wednesday, december 9, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue NUMBER 3558 / 4000 RIEL Donations roll in for Covid vaccine Mom Kunthear others made donations under the people who are at the greatest risk. ronment departments and court ring with development partners for slogan “the shield to safeguard peo- In a recorded message, he said: “I officials including judges, prosecu- additional aid. RIME Minister Hun Sen said ple’s health”. propose that doctors should be the tors and lawyers since they must “We will continue to consider there had been tremendous, “There are still many more people first to receive the vaccine because make regular contact with many which groups to inject first, and immediate support from the who want to donate. I have assigned they are on the front-lines facing members of the public. which to do next. Vaccinations will public after the government Seng Tieng, secretary of state at the danger. Hun Sen estimated this would be given to students studying at state announcedP that it would begin buy- Council of Ministers, to facilitate “Later, we must provide it to our account for 80 per cent of available and private universities and at voca- ing Covid-19 vaccines. these contributions via phone at 012 teachers, who number as many as vaccines in the first phase, leaving tional training schools. Injections In a Facebook post in the late evening 961 971 and ABA Bank with the 130,000. Members of the armed forc- approximately another 100,000 two- will be given to construction workers of December 8, Hun Sen said donations account 001249176,” he said. es, police and prison officials will be step treatments available for distri- and others in cities. Later, we will had risen to more than $30 million. On the evening of December 7, Hun provided vaccines because these bution at the Ministry of Health’s discuss further distribution,” he said. The prime minister said supporters Sen addressed the Committee for people all face a high risk,” he said. discretion. In a second procurement Hun Sen noted that some vaccines had written to express their solidar- Combating Covid-19, saying that vac- Others with priority include offi- phase, the government will pur- ity with government efforts while cination priority should be assigned to cials from forest, fisheries and envi- chase more stock as well as confer- Continued – page 2 Groups push for adoption of e-payment May Kunmakara his institution has seen a substantial increase in dig- THE first community trans- ital transactions among cus- mission of Covid-19 in Cam- tomers since the pandemic bodia has prompted the hit early this year. Kingdom’s main banking He said nearly half of all lobby groups to push for the transactions in October adoption of electronic pay- were made through online ments and digital platforms. channels and mainly com- The move comes in prised of online purchases response to a Ministry of and money, intra- and inter- Health announcement on bank transfers. December 7 that warned “To promote safer consum- paper money might harbour er behaviour, we’ve expanded the coronavirus if bills were merchant networks and handled by infected people offered various discounts. who had not followed sanita- “We also launched a contact- tion guidelines. less card and [NBC-backed] This was the core message Bakong service to offer even of a joint press statement more convenient and cheaper issued on December 8 by the solutions to banking users on Association of Banks in Cam- top of our mobile app and bodia (ABC), the SmartBiz, a business internet Microfinance Association banking solution. Historic first (CMA) and Cambodian Asso- “Now these new and digital Margaret Keenan (centre), 90, is applauded by staff after becoming the first person to receive the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry, England. Britain begins the biggest vaccination programme in the country’s history with a new Covid-19 jab on Tuesday. AFP ciation of Finance and Tech- banking tools are growing as nology (CAFT). part of the ‘new normal’ “Our community has brought on by the pandemic. worked and will continue to Even after recovery from Cov- work closely with the Nation- id-19, these financial consum- Report: Cybercrime costs to top $1T al Bank of Cambodia [NBC] er behaviours are not likely to to make cross-institution disappear and will bring more CYBERCRIME is expected to ransomware, phishing, busi- “While industry and govern- tual property and monetary transactions more conven- people into formal banking cost the global economy more ness email takeovers, spyware ment are aware of the financial assets as well as system down- ient, less costly and safe dur- systems,” Shin said. than $1 trillion this year, up and cryptocurrency theft. and national security implica- time and damage to an organ- ing this period. Say Sony, executive vice- more than 50 per cent since Some of the increase can be tions of cyberattacks, unplanned isation’s reputation, accord- “In the meantime, we would president of PRASAC Microfi- 2018, a US research report attributed to weaker security downtime, the cost of investigat- ing to the report. like to encourage the public nance Institution Ltd said on December 7. with more people working ing breaches and disruption to The researchers wrote: “It is to download and use the dig- (PRASAC), said his organisa- The report by McAfee Corp remotely outside their workplace. productivity represent less no secret that cybercrime can ital banking and payment tion introduced digital pay- with the Centre for Strategic and McAfee chief technical officer appreciated high impact costs.” harm public safety, under- platforms made available by ments in 2015 and has come International Studies (CSIS) Steve Grobman said: “The The report was based on a mine national security and our community members,” aboard other NBC-backed ini- concluded that the cost of online severity and frequency of cyber- survey of 1,500 technology damage economies. the statement read. tiatives such as Bakong in Sep- criminal activity is more than attacks on businesses contin- professionals in government “What is less well known are Shin Chang-moo, president tember 2019 and Retail Pay. one per cent of global econom- ues to rise as techniques evolve, and business in the US, Cana- the hidden costs that organi- and CEO of the South Kore- He said PRASAC is keen to ic output, and also had signifi- new technologies broaden the da, Britain, France, Germany, sations may not be aware of, an-owned adopt modern payment cant non-monetary impacts. threat surface and the nature of Japan and Australia. such as lost opportunities, Commercial Bank Plc The researchers noted a surge work expands into home and The impact of cybercrime wasted resources and dam- (PPCBank), told The Post that Continued – page 6 in a range of attacks including remote environments. includes the loss of intellec- aged staff morale.” AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Two new cases recorded as National Covid-19 retesting begins Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Over 230 repatriated from Thailand Minister heralds

Soth Koemsoeun

Thai authorities repatriated women’s roles in 234 people to Cambodia on December 5-6 via the O’Bei Choan border checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province’s social leadership O’Chrov district, according to an official report released on Niem Chheng social protection and support December 8. The number through the promotion of ac- included 120 women and girls. INISTER of For- cess to healthcare, legal advoca- In the report, the O’Chrov eign Affairs and cy and justice against violence, district administration also International Co- human trafficking and sexual indicated that from April to operation Prak exploitation – as well as access December 4, this year, the Thai MSokhonn said Cambodia is to economic resources such as authorities had arrested 55,611 committed to further profes- the expansion of credit for mi- Cambodians including 25,151 sional and civil recruitment of cro, small and medium-sized females who had illegally women and integrating their enterprises [MSMEs], 61 per crossed the border and deport- contributions as the nation cent of which has gone to wom- ed them via the O’Bei Choan continues to develop. en entrepreneurs,” he said. checkpoint. Sokhonn delivered an intro- Since 2006, Cambodia has Among the workers who ductory speech at the open- deployed 419 women among have been deported, some had ing session of Strengthening 7,123 peacekeepers to UN mis- been cheated for illegal work Women’s Roles in Building sions in nine countries. Cur- by brokers while others had Eleven migrant workers​​ at international border checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province after repatriation and Sustaining Peace: from rently, 92 women are among from Thailand on Saturday. GDI illegally crossed the border to Commitments to Results, an 781 Cambodian troops de- search for work in Thailand. deported Cambodians had three international border ty director Am Sam Ath said on international conference held ployed in five missions. Cam- According to the report, high temperatures, they would checkpoints with Thailand December 8 that based on his online on December 7. bodia ranks second in ASEAN among the 55,611 deported be sent to the Poipet Referral including O’Smach, Choam observation, some Cambodian “I reaffirm Cambodia’s contin- behind Indonesia and 17th in Cambodians, 22,718 were from Hospital for check-up. and Chubkiri. people had migrated in search ued determination to increase the world for its share of fe- Banteay Meanchey province, He said those who had no According to provincial gov- of work in Thailand. But dur- its recruitment of women, to male troops contributed to the 9,390 from , 1,404 health problems were instruct- ernor Pen Kosal, there are ing the Covid-19 pandemic, he create environments conducive UN peacekeeping efforts. from , 2,749 ed and educated to stop illegal always people crossing the bor- said some of them had to women realising their full po- UN resident coordinator to from Kampong Thom, 3,069 crossings because of the high der in search of work in Thai- returned home for fear of tential and to expand women’s Cambodia Pauline Tamesis from , 1,646 from Pur- level of danger they might face. land, but some do so illegally. infection as Thailand declared participation in sustainable de- said the UN encourages gov- sat, 6,107 from , and They need not listen to the “Some tried to cross the bor- a state of emergency. velopment and peace-building ernments to put women at the 2,250 from Tbong Khmum. incitement of brokers. der to enter Thailand illegally. He said some of them need processes around the world,” centre of their efforts for sus- An unspecific number of “We instructed them to wash The Thai authorities had arrest- income to supply their families he said at end of his remarks. tainable development, peace- people had come from other their clothes and quarantine for ed and sent them back via these and decide to cross the border From its tragic past, Cam- building and recovery from provinces. 14 days. They cannot have direct three international check- to Thailand despite risks of bodia has witnessed the forti- Covid-19. That starts with O’Chrov district governor Ly contact with their families or points. But I have yet to have a Covid-19 transmission. tude and resilience of women women as leaders, with equal Sovanrith said on December 8 others before being allowed to monthly detailed report. “We see that in the past, the in rebuilding society and representation and decision- that specialists had waited to return to their hometowns. “On an average, there are government had distributed engendering a peaceful and making power, she said. receive the deported migrant “At the same time, we instruct 200 people each day who some money to vulnerable secure environment vital for “Protection and expansion workers and send them for them to wear masks at all either return home them- and poor people. But the mon- economic and social devel- of rights and participation of quarantine. times and frequently wash selves or are sent back by Thai ey has yet to respond to their opment, Sokhonn said. women in public affairs are Health workers in collabora- hands with alcohol or soap. soldiers. The Cambodian difficulties. So the question is, He noted that the government critical for shaping a more re- tion with police, military per- They have to follow the Minis- authorities wait for them at should the government con- had taken efforts to promote silient future. Gender equality sonnel, Military Police officers try of Health guidance. These the checkpoints to instruct sider providing more money? women, who now constitute and women’s rights are essen- and border guard police had measures are for the preven- and educate them not to cross I think that besides providing 41 percent of the civil service tial to getting through this pan- checked their temperatures tion and containment of Cov- the border illegally, especial- cash to them, relevant special- workforce, with a growing num- demic together, to recovering and inquired about some oth- id-19 transmission,” he said. ly to help prevent Covid-19 ists should help look for ber engaged in leadership and faster, and to building a more er relevant information. Separately in Oddar transmission,” Kosal said. domestic work to them, as decision-making positions. peaceful and better future for Sovanrith said if any of the Meanchey province, there are Rights group Licadho depu- many as possible,” he said. “[Today,] women enjoy better everyone,” she said. Budget prepared for Gov’t tackles fake news amid pandemic Nov Sivutha “Prime Minister Hun Sen stated clearly that he had pre- one million dose of THE Ministry of Information has pared a letter to the King, but it warned of legal action against would only be used in case of Covid vaccines: PM individuals who spread fake news emergency, when the situation amid the Covid-19 pandemic. cannot be controlled,” he said. Continued from page 1 people,” he said. Donations to The warning came as the Siphan also rejected claims by the government’s campaign ministry and Government some political activists that said being brought to market will have come from oknhas Spokesperson Unit issued state- the government had used the require super-cold storage, [national dignitaries], minis- ments in response to the spread Covid-19 situation to persecute between -30 and -80 degrees try leaders, public officials and of fake news related to the gov- former members of the Supreme Celsius, depending on the the general public. ernment’s efforts to combat Court-dissolved Cambodia product. To meet these condi- On December 8, Kem Sokha, Covid-19. It also came after National Rescue Party. tions, he said a vaccine storage the former president of the rumours spread that Prime Pen Bona, president of the warehouse is warranted. Supreme Court-dissolved Cam- Minister Hun Sen will declare a Club of Cambodian Journal- The prime minister prom- bodia National Rescue Party, state of emergency if the Covid- Government spokesman Phay Siphan. HENG CHIVOAN ists, said journalists have an ised an initial budget would be encouraged measures to contain 19 situation worsens. a crime, the ministry will take seminated fake news to incite important role to play in prepared to buy one million the Covid-19 pandemic in con- Information ministry spokes- action by examining the facts panic among the public on the engaging with stakeholders in doses of Covid-19 vaccines to junction with the government. man Meas Sophorn told The and the law in each case. spread of Covid-19. disseminating factual infor- be provided without charge to In a Facebook post, he said: “I Post on December 8 that the The ministry said some jour- Dissemination of this fake mation to the public about the Cambodian people. With congratulate and highly praise ministry had always urged nalists had accepted bribes in news comes at a time when the Covid-19. He said journalists each person needing two donors for giving their money journalists to obey the laws and exchange for not publishing or government and relevant should do their best to spread injections, the first procure- with generous hearts to support regulations and to adhere to deleting information, which is authorities at all levels, togeth- the truth so that the people ment phase would aim to vac- the government’s efforts to buy professional ethics. a serious violation of profes- er with the people nationwide, will not be panic and scared. cinate 500,000 people. a Covid-19 vaccine for the Cam- “The ministry has observed sional ethics. have been collaborating to pre- “If journalists or Facebook Potentially up to two-thirds bodian people. that while a majority of media To eliminate the unethical vent the community transmis- users post misinformation and of Cambodia’s population of “I wish to encourage Cambo- outlets and journalists adhere acts of unprofessional journal- sion of Covid-19. mislead people and society, I 16 million people would ulti- dian people at home and to professional ethics, a hand- ists, and in the case of any per- Government spokesman Phay think it is a big mistake that we mately be vaccinated, the abroad to donate in support of ful have acted against the law, son affected by the mentioned Siphan said some people had should all reconsider. In this prime minister speculated. this cause. This is the solidarity ethics and professionalism, issues, the ministry supports taken content from ethically pub- regard, the statement of the Royal Group of Companies Ltd of the Khmer nation, helping prompting the ministry to issue the person to exercise their lished news, fabricated the facts information ministry and the president Kith Meng donated $3 each other in times of emer- the warning,” he said. rights by the law and request and shared them as fake news. Government Spokesperson million in support of the govern- gency such as this disease.” Sophorn warned that if the the authorities to take legal Citing an example, he said Unit is warranted,” Bona said. ment’s campaign to buy Covid- Sokha also called for human- small number of journalists con- action without advance notice after Hun Sen announced not “For professional journal- 19 vaccines. He said he and his itarian assistance from devel- tinue to act unprofessionally, the to the information ministry. to close Phnom Penh or any ists, there is no problem. But family were honoured to con- oped and resource-rich coun- ministry and relevant institu- Separately, the Government other area to contain Covid-19 there are some unprofession- tribute to efforts to save lives tries among the international tions would take action that may Spokesperson Unit on Decem- community transmissions, al individuals who claim to be among the Cambodian people. community to help provide lead to the suspension or termi- ber 7 issued a statement that some people spread fakes news journalists, always spreading “We hope that the contribu- Covid-19 vaccines for the Cam- nation of a publishing licence. recently observed that some that the prime minister [fake] news, causing social tion will be of great help to our bodian people. Also, if an offence constitutes people have fabricated and dis- announced a lockdown. chaos,” he added. THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Officer sent New Covid cases as retesting begins to court for

