tuesday, may 18, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3665 / 4000 RIEL Cambodian exports to US soar 17% in Q1 May Kunmakara merchandise exports logged $1.679 billion to $1.969 billion, [accounted for] approximately and we are waiting for its re- in January-March 2020, ac- and the trade surplus widened 40 per cent of our exports.” newal. While garments and THE Kingdom’s total goods cording to the latest data from by over 16 per cent from $1.509 With the US yet to reau- shoes are not part of the US exports to the US, the world’s the US Census Bureau. billion to $1.757 billion. thorise its General System GSP scheme, travel goods ben- largest economy in nominal The Kingdom imported Garment Manufacturers As- of Preferences (GSP) trade- efit from the GSP scheme,” he terms, sharply increased in $106 million worth of goods sociation in Cambodia secre- benefits programme follow- said. “But since this applies to POLICE INQUIRE the first quarter of the year to from the US during the pe- tary-general Ken Loo acknowl- ing its December 31 lapse, all other countries, it has not attain nearly $1.863 billion, riod, booking a 25 per cent edged that the US is the main Loo pointed out import du- had a big impact.” INTO EIGHT RICE even amid production stop- increase over $85 million in buyer of Cambodian garments, ties have applied to all travel Speaking at the Cambodia pages and other Covid woes. the first quarter of 2020. textiles and travel goods. “Last goods shipments entering the Franchise Expo on May 5, US WINE POISONING This was 16.84 per cent high- Bilateral trade increased by year the US market was our US from Cambodia. DEATHS IN KANDAL er than the $1.594 billion in more than 17 per cent from biggest export market – which “The US GSP has expired Continued – page 6 national – page 4 Covid jabs stand up to India virus variant: UK BRITAIN is confident that exist- 80MW WIND FARM ing vaccines will provide protec- tion from a more transmissible IN KAMPOT STILL Indian coronavirus variant now spreading across the country, IN LIMBO AS EDC health secretary Matt Hancock said on May 16. PRICE TALKS STALL And hours later, he was able to announce that the country had business – page 6 passed the milestone of 20 mil- lion adults vaccinated with two doses of the coronavirus jab. The news came just before England, Scotland and Wales were set to unlock parts of their economy on May 17. But further steps to open up the country again have been put in doubt by the Indian strain. Hancock told Sky News the government had a “high degree of confidence” that vaccines would stand up to the B.1.617.2 JAKARTA THE ‘MOST variant, following new prelimi- Billowing tensions nary data from Oxford University. ENVIRONMENTALLY Smoke billows from the the area around the port of Gaza City following Israeli bombardment from the sea on Monday. Israeli air strikes “That means that we can stay hammered the Gaza Strip after a week of violence that has killed more than 200 people, the large majority Palestinian, despite international on course with our strategy of calls for de-escalation. AFP VULNERABLE CITY’, using the vaccine to deal with the pandemic,” he said. NEW STUDY FINDS Britain, one of the worst-hit WORLD – Page 11 countries in the world with over 127,000 deaths, has also seen a rapid deployment of vaccines. According to government Covid cases fall back in data, the case numbers of the Indian variant have risen from 520 to 1,313 this week. Hancock warned that because of the high transmission of the In- capital, up in provinces dian variant it could “spread like wildfire amongst the unvaccinat- Mom Kunthear neighbouring Kandal prov- provincial governors have to cases found in Takeo prov- ed groups” and because of this the ince but apparently increased enforce the law on the con- ince has been increasing. government “need to get as many INISTER of in other parts of the country. trol of Covid-19 and other More than 100 people there people vaccinated as possible”. Health Mam “The lockdown imposed contagious diseases and work have now tested positive for The health secretary defended SICHUANESE-STYLE Bun Heng on on Phnom Penh and Kan- to raise awareness about pre- the virus, most of them gar- the government from criticism May 14 called dal province’s Takmao town ventive health measures with ment workers. On May 16 that it had been too slow to im- EATERY AIDS NEEDY Mon municipal and provincial has provided us with some their community members. alone, Takeo province re- pose travel restrictions on India governors to further strength- experience and taught us Over the last few days, the corded 51 new infections. in the face of the new variant. IN JOURNEY TO THE en their preventive health some lessons that could be community outbreak in the Takeo Provincial Hall’s ad- India was placed under the strict HEART OF KUNG FU measures as new Covid-19 applied to other provinces if