the Mandalay Region alone, causing ment U Aye Min Thu said many nat- ures are underway according to the nearly 640 million kyats in damage, over State duties to the winning party in ural disasters are caused by overflow situation of the Ayeyawady River,” and about 390 million kyats were able of rivers, adding a good preparation said Head of Pyigyidagun Township to be provided to the local people.— accordance with democratic standards. leads to a good response which will Fire Services Department U Kyaw Maung Aye Chan/GNLM reduce the intensity of the disaster. Kyaw Oo.

INSIDE TODAY

NATIONAL NATIONAL LOCAL BUSINESS LOCAL BUSINESS Police arrest two Medical supplies, Marine product 13 Chinese suspects together equipment imported exports plummet companies put with weapons in via air, sea or border to $626 mln as $172 mln of FDI into Madaya Township routes of 23 July Myanmar this FY PAGE3 PAGE4 PAGE5 PAGE5 9 AUGUST 2021 2 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

State Administration Council Press Release Re-invitation to Myanmar citizens who reside in various regions for many reasons

1. Some student youths, State service personnel and citizens, with worries, have evaded to areas of EAOs and foreign countries due to the incitements and intimidation of NLD members, extremist followers, unlawful associations and terrorist groups such as CRPH and NUG, stimulation of CDM, and persons and organizations at home and abroad not wishing to restore peace and stability of the State since Tatmadaw assumed the State responsibilities on 1 February 2021. 2. They are further worried about the dictatorship statement and speeches of unlawful association and terrorist group CRPH and NUG, and some relevant persons. As they face no security guarantee and difficulties in socio-economic life in those areas, they wish to return to their native lands. 3. The State Administration Council will specifically ease restrictions for service personnel, intellectuals and intelligentsia, and persons from various arenas and citizens who, with worries, absconded from the country except for persons who committed murders, robberies, setting fires, mine explosions and intentional attacks on security troops, those who crowded to attack public service personnel and some people, those who destroyed government and private-owned buildings and those who are highly involved in the CDM activities by providing monetary assistance and other means. 4. As those who evade their native areas are also citizens, the State Administration Council will arrange their returns from the evaded areas to various parts of Myanmar. 5. As such, the information was released that if those who evaded to various areas, except for persons who committed any kinds of crime, wish to return to their native lands in Myanmar of their own accord due to multiple worries, the citizens abroad can contact nearby ward, village, township and district administration bodies and relevant embassies, military attaché offices and consulates in accord with the easing restrictions under the law. Information Team State Administration Council

The State Administration Council will specifically ease restrictions for service personnel, intellectuals and intelligentsia, and persons from various are- nas and citizens who, with worries, absconded from the country except for persons who committed murders, robberies, setting fires, mine explosions and intentional attacks on security troops, those who crowded to attack public service personnel and some people, those who destroyed government and private-owned buildings and those who are highly involved in the CDM activities by providing monetary assistance and other means.

One million units of COVID19 vaccines Public request by arrive from China in second batch Ministry of Health

ONLY when the people cooperate will the work process achieve success in a short time for effective prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 among the people. As such, all the people are requested to abide by the following points: - 1. Stay at home as much as possible. 2. Don’t accept the guests at the house. You don’t visit other houses. 3. The older persons above 65 or those suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart must be worn masks in the house. They must be placed at well-ventilated sites. 4. Wear masks if you go outside without fail. Systematically wash hands. Take a six-foot distance from others. Avoid visits to the rooms where ventilation is not good. 5. Avoid the crowds. 6. If possible, go shopping once a week. Don’t buy anything from the vendors who don’t systematically wear masks. 7. Take care of carrying the virus to the houses whenever return home from outside. Systematically discard the used masks and single disposable equipment outside the houses. Avoid close contact with family members One million units of Sinovac COVID19 vaccine imported from China arrive at Yangon International before changing clothes or washing the body. Airport. 8. As the vaccines for your quota is the best, accept vacci- nations for full time. Despite receiving the vaccination, THE second batch of one health departmental officials cines across the nation de- you should abide by the protective ways. million Sinovac COVID-19 received the vaccines at the pending on the population and vaccines out of two million airport. infection rate, and the people 9. Systematically cooperate in prevention, control and vaccines purchased from Chi- The vaccines are kept at will be vaccinated at the pub- treatment of the disease with manpower, money, ma- na arrived at the Yangon In- central cold chain of Public lic hospitals and vaccination terials and expertise. ternational Airport yesterday. Health Department in Mayan- gathering points according Ministry of Health (2-8-2021) Dr Aye Tun, Deputy Min- gon Township. The Ministry to the National Development ister for Health, and region of Health distributes the vac- Plan.—MNA 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NATIONAL 3 BGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGA Facing severe problems

THE globe has overcome various pandemics in the past. Although various pandemics such as plague and smallpox diseases can be controlled in the advance-

ment of medical technologies at present, respiratory disease COVID-19 may cause infections whenever breathing. If public cooperation lacks, it is sure to

difficultly control the disease. It can be seen that even developed and developing countries are yet to perform control, prevention and treatment of the disease

on the upper hand. Even in the United States, hospitals cannot give adequate accommodation to patients, facing shortages of ventilators and air fresheners.

So, the patients are receiving treatments at home. The problem of oxygen is a difficulty for the countries facing the outbreak of disease. Myanmar’s neigh-

bouring countries India and Indonesia are facing severe problems.

(Excerpt from the speech to the occasion of six months on 1 August 2021 since the State Administration Council has taken the State’s responsibilities made by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on 2 August 2021) CHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHD Yangon Region Disaster Management Committee discusses natural hazards preparedness, response plan

THE Yangon Region Disas- eration work with the region ter Management Committee government. organized its 3rd coordination U Than Soe, secretary meeting yesterday. of committee and director of Firstly, Region Chief Min- region natural disaster man- ister U Hla Soe, chairman of agement department, made the committee, said the var- power point presentation for ious disasters can occur in the plans responded to natural any season and so the low- hazards. land areas can face flooding Then, the officials of 12 during monsoon in August, working committees includ- and when the tide rises in the ing natural disaster manage- Yangon River. Therefore, the ment working committee, in- respective chairmen of work- ternational relations working ing committees, secretaries committee and fund raising and departmental officials and fund management work- Yangon Region Disaster Management Committee holds meeting on response plan to disasters. should make preparations ing committee discussed their and responses to the natural Then, Commander of Yan- Win Swe briefed them on the rescue works, stockpiling of respective work plans.—San disasters. gon Command Maj-Gen Nyunt formation of seven groups for rescue equipment and coop- Kyaw Oo (IPRD)/GNLM

Police arrest two suspects together with weapons in Madaya Township

THE terrorist groups CRPH 110 magazines, 85 Energa slings. and ammunition were trans- armed insurgent groups under and NUG transport the weap- grenades, 80 hand grenades, According to the confes- ported via Udein Village near the arrangement of of NLD ons from the armed insurgent 60 sets of equipment and 21 sion of the suspects, the arms the Ayeyawady river from the member Min Min (former MP groups to accelerate the acts of Mandalay Region Hluttaw) of terrorism, and the security to launch attack in any town- forces tightened the security ship/village of Sagaing Region. and conducted the security Other seven suspects includ- measures for the public safe- ing Byar Gyi, Daung Lan ty as the members received and Thiha took the arms to the information that those ter- them. rorist groups would commit Although the insurgents violence and bombing attacks attempted to launch attacks to across the nation to mark Four affect the lives of public, the of- Eights Day. ficials could stop them in time The security forces in- due to timely exposing arms, spected the vehicle driven by ammunition and grenades. Aung Ko Min form Tangataung The suspects will face se- Village together with Arkar vere action under Counter-Ter- Phyo in Panya Village of Ma- rorism Law and other relevant daya Township yesterday and laws, and the security forces seized the firearms including will keep conducting further 60 K-22 guns, 11,000 bullets, Photo shows arms and ammunition seized from two suspects in Madaya Township. investigations.—MNA 9 AUGUST 2021 4 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Medical supplies, equipment imported via air, sea and border routes

Bowsers are carrying liquid oxygen and cargo trucks transport medical supplies and anti-COVID19 equipment.