Mom Kunthear factory theft

WO more people in the capital connected to the MILITARY officer was November 28 com- sent to the Phnom munity transmission A Penh Municipal Court testedT positive for Covid-19 on December 7 after being while the Ministry of Health arrested for prying open the conducted a second round of door of a garment factory’s testing on those involved in warehouse in the capital’s the event on December 8, in Por Sen Chey district. Phnom Penh and throughout Deputy district police the provinces. chief Chea Sovann said According to the health on December 7 said the ministry’s press release on De- 42-year-old suspect was a cember 8, the new cases were military officer from Prey Srean Kimsrun, a 22 year-old Veng province’s Peam Chor law student at the Royal Uni- district. versity of Law and Economics “We refer this case [of and resident of Daun Penh theft] to court for further district’s Wat Phnom com- action,” he said. mune, Phnom Penh, who Sovann said that on went to the Zando fashion November 27 the arrest outlet in Boeung Keng Kang followed a complaint from a district on November 27, and factory owner, who claimed Eam Thida, a 35 year-old resi- to have lost materials worth dent of Meanchey district’s over $300,000. Boeung Tompun commune, The suspect was later Phnom Penh. She visited the arrested in Prey Veng prov- Pedro footwear and accesso- ince’s Peam Chor district ries outlet on November 27. after a joint investigation. Provincial deputy police On December 7, health min- Crowds await Covid-19 retesting at Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. HENG CHIVOAN istry officials collected about chief Pov Chivi said on 2,000 samples from employees mission was detected in Heng On December 7, health ees have direct contact with gers entering the country December 7 that a car and of the Ministry of Interior who Kong, wife of Chhem Savuth, minister Mam Bun Heng re- the public – such as super- across land borders or via sea a K54 pistol were seized as had not been tested previ- director-general of prisons. quested all capital and pro- markets, pharmacies, banks, and air corridors.” evidence. ously. Officials who had been Over the next week, more vincial leaders to strengthen hotels, restaurants, salons and He added that people “I handed over the sus- tested once before were in- than 10,000 people were test- management of quarantine traditional market stalls – it is should avoid enclosed set- pect to the Por Sen Chey structed to return for a second ed, with instructions to take a protocols and continue to is- especially important to follow tings without sufficient air district police because he test on December 8, including follow-up test on December 8. sue instructions for the im- safety procedures, he said. flow, avoid crowded places committed the offence interior minister Sar Kheng. The health ministry, together plementation of measures to Bun Heng also urged “great- or those where many people in Phnom Penh. We just The first round of testing with provincial officials na- prevent Covid-19 transmis- er oversight of people during are gathering and avoid close cooperated to arrest the began on November 29 after tionwide, set up testing facili- sion in places of business. the 14-day quarantine period contacts with others such as suspect,” he said. Kim Sarom the first local Covid-19 trans- ties at designated locations. In businesses where employ- and management of passen- hugging or shaking hands. State fund gives maternity support Woman nabbed for Nov Sivutha killing 71-year-old OVER the past three years, the National Social Security in Siem Reap robbery Fund (NSSF) has provided more than 87 billion riel Orm Bunthoeurn an unspecified amount of in childbirth subsidies to gold. 210,000 women across the SOTR Nikum district police “After the robbery, the country, according to Heng arrested a 33-year-old female suspect took the gold and Sophannarith, director of suspect on December 7 for handed it to a villager. Now, NSSF’s policy division. the robbery-murder of an el- the police found the gold but Sophannirath said despite derly woman, 71, in the dis- have yet to conclude how the fact that Cambodia has trict, . much it weighed. The sus- dealt with the Covid-19 cri- District police chief Tep pect admitted that the mon- sis this year, disbursement Channa said on Tuesday that ey amounting to 2,800,000,” of benefits to women under the police had arrested the he said. the programme has been suspect who was hiding in a However, Sokha said that unaffected. house in Ta Yek commune’s Ta he cannot reveal details of the He told The Post on Decem- Yek village in the district. case because it is still under ber 7 that, in the previous “According to the suspect’s police investigation. month, from November 1-30, confession, the old woman Ta Yek commune police chief NSSF subsidies amounted to had money so the suspect fol- Ey Vin said the victim joined a more than 2.8 billion riel for lowed her to a rice field, where religious ceremony in the vil- 7,014 women. Figures for Octo- she had dug up potato. lage at 7am on December 4. ber were slightly higher. Those “She had secretly [tried to] She then returned home and numbers did not include wom- hit the victim from behind but led a cow to her rice field in en who are civil servants. missed the target. The elderly Dak Phka village, about 2km He said the public is now fought back and a scuffle en- from her home. At 2:30pm, the well aware of the service and sued. The suspect grabbed victim rode a bicycle to see the its process and importance. a digging hoe to beat the old cow and picked up rice in the The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has provided more than 87 billion riel in childbirth subsidies to Moch Channary, a company 210,000 women across the country over the past three years. NSSF woman [on the head],” he said. rice field. employee in Phnom Penh, re- The suspect thought that By 7pm, the victim’s chil- ceived the subsidy when giv- available. The process took only “Separately, female workers der to receive additional ma- the police didn’t know about dren didn’t see her returning ing birth three months earlier. about two weeks each time. can apply to receive a mater- ternity allowances from the the matter, but after launch- home, so they started to look It was important, she said, as it “We could get the money at nity stipend of 70 per cent government, female workers ing an investigation, the po- for her in the field with some greatly reduced her expenses. partner banks or get a cheque of prior wages after giving must come to the NSSF of- lice identified her and called neighbours. “During the delivery period, from the NSSF. Overall, we birth,” Leap said. fice throughout the country her in for questioning. They saw the victim in a I used the NSSF card and re- covered many expenses by us- Prime Minister Hun Sen im- at least three months be- Provincial serious crimes forest bush in the field, with ceived the same care as those ing this NSSF card,” she said. plemented the programme in fore giving birth to complete bureau chief Duong Sokha injuries and blood around who did not. I received 400,000 Free Trade Union deputy sec- 2018 to provide cash support the registration forms. They said that until December 8 her. Her family sent her for riel and the 70 per cent mater- retary-general Yung Leap laud- to all women in labour. Fe- should bring a pregnancy afternoon, the police are still emergency medical care, but nity allowance by applying to ed the government’s support, male workers in both formal test certificate stating their questioning the suspect and she died upon arriving at the the NSSF office,” she said. saying it helped ease women’s and informal employment due date of delivery, an NSSF gathering evidence at the dis- district referral hospital. After applying for benefits, burdens at a critical time. sectors are encouraged to reg- membership card or Health trict police station. Channary said she received Women are entitled to 400,000 ister with the NSSF to receive Equity Fund card, a Cambo- But according to a primary www.phnompenhpost.com notifications from the NSSF in- riel per child – or 800,000 riel the per-child benefits. dian identity card and a clear report, the suspect had sto- check the post website forming her that the funds were for twins, she explained. The NSSF said that in or- contact number. len nearly 3 million riel and for breaking news 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Foreign tourist arrivals down 76.1%: Ministry Hin Pisei 314,291 visitors, representing an 84.5 per cent year-on-year dip. NTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals Thai, Vietnamese and US tour- dwindled down to 1,267,890 in ists numbered 194,774; 181,328; the first 10 months of this year, and 55,170, all of which dropped by sinking an unprecedented 76.1 41.5, 74.8 and 71.6 per cent year-on- Iper cent from the 5,296,088 recorded year. Tourists from the UK, France in same period last year, the Ministry and Japan all registered lower fig- of Tourism reported at the weekend. ures over last year. This is a sobering reminder of Ministry of Tourism spokesman Top the lingering damage that Covid- Sopheak (pictured, Fresh News) told 19 has inflicted on the sector, in an The Post on December 7 that era where countries around the while international visitor- world have shuttered their ship to the Kingdom had borders and imposed trav- managed to elude the el restrictions in response dragnet of Covid-19 Tourists listen to a guide at Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 5. afp to the pandemic. in its early months, A total of 734,309 tour- it eventually caught ber 4 issued a press release stipulating visitors, with some businesses clos- consider affording the tourism sec- ists entered the Kingdom up in March. health measures for all travellers who ing their doors and others clinging tor additional fiscal perks such as through its three inter- “We are all too enter Cambodia from December 12. on for dear life as owners are forced waiving penalties associated with national airports in Jan- aware that the cur- The statement said all in-bound to downsize or halt operations and tax debt over the full-year 2020 to uary-October, taking rent decline in in- passengers must self-quarantine tap personal funds to stay afloat. mitigate the effects of Covid-19 and an 80.2 per cent year- ternational tourist for 14 days upon arrival and are re- She echoed Sopheak’s concerns that ensure that more tour companies on-year nosedive, while arrivals is a universal quired to obtain a certificate indi- the health ministry’s new self-quar- can retain their staff. 533,581 arrived by land or dilemma. The bulk of cating that they have tested negative antine rule will further weigh down Cambodia attracted 6.61 million waterways, plunging 66.3 the visitors we’re get- for Covid-19 within 72 hours of de- on international tourist arrivals. international tourists last year, jump- per cent year-on-year. ting now are investors parture from their country of origin. “By my reckoning, the number of ing up 6.6 per cent from 6.2 million in Chinese tourists once and that’s pretty much Acknowledging that this would in- international tourists to Cambodia 2018, tourism ministry figures show. again topped the it,” he lamented. evitably stymie the tourism industry’s will only decline further for the re- The Kingdom earned $4.91 billion list at Minister of Health recovery, Sopheak said it is a neces- mainder of 2020,” Sivlin said. in international tourism receipts Mam Bun Heng sary measure that takes people’s lives While tourism to the Kingdom had last year, up 12.4 per cent from $4.37 on Decem- into account and could potentially seen somewhat of a rebound recent- billion in 2018, the data show. avert a health catastrophe. ly, the “November 28 community And according to the World Bank, Cambodia Association of Travel event” put a swift end to the reverie, the tourism industry represented 18.7 Agents president Chhay Sivlin noted she said in reference to the first local per cent of the Kingdom’s gross do- that the tourism sector is reeling in transmission on November 28. mestic product last year, second after the midst of a year-long dearth of She called on the government to construction (and real estate). THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Abuse of women rises amid Covid pandemic Soth Koemsoeun against women in all forms. spokesperson Man Chenda “We know that when it comes did not respond to a request HE Cambodia Cen- to women’s rights, there is, ev- for comment by press time. tre for Human Rights erywhere, an insufficient com- A 2015 survey by the min- (CCHR) published a mitment to acknowledging the istry found that 21 per cent report on December 6 value of women. Obviously, of women reported having claimingT that one in five wom- women continue to suffer from experienced physical or sex- en in Cambodia had suffered all manners of violence. ual violence from an intimate violence from partners, family “In the context of the Covid- partner at least once. members, colleagues, acquain- 19 pandemic, even without Twenty per cent of respon- tances or public officials, and a comprehensive report, we dents said their first sexual the rate of incidence has risen see that there seems to have experience involved some during the Covid-19 pandemic. been a turning point – more form of coercion, with 49 per The report analysed gender- women face increasing vio- cent of these women not hav- based violence, which it said lence because so many of ing previously reported any Over 30 families involved in the case gather at the Provincial Court on Friday. supplied occurs predominantly against them work at home rather violence, citing fear or embar- women and is rooted in gen- than outside,” she said. rassment or believing that it der inequality, abuse of power Ministry of Women’s Affairs was normal as the reasons. and harmful cultural norms. Arrest warrants issued for Most incidents of violence against women involved do- mestic abuse, sexual assaults three over K Kong land sale and human trafficking. “On this important occasion, Orm Buntheourn the land after seeing the ad- customer [victims] and the the CCHR urges the govern- vertisement which said buyers company owner. There is no ment to fulfill its obligation of THE Koh Kong Provincial Court would pay a deposit of only evidence that the [two] em- promoting, protecting and re- has identified and issued arrest $6,000 with a $300 monthly in- ployees are involved,” he said. specting human rights across warrants for three people in- stalment for 20 months if they He said that based on the the country, especially taking volved in the illegal sale of land purchase two plots of land. The principle of criminal liability, measures to protect women’s plots to people in the province. advertisement also claimed an individual is criminally lia- rights and promote gender The three – Ban Panha, that the land title would be is- ble only for his or her actions. equality,” the report said. Phorn Tikea and Ly Bun Rath- sued by the Ministry of Land “Therefore, it does not CCHR executive director thy – are allegedly involved in Management, Urban Planning mean that employees would Chak Sopheap was critical of the sale of land plots that do and Construction. be held accountable if the the current situation, telling not rightfully belong to them. “I have been paying $300 company owner commits a The Post on December 8 that The case involves land in Khe- a month for eight months, crime and escapes, even if the she wanted government offi- marak Phoumin town’s Smach and have paid more than employees are relatives of the cials to take concrete actions Meanchey commune, whose $8,000 in total, including the owner. The important thing is to promote women’s rights in rightful owners remained un- down payment of more than to check if the employee had society and implement mea- known, officials said. $6,000,” he said. bad intention and participat- sures to eliminate discrimi- A poster used as part of the World 16 Day Campaign Event to call for the Provincial deputy governor Bak, who identified the firm ed in the crime,” he said. nation and use of violence stop on violence against women. women affairs ministry Sok Sothy told The Post on De- as Business Independent Dis- cember 7 that the residents first tributor Co, Ltd (BID), said sought an intervention from about 70 families bought the provincial administration. around 200 plots of land. But because the case involved “Most victims are unaware a contract dispute between that the owner of BID had es- them and a company, it urged caped. This is because some of them to file a lawsuit instead. them stay in Poi Pet town [in Sothy said both buyers and Banteay Meanchey province] the firm in question had some- and Preah Sihanouk province, thing hidden. He said the firm and others are currently work- first installed posters advertis- ing in Thailand. They wanted ing sale of land plots. But after to have land for doing busi- an inspection the authority ness, so they pay instalment found that there was no proper for this purpose,” he said. approval from the relevant au- Another victim, Heng Phear- thorities, prompting the pro- ak, accused the BID of being a vincial administration to order fraudster. a halt to the land sale. He said the firm claimed He explained that upon to have split land of nearly seeing the advertisement and 50,000sqm into plots for sale in hearing about the land sale, Boeung Khun Chhang village, the victims approached the in Khemarak Phoumin town’s firm and signed land pur- Smach Meanchey district. chase contracts. The authori- The BID, he said, started col- ties were not aware of the sale lecting payments in February as it was done without any this year, but a few months after proper documentation. the sale no land plot was hand- Sothey said that as of De- ed over to land buyers and the cember 7, the provincial au- company owner escaped. thorities were still working “I brought my relative to buy to identify the firm, its owner four plots of land, two plots of and the rightful landowners. which are paid for while the oth- “We have instructed the rel- er two are paid with an instal- evant authorities to continue ment of $500 per month. I have searching for the real land- paid for three months,” he said. owner and find out who put Phearak said two employees up advertisements to sell the of the firm were arrested and land plots. sent to the provincial court, but “They are also working to were later released after being determine the relationship cleared of any involvement. between the company and Provincial court deputy the landowners, which can prosecutor Un Sovantheany serve as a clue to help peo- said that after receiving and ple use it as evidence to the examining the case, as well court,” said Sothy. as questioning the company Pich Bak, one of the victims, employees and the plaintiff, said about 30 families had the court determined that thumbprinted a petition to there was no evidence to the provincial authorities and charge the two employees for have also filed a complaint to being involved in the case. the provincial court. “All sales documents and let- Bak said he wanted to buy ters were made between the 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,070 1.2780 6.5276 104.07 4.0720 1.3358 30.05 0.7430 1.2124 1.3340 Bilateral trade with US notches up Lenders plugging 15.9% with new orders still rolling