capital and Kandal province ministration director Meas Uy travel restrictions in April before cases have decreased consid- necessary,” he said. has apparently begun to the variant was under investiga- lifestyle – page 13 erably in Phnom Penh and Bun Heng added that all subside, but the number of Continued – page 2 tion, he said. AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Areas classified as red zones National in capital at household level Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Provincial MRC gets grant for Mekong projects authorities Lay Samean prepared to HE French govern- ment donated €1.5 stem Covid million ($1.82 mil- lion) to the Mekong Continued from page 1 RiverT Commission (MRC) to improve its river monitoring told The Post on May 17 that the network and better manage authorities were prepared to water infrastructure projects, impose a lockdown on any according to a press state- Covid-19 hotspots there. ment released on May 17. “Those who are infected are “We hope to strengthen our mostly are garment workers current systems, making them residing in areas adjacent to more efficient, reliable and ca- Phnom Penh. The hotspots pable of collecting and trans- include the districts of Bati, mitting real-time rainfall, water Prey Kabbas and Samrong,” level, and other environmental Uy said. data to aid responsible devel- The provincial authorities opment and management of have expanded the quaran- the river,” said MRC Secretariat tine centres for those who CEO An Pich Hatda. are suspected of contracting MRC said development and the virus and those who have climate change had intensi- been in contact with Covid- fied in the region which made 19 positive persons. Those forecasting difficult if there is who come from Phnom Penh insufficient data on water in- and Kandal province are re- frastructure and the way this quired to have their health infrastructure is operated. checked and enter quaran- MRC funding is provided by tine on arrival. the Agence Francaise de De- “We have put up heath veloppement (AFD) for four check sites on the main na- years from 2021 to 2025. It will AFD country director for Laos Juliet Gabet-Ouahioune. mekong river commission tional roads leading to the also be used to improve MRC province. We require travellers and its member countries’ “The funding should al- monitoring system for better of €4 million from France for 11 additional stations from to have temperature checks ability to better understand low the MRC to advance the management of the river,” said the hydro-meteorological 2016–2022 to collect near real- and be sprayed with alcohol. changes to river communities knowledge of the hydrological Julie Gabet-Ouahioune, AFD network project. MRC has time data of water and rainfall What is more important is co- and the environment, espe- profile of the Mekong River country director for Laos. established a network of 49 levels. Since 2006, France has operation between residents cially water quality, sediment and its main tributaries and MRC said this funding is a hydro-meteorological sta- granted approximately $12 and the authorities,” Takeo and fisheries. thus create an integrated follow-up to two other grants tions from 2007 to 2012 and million to the MRC. provincial deputy governor Vao Sokha told The Post. Preah Sihanouk province has been detecting cases of Covid-19 every day, prompt- ing provincial governor Kuoch Thai reprimanded for farming disputed area Chamroeun to temporarily restrict people’s movements Khouth Sophak Chakrya already. Then I reported the case resolve the issue. in four locations in Siha- to my superiors,” he said. “We estimate that about 30 noukville on May 17. Those POLICE protecting Cambodia’s Thy added that the farmer had per cent of the 226ha of dis- entering the province are ex- border with Thailand said that ploughed 2ha of 226ha of land puted land has been ploughed. pected to quarantine as well. they stopped a Thai farmer who in a disputed zone which border We will continue to keep an The four restricted locations was ploughing land at border committees from the two eye on activities there. We will in Sihanoukville are Yuelai post 43 located in O’Beichoan nations had not resolved. His enforce Cambodian law if they Hotel, RUI LI Bank, Lan Tian commune’s Prey Chan village in forces did not detain the farmer continue to plough in the for- Go Ji Sang Chheng supermar- Banteay Meanchey province’s nor confiscated his tractor. bidden area,” he said. ket in Village I of Commune O’Chrou district. Keng Lim, patrol team chief of Sea Sao Dy, an official at bor- III and the International Ca- Region 5 deputy chief of bor- border protection battalion 503 der protection battalion 911 sino Wei Nysei in Village IV of der police 911 Sim Thy told The who is stationed in the area, said based in Poipet town, said his Commune IV. Post on May 17 that his forces, every year Thai