THE Ministry of Commerce ders, 63 tonnes of oxygen cyl- is making continuous efforts inders, 56,790 empty oxygen to import the anti-COVID-19 containers, six oxygen plants, equipment including liquid oxy- nine oxygen generators, 45,934 gen, oxygen gas, household ox- household oxygen concentra- ygen concentrators, and med- tors, 141,642 test kits, 280,932 icines via sea, air and border PPE suits, 40 tonnes of gloves routes on public holidays. and 636 tonnes of masks have A total of 3,294 oxygen been imported so far in August. concentrators and 0.5 tonne of In July, a total of 1,294 masks arrived at the Yangon tonnes of liquid oxygen, 114 International Airport yester- tonnes of oxygen cylinder, day, while 59 tonnes of liquid 40,491 empty oxygen contain- oxygen on bowsers, 38 tonnes ers, 69,146 household oxygen Oxygen cylinders are gathered in tank. of liquid oxygen cylinders, one tonne of oxygen cylinder, 8,910 concentrators, eight oxygen allow the imports of anti-COV- empty cylinders, 3,745 home plants, 11 oxygen generators, ID-19 equipment in accordance oxygen concentrators, one four oxygen filling machines, with the SOP while the Depart- tonne of glove and 67 tonnes of 322,878 test kits, 1,104 tonnes ment of Trade goes fully online masks were imported at Muse, of mask and 182,975 PPE suits for import and export licence. Myawady, Chinshwehaw, Kan- were imported. The Ministry of Commerce paitee and Tamu border trade The Ministry of Commerce has posted contact persons and checkpoints. These materials also released a statement on 8 department announcements on were transported by 52 vehicles August that as the border trade the Ministry’s website, Com- of 30 companies. camps will offer services for merce.gov.mm, to access direct A total of 457 tonnes of importation processes as usual contact with relevant authori- liquid oxygen on bowsers, 89 Medical supplies to be used in treatment of COVID19 are unloaded even during the public holidays ties if assistance is needed.— tonnes of liquid oxygen cylin- from truck. from 9 to 15 August, they will MNA

3,027 new cases of COVIDƒ19 reported on 8 August, total ‰gure rises to 329,516

MYANMAR’S COVID-19 positive cases rose to 329,516 after 3,027 new cases were reported on 8 August 2021 according to the Ministry of Health. Among these confirmed cases, 243,731 have been discharged from hospitals. Death toll reached 11,776 after 250 died. —MNA

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Printed and published at the Global New Light of Write for us (+95) (01) 8604532, Myanmar Printing Factory at No.150, Nga Htat Kyee www.gnlm.com.mm Hotline - 09 454237515 Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon, by the Global We appreciate your feedback and contributions. If you have any ADVERTISING & MARKETING New Light of Myanmar Daily under Printing Permit www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com comments or would like to submit editorials, analyses or reports ( +95) (01) 8604530, No. 00510 and Publishing Permit No. 00629. please email [email protected] with your name and Hotline - 09 251022355 title. [email protected] [email protected] Due to limitation of space we are only able to publish “Letter [email protected] www.gnlm.com.mm to the Editor” that do not exceed 500 words. Should you submit www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com a text longer than 500 words please be aware that your letter will be edited. 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR LOCAL BUSINESS 5 Marine product exports plummet to $626 mln as of 23 July

EXPORT earnings from the try of Agriculture, Livestock, fisheries sector nearly ten and Irrigation to develop the months (1 Oct-23 July) of the GAqP system. current Financial Year 2020- Processors can screen 2021 plunged into US$626.59 fishery products for food safety million, according to the statis- at ISO-accredited laboratories tics released by the Commerce under the Fisheries Depart- Ministry. ment. Myanmar’s marine prod- Myanmar’s economy is uct exports have dramatically more dependent on agricul- declined this year, owing to tural sector to a large extent. the COVID-19 impacts and the Also, fisheries sector contrib- transport difficulty. utes a lot to the national gross Although some offshore domestic product (GDP). Its and inshore trawlers started marine product production to go fishing from 15 July, they including shrimps and salt- are battered by the high cost of water and freshwater fish are fuel oil and fishing equipment far better than the regional and supplies. Additionally, countries. If the country can the exporters companies pull boost processing technology, Employees are working at marine product processing site in cold storage. down the price. The domestic it will contribute to the coun- fish industry flounders due to rine products, accounting for risk are found in the products. pore, Thailand, and the coun- try’s economy and earn more COVID-19 pandemic. The coro- US$254 million out of overall The export is likely to resume tries in the European Union. income for those stakeholders navirus pandemic shut down marine product export value once the products meet food The MFF is making con- in the supply chain, Yangon the wedding, donation events, of $850 million in the past fi- safety criteria set by the Gen- certed efforts to increase the Region Fisheries Department festivities and restaurants. It nancial year 2019-2020. eral Administration of Cus- marine product export earn- stated. also imposes difficulties on At the present time, China toms of the People’s Republic ings by developing fish farms There are 480,000 acres of transportation. The restric- shut down the border areas of China (GACC). which meet international fish and prawn breeding farms tions caused slump in fish in wake of the COVID surge The Myanmar Fisheries standards and adopting the across the country and more consumption in local market. in Myanmar. The fishery sec- Federation stated that only advanced fish farming tech- than 120 cold-storage facilities Moreover, the marine tor is dependent on maritime G2G pact can tackle problems niques. in Myanmar. product exports through Si- trade only. faced in the export of farm- To ensure food safety, Myanmar exported 340,000 no-Myanmar border has Food and Agriculture Or- raised fish and prawn, and en- the foreign market requires tonnes of marine products ground to a halt following ganization (FAO) and World sure smooth freight movement suppliers to obtain Hazard worth $530 million in the 2013- the consequences and safe- Health Organization (WHO) is- between countries to bolster Analysis and Critical Control 2014 FY, 330,000 tonnes worth ty measures on the imported sued guidelines to ensure food exports. Points (HACCP) and Good Aq- $480 million in the 2014-2015 seafood amid the COVID-19 safety during the COVID-19 During the last FY 2019- uaculture Practices (GAqP) FY, 360,000 tonnes worth $500 pandemic, traders stressed. pandemic in April, 2020. 2020, MFF expected to earn certificates. million in the 2015-2016 FY, Myanmar’s fishery export The permitted compa- more than $800 million from To meet international 430,000 tonnes worth $600 mil- was experiencing a downturn nies are advised to carry out marine product exports market standards, the marine lion in the 2016-2017 FY, 560,000 due to the import restrictions food safety plans, follow the against the target. products must be sourced only tonnes worth $700 million in triggered by the detection of guidelines of WHO and FAO, Myanmar exports marine from hatcheries that are com- the 2017-2018 FY and 580,000 the COVID-19 on fish imports formulate the safety manage- products such as fish, prawn, pliant with GAqP. The MFF is tonnes worth over $730 million in China. ment system and suspend the and crab to markets in 40 coun- working with fish farmers, in the 2018-2019 FY respective- China was the second larg- exports if any suspicious food- tries, including China, Saudi processors, and the Fisheries ly, according to the Commerce est buyer of Myanmar’s ma- borne virus or virus infection Arabia, the US, Japan, Singa- Department under the Minis- Ministry.—KK/GNLM Myanmar imports surpass 13 Chinese companies put $172 mln of exports in trade with Indonesia MYANMAR trade deficit in and imports valued at over FDI into Myanmar this FY goods with Indonesia was $630.537 million. THIRTEEN Chinese-listed en- land, Samoa, Hong Kong (SAR) in the Thilawa Special Eco- estimated at US$542.639 mil- Myanmar exports pulses, terprises brought in US$172 and China (Taipei) also made nomic Zone, DICA’s statistics lion in the past seven months rice, broken rice, garment, million into Myanmar between investments this year. Chinese indicated. (Oct-Apr) of the current finan- turmeric, tamarind, prawn, October 2020 and June 2021, companies primarily made Of 44 foreign enterprises cial year 2020-2021, the statis- sesame seeds, fish, timber according to the data released investment in manufacturing permitted and endorsed by tics issued by the Ministry of and plywood to Indonesia, by the Directorate of Invest- sector. Most of the Chinese MIC and the respective invest- Commerce indicated. whereas it imports edible oil, ment and Company Adminis- businessmen from China’s ment committees between 1 Indonesia takes the po- paper, paperboard, transport tration (DICA). mainland as well as those in October and 30 June of the sition of the fourth largest equipment, mechanical appli- The UK-listed enterprise Myanmar are keen to invest in current FY, 23 enterprises trade partner in Myanmar, ance, pharmaceuticals, soap brought in large investments of projects in Myanmar. As they pumped FDI into the manu- after Thailand, Singapore and and similar articles, cements, $2.5 million in May 2021 and be- have a wider scope of business facturing sector. Malaysia. In the current FY, plastic, fertilizer and other came the top source of FDI in knowledge, they seek various Electricity sector received the value of Myanmar’s bi- products. Myanmar. Singapore is placed ways and means for expand- six large projects whereas live- lateral trade with Indonesia Myanmar’s bilateral as the second largest investor ing their businesses in global stock and fisheries sector at- in normal trade and border trade with Indonesia yearly of Myanmar. China is the third countries. tracted six projects. Other ser- trade topped $718.435 million. stood at around $1 billion, as largest investor in Myanmar Myanmar has drawn for- vice sector drew five projects The Ministry of Com- per the statics released by this year. eign direct investment of more while agriculture sector pulled merce reported that imports the Central Statistical Organ- Those enterprises listed than US$3.76 billion during two projects and one foreign surpassed exports in trade ization under the Ministry of from Brunei, China, Thailand, Oct-Jun period, including ex- enterprise each entered indus- with Indonesia, with exports Planning and Finance.—Htet India, Malaysia, Republic of pansion of capital by existing trial estate and the hotel and reaching over $87.89 million Myat/GNLM Korea, Viet Nam, Marshall Is- enterprises and investments tourism sectors.—KH/GNLM 9 AUGUST 2021 6 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Iran nuclear talks could resume in September: EU

IRAN is ready to resume talks of the Iranian foreign ministry or reviving the nuclear deal with be taken over by another body, world powers under new presi- such as Iran’s National Security dent Ebrahim Raisi, and meet- Council. ings could take place in Vienna Raisi is a hardliner expected from early September, an EU to consolidate the ultraconserva- official said on Saturday. tives’ power during his four-year The senior official, speaking term. on condition of anonymity, said He succeeds the relatively the EU’s negotiator on the file, moderate Hassan Rouhani whose Enrique Mora, attended Raisi’s landmark achievement during his swearing-in in Tehran Thursday own two-term presidency was the and spoke with the Iranian official 2015 nuclear agreement between designated to take charge of the Iran and six world powers: the nuclear talks, Hossein Amir-Ab- five permanent members of the dollahian. UN Security Council plus Ger- Amir-Abdollahian “is sup- many. posed to be the new foreign min- Former US president Donald ister” in Raisi’s cabinet, but that Trump pulled out of the deal in has not yet been announced, the 2018 and reimposed sanctions EU official said in a statement. that have choked Iran’s oil-de- He added that it was unclear pendent economy. Iran respond- Delegates attend a meeting of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in whether the nuclear talks would ed by walking back measures it Vienna, Austria, on 28 July 2019. PHOTO: XINHUA remain under the responsibility had agreed to abide by. — AFP