in into NBC Hin Pisei initiatives ILATERAL trade between the Kingdom and the US Continued from page 1 amounted to $5.8 billion in the first 10 months of this instruments that allow for nation- year,B up $972.8 million or 15.9 per wide inter-platform fund transfers cent over the $5 billion registered in and are deemed to be safe, easy to the same period last year, data from use, fast and able to be provided the US Census Bureau show. to customers free of charge. This comes amid Covid-19’s con- “PRASAC allows customers and tinued assault on the world’s largest the public to conveniently access economy (in nominal terms) and services through PRASAC Mobile the grim reality that one American Banking and Internet Banking. per minute is dying in the US due to “We are truly delighted to be the coronavirus, according to figures such an integral part of the NBC’s from online portal Worldometer. Bakong project, Retail Pay and The export value of Cambodian other NBC initiatives that aim to goods during the period was $5.5 bil- bring all payment-service pro- lion, up 21.34 per cent from $4.5 billion viders and financial institutions last year, and goods imported from the onto the same platform, making US were worth $269.7 million, down it easier for people to improve 39.5 per cent from $445.9 million. daily cash management and Hong Vanak, director of Interna- helping preventing Covid-19 tional Economics at the Royal Acad- infections,” Sony said. emy of Cambodia, told The Post on ACLEDA Bank Plc president December 8 that the uptick in trade and group managing director In clearly illustrates the magnitude of Channy told The Post that his the US market and its importance as a institution pioneered the transi- destination for Cambodian products. tion to digital with the debut of He said the statistics are testament ACLEDA Unity in July 2010 and to the resilience of Cambodian ex- still leads the fray with the con- The export value of Cambodian goods in January-October was $5.5 billion, up 21.34 per cent from $4.5 billion last year. hENG CHIVOAN port growth in light of Covid-19. tinued development of the “The heightened exports can be must strive to reinforce their quality export growth is a sure sign that the luggage – were granted duty-free status ACLEDA Unity ToanChet app regarded as an influx of international and services in order to diversify the US will remain an important market under the Generalised System of Pref- launched in 2017. currency into the Cambodian na- Cambodian economy towards greater for the Kingdom, rain or shine. erences (GSP) in July 2016. He claimed that the app would tional economic production chain,” and more efficient levels,” Vanak said. “The fact that the export of Cambo- Key US-bound products include increase access to finance for the Vanak said. He attributed the drop in imports dian goods grew more than 20 per cent bicycles, clothing and footwear. majority of Cambodians and In tandem with the surge, the King- from the US to muted demand, is a source of pride,” Chanthy said, Bilateral trade between the two allow them to conveniently and dom must also devote more towards pointing out that they comprise adding that the volume of goods pass- countries totalled $5.8 billion last securely view their accounts and improving the quality of products mainly cars and machinery. ing through Autono- year, up 38.05 per cent compared to make transactions 24/7. and services and ensuring compli- Cambodia Logistics Association mous Port had purportedly not logged $4.2 billion in 2018, data from the US More customers are choosing ance with labour laws, he said, add- (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said or- a year-on-year drop so far in 2020. Census Bureau show. to use ACLEDA Unity ToanChet ing that the US is known for setting ders from the US are still omnipresent. The Kingdom’s exports to the US have Of that, Cambodian exports were to or self-service help channels over the bar very high. With Cambodian products ever in continued to grow since travel goods – the tune of $5.3 billion, and imports bank tellers, he said, adding that “All Cambodian manufacturers high demand, he said the sustained including handbags, backpacks and clocked in at $514 million. 68 per cent of bank account hold- ers had downloaded the app. He said the average number of daily transactions via digital channels was around 338,000 last month, up 63 per cent year-on- Implementation accord inked for K Kong dam year from the 207,000 logged in the year-ago period. Thou Vireak der. It will be built under the “I think ‘digital’ means to BOT model for a 39 year lease increasingly support inclusive MINISTER of Mines and Ener- contract – four for construc- finance and leave no one behind gy Suy Sem on December 8 tion and 35 for doing business in terms of having access to signed implementation agree- – at a cost of $110,948,912. finance,” Channy said. ments for a 150MW hydro- Victor Jona, the director- As of December 31 last year, power dam and two 500kV general of the Ministry of there were 47 commercial banks transmission lines. Mines and Energy’s General operating in the Kingdom com- The 150MW Stung Tatai Leu Department of Energy, told prising 17 local banks, 17 sub- dam will be built on the upper The Post that the government sidiaries and 13 foreign branch reaches of the Tatai River in Koh decided in principle to allow banks, according to the NBC. Kong province’s northern Thma the transmission lines to con- Statistics show that there were Bang district by the Chinese nect to the national grid, in 15 specialised banks, seven state-owned China National anticipation of increased ener- microfinance deposit-taking Heavy Machinery Corp (CHMC) gy demand down the line. institutions (MDIs), 76 microfi- at a cost of $389,414,004. “We’re mulling over import- nance non-deposit-taking insti- This is according to the min- ing energy from Laos in 2024 tutions, 245 rural credit institu- utes of the October 23 Council and 2025 to put into motion the tions and 15 financial leasing of Ministers Plenary Session, plans outlined in this signed companies. which approved the dam and agreement, which will allow for Deposits and outstanding loans Energy minister Suy Sem (centre right) signs implementation agreements for the projects. ENERGY MINISTRY transmission lines. the company [SchneiTec] to rose sharply by 25 and 26 per cent State-run electricity supplier under a Build-Operation- electricity will be sold to EdC 28-year concession scheme, look for the capital investment last year over 2018, the central Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) Transfer (BOT) 39-year conces- at $0.0792 per kWh. including three years for con- needed for construction. bank said in its Macroeconomic and the Electricity Authority of sion scheme, including four SchneiTec Co Ltd will build the struction and 25 years for busi- “According to the plan, the and Banking Progress 2019 Report Cambodia (EAC) also signed a years for construction and 35 two 500kV transmission lines. ness operation, and will be construction project [the and 2020 Outlook. power purchase agreement years for business operation. One will be 199.52km long built at a cost of $330,466,584. transmission line to the Cam- Outstanding loans reached with CHMC on December 8. The dam will generate an and connect Phnom Penh to The other will be 107km long bodia-Lao border] will take at $19.6 billion and deposits at According to the council, the average of 527 million kilowatt the Cambodia-Lao border. It and link least three years to build,” Cambodia’s seven MDIs reached project will be conducted hours (kWh) per year and the will be built under a BOT with the Cambodian-Thai bor- Jona said. $22 billion last year, it said. THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business S Korea’s SK hynix joins JD medical arm up 75% on IPO 176-layer flash contest he medical arm of Chinese e-commerce SK hynix announced on De- corporate customers can use, giant JD.com soared cember 7 that it has finished de- it said. 75 per cent on its de- velopment of its 176-layer 512- The latest NAND flash prod- butT in Hong Kong on Decem- gigabit 4D NAND flash chips, uct by SK hynix has combined a ber 8, valuing the company at the third generation product in charge trap flash design and the $50 billion, as investors bank its 4D NAND line-up. peripheral under cells architec- on the pandemic boom in The South Korean chipmaker ture, technologies that compa- digital health services. is the second player, after US- ny has been using since 2018 to While the coronavirus has left based Micron to announce the maximise space efficiency. national health services stretched, industry’s highest-level NAND CTF uses a silicon nitride demand for digital healthcare product, beating market leader film to store electrons, al- providers like JD Health grew on Samsung Electronics. lowing chipmakers to store the back of the virus. According to the company, multiple bits on a single flash The company’s CEO Xin Lijun its new 176-layer NAND flash memory cell with fewer pro- said it has “changed the entire has cells with 20 per cent cess steps. PUC allows pe- [health] industry” and pushed faster read speed and 33 per ripheral circuits to be relocat- the company to accelerate its cent data transfer speed at ed under the cell array. listing in Hong Kong, the biggest 1.6Gbps – when compared to Meanwhile, SK hynix would initial public offering (IPO) in its previous generation. press ahead with develop- the financial hub this year. It added that it had deliv- ing 176-layer NAND flash The company, China’s largest ered the product to its partner with one-terabit capacity, the online healthcare platform and company to invent new prod- company said. retail pharmacy, raised HK$26.5 JD Health International CEO Xin Lijun (second right) rings the gong during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) ceremony at the JD headquarters in Beijing on Tuesday. AFP ucts using the memory chips. “SK hynix, one of the pio- billion (US$3.41 billion) in the Starting around in mid- neers in 4D NAND flash, sale and with demand for the The listing of the Beijing- the market capital added to JD Health’s total revenue 2021, SK hynix will begin would make the efforts to lead firm outpacing supply its share based subsidiary could also the Hong Kong Exchange. rose to 8.8 billion yuan ($1.34 introducing the new NAND the NAND flash market,” said price spiked at HK$123.90 – raise that much if banks execute Chinese tech companies are billion) in the first half of this flash in mobile devices first. Choi Jung-dal, head of NAND compared with its offer price of an option for additional stock. increasingly looking to move year from five billion yuan in The solutions for mobile development at SK hynix. HK$70.58 – briefly giving it a JD’s June sale came around into digital healthcare after the same period last year, it devices would increase the According to market re- valuation of $50 billion. the same time as another tech months of lockdowns caused said in its prospectus. maximum programme and search firmO mdia, the global However, it later eased firm, NetEase, raised $2.7 bil- by the coronavirus pandemic. The CEO said the pandemic read speeds by 35 per cent NAND flash market is expect- slightly to end up 56 per cent lion and followed Beijing- The health arm of JD.com’s had forced Beijing to reassess and 70 per cent, respectively ed to grow at 1.366 trillion at HK$110.00. Shanghai High Speed Railway’s rival Alibaba has more than dou- the standards of China’s online – when compared to the pre- gigabytes in 2024 from 431.8 Xin described the telemedi- $4.3 billion listing in January. bled in valuation in Hong Kong healthcare and it had made vious generation product. billion gigabytes this year, cine company’s listing as a However, the share market while personalised health com- changes that had boosted JD Next year, the company will marking an annual growth “new starting point” in health- was dealt a blow last month pany Ping An Good Doctor has Health’s success, such as per- also introduce solid-state drive rate of 33.4 per cent. THE KOREA care, adding that the firm aims when Ant Group, the financial surged in value by more than 50 mitting online insurance care products that individual and HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK to provide “convenient and arm of Alibaba, was forced to per cent during the pandemic. claims. accessible” medical services pull its world-record $35 bil- Because of China’s widespread The IPO is another boon in after a challenging year in the lion listing under pressure internet coverage, Xin said an a positive financial year for the health sector. from Chinese authorities. online consultation platform Hong Kong market, despite As China’s coronavirus out- But December 8’s debut per- like JD Health’s could “become the pandemic and pro-democ- break peaked early this year, the formance by JD Health, the China’s largest tiered diagnosis racy protests that had swept subsidiary of JD.com offered free first big tech offering since and treatment platform”. across the financial hub before online consultations, attracting Ant’s IPO was shelved, showed The company already hosts Beijing imposed a controver- tens of thousands of patients a Hong Kong remains an attrac- more than 100,000 people a day sial security law in July. day and helping stem the wave tive location for listings. even after the worst of China’s The listing has moved Hong of people who may have sought “It’s a sign of how the centre outbreak, when it attracted up to Kong IPOs past $25 billion for to attend a hospital. of finance is shifting to the 150,000 daily visitors, he said. the year, putting it on course The share sale comes after the East in a big way,” Brian Tycan- The company’s platforms for its best since 2010, accord- company’s parent raised around go, analyst at Stansberry now boast 65,000 doctors and ing to financial tracker Refini- SK hynix’s 176-layer 512-gigabit NAND flash. SK HYNIX $4 billion in the city in June. Research, wrote on Twitter of more than 72 million patients. tiv. AFP Five new rail lines set for south VN Stock markets and British Five new high-speed rail lines The fifth rail line will be a double- Dau Mot-Chon Thanh and Ho Chi pound retreat as Covid-19, between Ho Chi Minh City and south- track railway that will connect the Minh City-Moc Bai expressways. ern Vietnamese provinces expected to national railway system to Hiep Logistics costs of a number of indus- be built by 2025 would help to ensure Phuoc Port in Ho Chi Minh City’s Nha tries remain high. For example, the logis- Brexit dominate direction smooth transport of goods and Be district and Long An Internation- tics costs of the seafood sector accounts improve logistics services and con- al Port in the Mekong Delta province for 25-30 per cent of total costs. Stock markets slid on December 8 ern world to receive an approved vac- nections between major seaports. of Long An. One of the major reasons for the in cautious trade amid vaccine roll- cine against Covid-19, at the start of The new rail lines are included in a Under the project for the logistics high costs is the traffic congestion on outs and US stimulus hopes. a marathon campaign health officials larger project for the city’s logistics sector, the city has asked the Ministry roads between cities and provinces The pound slumped for a second hope heralds a fight-back against the sector until 2025 with a vision to 2030 of Transport to approve an upgrade in the southern region, which length- day running with post-Brexit trade global pandemic. that has been approved by the of the existing North-South railway, ens travel time. talks on a knife-edge. UK regulators last week became the municipal People’s Committee. ensuring an average speed of The revenue growth rate of logistics And the yen dipped against the dol- first in the world to approve the Pfiz- They will connect to the national 80-90km/h for passenger trains and services in the city is expected to lar after Japan’s government approved er-BioNTech vaccine for general use, railway system and cross-border 50-60km/h for freight trains. reach 15 per cent by 2025 and 20 per more than $700 billion in fresh stim- and the first jabs were administered transport routes. It has also asked the ministry to cent by 2030. ulus to fund projects from anti-coro- across the country from early on The first Ho Chi Minh City-My Tho- approve the widening of the existing Logistics costs are expected to navirus measures to green tech. December 8. Can Tho rail line will start from Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong and make up for 10 per cent of the city’s Meanwhile the euro climbed on It comes as the outcome for a post- Minh City, run through My Tho city in Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau gross domestic product (GDP) by data showing German investor confi- Brexit trade deal remains up in the the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province Giay expressways, and speed up con- 2025 and 15 per cent by 2030. VIET NAM dence rebounded in December, air, with British Prime Minister Boris of Tien Giang, and end at Can Tho city. struction of the Ho Chi Minh City-Thu NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK buoyed by hopes that vaccines – Johnson preparing to visit Brussels The line will link with the North- expected to win approval for general for talks with EU chief Ursula von der South railway whose ending point is use in the EU imminently – could help Leyen. An Binh Station in Can Tho city. It is end the coronavirus pandemic. With the two sides divided over expected to extend to the southern- “Risk appetite is struggling to find fishing rights, rules for fair trade and most province of Ca Mau. direction amid Brexit headlines, ris- an enforcement mechanism for reg- The second rail line between Ho ing Covid-19 case counts, and pos- ulatory standards, there is a growing Chi Minh City and southern Tay Ninh sible further US sanctions on China fear a deal will not be done before the province will connect with the Ho Chi on the one hand and hopes for US December 31 deadline. Minh City-My Tho-Can Tho rail line fiscal stimulus and US vaccine Analysts meanwhile said that the at Tan Chanh Hiep Station in Ho Chi approval,” said Axi strategist Stephen next leg-up for equities would be Minh City’s District 12. Innes. news that US lawmakers had finally The third rail line will link Thu “Investors are pinning their hopes reached an agreement on a new res- Thiem Station in Ho Chi Minh City’s on the ultimate holiday stocking cue package for the battered econ- District 2 with Long Thanh Interna- stuffer, which is the capacity for [US] omy. tional Airport in Dong Nai province. stimulus overwhelming a near-term Democrats have largely thrown The fourth rail line will be on the downturn.” their support behind a bipartisan North-South axis, linking Ho Chi Minh Nurses on December 8 cheered as proposal worth $908 billion while City with Nha Trang city in the south- Five new high-speed rail lines between Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnamese an elderly British grandmother there is optimism Republicans will central province of Khanh Hoa. provinces will be built by 2025. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY became the first person in the West- also come on board soon. AFP 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Japan household spending rises

apan’s household additional stimulus spending. spending rose for the first Japan’s economy exited re- time in more than a year cession after three quarters of Jbut on one-off factors, contraction, with the revised government data showed on data also showing the world’s December 8, as gross domes- third-largest economy shrank tic product (GDP) was revised 8.2 per cent in the second up, confirming the country’s quarter, more than the previ- exit from recession. ously estimated 7.9 per cent. Household spending in Oc- That was the worst figure tober rose 1.9 per cent year- for Japan since comparable on-year, with the increase data became available in due in part to the govern- 1980, exceeding even the bru- ment’s controversial domes- tal impact of the 2008 global tic tourism campaign, which financial crisis. has been criticised as poorly The GDP data will be wel- conceived given the ongoing come news for Japan’s gov- coronavirus pandemic. ernment, which has avoided But it was also due to the the tough lockdown measures weakness of spending last Oc- seen in some other countries tober, after a consumption tax as it tries to balance prevent- hike, making this year’s figures ing the spread of coronavirus positive by comparison, ac- with protecting the economy. cording to data compiled by Japan was already strug- the internal affairs ministry. gling with a stagnating econ- Meanwhile, the Cabinet Of- omy and the impact of a fice revised up the GDP figure consumption tax hike imple- for the July-September period mented last year before the to 5.3 per cent from a prelimi- pandemic hit. nary estimate of 5.0 per cent, It has seen a smaller coro- with a decline in corporate navirus outbreak compared investment smaller than had to some of the worst-hit been initially thought. countries, with infections The figures come with the counting slightly more than government expected to an- 162,000 and deaths at around Household spending in October rose 1.9 per cent year-on-year, with the increase due in part to the government’s controversial domestic tourism nounce later on December 8 2,330. AFP campaign, which has been criticised as poorly conceived given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Indonesia ships $1.64B in exports to General Statistics Office: VN capitalise on Q3 surplus momentum chalks up record high trade