Alibaba says working with China police on UN climate report ‘starkest sex assault allegation warning yet’ warns COP26 chief CHINESE e-commerce giant An unidentified female em- form Weibo on Sunday. Alibaba said on Sunday that it ployee made the allegations in a Sexual misconduct has was cooperating with a police lengthy internal posting quoted garnered increasing attention investigation into sexual assault by Chinese media, which AFP is in China especially since the allegations aired by a company unable to verify. country’s own #MeToo move- employee. She accused her manager ment was sparked by Chinese A statement by Alibaba said and a client of sexual assault feminists in 2018. the company also had suspend- during a work trip to the city of In one of the biggest cases ed “relevant parties suspected Jinan in Shandong province, ac- so far, Beijing police earlier this of violating our policies and cording to media reports. month said Chinese-Canadian values,” asserting that it had a A hashtag for the allegation pop star Kris Wu had been de- This le photo shows rescuers evacuating †ood-a­ected residents “zero-tolerance policy against was among the top-viewed items tained on suspicion of rape. — following heavy rain in Neijiang in China’s southwestern Sichuan province on 18 August, 2020. PHOTO: AFP sexual misconduct.” on Chinese social media plat- AFP AN upcoming UN report on fend British fossil-fuel projects climate change gives the inter- that include plans to license new Tunisia ‘state of exception’ hits halfway national community its clearest oil and gas fields in the North ever warning about the dangers Sea, which have proven embar- with no government in sight of accelerating climate change, rassing for Britain as it seeks to Britain’s COP26 President Alok galvanise international action HALFWAY into Tunisia’s 30-day weighing on an economy already Saied’s move also comes as Sharma said on Sunday. on climate change. “state of exception” announced in tatters following a decade of Tunisia negotiates with the In- The chief for the November The Paris-based watchdog, by President Kais Saied last political unrest and stalemate, ternational Monetary Fund for summit due to be held in the the International Energy Agen- month, he has yet to lay out a exacerbated by the coronavirus a fourth bailout loan in 10 years, Scottish city of Glasgow told the cy (IAE), has warned all fossil road map or appoint a govern- pandemic which has brought the likely to be conditioned on biting Observer newspaper a report by fuel development and explora- ment. health system to the edge of col- austerity measures that would the Intergovernmental Panel on tion must cease this year if the Despite naming several lapse and dealt a severe blow to inflict further pain on ordinary Climate Change (IPCC) due on goal of limiting global warming ministers to replace those in the the vital tourism sector. Tunisians. — AFP Monday would show the world to 1.5 degrees celsius is to be sacked administration of Hichem was on the brink of potential met. Mechichi, Saied is facing calls to disaster. “Future (fossil fuel) licenc- pick a prime minister quickly and “This is going to be the es are going to have to adhere explain his next steps. And while starkest warning yet that hu- to the fact we have committed to many have welcomed his moves man behaviour is alarmingly go to net zero by 2050 in legisla- to strip MPs of their immunity, accelerating global warming tion,” the COP26 president said. some worry his powers could eas- and this is why COP26 has to be “There will be a climate ily go too far, with a suspended the moment we get this right,” check on any licences,” he parliament unable to rein him in. Sharma said. added. A series of catastrophic “There needs to be a road “We can’t afford to wait two emergencies in recent weeks map, for the current situation and years, five years, 10 years – this including floods in Europe and of what comes next, to show how is the moment,” he added, ex- China, record temperatures in we’re going to return to the con- plaining that unless nations “act North America and forest fires stitution,” said Aymen Bensallah, Tunisian soldiers cordon-o­ the Parliament in Tunis, following a move now, we will, unfortunately, be around the world have focused an analyst at parliamentary mon- by the president to suspend the country’s parliament and dismiss the out of time”. minds on global warming, Shar- itor Bawsala.The uncertainty is Prime Minister. PHOTO: AFP Sharma was forced to de- ma said. — AFP 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR PANDEMIC: WORLD 7 Saudi Arabia to reopen borders for vaccinated umrah pilgrims SAUDI ARABIA will begin ac- agree to undergo quarantine if cepting vaccinated foreigners necessary, the SPA said quoting wanting to make the umrah pil- deputy hajj minister Abdulfattah grimage, authorities said Sun- bin Sulaiman Mashat. day, a move that will boost an He added that the kingdom economy hit by the Covid pan- was working on determining the demic. destinations from which pilgrims Nearly 18 months after it can come and their numbers on closed its borders to battle coro- a “periodic basis according to navirus, Saudi Arabia will from the classification of preventive Monday begin “gradually receiv- measures” in those countries. ing umrah requests from vari- Relief ous countries”, the Saudi Press Barring overseas pilgrims Agency (SPA) reported. has caused deep disappointment The umrah can be undertak- among Muslims worldwide, who en at any time and usually draws typically save for years to take part. millions from around the globe, “I feel relieved about the unlike the annual hajj, which resumption of the umrah pil- abled-bodied Muslims who have grimage,” Ahmed Hamadna, the means must perform at least 33, a sales manager in Egypt, once in their lifetime. told AFP. But he added that he The Covid-19 pandemic was “concerned about the com- The Covid-19 pandemic hugely disrupted the annual hajj and year-round umrah pilgrimages to Muslim holy hugely disrupted both Muslim sites in Saudi Arabia. PHOTO: AFP plex procedures and measures pilgrimages, which are usually during the pandemic”. key revenue earners for the king- residing in Saudi Arabia were down form of the annual hajj. Foreign pilgrims must be Engineer Mohamad Ragab, dom that rake in a combined $12 eligible for umrah permits. But the kingdom is slow- immunised with a Saudi-rec- an Australian resident, said he billion annually. And last month only around ly opening up, and has started ognised vaccine -- Pfizer-BioN- too was still “hesitant” to per- Before Sunday’s announce- 60,000 inoculated residents were welcoming vaccinated foreign Tech, AstraZeneca, Moderna form the umrah pilgrimage. — ment, only immunised pilgrims allowed to take part in a scaled tourists since August 1. and Johnson & Johnson -- and AFP Covid variant ‘no joke’ Stricter COVID-19 steps introduced in 8 WHEN Diego started going ty cruel disease,” said Diego, more prefectures in Japan out again to meet friends he who did not want to give his never expected to be among a full name. growing number of young Mex- He is one of 16 coronavirus icans hospitalized by a highly patients being treated in the contagious Covid-19 variant same hospital in Coacalco. driving another wave of infec- Unlike during the first two tions. waves of the pandemic, most of “I let my guard down think- the sick are in their 20s and 30s. ing that I wasn’t going to catch Mexico’s official Covid-19 it, but in the end I did,” the death toll of more than 244,000 20-year-old student told AFP is the fourth highest in the at a private clinic in a suburb world, and the actual figure north of Mexico City. is believed to be significantly “This is no joke. It’s a pret- higher. — AFP