The Indonesian government on isfied with this achievement, because [big] companies to succeed in diversify- December 4 released a shipment of there are still plenty of potential export ing their export products and improve surplus despite pandemic exports worth $1.64 billion by 133 large markets that we have not tapped,” the their products’ competitiveness.” and small businesses to seek alterna- President said. He added that the government dis- Vietnam posted a trade surplus of of $69.9 billion, up 25.7 per cent tive markets and to revive Indonesian The World Trade Organisation (WTO) bursed 167 billion rupiah ($11.8 mil- $20.1 billion in the first 11 months year-on-year. trade, which has slowed during the has forecast that global trade will shrink lion) in export financing to 14 SMEs on of this year, the highest on record, It was followed by China, with Covid-19 crisis. between 13 per cent and 32 per cent December 3 to help them improve the despite the adverse impacts of the $43.1 billion, up 16 per cent; the EU, While 79 large businesses accounted this year as an impact of the COVID-19 competitiveness of their export prod- Covid-19 pandemic on the global $32.2 billion, down 2.4 per cent; for the overwhelming majority of the pandemic. ucts. economy, according to the General ASEAN, $20.9 billion, down 10.6 exports, 54 small and medium-sized The global slowdown during the However, Indonesian Exporters Statistics Office (GSO). per cent; South Korea, $17.7 billion, enterprises (SMEs) contributed $12.3 pandemic “has led to a downturn in Association (GPEI) chairman Benny The GSO said the country’s total down 2.7 per cent; and Japan, $17.3 million. export markets”, said Jokowi. “But we Soetrisno said that while he was expect- trade value in the first 11 months billion, down 6.5 per cent. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on have to see more clearly the opportu- ing a rebound in exports next year, was estimated at $489.1 billion, a December 4 told a virtual press confer- nity of export markets that are still wide exporters were currently facing delays year-on-year rise of 3.5 per cent. Ministry to lend a hand ence: “One of the keys to improving the open in countries that are also fighting due to issues in sea freight and con- Export value reached $254.6 bil- To meet export targets of this national economy is by boosting the pandemic right now,” he said. tainer availability. lion, up 5.3 per cent and import year, the Ministry of Industry and exports, which not only helps busi- Indonesia has also been pursuing He added that the 2021 export value stood at $234.5 billion, up 1.5 Trade has asked its departments nesses to grow and create jobs, but also stronger economic ties to spur trade rebound was not expected to match per cent. and agencies to support enterpris- generates foreign exchange [forex] with nontraditional partners, includ- pre-pandemic levels, since the sector’s Last month alone, export turn- es in their efforts to promote pro- reserves to reduce our current account ing Latin American and Middle Eastern recovery would hinge on Covid-19 over was $24.8 billion, down nine duction and business. deficit.” countries. mitigation and control in destination per cent from the previous month, The key solution is export promo- Indonesia’s forex reserves stagnated December 4’s exports were shipped countries. but up 8.8 per cent compared with tion activities in markets that have last month at $133.6 billion after book- to almost all continents, including des- “I think it will take some time. The the same month last year. recovered from the Covid-19 pan- ing $133.7 billion in October, support- tinations such as China, Australia, the adjustments may take up to a year until Between January and November, demic. ed by government foreign debt with- UK, the US, Mexico, Ghana and exports and imports get back to nor- the domestic economic sector gen- In addition, the ministry will also drawal as well as tax and forex earnings Egypt. mal,” Benny told The Jakarta Post by erated about $73 billion in export focus on monitoring export mar- from oil and gas, Bank Indonesia (BI) Trade minister Agus Suparmanto phone. value, up 1.6 per cent, making up kets to review and identify goods announced on December 7. said one of the first-time exporters Fitch Solutions forecasts a three per 28.7 per cent of the total. Mean- that countries need to import while The country recorded its first current whose products were among the ship- cent year-on-year contraction in while, the foreign-invested sector, exploiting free trade agreements to account surplus since 2011 of $1 billion ment was a cigar company. Seven exports of Indonesian goods this year, including crude oil, recorded $181.6 diversify export markets. in the third quarter, as imports fell SMEs were also first-time exporters of but year-on-year growth of 10 per cent billion, up 6.9 per cent, accounting The GSO also reported that total faster than exports due to weak domes- products that ranged from processed next year. for 71.3 per cent of the total. imports last month were estimated tic demand amid the health crisis, BI’s foods to candlenut products, shrimp The consultancy forecasts that goods Thirty-one groups of commodi- at $24.2 billion, down 0.5 per cent November data showed. products and cloves, and from to cow imports will see a deeper contraction ties joined the billion-dollar export month-on-month but up 13.4 per The current account surplus was mattresses to nipa palm sticks. of 14 per cent year-on-year this year product club, including 10 groups cent year-on-year. equal to 0.4 per cent of gross domestic In addition, seven large businesses and see year-on-year growth of 11.5 per posting more than $10 billion. As many as 34 kinds of goods saw product (GDP) and a significant revers- and 11 SMEs diversified their products cent next year. The heavy and mining industry import turnover exceeding $1 bil- al from the $2.9 billion deficit recorded to contribute exports such as soap “We believe that exports will con- raked in $138 billion, up 9.2 per lion, 89.4 per cent of the total. in the second quarter. noodles and knockdown furniture. tinue to benefit from the V-shaped cent year-on-year. The light and China remained Vietnam’s larg- Meanwhile, Indonesia’s exports fell Non-oil and gas exports increased recovery that China’s economy has handicrafts industry had an export est import source, with a revenue 3.29 per cent year-on-year in October 3.54 per cent month-to-month to been experiencing. China remains value of $90.2 billion, up 1.5 per of $73.9 billion, up 7.9 per cent to $14.39 billion, although the figure $13.76 billion in October from Septem- Indonesia’s largest trading partner,” cent. against the same period last year. represented a month-to-month ber, but the figure represented a 1.84 said a Fitch Solutions report released Meanwhile, the agro-forestry ex- It was followed by South Korea, increase of 3.09 per cent from Septem- per cent year-on-year decline from on November 30. port value reduced slightly by 0.1 per with $42 billion, down 2.9 per cent; ber, according to Statistics Indonesia October last year. BPS data show that exports declined cent year-on-year to $18.7 billion ASEAN, $27.3 billion, down 6.9 per (BPS) data. Imports fell steeper by 26.9 “This event is a step in boosting non- 5.58 per cent year-on-year to $131.54 and seafood export value plunged cent; Japan, $18.6 billion, up 4.8 per per cent year-on-year to $10.78 billion oil and gas exports during the pandem- billion in the first 10 months of this by 0.9 per cent to $7.7 billion. cent; the EU, $13.2 billion, up 4.3 on the same month from the previous ic [toward] national economic recovery year, while imports fell 19.07 per cent The US remained the largest ex- per cent; and the US, $12.6 billion, year. in 2021,” said Agus. “The trade ministry to $114.47 billion. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA port market of Vietnamese goods down 3.6 per cent. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA “But we cannot be immediately sat- will keep encouraging more SMEs and NEWS NETWORK in the 11 months, with a turnover NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Calls for nationwide shutdown Climate pledges of world’s top emitters in India over agriculture reforms Under the Paris Agreement on of his first acts in office next climate, nearly every country month. will have to drastically reduce Biden has set a goal of carbon their carbon emissions, and neutrality by 2050, but it is must submit renewed plans to unlikely any plan will be made do so by the end of 2020. official this year. The first raft of “nationally determined contributions” EU (NDCs) submitted by nations The EU committed in 2015 to would put Earth on course to reduce its CO2 emissions by at be 3C hotter than pre-industri- least 40 per cent by 2030 com- al times, a far cry from the pared to 1990 levels. Paris temperature cap goal of The Commission subse- keeping warming beneath 2C. quently boosted the bloc’s But this year has seen a host ambition to aim for a 55 per of large emitters – notably Chi- cent cut in emissions by 2030 na and Japan – commit to and to achieve net-zero by achieving net-zero output this 2050. century. A summit of the bloc’s leaders According to Climate Action this week will see member Tracker, the current emissions nations decide whether to pledges would likely see 2.1C of adopt the target. warming by 2100. Although Britain is leaving the EU it has a 2050 net-zero China target built into law. On Decem- With its first NDC in 2016 ber 4 it announced that it would China – by far the largest emit- seek to reduce emissions 68 per ter responsible for roughly a cent by 2030, compared with quarter of all carbon pollution 1990 levels. – promised to reduce the inten- sity of its emissions by as much India Sandeep Singh (centre), 65, a farmer from Rauni village in Ludhiana district of the northern Indian state of Punjab, shouts slogans during a rally as 65 per cent by 2030. Like China, India plans to along a road blocked by police to stop farmers from marching to New Delhi to protest against the central government’s recent agricultural reforms, Under that scenario, it reduce its carbon intensity – by at the Delhi-Haryana state border in Kundli. AFP planned to reach peak emis- up to 35 per cent this decade ndian farmers who Authorities have put thou- the changes are necessary The farmers are strongest in sions at the end of this dec- compared to 2005 levels. have been blockading sands of extra police on the to give agriculture – still the the north of the country, but ade. The world’s third-largest pol- New Delhi on December streets in Delhi and boosted se- backbone of the Indian econ- even the government in the President Xi Jinping however luter is yet to submit a renewed 8 launched a one-day, curity in the rest of the country omy – a long-term future. southern state of Karnataka sus- shocked observers by announc- NDC. Inationwide general strike to in a bid to head off any trouble. The protests have already pended online school lessons ing at the UN General Assembly push their demands for the Five rounds of talks have caused price rises for fruit for the day to show support. in September that his country Russia government to repeal reform failed to narrow differences and vegetables in Delhi be- Top athletes including now planned to achieve net- Russia formally rejoined the laws opening up trade in agri- between farmers and minis- cause supplies are restricted. wrestler Kartar Singh, who zero emissions by 2060. Paris deal last year. cultural produce. ters. The growing numbers of Rakesh Tikait, a protest lead- won gold medals at the Asian Beijing has given few further Moscow says it plans to Tens of thousands of farm- farmers and their supporters er, said that people should not Games in 1978 and 1986, said details and is yet to submit its achieve pollution levels in 2030 ers have been camped on the camped outside the capital travel during the shutdown they would return national officially revised NDC. that are 70 per cent of 1990 lev- outskirts of the capital since say they will not go home un- and all stores should close. awards in protest at the laws. els – in reality a drop of 30 per November 27 in protest at the til the laws are repealed. Balbir Singh Rajewal, an- Singh alongside hockey US cent. laws in what has become one The laws will allow farmers other leader, said: “We want player Gurmail Singh – gold The second-largest polluter, of the biggest challenges to to sell their produce on the nothing less than a withdraw- medallist at the 1980 Moscow the US was one of the driving Japan the Hindu nationalist govern- open market – including to al of the new farm laws.” Olympics – and former wom- forces behind the Paris deal, Japan in 2016 committed to a ment since it won a second supermarket chains – instead The main opposition Con- en’s hockey captain Rajbir Kaur with an initial commitment to 26 per cent reduction in emis- landslide election last year. of being forced to sell through gress party and about 15 other tried to march on the presi- cut emissions by a quarter by sions by 2030. Its renewed NDC, Farmers have vowed to block state-run organisations that political groupings are backing dential palace on December 7 2025, compared with 2005. issued in March, had the same major roads and rail lines across guarantee a minimum price. the protest but the government to hand back awards but were Despite President Donald figure. the country for several hours The farmers say the indus- has accused them of oppor- stopped by police. Trump’s decision to renege on However new Prime Minister and have been given support try will be taken over by ma- tunism, rejecting measures A new round of talks on the the US’ Paris commitment, Yoshihide Suga in October said by railway workers, truck driv- jor firms who will force prices that they had called for when disputed laws is to be held on President-elect Joe Biden will the country would be carbon ers, teachers and other unions. down. The government insists in power. December 9. AFP make rejoining the accord one neutral by 2050. AFP Millions in US’ California locked down, UK to start using jab

An overwhelming major- putting 33 million people under Britain readied to vaccinate the The total number of deaths has been crisscrossing the people in the US. ity of California’s residents went stay-at-home orders as the US elderly and frontline staff. in the US reached 283,621 late country – often appearing The US is expected to grant into lockdown on December 7, battles record Covid deaths and The lockdown in the US’ on December 7, according to maskless – leading Trump’s emergency authorisation for most populous state forced Johns Hopkins University, with unsuccessful effort to undo Joe the Pfizer and Moderna vac- most offices to close and 1,390 fatalities in the previous Biden’s victory in the Novem- cines this week, and it hopes to banned gatherings among dif- 24 hours alone. The total ber 3 election. vaccinate millions of people by ferent households, while bars number of cases in the country the end of the year. and services such as hair salons stood at 14,932,613. Race for vaccine As countries begin gearing were shut and restaurants only President Donald Trump and Biden on December 7 vowed up for mass vaccinations, the allowed to serve takeaways. senior officials have repeatedly that his incoming administra- UN General Assembly moved “The overwhelming majority downplayed the risks while tion would be “ready on day to make December 27 the of Californians are now in this ignoring basic public health one to mobilise every resource “International Day of Epidem- new stay-at-home order proto- measures such as mask-wearing of the federal government . . . ic Preparedness”, with the body col,” said governor Gavin New- and social distancing at mass ral- and restore the belief that there calling on the World Health som, who earlier warned that lies and White House events. is nothing beyond” the US’ Organisation (WHO) to help the state hospital system was at Trump’s personal lawyer capacity”. facilitate the day’s observ- risk of being “overwhelmed”. Rudy Giuliani, 76, tested posi- When the president-elect ance. The US’ floundering efforts tive for Covid-19 and was hos- takes office on January 20, he The WHO also said it would to quell the Covid-19 pandem- pitalised on December 6, the will be immediately responsi- be more effective for countries ic have been widely criticised, latest member of the presi- ble for an immunisation drive to persuade residents on the Under state order, 33 million residents of the western US’ California with a daily death toll of more dent’s inner circle to contract set to launch this month in a merits of a Covid-19 vaccine have entered into regional shutdowns in an attempt to contain the than 2,500 for five days in a row the disease. bid to gain control of a pan- than try to make the jabs man- spread of the coronavirus. AFP last week. The former New York mayor demic that has killed 280,000 datory. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Indonesia receives 1.2 million VN set to begin human trials of coronavirus Chinese Covid vaccine doses jabs from December 10 ndonesia has received 1.2 million Vietnam will begin the first production, he added. doses of a Covid-19 vaccine made stage of human trials of a “We need to be proactive in by China’s Sinovac, officials said, as Covid-19 vaccine from De- all phases in order to be able the world’s fourth most populous cember 10, according to the to get the vaccine as soon as Ination struggles to get soaring case rates Ministry of Health. possible,” Long said. under control. The vaccine was produced by Vietnam has four Covid-19 The doses arrived in Jakarta late on the Nanogen Pharmaceutical vaccines produced by Nano- December 6 on a flight from Beijing, Biotechnology company, said gen, Vabiotech, Polyvac and with another 1.8 million expected to be deputy minister of health Nguy- the Institute of Vaccines and sent again next month. en Thanh Long at a meeting Medical Biologicals (IVAC) Although Chinese regulators have yet to with Covid-19 vaccine produc- currently under research. clear any of country’s vaccines for mass ers in Vietnam on December 5. The ministry earlier as- distribution, they have approved some The company will work with sessed Nanogen’s Covid-19 advanced candidates for emergency use. the Military Medical Academy vaccine candidate as among On December 7, Indonesia’s Covid-19 to recruit volunteers to par- the most promising, having response team chief Airlangga Hartarto ticipate in the first phase of been successfully produced it said the first batch of doses will beex- human trials on December 10. on a laboratory scale and pro- amined by the food and drug agency, The volunteers will be given voking immunogenicity dur- with plans to distribute them to medical the first test shots of the vac- ing animal testing. workers and other high-risk groups. cine a week later. IVAC and Vabiotech have The country’s top Muslim clerical The ministry said about 20 completed their laboratory- body, the Indonesia Ulema Council volunteers, aged 18-40, are ex- scale production process and (MUI), will also check the first consign- pected to be injected with the are evaluating the safety and ment, officials said – to ensure it meets vaccine during the first phase. immunity of their vaccines on halal requirements in the world’s largest Long asked agencies to get animals. Muslim-majority nation. The medical personnel arriving back with the 1.2 million dosage of Covid-19 vaccine made by ready for the second phase of The ministry has asked Poly- Late on December 6, President Joko Sinovac, on arrival from Beijing at the Jakarta International Airport in Tangerang late on Sunday. human clinical trials. vac to work with producers in INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE/AFP “Jokowi” Widodo welcomed the delivery. He said the ministry would Russia and China to get access He said: “We are grateful that the vac- The Indonesian government has paid also start to arrive gradually in 2021.” create all favourable condi- to their vaccines. cine is now available and we can imme- some 637 billion rupiah ($45 million) for Indonesia has been in talks with other tions for vaccine production Long said the ministry has diately prevent the spread of the Covid- the three million Sinovac doses. Another pharmaceutical firms, including UK- units, including relaxing ad- promoted Covid-19 vaccine 19 outbreak. 100,000 more are set to be delivered by based AstraZeneca. ministrative procedures and research and production “[But] I have to reiterate, first, that all another Chinese firm,C anSino. The country is one of the Asian nations speeding up registration and activities while at the same procedures must be followed properly to China has promised to make its vac- worst hit by the pandemic, with Covid- licensing of products. time increasing cooperation, ensure public health and safety, and the cines available as a “global public good” 19 infections topping 575,000, and more The ministry will report the exchanges and negotiations efficacy of the vaccine.” as it seeks to counter global criticism for than 17,000 deaths. investment policy for vaccine with foreign vaccine pro- In August, Indonesia launched hu- its early handling of the pandemic. However, the true scale of the crisis is production to the government ducers to soon get access to man trials of the Sinovac-made jab, with Foreign minister Retno Marsudi said widely believed to be much bigger, as and coordinate with related sources of vaccine to meet around 1,600 volunteers taking part in the on December 7: “We expect that multilat- the country has one of the world’s lowest institutions to help them ac- domestic demand. VIET NAM six-month study. eral vaccines [from other countries] will testing rates. AFP cess capital for research and NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Indonesia’s anti-corruption efforts deemed disappointing, survey finds

Indonesia’s ongoing battle as only 23 per cent noticed a performance of the Corrup- against corruption appears to downtrend in reported graft tion Eradication Commission be making little headway as during the same period. (KPK). fewer people expressed en- Djayadi said: “There are far The poll reflected relatively thusiasm for the government’s more respondents perceiving positive public sentiment since efforts to prevent illicit trans- an uptrend in reported graft . . . only 37.5 per cent were “un- actions and prosecute graft This means that overall public satisfied” with the anti-graft perpetrators over the past two perception [of anti-graft ef- body’s accomplishments. years, a recent study by the In- forts] is still negative.” A significant majority of re- donesian Survey Institute (LSI) Despite the general discon- spondents or 69.5 per cent has found. tent with the government’s considered KPK to be best- The survey, for which 2,000 sluggish action on graft, 50.2 suited to lead the country’s an- people were polled across per cent of the survey respon- ticorruption efforts. the archipelago between No- dents were “satisfied” with the The survey also found that vember 29 and December 3, performance of the Corrup- 26.9 per cent of respondents showed that only 28.3 per cent tion Eradication Commission were of the opinion that the A security guard attempts to restrict a photographer from taking photos of a protest calling for the release of detained Thai human rights activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, outside the Thai consulate in Hong Kong on of respondents noticed an (KPK). controversial KPK Law revision June 29, 2011. AFP improvement in the govern- The poll reflected relatively had weakened the anti-graft ment’s graft prevention efforts positive public sentiment since body, whereas only 23.3 per – a decline from the 42.7 per only 37.5 per cent were “un- cent believed otherwise. Thai pro-democracy activists hit cent recorded in a similar sur- satisfied” with the anti-graft Meanwhile, 14.4 per cent of vey conducted in late 2018. body’s accomplishments. respondents believed the revi- Similarly, only 22.2 per cent Despite the general discon- sion had not significantly im- with more lese majeste charges of the respondents believed tent with the government’s pacted the KPK, while 35.4 per law enforcement against graft sluggish action on graft, 50.2 cent did not know or did not Thai pro-democracy activist for seven years from 2011 for ering illegally at that protest. perpetrators had improved. per cent of the survey respon- answer. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS Somyot Pruksakasemsuk said violating Article 112. “I don’t need to report to That also marks a significant dents were “satisfied” with the NETWORK in a Facebook post on Decem- Police have so far filed lese court in this case anymore and drop from the 44.1 per cent re- ber 7 that he was summoned majeste charges against 18 my concerns of being impris- corded in a 2018 survey. by the Chanasongkram Police protest leaders after Prime oned for this rally have van- “It is a sharp decline. This Station to face lese majeste Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ished,” he said. could be a signal for us to see charges. gave them the green light to He also said that he and that people perceive corrup- His post also included a copy start enforcing the law, which other protesters, namely Pan- tion to be getting worse in of the summons, which said had not been used for two upong “Mike” Jadnok, Shinwa- terms of prevention and law Somyot and fellow activists years. tra Chankrajang and Panusaya enforcement,” LSI executive like Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak Separately, in a social-media “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, director Djayadi Hanan said were charged of violating Ar- post on December 7, Parit said were scheduled to visit Non- during an online forum held ticle 112 of the Criminal Code the public prosecutor was not thaburi Police Station on De- by the research firm on De- at a protest on September 19 punctual in filing lawsuits cember 8 to face lese majeste cember 6. and 20. against him and other protest- charges. Furthermore, the latest sur- In the post, Somyot said the ers in relation to their role in an He added that police have vey also found that a majority lese majeste law should not August 10 rally in Thammasat informed their lawyer in ad- of 45.6 per cent of the respon- be used as a weapon against University’s Rangsit campus. vance that the protesters will dents believed the number of Only 28.3 per cent of respondents noticed an improvement in the the new generation. He had He and fellow protesters were be detained. THE NATION (THAILAND)/ corruption cases had increased Indonesian government’s graft prevention efforts, down from the previously been imprisoned charged for sedition and gath- ASIA NEWS NETWORK over the last two years, where- 42.7 per cent recorded in a similar survey conducted in late 2018. pIXABAY THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Celebrating Vanuatu’s path to www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng sustainable development Senior Editor Joshua purushotman Opinion Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Deputy Chief of Staff phak Seangly HE Pacific island developing Business Editor state of Vanuatu has emerged May Kunmakara as one of the region’s great Deputy Business Editor success stories. Vanuatuhas Sangeetha amarthalingam joinedT the ranks of Samoa and the Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Maldives as one of only six countries pan Simala to graduate from being a least devel- Senior Reporters oped country, since the category was Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng introduced by the UN in 1971. Reporters This historic achievement is the Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, result of major development gains Long Kimmarita, Hin pisei, Mom Kunthear, and strategic planning. It shows that Hong Raksmey, pann Rethea, Voun Dara, the country has successfully raised Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, levels of income and improved social Soth Koemsoeun, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha development indicators, with marked Photographers declines in mortality rates and signif- Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey icant progress in education. All of Web Editor these are among the factors the UN Leang phannara regards as critical in determining Digital Teams whether a country is considered as a Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy least developed country or not. SIEM REAP BUREAU Yet despite these development suc- Offi ce Manager cesses, accelerated actions are Sophearith Blondeel urgently needed to ensure Vanuatu PRODUCTION & PRINTING can achieve the Sustainable Develop- Head of Desktop Publishing ment Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Nhim Sokphyrak Vanuatu government officials escort UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (centre, green shirt) to open new UN offices in Port Vila, Desktop Publishing Upon graduation, Vanuatu will no the capital of Vanuatu. Vanuatuhas joined the ranks of Samoa and the Maldives as one of only six countries to graduate from being a least longer be eligible for international developed country, since the category was introduced by the UN in 1971. afp Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath support measures granted to least Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna developed countries. Unilateral and national borders and imposing cur- mated 80,000 Ni-Vanuatu people, National Sustainable Development non-reciprocal trade preferences fews on businesses, the impact on equivalent to over 27 per cent of the Plan for 2016 to 2030 – that reflects HEAD OFFICE under Duty-Free Quota-Free Vanuatu has been severe. nation’s population. This was the sec- the unique identity of the Ni-Vanuatu schemes from various developed and The resulting collapse of tourism ond strongest cyclone to affect Van- people. At the same time, ESCAP has developing trading partners will be has had widespread repercussions uatu, following Tropical Cyclone Pam provided advisory services to the off the table. on the economy, with arrivals of 2015, which suggests such storms National Coordinating Committee on Post Media Co, Ltd. Fortunately, based on current trading declining by 65 per cent in the year are becoming more frequent as our Least Developing Countries Gradua- The Elements Condominium Level 7, Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, patterns, the overall impact of losing to July compared to the previous climate changes. tion, which oversaw the formulation Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom preferential market access will be min- year. This contributed to an esti- The UN family has supported Van- of the STS and decided on its associ- Penh, Cambodia imal, as more than half of Vanuatu’s mated 70 per cent job or income loss uatu in its independence since 1980. ated follow-up actions. Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 main exports are being traded under in the first six weeks after borders Its regional development arm, the As we focus on building back better Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 negotiated duty-free market access were closed and is an important factor UN Economic and Social Commis- in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pan- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 arrangements, rather than afforded in the decline in output of 8.3 per cent sion for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), demic, ESCAP stands ready, along SIEM REAP under least developed country conces- with the UN family, to continue sup- No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune sional measures. Vanuatu will also The UN family stands ready to porting Vanuatu in its development Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 remain eligible for financing on con- aspirations and in implementing the COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT cessional terms under the World Bank’s continue supporting Vanuatu in STS. This includes support to link the Chief Operating Offi cer International Development Associa- STS with budgets, offering special- James Ong Soon Teck tion (IDA) as it is afforded a special sta- its development aspirations ised technical assistance to strength- Advertising Department tus as a “small island economy”. en capacities in trade negotiations Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Importantly, Vanuatu will benefit and in implementing the STS and developing productive capacities Hun Channet, 017 578 768 from an improved country-image in Vanuatu, thereby enabling better prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 after graduation, which may attract expected in Vanuatu for this year. has been providing development structural transformation and diver- Keo puthy, 012 966 605 larger flows of foreign direct invest- The country also recorded its first assistance to Vanuatu since it became sification of the economy. phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 ment as several other graduated official case of Covid-19 in Novem- a member in 1984. More recently, this This year, Vanuatu celebrates 40 Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 countries have experienced. ber, having successfully warded off support has included identifying ave- years since its independence. By CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Graduation is however taking place the virus for many months. nues to mobilise financial resources working together, we can build resil- Acting Distribution Manager at a time of significant risks to the As a developing country, Vanuatu domestically in recognition that ience to external shocks in the Pacific Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 global economic situation. Unex- still remains vulnerable to other achieving the SDGs will require sig- region to ensure the next stage in Circulation Supervisor pected shocks such as the unprece- external shocks. The threats of cli- nificant resources, especially in such Vanuatu’s development journey will Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 dented Covid-19 pandemic are pos- mate change are very real. The first a vulnerable environment. continue to be a success story in the Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 ing grave challenges to development. category 5 tropical cyclone of 2020, Dedicated technical support has decades to come. ADMINISTRATION Despite acting swiftly when con- Tropical Cyclone Harold, demon- been provided since 2017 to assist Admin & HR Manager fronted with the rapid spread of Cov- strated this as it passed over Espiritu Vanuatu produce its smooth transi- The writer is Under-Secretary-General of the pich Socheat UN and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Assistants to Admin & HR Manager id-19, taking steps such as banning Santo, Pentecost Island and Ambrym tion strategy (STS), built upon Van- and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Nhel Soaphea travel among islands, closing inter- earlier this year, displacing an esti- uatu 2030 The Peoples Plan – the (ESCAP) Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Breakdancing set to make Olympic debut at Paris 2024 Breakdancing was one of at Paris 2024 will be unforget- four new sports along with table.” skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing to get the Paris podiums down to 329 Olympic green light on Decem- Federations of sports that ber 7 for inclusion at the 2024 already have Olympic status Paris Games. were left disappointed in their The four sports were includ- bid to increase events within ed as the International Olym- their sports as IOC president pic Committee (IOC) executive Thomas Bach said none of the board met to confirm the Par- proposed 41 events would be is 2024 programme. included in Paris. Skateboarding, sport climb- While some sports substi- ing and surfing have already tuted in some events within been added to the programme their existing event numbers, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Bach said medal events had which will take place next year actually gone down from 339 after being postponed by a to 329. year because of the coronavi- He said the athletes’ quota Wen Junhong pets a rescued dog inside a room with other canines at her home shared with rescued animals in Chongqing, southwestern China. AFP rus pandemic. for Paris had been fixed at The introduction of breaking 10,500, including those par- was “one of the results of the ticipating in the four new Olympic Agenda 2020”, Bach sports. said. “We had a clear priority That represents a decrease to introduce sports [that are] of 600 from Tokyo Games, Chinese woman shares particularly popular among while gender equality would the younger generation and be attained for the first time in taking into consideration the Olympic history in Paris. urbanisation of sport.” The question of gender Breakdancing, which grew up equality led to the demise of home with 1,300 dogs alongside hip hop in the South the men’s 50km race walk, Bronx of New York in the 1970s which first appeared at the wenty years ago, four small puppies. and is officially known in sport 1932 Olympics. Wen Junhong saved Large dogs are kept outside, terms as “breaking”, appeared IOC sports director Kit an abandoned dog and small ones in cages in- at the 2018 Youth Olympics in McConnell said the event from the streets of doors. Buenos Aires, in the form of would be replaced by a “mixed CThongqing in southwestern “If all the dogs are released, head-to-head “battles”. gender event”. China. She now shares her they will fight,”W en said. Russia’s Sergei Chernyshev, There was a decision to home with more than 1,300 Some attempt to gnaw competing under the nick- “reach gender equality by of them, and they keep on through the bars while oth- name Bumblebee, won the removing the men’s 50km race coming. ers yap relentlessly and scrap first breakdancing gold medal walk”, rather than introducing After taking in that first with each other. for boys in that event, while a women’s version, McConnell dog, a Pekinese she named One mutt snapped at any- Japan’s Ramu Kawai won the said, adding that the men and Wenjing – “gentle and quiet” one walking past until Wen girls’ title. women’s 20km race walks in Chinese – Wen found she covered its cage with a coat. World Dance Sport Federa- would remain. couldn’t stop. She has six staff, who sleep tion (WDSF) president Shawn The replacement event will She says she was driven by in a room piled high with Tay said: “Today is a historic not, however, be a mixed worries about what strays face bags of dog food. occasion not only for b-boys cross-country, which World on the streets in China, from One, Yang Yiqun, shows and b-girls but for all dancers Athletics had been pushing accidents to being snatched Wen Junhong prepares dog food at her home. She has six staff, who arms and hands covered in sleep in a room piled high with bags of dog food. AFP around the world. hard for. up for the dog meat trade. scars and scratches. “The WDSF could not be “The event had to fit into an “It’s important to look after chopath,” she admits. has been dubbed “Chongqing “I like the dogs even if they prouder to have breaking existing Olympic venue,” McCo- these dogs,” she said. “Each of Her day starts at 4am with Auntie Wen”. bite me,” says the stoic local included at Paris 2024 . . . It was nnell said, explaining that a us should respect life, and the the unenviable task of clear- Wen hopes the attention from neighbouring Sichuan a true team effort to get to this potential re-fit of the equestrian Earth is not only for humans ing 20-30 barrels of overnight will lead to adoptions, but province who has worked moment and we will redouble or mountain-bike venues to but for all animals.” dog waste and cooking more new arrivals far outpace those with Wen for five years. our efforts in the lead-up to accommodate a cross-country Dog ownership was previ- than 500kg of rice, meat and being re-homed. “She is under too much the Olympic Games to make was shown to be “too expensive ously termed a bourgeois pas- vegetables for the animals. And she has suffered abuse pressure to handle it alone”. sure the breaking competition and complex”. AFP time and banned under the The waste gets burned in online, after pictures of the Even with her love of ani- leadership of Communist Chi- the back yard, sending a con- animals’ living conditions mals and a team to help her, na’s founder Chairman Mao. tinuous plume of smoke into were posted. Wen admits re-homing strays Views on pets have changed the sky. “Living in such a small cage is a struggle. dramatically since, and own- A handful of dogs run free is no better than being a stray “It’s really very hard,” she ership has boomed – but the around the building, while a dog,” wrote one critic on so- laments. country still does not have a tethered pit bull terrier at the cial media. “There are more and more national animal welfare law back door growls and barks at Six dogs had arrived on the dogs and each of them gets and there are tens of millions strangers. day AFP visited, including less space.” AFP of stray dogs and cats, accord- Every room in the two-storey ing to charity AnimalsAsia. house is full of cages, piled next Urban strays are rarely steri- to and on top of each other. lised, exacerbating the prob- Surrounded by fences and lem and placing more pressure locked gates, her hillside loca- on overwhelmed and under- tion is the latest in a series of funded animal rescue centres. homes after complaints from As well as the abandoned neighbours forced her and pets and strays that are regu- her charges to keep moving. larly left in her front yard, Wen Wen finances the operation says she receives calls “every with proceeds from selling day to help more dogs”. her apartment, loans of up to And it’s not just canines that 60,000 yuan ($9,100) and her the 68-year-old has a soft spot pension and life savings from for. an earlier career as an envi- She also lives with one hun- ronmental technician. Brazil’s breakdancer Mateus de Sousa Melo competes during the Red dred cats, four horses and a She also receives dona- Bull BC One, the breakdance one-on-one battle world championship in scattering of rabbits and birds. tions after gaining attention Wen Junhong shares her home with more than 1,300 dogs that were Mumbai, India. AFP “Some people say I’m a psy- on social media, where she abandoned on the streets of Chongqing in southwestern China. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle ‘Believe in miracles’: Spiritual cures soothe Covid-hit Albania