Brunei: Clamp downs after first local virus cases People wearing face masks walk in front of JR Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on 5 August BRUNEI imposed strict curbs dine-in. 2021. PHOTO: KYODO to halt the spread of Covid-19, The tiny Islamic sultanate TOUGHER measures against areas until the end of the month. governor’s approval until 7 pm at after finding its first locally has largely remained corona- the coronavirus pandemic were More stringent steps have establishments taking anti-virus transmitted cases in the coun- virus free, logging only three introduced Sunday in eight pre- been imposed in Tokyo, host- steps. try in over a year. deaths since the pandemic fectures newly placed under a ing the Olympics, and five oth- Japan’s cumulative total of Seven community infec- began. quasi-state of emergency, with er prefectures under a state of confirmed coronavirus cases tions were found, the health More than half of its 347 restaurant operators requested emergency, as Japan faces the topped 1 million on Friday amid ministry said Saturday, lead- infections so far were imported, to cut opening hours and sus- spread of the highly contagious a recent surge that has seen ing the government to close all with tight border controls and pend serving alcohol. Delta variant of the coronavirus. daily cases continue to rewrite places of worship and postpone quarantine measures keeping The eight prefectures— Under the quasi-state of all-time highs, reinforcing fears social events for two weeks. the virus’s spread in check. Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, emergency, dining establish- that the medical system could Mass events were also lim- Five of the oil-rich nation Gunma, Shizuoka, Aichi, Shiga ments not serving liquor are collapse. ited to groups of 30 people over first local infections since May and Kumamoto—joined five requested to close at 8 pm. When The nationwide tally hit a this period as school classes last year were linked to a gov- prefectures such as Kyoto and the number of infections indi- record for the fourth straight were moved online and res- ernment-run virus monitoring Fukuoka already subject to such cates a downward trend, serving day Saturday with 15,753 new taurants barred from serving centre. — AFP restrictions effective for all the 13 alcohol may be allowed with a infections. — Kyodo 9 AUGUST 2021 9 AUGUST 2021 8 OPINION THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR ARTICLE NATIONAL 9 Let’s cut o ` infection chains of Vaccines: Two Centuries Of Scepticism Myanmar Daily Weather Report (Issued at 7:00 pm Sunday 8 August 2021) COVID 19 during Wariness and outright hostility to vaccines did not start with COVID19, they date back to the 18th century when the BAY INFERENCE: Monsoon is weak to moderate over the rst shots were given. Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. successive holidays ROM real fears sparked by FORECAST VALID UNTIL MORNING OF THE 9 August, side-effects, to fake studies called macrophagic myofasciitis alarm. 2021: Rain or thundershowers will be isolated in Magway Region owadays, the government is making strenuous efforts Fand conspiracy theories, thought to be caused by them. But H1N1 was not as dead- and Eastern Shan State, scattered in Lower Sagaing, Mandalay to cut off the infection chains of COVID-19 for ensuring we take a look at anti-vax senti- 1998: Fake Autism Study ly as first feared and millions of Regions and Southern Shan, Kayah States, fairly widespread Nsafety of Myanmar. ment over the ages: A study published in the top vaccine doses produced to fight it in Nay Pyi Taw, Upper Sagaing, Bago Regions and Northern As such, the State Administration Council has set the suc- 1796: First Jab, First Fears medical journal The Lancet in were destroyed, fuelling mistrust Shan, Chin States and widespread in the remaining Regions cessive public holidays for three times to mitigate the infection Smallpox killed or disfigured 1998 suggested there was a link towards vaccination campaigns. and States with likelihood of isolated heavyfalls in Upper rate of the pandemic among the the people but they need to countless millions for centuries between autism and the measles, Matters were made worse by Sagaing Region and Kachin, Rakhine, Mon States. Degree of abide by the restricted health guidelines issued by the Ministry before it was eradicated in 1980 mumps and rubella shot known as the discovery that one of the vac- certainty is (100%). of Health during the successive public holidays. through vaccination. the MMR vaccine. cines, Pandemrix, raised the risk In order to soonest turn into the normal situation with In 1796 the English physician The paper by Andrew of narcolepsy. Of 5.5 million people STATE OF THE SEA: Seas will be slight to moderate in placing the infection of COVID-19 under control, the govern- Edward Jenner came up with the Wakefield and colleagues was re- given the vaccine in Sweden, 440 Myanmar waters. Wave height will be about (4 - 7) feet off and ment issued a notification idea of using the milder cowpox vealed years later to be a fraud had to be compensated after de- along Myanmar Coasts. to set further successive virus on a child to stimulate im- and retracted by the journal, with veloping the sleep disorder. public holidays from 9 to mune response after he noticed Wakefield struck off the medical 2020: Polio Conspiracy The- OUTLOOK FOR SUBSEQUENT TWO DAYS: Weak to As such, all walks 15 August 2021. It aims to milkmaids rarely got smallpox. register. Despite subsequent stud- ories moderate monsoon. reduce the infection rate The process – coined “vacci- ies demonstrating the absence of Eradicated in Africa since Au- of the pandemic among the nus” by Jenner (from cow in Latin) A woman receives the Sinovac COVID 19 coronavirus vaccine in Malang, East Java on 7 August, 2021 during a any such link, the bogus paper is gust 2020 thanks to vaccines, polio FORECAST FOR NAY PYI TAW AND NEIGHBOURING of life of the mass vaccination program. PHOTO: AFP people. – was successful, but from the out- still a reference for anti-vaxxers is still a scourge in Pakistan and AREA FOR 9 August, 2021: Isolated rain or thundershow- In addition, the Central set it provoked scepticism and fear. er mandatory jab and triggering At the end of the 19th century, against tuberculosis with the BCG and it left its mark. Afghanistan where the disease, ers. Degree of certainty is (100%). people should Committee on Prevention, Before Jenner a riskier method of strong resistance. the French biologist Louis Pasteur in 1921, diphtheria in 1923, tetanus Measles killed 207,500 peo- which causes paralysis in young Control and Treatment of inoculation known as “variolation” Opponents objected on reli- developed a vaccine against rabies in 1926 and whooping cough in ple in 2019, a jump of 50 percent children, remains endemic. FORECAST FOR YANGON AND NEIGHBOURING AREA join hands with Coronavirus Disease 2019 existed for smallpox, introduced to gious grounds, raised concerns by infecting rabbits with a weak- 1926. It was also the decade that since 2016 with the World Health Anti-vaccine conspiracy the- FOR 9 August, 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. Degree (COVID-19) issued an an- Europe from Ottoman Turkey by over the dangers of injecting ani- ened form of the virus. But again, aluminium salts began to be used Organization (WHO) warning that ories have allowed it to continue of certainty is (100%). the government nouncement on one more the English writer and wit Lady mal products, and claimed individ- the process sparked mistrust and to increase the effectiveness of vaccine coverage is falling globally. to destroy lives. In Afghanistan, week closure of basic ed- Mary Wortley Montagu. ual freedoms were being infringed. Pasteur was accused of seeking to vaccines. 2009: Swine Flu Scare the Taliban banned vaccine cam- FORECAST FOR MANDALAY AND NEIGHBOURING ucation schools including 1853: Mandatory Shot A “conscience clause” was in- profit from his discovery. But more than half a centu- The discovery in 2009 of paigns, calling them a Western AREA FOR 9 August, 2021: Isolated rain or thundershow- for promotion private schools and monas- In Britain the smallpox vac- troduced in 1898 allowing sceptics 1920s: Vaccines Heyday ry later these salts became the “Swine flu”, or H1N1, caused by plot to sterilise Muslim children. ers. Degree of certainty is (80%). tic education schools till 15 cine became compulsory for chil- to avoid vaccination. Vaccines flourished in the source of suspicion, with a condi- a virus of the same family as the of their health August. dren in 1853, making it the first-ev- 1885: Pasteur And Rabies 1920s – shots were rolled out tion causing lesions and fatigue deadly Spanish flu, caused great SOURCE: AFP Primarily, their moves conditions by lead to reduce the infection rate of COVID-19 as much driving out the as possible. Hence, the rd people need to cooperate Japan studying giving 3 coronavirus vaccine shots next year with the authorities in their COVID19 from efforts without going out- side the houses if possible. The government struck a contract in July to receive an additional 50 million doses of Moderna Inc.’s coronavirus vac- Myanmar’s They need to systematically wash their hands for many cine from the beginning of 2022. Discussions are also under way to secure 150 million doses of the vaccine developed times a day. Likewise, they by Novavax Inc. starting in early 2022. mother land as need to receive anti-COV- ID-19 vaccines. APAN has begun a study on Sweden has also decided to do ty of booster shots varies among early as possible. At present, some ba- whether it should adminis- likewise, possibly in the fall, with nations, Japan will collect data on sic education schools are Jter third shots of the coro- Britain preparing to start offering clinical trials conducted abroad opened as camps to vac- navirus vaccine next year, officials booster shots in September. and study not only on the necessity cinate the people. Hence, said Friday. Japan’s vaccination program but also whether it should allow a officials need to sterilize all parts of the schools before opening Spurred by the likelihood of was launched in February, initially person’s third dose to be from a dif- for ensuring safety of students and teachers in daily academic vaccine efficacy waning over time for health care workers. It was ferent company than the one that measures. Moreover, private schools and monastic education and the need to respond to high- expanded to the elderly in April developed their first and second schools need to make necessary preparations for resumption ly infectious virus variants, the and later to other members of the doses, the officials said. On Thurs- of teaching and learning during the successive holidays. government will proceed with the public. The country’s minister in day, Moderna said its coronavirus Meanwhile, workplaces being operated during the holi- study while trying to secure the charge of vaccination efforts, Taro vaccine maintained 93 percent ef- days should be run under the health guidelines. Other offices supply of at least 200 million doses Kono, said July 30 Japan “will like- ficacy through six months after which suspended the work procedures should be sterilized next year, the officials said. Tokyo ly administer next year” third dos- the second shot, but pointed to the for disinfection regularly before reopening. Employees from will reach a decision on the matter es of COVID-19 vaccine. likelihood of the need for a third the running workplaces should be facilitated with full protec- after taking into consideration the The government struck a con- booster shot afterward to protect tive equipment for their survival as well as for avoiding the situation of virus infections and tract in July to receive an addi- against new variants, citing a de- Daily newspapers available decrease of productivity. how other governments are deal- tional 50 million doses of Moderna cline in antibody levels. The government set an aim to ensure a half down of in- ing with COVID-19 booster shots. Inc.’s coronavirus vaccine from Meanwhile, World Health Or- online fection rate in August. As such, all walks of life of the people Overseas, Israel’s booster the beginning of 2022. Discussions ganization chief Tedros Adhanom Senior citizens wait to receive a coronavirus disease (COVID 19) vaccine at a large-scale coronavirus disease FOR those who would like to read the Myanma Alinn, the (COVID 19) vaccination centre in Osaka, western Japan May 24, 2021. PHOTO: KYODO should join hands with the government for promotion of their shots have already been in full are also under way to secure 150 Ghebreyesus on Wednesday called Kyemon and the Global New Light of Myanmar, published daily by the Ministry of Information, please visit www.moi.gov.mm/ health conditions by driving out the COVID-19 from Myanmar’s swing for people aged 60 or older, million doses of the vaccine de- on some advanced countries to saying fair access to COVID-19 work to make a living even amid waiting for their first dose, some mal, www.moi.gov.mm/km, www.moi.gov.mm/nlm and www. mother land as early as possible. Let’s firmly join hands to while Germany is scheduled to veloped by Novavax Inc. starting suspend their ongoing or planned vaccines among all countries is a the pandemic, the WHO chief told rich countries are moving towards gnlm.com.mm/e-paper. overcome challenges in facing impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. start providing third COVID-19 in early 2022. administration of third shots un- higher priority. a press conference, “While hun- booster doses.” News and Periodicals Enterprise shots for the elderly in September. As judgment on the necessi- til at least the end of September, Noting that many people must dreds of millions of people are still SOURCE: Kyodo 9 AUGUST 2021 10 WORLD: TOP STORIES THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Drop in the bucket: US infrastructure plan may fall short on water OUT of sight, out of mind: Prob- welcomed the bill, but say fund- lems with decades-old pipes and ing for water projects falls far sewers across American cities short given the scale of the prob- and towns are largely hidden and lem. tend to be neglected for years be- They are holding out hope fore exploding into public crisis. that further funding will be pro- Last month, the Clarks- vided in the $3.5 trillion budget burg Water Board in West Virgin- package backed by President ia announced that children from Joe Biden, which could be enact- three homes were diagnosed ed later this year, despite Repub- with high lead levels, prompting lican opposition. “It’s a start,” the municipal authority to imme- Tracy Brown, regional director diately replace pipes and launch for water protection at Save the a testing program throughout Sound, said of the Senate bill. the system. An ‘overwhelmed’ system “I don’t think they know the Brown’s group, which focus- magnitude of the problem,” said es on the Long Island Sound and James Griffin of the West Virgin- other waterways in the states of ia Black Heritage Festival, who New York and Connecticut, has organized a community meet- In this le photo taken on 23 November 2015, a huge tank full of wastewater is seen at DC Water’s Blue Plains been pressing local officials to plant in Washington, DC. PHOTO: AFP ing earlier this week with water address wastewater problems officials. The latest local water crisis bipartisan package to address as spending on clean energy and that regularly force local beach- “There’s just a whole lot of surfaced as the Senate moves neglected maintenance on tra- broadband internet. es to close after heavy rains. — not knowing.” closer to passing the $1.2 trillion ditional infrastructure, as well Environmentalists have AFP

NEWS Hundreds of families homeless as Greek res rage, Turkey saved by the rain

IN BRIEF HUNDREDS of firefighters Egypt is also expected to Iraqi PM says gov’t fought fires that have devoured send two helicopters and Spain determined to record numbers of woodlands one Canadair firefighting plane. in Greece on Saturday (Aug With strong winds and tem- hold elections as 7) and left hundreds of fami- peratures of up to 38 degrees scheduled lies homeless, but heavy rains Celsius forecast in some re- IRAQI Prime Minister Mustafa brought some respite to hard- gions on Saturday, the blazes in al-Kadhimi announced on Sat- hit Turkey. Greece are expected to contin- urday that his government and More than 1,450 Greek ue for some time yet. And this the political parties are deter- firefighters backed by at least year’s fires have already been mined to hold the parliamen- 15 aircraft were battling the far more destructive than in tary elections as scheduled on wildfires and flare-ups, with previous years. A Sikorsky S€64 Skycrane helicopter drops water over Thrakomakedones, Oct. 10. Al-Kadhimi’s comment reinforcements arriving from In the last 10 days, 56,655 near Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, on 7 August, 2021. PHOTO: AFP came during his meeting with other countries, the fire ser- hectares have been burnt in leaders of the political parties vice said. Greece, according to the Eu- summer ends we will reverse tears. in the presence of Parliament “We are sending a team ropean Forest Fire Information the damage as soon as possi- “This is a horrible disas- Speaker Mohammed al-Hal- of experienced firefighters to System. The average number of ble,” Prime Minister Kyriakos ter,” he told AFP. “I’m really bousi, head of the Supreme support Greek firefighters cur- hectares burnt over the same Mitsotakis pledged on Satur- afraid that maybe only our Judicial Council, the country’s rently battling the huge blaz- period between 2008 and 2020 day. In Pefkofyto, in the north of great-grand children will have electoral commission, and the es,” UK Home Secretary Priti was 1,700 hectares. Athens, pensioner Tasos Tsili- the chance to walk again in UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, Patel tweeted Saturday. “When this nightmarish vakos struggled to contain his these areas.” — AFP the prime minister’s media o˜ce said in a statement. — AFP A drought-hit California town finds itself sinking into the ground Jan. 6 Capitol riot to make sense of the strangest Like a 2-story house probe shadowed by of phenomena: his already suf- Strangely, signs of this sub- Washington’s bitter fering town is sinking, ever so sidence are nearly invisible to gradually, into the ground. A the human eye. There are no partisanship constant stream of trucks car- cracks in the walls of the typical THE U.S. House select com- rying tomatoes, alfalfa or cotton American shops in the town’s mittee probing the Jan. 6 riot outside this town of 20,000 shows center, nor crevices opening up is preparing to send a šurry of just how inextricably Corcoran’s in the streets or fields: to meas- subpoenas to start gathering ev- fate is tied to the intensive farm- ure subsidence, Californian au- idence, amid bitter partisanship ing practiced here. thorities had to turn to NASA, and sharply di›erent narratives To irrigate its vast fields and which used satellites to analyze of the event. On Jan. 6, sup- help feed America, farm opera- the geological change. And yet, porters of former U.S. President tors began in the last century to over the past 100 years, Corcoran Donald Trump, after a rally he pump water from underground has sunken “the equivalent of a had held, descended on the sources, so much so that the two-story house,” Jeanine Jones, Capitol in a protest, against the A sign just outside the California town of Corcoran proclaims it as ground has begun to sink -- im- a manager with the California backdrop of a vicious political the state’s ‘farming capital’; drought has caught its farms in a vicious agine a series of giant straws Department of Water Resourc- battle in which Trump accused cycle. PHOTO: AFP sucking up groundwater faster es, told AFP. The phenomenon then-President-elect Joe Biden “YOU’VE got too many farm- genarian resident of Corcoran, than rain can replenish it, as hy- “can be a threat to infrastruc- of stealing the election. — ers pumping all around,” com- the self-proclaimed farming cap- drologist Anne Senter explained ture, groundwater wells, levees, Xinhua plained Raul Atilano. This octo- ital of California, was struggling it to AFP. aqueducts,” she said. — AFP 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR PANDEMIC: ROLLING UPDATES 11