rom Christianity and Islam worth a try to relieve stress, especial- to animal sacrifices and pa- ly during crises like the current one, gan charms, Albanians have which has pushed the health system all their spiritual bases cov- to the brink and unleashed cata- eredF when crisis hits. strophic damage to the economy. At the sprawling mountain-top church of St Anthony, atheists, Mus- Chicken sacrifice lims and Christians are all streaming Ada Zdrava, a 20-year-old pilgrim in to seek comfort – perhaps even a visiting for the first time, said she miracle – to survive the coronavirus was hoping to “relieve her anxieties” pandemic and other ailments. and to promote “her happiness and The Franciscan church, which over- that of her family”. looks the town of Lac in the northwest, Albanians lived almost half a cen- has been attracting pilgrims for cen- tury under a communist dictator- turies in a country where the bound- ship that imposed atheism and out- aries between faiths are porous. lawed religion. But more people than ever are But three decades after the fall of now flocking to this holy site where the dictatorship, Muslim, Catholic God is the “same” for all, according and Orthodox communities are back to Aferdita Onuzi, an anthropologist in the open, with some even joining at the University of Tirana. in on each others’ holy days. She said: “They come here to re- In the village of Valias near Tirana, lieve themselves of the fear of the the tekke – or place of worship – of unknown and the feeling of power- the Bektashi, a mystical branch of Su- lessness in the face of the pandemic fism, attracts believers of all faiths. that seems to spare no one. Many leave a garment overnight on “All believe in a miracle that could a tomb inside, “so that it keeps away change their lives.” illness and brings wellbeing to the Many visitors light candles, leave one who wears it”, said the site’s 60- clothes of a sick child in the hope of year-old caretaker, Servete Mullai. a cure or lay photos of loved ones to Albana Disha, 50, recently came bring them good luck. to sacrifice a cockerel to relieve her Everyone wants solutions to their son’s heartbreak, a practice rooted It is common to see wind-beaten teddy bears hanging on the front of homes in the belief that they will ward off the ‘evil eye’ of jealous neighbours. AFP ills “and to get rid of their fear in the in pagan traditions that consider face of the pandemic”, said the Fran- poultry an ideal offering for the gods He says: “Because in its essence, pandemic has caused, has pushed common to see wind-beaten teddy ciscan church’s priest Mirash Ivanaj. because of its good taste. our culture comes from paganism, people to return to beliefs or differ- bears hanging on the front of homes Even those who have recovered Albanians “believe in the power which remains the foundation of ent imaginations in an effort to find in the belief that they will ward off from Covid-19 come “to find spiri- of the sun, the power of stones, the identity and daily life, despite the a spiritual cure, but without exclud- the “evil eye” of jealous neighbours. tual healing and to feel stronger sea, nature”, explains Alfred Hal- superimposition of religious con- ing in any case the existence of hos- against insecurity”, he said. ilaj, an anthropologist at the Uni- versions. pitals and the role of medicine.” ’Spiritual calm’ Many Albanians see all routes as versity of Durres. “The anguish and fear that this Driving through the country it is Other lucky charms also abound, such as the garlic bulb that 73-year- old Ramzan Sefaj keeps in his car to fend off misfortune. “Fear makes us believe more in God but also makes us cling to small objects against bad luck and the evil eye,” explained the retiree, who lives in the Tirana suburbs and survives from the income of his seven children who work in construction abroad. The frenzy for alternative cures has intensified thanks to a wealth of misinformation online, notes Lutfi Dervishi, a communications expert at the University of Tirana. People often turn to advice found on the internet and find “a little spiri- tual calm in beliefs”, he said. But even spiritual leaders insist that modern medicine is essential. “Under no circumstances should Woman prays as she takes part in a mass at the St Anthony Church, in the town of Lac Ramazan Sefaj, 73, keeps garlic and an evil eye in his car to protect himself and the doctor be neglected,” said Mullai in the country’s northwest on November 3. AFP relatives from malevolent curses in Kamza, northwest of the Albanian capital. AFP from the Bektashi tekke. AFP No pigs or peacocks: US says only dogs can fly as ‘service animals’

Flying with your emotional cock, and even, in one genuine atric or mental disabilities. nate on breed. Some had support peacock or hamster? attempt, a miniature horse. The rest are just “pets.” sought to exclude animals No. But with your service dog, That has challenged air- The ruling defines a service from breeds known to be or even two – that’s okay on lines pressured by mental animal as “a dog that is indi- more aggressive. US airlines, regulators have health advocates to accom- vidually trained to do work or As for other animals, even decided. modate such travellers. perform tasks for the benefit those whose owners have a The US Department of Trans- But, the department said, of a person with a disability”. doctor’s statement that they portation issued a final rule on there has been a rise in dis- That means that airlines are necessary for “emotional December 2 on what kind of ruptions on board by “unu- will require department support”? “service animals” that airlines sual species” and misbehav- forms attesting to the dog’s They don’t qualify as serv- are required to accommodate ing animals, “which has health and training, and for ice animals, at least for airline on board flights in the US. eroded the public trust in long flights, that the dog “can regulations, the department The practice of flying with a legitimate service animals”. either not relieve itself, or can said. pet for emotional support has The department’s conclu- relieve itself in a sanitary Never fear – travellers can exploded over recent years, sion? Only man’s best friend, manner”. still bring their small pets with travellers seeking to board canines, qualify as “service That said, a person who aboard, in cages to tuck under with all sorts of non-human animals” for special boarding qualifies can bring up to two their seats, at the airline’s dis- mental health aides – pigs, par- permissions to accompany service dogs with them, and cretion, often paying an extra rots, monkeys, ducks, a pea- people with physical, psychi- the airlines cannot discrimi- fee. AFP A dog named ‘Honey’ waits to board a plane in the US’ Oklahoma City on May 6. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Malaysian goldsmiths Thinking caps mould a profit out of coronavirus pandemic

Workers arranging gold bracelets for sale at the Maysarah Gold shop in Bentong in Malaysia’s Pahang state. AFP

n a backroom workshop over the past eight months as din said she sold gold jewel- in Malaysia, goldsmiths buyers sought to park their lery during the pandemic to with blowtorches and cash somewhere safe. increase her income. chisels sit at wooden The business sells goods She said: “Women will buy Idesks as they melt and mould directly to customers from its these for beauty, but the ben- “PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE” the precious metal into glit- four outlets as well as online, efit of buying gold is more to- tery jewellery. offering items ranging from wards our investment for the ACROSS 57 Adjoin 25 Halfhearted Demand for the safe-haven bracelets and rings to small future.” 1 Sicilian volcano 60 Dash lengths 27 Not yet final, at law commodity has soared during gold bars. Malaysians began rushing 5 Guesses wrong 62 Per ___ (yearly) 29 Punjabi princesses the coronavirus pandemic Most of its gold is sourced to buy gold in May as authori- 9 Chow line? 64 Aggressive basketball ploy 31 Drudgery and it is not only professional in the form of jewellery from ties allowed businesses to 14 Neighbor of Libya 68 Feelings of great warmth 32 Winged god of love 33 Split apart investors who are cashing in, a small number of suppliers in reopen after a six-week virus 15 Prosperity 69 “Hey!” 34 Did laps in the pool but small businesses too. the country or bought second- lockdown, said Steven Siow, 16 Host 70 Arctic birds 35 Nut used in flavoring The Makmur Gold com- hand from customers, before president of the Federation of 17 We’re all involved in it 71 Thermonuclear blast maker 36 Islamic prayer leader pany, which is based in north- being melted down and fash- Goldsmiths and Jewellers As- 20 Alpha’s opposite 72 Human copier 38 Composed ern Kelantan state and mainly ioned into new products. sociations of Malaysia. 21 Oolong, for one 73 Deep-___ pizza 41 Where one is always looking up? makes jewellery, has enjoyed People had extra cash af- 22 On Soc. Sec., perhaps DOWN 42 Spick-and-span Gold rush 1 Bounce back, in a way brisk business this year even ter not spending much for a 23 Brainy 43 Arm bone 2 Try to catch a ride as the Southeast Asian nation’s In addition to regular cus- while and due to a six-month 26 Double-decker checker 48 Blossom holder 3 Appellation bestower economy fell into recession. tomers, the business has agents government moratorium 28 Basket material 50 Court star Steffi 4 Slowly, to a conductor “We’ve seen good develop- who sell on its behalf and then on repaying loans aimed at 30 Scale user 51 The Muses, as a group 5 Yeanling producer ments – during Covid, our keep a share of the profits. boosting the economy, and 34 Schuss, e.g. 53 Nebraska metropolis 6 Tyrannosaurus ___ sales were much better,” One such agent is Tuan gold shops doubled or even 37 Features of luxury hotels 55 Boredom 7 Absorbed Zubaidah Tuan Abdul Rah- 39 Dormitory echo 56 Times for headlights company director Muham- tripled their sales, he said. 8 Aerodynamically designed 40 Moms have it 57 Asian nurse mad Nur Hisyam Che Mah- man, who made half a million The gold price has slipped 9 Muumuu go-with 44 Winged 58 Cutting remark mood told AFP. ringgit in sales during three as hopes rise that vaccines will 10 Newly developed, as technology 45 Watch face 59 Annul Gold surged this year as the months of buying and resell- be rolled out soon, but experts 11 Dermatology problem 46 “Turn on, tune in, drop out” drug 61 Barber’s motion pandemic accelerated and ing gold jewellery part-time. believe the world economy 12 The Amish, e.g. 63 Come together like gears stock markets tumbled, hit- “People are seeing that faces a bumpy recovery and 47 Venomous African snakes 13 Act on, as advice 65 Sun or moon, e.g. ting a record above $2,000 an rather than hold on to their the precious metal will remain 49 Burn slightly, as meat 18 Bettors bet on them 66 Salon application 52 “Beetle Bailey” dog 19 Bust, so to speak ounce in August, although money in the bank, it is better a safe bet for some time. 67 Musical aptitude it has since slipped back to for them to buy gold,” said the “Gold, in any crisis, would be 54 Mended, as socks 24 Snake sound about $1,800. woman, who is also a teacher. the key asset to look out for,” Makmur Gold recorded “People can wear it, and it said Yeah Kim Leng, econom- Tuesday’s solution strong sales of about 80 mil- can be a valuable asset.” ics professor at Sunway Uni- lion ringgit ($19.5 million) Nurse Nor Fazilah Jamalu- versity Business School. AFP