NEWS Olympics: Coronavirus Costs IN BRIEF THE pandemic affected almost every part of Tokyo’s Olympics, Sky News Australia forcing a historic postponement, faces Senate grilling the banning of almost all specta- over Covid videos tors, and ending the dreams of more than a few athletes. SKY News Australia will face From 1 July to Sunday, the a Senate inquiry after serving final day of the Games, Tokyo a week-long suspension 2020 says it identified 430 pos- by YouTube over Covid-19 itive cases in a population of misinformation concerns, 52,000 overseas participants and the senator in charge of the athletes and many more Japa- hearing said Friday. nese volunteers and security. The Rupert Mur- For the most part, teams stuck doch-owned news channel to the rules and got on with their faces a Senate panel hearing sport. But there were a few nota- on August 13. ble exceptions. Senator Sarah Han- Members of the Georgian son-Young, chair of the upper judo team had their Olympic house’s media diversity passes removed after an unau- The organizers have vowed to stage a safe and secure Olympics and Paralympics, with quarantine rules and committee, said her panel testing to curb the spread of the coronavirus. PHOTO: KYODO thorised sightseeing trip. had called Sky News Australia And five members of Aus- Cases were already on the explosive growth, driven by the population is fully vaccinated. Ja- executives, YouTube, and the tralia’s mens hockey team were rise before the Games, and To- more contagious Delta variant, pan has recorded just over 15,200 Australian media regulator to reprimanded for breaking out of kyo has been under a state of has worried experts in a country deaths during the pandemic. — appear. the bubble to buy beer. emergency for weeks. But the where only around a third of the AFP “Australians are rightly worried about the promotion and dissemination of Covid Brisbane to lift coronavirus lockdown while Sydney outbreak grows lies and conspiracy theories that put lives at risk and eas have spent just eight days ter a taxi driver spent 10 days undermine public health,” she under stay-at-home orders af- infectious in the 150,000-strong said. YouTube temporarily cut ter an outbreak of more than community. Sky News Australia from its 100 cases spread among sev- They will join millions of 1.87 million subscribers last eral school communities. people in Melbourne and Syd- week, saying it had removed Deputy Queensland pre- ney under stay-at-home or- some videos and “issued a mier Steven Miles said the re- ders, with Australia’s biggest strike” against the channel. — gion had achieved “something city about to enter a seventh AFP quite incredible” by seemingly week of lockdown. bringing the outbreak under New South Wales state re- control. corded 262 new cases on Sun- Chile continues “It looks like we may have day, taking the outbreak that to register below been able to contain a Delta began in Sydney in mid-June 1,000 daily cases of outbreak in just eight days of to more than 5,000 cases. lockdown, just 10 days from State premier Gladys Bere- COVID’19 when the first case was noti- jiklian urged Sydney residents CHILE continued to register Residents queue up outside a shopping centre in eastern Brisbane on 31 fied,” he told reporters. to get jabbed, with supermarket below 1,000 daily cases of July 2021, as Australia’s third-largest city Brisbane and other parts of Restrictions on leaving the and fast-food workers taking COVID’19 after reporting 940 Queensland state will enter a snap Covid-19 lockdown. PHOTO: AFP city and gatherings will remain priority in a fresh vaccination infections in the last 24 hours. AUSTRALIA’S third-largest city outbreak that has kept Sydney in place for at least two weeks. drive on Sunday. “This is a “940 new cases have been of Brisbane will lift a lockdown paralysed for weeks continues Authorities also announced race. We’re keen to sprint to reported, with a positivity of on Sunday (Aug 8) after con- to grow.Millions of people in a snap three-day lockdown for get those vaccination rates up,” 1.4 percent in the last 24 hours taining a virus cluster, while an Brisbane and surrounding ar- the northern city of Cairns, af- she said. — AFP nationwide,” Health Minister Enrique Paris told the press on Saturday. However, the o‡cial Libya imposes 24-hour curfew to stem spread of COVID-19 stressed the importance of continued vigilance against LIBYA has imposed a 24-hour The government has recent- the virus. The total number curfew from Saturday to Monday ly launched an “exceptional” of people who had been to curb the spread of COVID-19. vaccination campaign to set up diagnosed with COVID’19 in The government announced temporary vaccination centers, the South American country the decision on Thursday. When where people above the age of reached 1,622,509 and the the curfew ends, the previous 18, Libyans or foreigners, can get death toll rose to 35,951, after prevention measures will contin- vaccinated. 71 deaths from the disease ue.\ In late June, the government According to the National were registered over the past imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. to Center for Disease Control, the day. In recent weeks, Chile has 6 a.m. (1600-0400 GMT) for two country has registered more than reported the lowest numbers weeks, and ordered that those 260,000 cases so far, with near- of infections and hospitaliza- who violate the restrictions be ly 200,000 recoveries and 3,689 tions of the pandemic. punished. deaths. — Xinhua More than 80 percent of the population had been Police o‡cers check vehicles during curfew hours in Tripoli, Libya, on vaccinated against COVID’19, 7 August 2021. Libya has imposed a 24-hour curfew from Saturday to Monday to curb the spread of COVID’19. PHOTO: XINHUA Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said.— Xinhua 9 AUGUST 2021 12 ECON: WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR China’s pursuit of green recovery paves way for carbon-neutral pledge THE outbreak of the global duced a package of green stim- health emergency has propelled ulus measures, and has seen a the world to take further strides surge in the installed capacity of toward a green revolution. clean energy. In the fourth quar- China has announced that ter of 2020, the installed capacity it will be increasingly embracing of photovoltaics in China reached green and inclusive development, 29.5 million kilowatts, while that with a slew of eco-friendly meas- of wind power increased by 57.75 ures taken amid its “V-shaped” million kilowatts, both far exceed- recovery. The country has also ing the combined installed ca- vowed to strive to bring carbon pacity in the first three quarters, emissions to a peak before 2030 data from the National Energy and become carbon-neutral be- Administration (NEA) showed. fore 2060. In announcing such China’s clean-energy con- measures, China is not simply sumption accounted for 24.5 paying lip service to environmen- percent of the total energy con- tal concerns. sumption in 2020, up 1.1 percent- A report published last age points compared with that in month by global ratings agen- 2019, data from the NEA showed. cy Moody’s showed that China, According to a Deutsche Bank Aerial photo taken on July 30, 2018 shows an electric bus running on the Yanggongdi Causeway in the West along with wealthier countries, report, by 2030, China is expected Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province. PHOTO: XINHUA took the lead in spending on to see its output of solar power in- green recovery in the Asia-Pa- THRIVES which has long pursued clean of renewable energy. crease tenfold, while that of wind cific region. Coal-fired power remains a power and has become the During the post-epidemic power will be three or four times GREENENERGY MARKET major energy source in China, world’s largest producer and user recovery, the country has intro- the level in 2020. — Xinhua

Economic woes set to weigh heavily on high-stakes vote Libya’s wildlife treasure SOARING food prices and eco- projects. billion last year. island at risk of ruin nomic hardship could sway this The copper-rich southern “Mismanagement at the week’s tightly-contested Zam- African nation last year became macro level is affecting common bian presidential vote in favour the first country on the conti- people,” said Zambian econo- of the opposition, as citizens nent to default on its debt in the mist Trevor Simumba. grapple with the fallout from coronavirus era. “The poor don’t have rampant financial mismanage- The value of the kwacha mechanisms to adjust their ment. currency plummeted to record living costs”. With tensions President Edgar Lungu, lows and inflation surged past rising ahead of the elections who is vying for re-election in 20 percent during Lungu’s pres- next week, Lungu ordered an the August 12 poll, stands ac- idency, which also saw investor unprecedented deployment of cused of borrowing unsustaina- confidence decline as external the military to clamp down on bly, to splurge on infrastructure debt ballooned to around $12 violence. — AFP

India: Tourism has highest job creating Libya’s Farwa island. PHOTO: AFP potential across sectors ONCE famed for its exceptional ing Farwa more vulnerable to wildlife, Libya’s Farwa island the pressures already heaped UNION Minister of Culture, Tour- ism has always been a strong not just about attractive desti- risks becoming just another on its fragile environment. ism and Development of North driver for economic growth in nations and leisure activities, victim of lawlessness in the For decades there were few Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kis- the country. but has emerged as one of the war-ravaged North African na- visitors, apart from occasional han Reddy on Friday said tour- In 2019, the industry contrib- fundamental pillars of economic tion, activists struggling to save school trips to the island. Lib- ism has one of the highest job-cre- uted USD 194 billion to the Indian development and has one of the it warn. ya’s former dictator Muammar ating potentials across all sectors. economy and created about 40 highest job-creating potentials An uninhabited 13-kilo- Ghaddafi dreamt of building a Speaking at the E-Conclave- million jobs, which is 8 per cent across all sectors. metre-long sandbar cut off at luxury seaside resort there, Resilience and The Road to Re- of its total employment.” “For Rs 10 lakh of invest- high tide in far western Libya, complete with “floating” villas covery, the minister stated, “Tour- Reddy said that tourism is ment, tourism can provide 78 Farwa appears picture-post- and a golf course. But Ghaddafi jobs, as compared to 45 jobs in card idyllic, with scattered date was ousted and killed in a 2011 the manufacturing sector,” Reddy palms on white sandy beach- NATO-backed uprising, and stated. es and ringed by the sparkling Libya has struggled to contain The minister also said that Mediterranean Sea. The Inter- violence and political turmoil the tourism industry has a unique national Union for Conserva- ever since. impact on a country as it not only tion of Nature (IUCN) has said Explosive shing acts as a massive growth engine Farwa is potentially the “most In a country awash with but also enhances the soft power important coastal and marine weapons, some find lobbing of a nation. site in western Libya, in terms grenades into the water an Further, he said that the of its high marine and coastal easy way to fish - a destructive onslaught of the COVID-19 pan- biodiversity”. But it faces a long method killing everything in the demic has thrown unprecedent- list of threats, said Fawzi Dhane blast zone. ed challenges upon the tourism from local environmental group “The fishermen do not re- industry, hence there is a need to Bado, identifying illegal fishing spect anything,” Dhane said, innovate and rethink the travel, and pollution as key worries. blaming boats from the port of Tourists visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, on Sept 21, 2020. PHOTO: tourism and hospitality sector. Climate change is also ex- Zuwara, some 40 kilometres to AFP — ANI acerbating the situation, mak- the east. — AFP 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR BIZ: WORLD 13 Major US business groups urge Biden to cut tariffs on China, resume talks

MORE than 30 US business acknowledged that Chi- of Commerce, the Nation- groups call for the Biden na had met “important al Retail Federation, the administration to restart benchmarks and commit- American Farm Bureau trade talks with China and ments” in the phase-one Federation and the Sem- cut tariffs on Chinese prod- trade agreement signed iconductor Industry As- ucts, calling the measures in 2020 while calling for a sociation. In the first half dragging on the U.S. econ- resumption of negotiations of 2021, Chinese exports omy. between the two countries, to the US jumped by 31.7 In a Thursday letter the Wall Street Journal re- percent, while its imports to US Trade Represent- ported. from the US surged by 43.9 ative Katherine Tai and Many US retailers percent, Chinese customs Treasury Secretary Janet chose to absorb the cost of data showed. Yellen seen by media, the US imposed duties on more China reiterated in trade groups asked the US than $300 billion Chinese July the call for the imple- administration to take into goods or passing them to mentation of the phase-one A container ship arrives at the Port of Los Angeles, California, US, 1 April 2020. PHOTO: account the burden of the consumers. XINHUA trade deal with the US, not- tariffs on importers. “Due to the tariffs, US ing the agreement is good The business groups industries face increased domestically, making their tive abroad,” a Bloomberg The letter was signed for both countries and the representing retailers, costs to manufacture prod- exports of these products report quoted the letter as by leading US trade groups, wider world. — Xinhua chipmakers and farms ucts and provide services and services less competi- saying. including the US Chamber