Tuesday’s solution

Jewellery craftsmen decorates bracelets and rings at the Makmur Gold workshop in Kota Bharu in Malaysia’s Kelantan state. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Argentinian women Real Madrid, Zidane brace championship sees for crucial European night first transgender play FOOTBALLER Mara Gomez tosterone measurements at the eal Madrid value announced Monday she intends start and in the middle of the success in the Cham- to continue progressing “with- championship, to remove any pions League above out any kind of ceiling”, after suspicion of an athletic dispar- all else, but the 13- becoming the first transgender ity with the other players. timeR champions head into player to have taken the field in Argentina led Latin America Wednesday’s game against a match in Argentina’s women’s by passing a gender identity Borussia Moenchengladbach championship. law in 2012, which allowed with their qualification hopes “Today I started and I can Gomez to officially change her hanging by a thread. believe that things are hap- gender on her national iden- Should they suffer a humili- pening, that they are succeed- tity card when she turned 18. ating group stage exit, ending ing,” said Gomez, despite her On Monday, Gomez was their remarkable run as the team Villa San Carlos’s loss 7-1 given a Lanus jersey with her only team to ever avoid elimi- against Lanus, in the second number, 10 (the same as nation at this phase, coach day of first division A. “I’m Argentine football icon Diego Zinedine Zidane’s future will happy to be able to play in the Maradona), and her first and be at risk. women’s league.” last name, as a gift. A win for either side in the “It’s not an individual con- “It was moving, I wasn’t Spanish capital will guaran- quest, it’s a social, collective expecting it,” she said. tee them passage through to question,” the 23-year-old Gomez started playing foot- the last 16 from Group B. told AFP. ball at age 15, encouraged by If Madrid draw and Shakhtar Gomez was authorized on neighbors. In the women’s win or draw with Inter Milan November 28 to play in the league in La Plata, Gomez dis- in the other group match, the women’s first division, after a tinguished herself as a lead- Spanish giants will be out. long battle in a country where ing goal scorer in the past two Reports in the Spanish capi- the life expectancy for trans- seasons. tal have linked Madrid with gender women is between 32 That prompted Villa San former Tottenham coach and 40 years old. Carlos, in last place in the Mauricio Pochettino, current- The football player said she women’s professional league, ly without a club, should they Real Madrid’s Dominicans forward Mariano (centre) challenges Inter Milan’s Slovak defender Milan Skriniar signed an agreement with the to seek to recruit her. part ways with Zidane, while (left) as Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane looks on during the UEFA Champions League Group B football Argentine Football Associa- During a press conference match between Inter Milan and Real Madrid on November 25 at the San Siro stadium. afp Real Madrid Castilla coach tion, which requires her to on Friday, Gomez already Raul Gonzalez, a prolific strik- position possible,” said for- Ramos in particular is es- rim Benzema and Casemiro undergo hormone treatment. anticipated a “historic moment er for the club in the past, has mer Madrid goalkeeper Iker sential, with Madrid having helped them earn a 2-2 draw She must also submit to tes- at the global level.” afp been touted as a ‘plan B’. Casillas, defending the coach lost eight of their last 10 Eu- after Marcus Thuram’s double The Frenchman’s prede- against the mounting specu- ropean games in which the put Gladbach ahead. cessor Santiago Solari was lation over his future. 35-year-old has not played, A pair of wins against Anto- sacked after the humiliating “You cannot live in the past, including the Ajax and Man- nio Conte’s underwhelming last-16 exit against Ajax in the but he has earned the right to chester City eliminations. Inter Milan got Madrid back Champions League in 2019, lead Madrid.” Zidane got a boost after a on track but a dismal 2-0 away paving the way for him to re- narrow 1-0 victory over Sevil- defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk at turn just 10 months after his Ramos returns la on Saturday, Real’s firstL iga the start of December left Zi- sudden departure. However, despite his suc- win since October. dane desperately needing a Last season’s elimination cess during two stints in “The last few days have been victory this week. at the same phase by Man- charge, winning three Cham- very tough but this team has Madrid then host league chester City was mitigated by pions League trophies, two La a lot of character and loves leaders Atletico Madrid in a the team’s strong domestic Liga titles and two Club World challenges,” Zidane said. derby clash on Saturday, an- performance, as they ground Cups among other silverware, “Today’s win is very impor- other crucial match in a week their way to the Spanish title, and his fine history as a player, tant for what is coming next. which could define the Span- but another early failure in a defeat could make Zidane We know when we don’t play ish champions’ season, and Europe may prove to be the Madrid’s eighth managerial well we will be criticised but their coach’s future. final straw for trigger-happy casualty in 10 years. we have to focus on the posi- After the Shakhtar defeat Zi- president Florentino Perez. He is at least boosted by the tives and keep trying to find dane insisted he had no inten- “Zizou is a magnificent return of captain Sergio Ramos consistency.” tion of resigning, but if the team coach, a good friend and and right back Dani Carvajal. Madrid almost fell to de- stumble against Marco Rose’s Argentine transgender footballer Mara Gomez (left) of Villa San Carlos will do everything possible The Spanish duo are important feat in Germany in October Gladbach, that decision may be poses with a jersey of Lanus with her name on it given as present after to have Madrid in the best parts of Madrid’s defence. but last-gasp goals from Ka- taken out of his hands. afp an Argentina first division female football match.afp Washington stuns unbeaten Pittsburgh in NFL game

ALEX Smith threw for 296 unbeaten Pittsburgh 23-17, kins kicked a 45-yard field goal scoring 4:27 into the second a drive for a go-ahead field goal fired defensive coordinator yards and a touchdown Mon- preventing the Steelers from with 2:07 to play and, after Jon quarter on Roethlisberger’s by Hopkins that featured a one- Gregg Williams on Monday, a day, and the Washington Foot- clinching an NFL playoff berth. Bostic intercepted a deflected 3-yard touchdown pass to handed catch by Cam Sims on a day after the winless club ball Team stunned previously Washington’s Dustin Hop- Ben Roethlisberger pass, add- Diontae Johnson. 29-yard Smith pass. allowed a last-second touch- ed another 45-yard field goal Washington denied the Thomas had a career-high down pass to Las Vegas to give with 17 seconds remaining to Steelers with a goal-line defen- nine catches for 98 yards, and the Raiders a 31-28 triumph. seal the victory. sive stand, but Pittsburgh teammate J.D. McKissic made “I just felt like that was the Rallying from a 14-point forced a punt, and on the next a career-best 10 grabs for 70 best thing for our team moving deficit, the team that dropped play, Roethlisberger connected yards. forward,” Jets coach Adam its nickname this year over with James Washington on a The NFL’s later Monday Gase said. Native American racism issues 50-yard touchdown pass for a matchup had the Buffalo Bills In the final moments, Wil- improved to 5-7, winning its 14-0 advantage. (8-3) facing San Francisco liams called for an attack of the third consecutive game to Hopkins kicked a 49-yard (5-6) at Arizona after the 49ers quarterback instead of tighter match the New York Giants for field goal one second before were booted from their home pass defense, and Derek Carr the NFC East division lead. half-time, and Washington stadium by Covid-19 safety threw the winning touchdown The Steelers, who fell to 11-1, began the second half by measures by local government pass to Henry Ruggs with 13 had been 78-1-1 at home in marching 82 yards in 14 plays officials. seconds remaining. games when leading by 14 or over 6:44 for a one-yard “I obviously wasn’t happy more points until losing to touchdown run by Peyton Jackson back for Ravens about that call,” Gase added. Washington. Barber to pull within 14-10. In off-field news, the Balti- “That was a heartbreaking way The only Super Bowl cham- Pittsburgh responded with more Ravens activated quarter- for our guys to lose that game... pion with an unbeaten season Matthew Wright’s first NFL back Lamar Jackson off the We can’t have that happen.” remains the Miami Dolphins field goal on the opening play Covid-19 list just in time for The Carolina Panthers, 4-8 in the 1972 campaign. of the fourth quarter. him to start against Dallas on and coming off a bye week, Pittsburgh fell level with But Smith flipped a 15-yard Tuesday in a game postponed had eight players placed on reigning Super Bowl cham- touchdown pass to Logan Tho- from last Thursday due to coro- the club’s Covid-19 reserve list pion Kansas City (11-1) in a mas to lift Washington level at navirus rescheduling issues. Monday and closed the team fight for the top seed in the 17-17 with 9:09 remaining. The Ravens (6-5) hope to end training facility through at Trace McSorley of the Baltimore Ravens rushes the ball during the American Conference and a Pittsburgh turned over the ball a three-game losing streak at the least Tuesday. The Panthers fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, first-round playoff bye. on downs at the Washington expense of the Cowboys (3-8). are set to play host to Denver Pennsylvania on December 1. GETTY IMAGES/Afp The Steelers opened the 28-yard line, setting the stage for The New York Jets (0-12) on Sunday. afp 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST december 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Saints take fifth on disputed VAR penalty victory

anny Ings re- one, that is why we have VAR, turned from injury especially when it is about to score a contro- decisions if it is in or not then versial winner from you need this. theD penalty spot as South- “I think it was clear inside ampton came from behind to the box. It is not nice to get beat Brighton 2-1 on Decem- a penalty against you but the ber 7 and climb to fifth in the decision from what I have Premier League. seen was relatively clear.” Brighton took the lead from Brighton started the match the spot, with Pascal Gross brightly in front of 2,000 sup- sending goalkeeper Alex Mc- porters – back in the stadi- Carthy the wrong way after um for the first time in nine James Ward-Prowse handled months after the easing of the ball in the area. coronavirus restrictions. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men They took the lead in the found an equaliser just before 26th minute when referee Da- half-time, when Jan Vester- vid Coote pointed to the spot gaard produced a towering after a Danny Welbeck cross header from a Ward-Prowse hit the raised arms of Ward- corner. Prowse and Gross converted. Then, with nine minutes Brighton looked to get for- remaining, substitute Ings ward at every opportunity Southampton’s English defender Kyle Walker-Peters (left) is fouled by Brighton’s English midfielder Solly March (right) leading to a penalty during fired home after Southamp- while Southampton struggled the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at the American Express Community Stadium in ton were awarded a spot- to get going but Saints were Brighton, southern England on Monday. pOOL/AFP kick, with Brighton players level just before the break. action for five weeks, was intervention changed the de- Disappointed Brighton boss “I thought it was quite an claiming the foul took place Ward-Prowse continued brought on at the start of the cision to a penalty. Graham Potter said the first even game so I’m disappoint- outside the area. his impressive record from second half. Ings made no mistake and challenge appeared to take ed with the result. If it’s factual Hasenhuttl was delighted to set-pieces, crossing the ball With 13 minutes to go, Kyle his side held on for the victo- place outside the box. and the offence is inside and see his team grind out a win from a corner for Vestergaard Walker-Peters was brought ry, which lifts Southampton to “I don’t know if there was they’ve proved that’s the case, while not at their best. to head past powerfully past down by Solly March. The 20 points, one behind fourth- a second but that’s what the then that’s what it’s there for “I didn’t see the first pen- Mat Ryan. referee initially awarded a placed Leicester. Brighton referee seemed to think,” he and it’s what you have to ac- alty,” he said. “For the second Ings, who had been out of free-kick before a lengthy VAR stay 16th on 10 points. told Sky Sports. cept.” AFP Holders France get tricky draw in WC2022 qualifiers Holders France were hand- and July. The sides met in the Euro ed an awkward draw in quali- That means a team that 2016 quarter-finals with Wales fying for the 2022 World Cup reaches the final of Euro 2020 coming out on top. on December 7, with Ukraine can expect to play 17 compet- “We are not going to com- and Bosnia and Herzegovina itive games between March plain about the draw,” said standing in their way on the and November next year. Belgium coach Roberto Mar- road to the finals in Qatar, Only the winners of the 10 tinez. while England will face Rob- groups will qualify automati- “It will also be an emotional ert Lewandowski and Poland cally for the finals, which are reunion for me because it was in their group. to take place in November in Wales, at Swansea, where I Gareth Southgate’s England, and December of 2022. started my coaching career in semi-finalists in 2018 in Rus- The 10 runners-up will go 2007.” sia, will also take on Hungary into play-offs alongside the After qualifying for Euro 2020 and Albania as well as two of two best Nations League to reach their first major tour- international football’s min- group winners who miss out nament since the 1998 World nows, Andorra and San Ma- on qualifying via the tradi- Cup, Scotland were handed rino, in Group I. tional path. just about as kind a draw as France will also face Fin- Those play-offs, in March possible on the road to 2022 land – who recently beat Les 2022, will produce three more as they were placed in Group F Bleus in a friendly in Paris – qualifiers in total. with Denmark and Austria. in Group D, with Kazakhstan Germany, whose coach “We have to be happy with completing the group that Joachim Loew has been un- the draw but very, very wary was drawn in a virtual cer- der severe pressure after poor that it will be a dangerous emony at FIFA’s headquarters recent results for the 2014 draw as well,” said Scotland in Zurich due to the Covid-19 World Cup winners, will be manager Steve Clarke, whose pandemic. expected to come through a side also face familiar foe Is- Didier Deschamps’ side are group in which Romania and rael, the Faroe Islands and French national football team’s head coach Didier Deschamps gives a press conference following the UEFA in a group of just five teams preliminary draw for the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Monday in Paris. AFP Iceland appear their main Moldova. because they will be involved threats. World Cup qualifying has in the finals of the UEFA Na- always a long road where Wembley. competition begins in March, Reigning European cham- already started elsewhere. tions League in Italy next Oc- there can be pitfalls,” Des- Most famously, England with 13 countries from the pions Portugal’s main oppo- There will be four direct tober. champs said. “It is better to missed out on a place at the continent going through to sition will come from Serbia qualifiers from Asia to join One of the most significant avoid them.” 1974 World Cup after losing the 32-team finals. and the Republic of Ireland in hosts Qatar, four from South results of Deschamps’ time as As for England, it is the 2-0 in Poland and then being There will be three rounds of Group A. Cristiano Ronaldo America, while Africa has five France coach came in quali- seventh time they have been held 1-1 at Wembley. fixtures in March, three more will be 37 by the time the fi- qualifiers. fying for the 2014 World Cup, drawn with Poland in World “There’s a great history of in September and two each in nals come around. Three teams will prog- when his side faced Ukraine Cup qualifying. that fixture. There was a spell October and November. Spain notably drew Sweden ress from the North, Central in a deciding play-off. They Their most recent encoun- when we seemed to draw them That will only increase pres- and Greece in Group B, while America and Caribbean zone, lost 2-0 in the first leg in Kiev ters came in the campaign for every time,” said Southgate. sure on a fixture calendar that Italy must take on Switzer- with the remaining two berths before winning 3-0 in the re- the 2014 finals, with the sides is already packed, especially land in Group C. awarded to the winners of turn. drawing 1-1 in Warsaw before Fixture pile-up with the postponed Euro Belgium, the world’s top- inter-continental play-offs in “A qualifying campaign is England triumphed 2-0 at The European qualifying 2020 set to go ahead in June ranked team, will meet Wales. June 2022. AFP