Saudi Aramco Q2 profits nearly quadruple NEWS compared to 2020 IN BRIEF the year, compared to $6.6 said it raised $6 billion from China’s lithium-ion battery output billion in the same quarter its first dollar-denominated soars over 60 pct in H1 of 2020, owing to a stronger Islamic bond sale, posting oil market and higher refin- earlier this year a 30 per- CHINA’S lithium-ion battery output surged over 60 per- ing and chemicals margins, cent jump in first quarter cent year on year in the €rst half of 2021 as the country and with the easing of Cov- profits. Aramco -- the king- strives to peak carbon dioxide emissions and achieve id-19 restrictions. dom’s cash cow -- posted a carbon neutrality, oŠcial data shows. “Our second quarter 44.4 percent slump in 2020 The output topped 110 GWh in the period, and the results reflect a strong net profit, piling pressure industry’s total production value exceeded 240 billion rebound in worldwide en- on government finances yuan (about 37.1 billion U.S. dollars), according to the ergy demand and we are as Riyadh pursues its mul- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. heading into the second ti-billion dollar projects to The country’s lithium-ion battery exports jumped Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil and gas company’s Dhahran half of 2021 more resilient diversify the economy. nearly 70 percent year on year to 74.3 billion yuan in oil plants, seen here in this 2018 photograph, provided and more flexible, as the The company’s debt the €rst half, customs data shows. by Saudi Aramco, which reported higher pro€ts on global recovery gains mo- has climbed as Saudi Ara- Product quality and technology saw continuous Sunday. PHOTO: AFP mentum,” Aramco chief ex- bia was hammered last improvement in the sector, with battery safety receiv- ENERGY giant Saudi od last year on the back of ecutive Amin Nasser said year by the double wham- ing increasing attention and protective measures such Aramco said Sunday its higher oil prices. in a statement. my of low prices and sharp as temperature measurement, heat insulation and second quarter profits for Aramco said its net The announcement cuts in production trig- water cooling applied at a faster pace. 2021 had nearly quadrupled profit rose to $25.5 billion comes approximately two gered by the coronavirus The development of China’s photovoltaic power compared to the same peri- in the second quarter of months after the company pandemic. — AFP generation also boosted the production of energy-stor- age lithium batteries. In the January-June period, the output of energy-storage lithium-ion batteries surged 260 percent year on year to 15 GWh, the ministry said. Global supply snags could mean fewer toys — Xinhua under the Christmas tree IT’S always “better to shelves appear well ufacturing. ers, while in some ports, IT services industry to accelerate by 9 shop a little early” for stocked. But at the back And shippers have boats wait several days to to 12 pc in FY22: ICRA the holidays, but this of the store and in the been overwhelmed by de- unload their goods. In the year, says Judy Ishayik, basement where the in- mand from online sales, United States, trucking THE USD revenue growth of sample IT services compa- co-owner of a New York ventory is stored, there exacerbated by a short- firms are struggling to nies is expected to be 9 to 12 per cent in FY2022, driven toy store, “We are telling is a lot of empty space. age of shipping contain- recruit drivers.— AFP by robust demand for digital technologies resulting in people to shop for Christ- Struggling to adapt higher awards of contracts, according to investment mas in September.” Like many other information agency ICRA. Global shipping sectors of the US econ- Further, the growth will be supported by pent up snags are causing short- omy working to get back demand of FY2021 which was lower due to the initial ages, delivery delays to normal following the impact of Covid-19. For FY2023, the ratings agency and price increases -- all upheaval caused by the estimates the growth to be 6 to 9 per cent. headaches for toy stores Covid-19 pandemic, toy- In Q1 FY2022, the ICRA sample of eight companies and manufacturers. makers and specialty recorded a revenue growth of 18.1 per cent in rupee Ishayik’s store, Mary stores have been trying to terms and 16.2 per cent in USD terms, primarily led by Arnold Toys, has been adapt, while struggling to low base of last year (Covid-19 impact) and acceleration selling toys for 90 years replenish their supplies. of digital outsourcing deals amid the pandemic. in the upscale Upper East Some factories were The rupee appreciated by 2.8 per cent vis-a-vis the Side section of Manhat- forced to shut down Mary Arnold Toys in New York is one of thousands of US US dollar on a Y-o-Y basis which negatively impacted tan. during coronavirus out- retail stores su†ering low supplies amid snags in the global the revenue growth of IT services companies in rupee At first glance, the breaks, impacting man- supply chain linked to Covid. PHOTO: AFP terms in Q1 FY2022. — ANI 9 AUGUST 2021 14 SOCIETY THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

NEWS No. 10 tunnel of Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway completed

IN BRIEF runs the 142.3-km HSR, said the Ex-PM Conte voted completion on Friday laid a solid leader of Italy’s Five foundation for the completion and opening of the whole rail- Star Movement way line. FORMER premier Giuseppe The tunnel, located in West Conte o“cially began work Bandung Regency’s Padala- Saturday as the new leader of It- rang, West Java province, has aly’s Five Star Movement (M5S), a total length of 1,230 meters the biggest party in parliament and maximum buried depth of now deeply divided and trailing 37 meters. in opinion polls. KCIC said the construction, The former law professor, which started in March 2019, has who stepped down as prime faced many difficulties and risks minister in January, was tapped including challenging geological for the job months ago but conditions in the area and shal- in-•ghting led to delays in low burial depth, among others. holding a formal membership With a design speed of 350 vote. An online poll, in which km per hour, the high-speed rail- The No. 10 tunnel of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway (HSR) is seen in West Bandung Regency, West Conte was the only candidate, way built with Chinese technolo- Java province, Indonesia, 6 August 2021. The No. 10 tunnel of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR in Indonesia was con•rmed him overnight as completed, the railway’s operator said on Saturday. PHOTO: XINHUA gy will cut the journey between leader with almost 93 per cent, Jakarta and Bandung, the cap- with more than 62,000 votes. THE No. 10 tunnel of the Jakar- pleted, the railway’s operator KCIC, a joint venture consorti- ital of West Java province, from Conte promised to con- ta-Bandung High Speed Railway said on Saturday. um between Chinese and Indo- more than three hours to around tinue supporting Mario Draghi, (HSR) in Indonesia was com- A statement released by nesian state-owned firms that 40 minutes. — Xinhua who took over in February at the head of a national unity gov- ernment tasked with guiding Haiti still seeking judge to probe president’s assassination Italy out of the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic. He HAITI’S justice system is still residence by a commando team, told Il Fatto Quotidiano news- struggling to find a judge willing this judge said. Moise’s wife Mar- paper that the party would “all to investigate the assassination tine was wounded but survived. work to o›er loyal cooperation of President Jovenel Moise a full Senior magistrate Bernard to the government of a country month after he died, as magis- Saint-Vil has sought to reassure that has yet to emerge from a trates fear for their lives if they these judges, telling them he has health emergency”. — AFP take on the murky and explosive asked the government to guaran- case. tee their safety and has requested “It is a sensitive, political dos- bodyguards. Afghan air force pilot sier. Before agreeing to investi- Saint-Vil said early this week killed in targeted gate it, a judge thinks about his he would announce Thursday the Taliban attack own safety and that of his family,” name of the investigating magis- one judge told AFP. trate chosen to take on the case, AFGHAN Air Force pilot Ha- “For this reason, investi- but in the end he could not be- midullah Azimi was killed in a gating magistrates are not too cause no judge wanted the job. A portrait of late Haitian president Jovenel Moise is seen at a ceremony bomb attack on Saturday. enthusiastic about accepting it,” Police say they have arrested in his honor in Port-au-Prince on 20 July 2021. PHOTO: AFP O“cials said that the bomb this judge told AFP, speaking on 44 people in connection with the had been attached to his vehicle condition of anonymity. killing, including 12 Haitian police connection with the plot allegedly and Covid-19 spread. and detonated. The explosion Several magistrates have officers, 18 Colombians who were organized by a group of Haitians Police have issued want- wounded •ve other civilians. told the dean of the Court of First allegedly part of the commando with foreign ties. ed-persons notices for several Azimi Ÿew U.S.-made Instance in Port-au-Prince that team and two Americans of Hai- Moise, an unpopular leader, other people, including a judge UH60 Black Hawk helicopters they are not interested in working tian descent. had been ruling the impoverished from Haiti’s highest court, a for- and has been in the force for on the shocking July 7 assassina- The head of Moise’s security and disaster-plagued nation by mer senator and a businessman. four years, Reuters reported. tion of Moise at the presidential detail is among those detained in decree, as gang violence spiked — AFP The Taliban said in a statement that they carried out the attack. He was the eighth Hundreds of migrants find safe port in Sicily Afghan pilot to be killed in recent weeks. MORE than 250 migrants res- en boat in the Mediterranean embark in Sicily, after nearly a ship said they were facing a The killing appears part cued from an overcrowded wood- have been finally allowed to dis- week on a rescue boat. “critical” situation on Thursday, of a Taliban plan targeting and The group, which included and they added that some of the killing pilots with the aim of children, were rescued by the rescued migrants were showing leveling the playing •eld as they German NGO rescue ship Sea- signs of dehydration. They were continue ground o›enses to Watch 3 on August 1. eventually given permission seize territory, Reuters reports. They had tried to cross the to dock in Italy. The rescued The Taliban have no air forces. Mediterranean on a wooden ves- migrants took COVID-19 tests On Friday, the Taliban shot and sel carrying 394 people. The Sea- when the boat docked at the port killed Dawa Khan Menapal, the Watch 3, with the help of another of Trapani. They are now on a Director of Afghanistan’s Gov- boat run by the French NGO SOS quarantine ship where they will ernment Information Media Mediterranee, spent six hours stay for the next two weeks. The Center. rescuing them. other French boat, the Ocean Just a few days prior there The German ship took Viking, will be allowed to dock had been an attempt to kill 257 people on board, while the on Sunday. It is now carrying the acting defense minister. — The Sea Watch 3 rescue boat carrying 257 migrants was allowed to dock French boat took the rest. 549 passengers, including 118 Xinhua in Sicily on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP The crew on the German minors. — AFP 9 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR GLOBAL AFFAIRS 15

Key to success of Beijing Olympics lies in China-Japan relations NEWS THE key to the success of the IN BRIEF 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics lies in how Hezbollah chief China-Japan ties will devel- vows ‘proportionate’ op after the Tokyo Summer Games, with the Asian powers response to any recently at odds over major Israel air strike issues including Taiwan and Xinjiang. THE head of Lebanon’s power- The leadership of Chinese ful Hezbollah movement, Has- President Xi Jinping, who has san Nasrallah, Saturday vowed been keen to use the Beijing a “suitable and proportionate” Olympics to enhance nation- response to any Israeli air al prestige, is expected to be strikes on Lebanon after a †are- forced to manage a well-bal- up at the border this week. anced diplomatic strategy to- Israel carried out its rst ward Japan until the sports air raids on Lebanese soil in events in February next year. Fireworks are set o­ on 22 June 2021, over Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest, during a years on Thursday, prompting A deterioration of bilateral rehearsal for events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party on 1 Hezbollah to re rockets back July. PHOTO: KYODO relations may prompt Japan to at the Jewish state the follow- deepen cooperation with the and its close ally Japan, the to China due largely to discom- eager to gain public support ing day. United States in containing two democratic countries could fort with Communist one-party ahead of a House of Repre- “Our response was linked China’s global and regional boycott the Beijing Olympics, rule and cyberbullying appar- sentatives election that must to the Israeli strikes that influence, probably thwarting which would take a heavy toll ently by Chinese people against be held by this autumn, could occurred in south Lebanon Xi’s efforts to host the Winter on the mainland government, Japanese athletes during the dare to decide to boycott the for the rst time in 15 years,” Games in a complete form. diplomatic sources say. Tokyo Olympics. Beijing Games if anti-China he said in a televised speech Should China intensify ten- In Japan, ordinary citizens Japanese Prime Minister sentiment grows at home, the ahead of the anniversary of the sions with the United States have become more unfavorable Yoshihide Suga, who has been sources say. — Kyodo News end of the last war with Israel in 2006. “We wanted to tell the At least 5 injured as Thai protesters clash with police in Bangkok enemy... that any air strike by the Israeli air force on Lebanon the resignation of Prime Min- and two protesters—were sent will inevitably draw a response, ister Prayut Chan-o-cha over to hospitals in the capital, ac- though in a suitable and his handling of the COVID-19 cording to the reports. proportionate way, because response, according to reports Around 1,200 people joined we want to serve the purpose by local media. the march, police said. of protecting our country,” he The clash occurred while The protesters led by added. the protesters set out on a student groups called for the Nasrallah described the 3-kilometer march from the government led by Prayut to air strikes this week as a “very Victory Monument to the resi- resign, and cut budgets of de- dangerous development”, but dence of Prayut located inside fense and the palace for use in said Hezbollah did not want the camp of the First Infantry vaccination procurement. war. — AFP Regiment in northern Bangkok. They blamed the govern- Police fired tear gas to stop ment for failing to contain a the people who joined the pro- surge in coronavirus cases and Election has ‘lost all Anti-government protesters gather in Bangkok on 7 August test by ignoring a ban on gath- purchasing Chinese vaccines 2021. PHOTO: KYODO credibility’: US ering by more than five people which they claim are inefficient AT least five people were clashed with police in Bangkok amid the coronavirus outbreak. in tackling the virus.—Kyodo US Secretary of State Antony injured as Thai protesters on Saturday as they demanded The injured—three policemen News Blinken on Saturday said Nica- ragua’s November election had “lost all credibility,” accusing Fighting rages in centre of President Daniel Ortega of an autocratic campaign to crush major Afghan city Kunduz opponents. Nicaragua’s electoral AFGHAN forces and the Taliban retreated towards the airport. council on Friday disquali ed were fighting fiercely Sunday in The Taliban have taken two the country’s main opposition the centre of Kunduz, officials and provincial capitals since Friday, party from the upcoming pres- residents said, after the insur- but Kunduz would be the most idential polls, in an escalating gents captured two other provin- significant to fall since the insur- political crackdown in the cial capitals in the last 48 hours. gents launched an offensive in Central American country. The fall of the northern city May as foreign forces began the “The United States views would be a major blow for the final stages of their withdrawal. the regime’s latest undemo- central government, which has On Friday the Taliban seized cratic, authoritarian actions largely abandoned fighting in their first provincial capital, -- driven by Ortega’s fear of the countryside to defend urban Zaranj in Nimroz, and followed Afghan forces were ghting the Taliban in northern city Kunduz, a day an electoral loss -- as the nal after the insurgents took their second provincial capital. PHOTO: AFP centres against Taliban attacks. it up a day later by taking She- blow against Nicaragua’s pros- “Fierce street-to-street fight- berghan in Jawzjan. Fighting was es flatfooted, but they had some “US forces have conducted pects for a free and fair election ing is ongoing in different parts also reported on the outskirts of respite late Saturday after US several airstrikes in defence of later this year,” Blinken said in a of the city,” Amruddin Wali, a Herat, in the west, and Lashkar warplanes bombed Taliban posi- our Afghan partners in recent statement. member of the Kunduz provin- Gah and Kandahar in the south. tions in Sheberghan, the Jawzjan days,” Major Nicole Ferrara, a “That electoral process, in- cial council, told AFP. The pace of Taliban advanc- province capital seized earlier in Central Command spokesperson, cluding its eventual results, has “Some security forces have es has caught government forc- the day. told AFP in Washington. — AFP lost all credibility.” — AFP 9 AUGUST 2021 16 SPORT THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

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

King Kipchoge retains men’s Olympic marathon title

KENYA’S Eliud Kipchoge un- letics programme at the Tokyo for the second time, back-to- India showers cash on derlined his credentials as the Games. back. I hope now to help inspire golden boy Chopra undisputed king of the marathon Kipchoge’s victory margin of the next generation,” Kipchoge with a totally dominant run to 1min 20sec was the biggest since said. “It means a lot for me, es- retain his Olympic title on the Frank Shorter’s win in the 1972 pecially at this time,” he added of streets of Sapporo on Sunday. Munich Games. winning his second gold medal. The world record holder The 36-year-old’s triumph, “It was really hard last year, clocked 2hr 08min 38sec to win his 13th win in the 15 marathons it (Olympic Games) was post- gold, becoming only the third he has raced since 2013, came a poned. I am happy for the local man to win consecutive mara- day after teammate Peres Jep- organising committee who made thon titles. chirchir secured back-to-back this race happen. It is a sign that Abdi Nageeye of the Neth- women’s Olympic marathon ti- shows the world we are heading erlands claimed silver in 2:09.58, tles for Kenya’s women. in the right direction — we are on just ahead of Belgium’s Bashir “I think I have fulfilled the the right transition to a normal Abdi in the final event of the ath- legacy by winning the marathon life.” — AFP

India’s Neeraj Chopra celebrates his country’s rst Olympic track Women delivered the goods for Japan at Tokyo Olympics and eld gold medal after winning Saturday’s javelin. PHOTO: AFP women carried the day. INDIAN companies and ucation company promised Japan won gold medals in 14 women’s, 12 men’s governments promised cash $270,000. events and one mixed event, and of the 58-medal and gifts worth more than India had to make its ath- total, female-only events resulted in 30 podiums. two million dollars to javelin letes “heroes so that we trans- This is quite a shift for Japan as compared to star Neeraj Chopra after he form ourselves from a sport previous games and poignant considering what won India’s first ever Olympic loving nation to a sport-playing took place at the head of the Olympic organizing athletics gold medal. nation,” said Byju Raveen- committee. Sexist remarks by the original organiz- The 23-year-old, who two dran, owner of the Byju’s ed- ing committee president, Yoshiro Mori, caused an years ago underwent surgery ucation tech company. outcry and led to him being replaced in February by on a career-threatening elbow The Indian cricket board, Seiko Hashimoto, a 1992 women’s 1,500-meter speed injury, threw 87.58 metres in the BCCI, and the Chennai skating bronze medalist. the Tokyo Olympic stadium on Super Kings Indian Premier The episode brought gender issues to the fore- Saturday to send his country League team vowed to give front of discussions around Japan’s hosting of the into raptures. $135,000 each and Chopra will event. Since 2004, Japan has seen no more than 48 Chopra led India’s most also get $100,000 from the Indi- percent of its Olympic medals won by female athletes successful Olympics ever with an Olympic Association. at a single games, and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 the a gold, two silver medals and Other firms offered free percentage fell to 43.9 percent, the lowest over the four bronze. He will also lead a air travel, luxury cars and period, according to Gracenote Sports. cash bonanza for the winning cash gifts that took Chopra’s Japanese swimmer Yui Ohashi poses for photos In comparison, the United States and China athletes. bonus over two million and on 1 August 2021, at Tokyo Aquatics Centre in the -- the only two nations to finish above Japan on the The government in his more was expected before he capital with her gold medals in the women’s 200- Tokyo Games medal table -- had more than 50 per- home state of Haryana said returns to India. and 400-meter individual medleys at the Tokyo cent of medals coming from women in Brazil, with it would give a 60 million rupee All of the medal winners Olympics. PHOTO: KYODO China leading the way with 58.6 percent. ($800,000) bonus to Chopra. can expect big cash rewards AS Japan flew past its previous best single-games That trend has continued in Tokyo, at least with gold Other state governments for their return, with the IOA Olympic gold medal total with its 17th on the eighth medals. Twenty-two of China’s 38 gold medals, or offered another $400,000 be- offering $53,750 for a silver, and day of the Tokyo Games, its female athletes were almost 58 percent, were won by women and for the tween them and a leading ed- $33,500 for a bronze. — AFP hauling their share of the load. By the end, the United States the figure is 23 of 39. —Kyodo News