farmers plant forces also had incidents of The restrictions came after in cooperation with military corn and beans in the disputed farming on the disputed land. the fast response team took battalion 503, were patrolling area claiming they have been “We saw that banana, man- throat swabs to check for in- the location when they saw a farming there since the 1990s. go, bamboo and acacia were fections among guests and Thai national ploughing the He said Cambodian farmers planted along the border or in employees in those locations area between border poles had protested against the Cambodia. We suspect the and came back with positive Number 43 and 44 on May 14. Thais and requested authori- crops are planted by Thai test results for Covid-19. “Our patrol stopped the farm- ties to prevent them from farmers. We continue to mon- “In order to prevent the vi- Cambodian authorities stop the Thai farmer from plowing and planting er, and he said he had been farm- farming on the disputed land itor the location and will take rus from spreading to others, in unresolved border areas of Banteay Meanchey province. police ing in that area for many years until the border committees legal action,” he said. the provincial administration has decided to temporarily restrict people’s movements at these locations for 14 days,” Chamroeun said. He also requested that the Man sent to court after fatal road accident in capital owners of the locations co- operate with the provincial Kim Sarom Citing an eyewitness, Pong was a garment worker residing working group to carry out Teuk commune police chief in Kantaok commune’s Ta contact tracing. A CHINESE man was sent to Vorn Saroeun said the acci- Nuon village in Phnom Penh’s Siem Reap province has Phnom Penh Municipal Court dent occurred at 4pm in front Kamboul district. temporarily banned people after he crashed his car, killing of the Siko Phnom Penh Gar- The victim who was killed from travelling to and from 16 one person and injuring three ment Factory in the commune was identified as Em Vin, 22, a places in the province from others on National Road 3 in when Tavfang’s car veered factory worker from Prambei May 16 until further notice. Dangkor district’s Pong Teuk against the traffic and collided Mum commune’s Traing Spaek In a notice dated May 17, commune on May 16. with a motorcycle. village in Takeo province’s Tra- the provincial administration “We held him for 48 hours. “[Tavfang] swerved into the ing district. He died at the said the restrictions came We are building a case file for motorcycle lane while the scene of the accident before about after it was determined referral to the court [on May motorist was riding along the medical help arrived. that a Covid-19 positive pa- 17],” said municipal police’s right side of the road. I sent the Citing the suspect’s own tient had visited all of these road traffic division chief suspect to the Phnom Penh statements, Sarim said Tav- places from May 11 onward. Chheng Sarim. police station that night after fang was driving from Phnom On May 17, the health min- He said although they had not the incident,” he said. Penh on National Road 3 istry logged four new deaths, yet received a complaint from Two of the three injured vic- when he swerved to avoid bringing the total to 154. It the victims’ relatives, police tims were garment workers another driver coming from also reported another 360 could proceed with the case. from Damnak Kantuot com- the opposite direction who infections and 886 recover- The driver was identified as mune’s Trapeang Chrey village was driving in the wrong lane ies, bringing the tally to 710 Wang Tavfang, 43, an employ- in Kampot province’s Kampong while attempting to overtake The Chinese driver crashed his car, killing one and injuring three others and 2,266, respectively, in ee at the Ji Huoy Factory. Trach district while the other another vehicle. in National Road 3 accident on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. police just two days. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National New Pursat dam project Red zones in capital set to be 90% finished HE construction of the Damnak Chheu Krom Tdam in Pursat province – classified on household basis consisting of one main levee and over 90km of irrigation canals Mom Kunthear – is now is over 90 per cent complete and is expected to go HNOM Penh will re- online by next month. duce the size of areas The canals will provide water designated as red for irrigation to a total area zones to the house- of 16,100ha of farmland in 51 holdP level and reclassify orange villages in Phnom Kravanh and zones to yellow, according to Talou Sen Chey districts. the municipal administration. According to the Pursat Pro- The decision was made on vincial Administration, the dam May 17 at a virtual meeting is part of the Greater Mekong led by municipal governor Sub-region Flood and Drought Khuong Sreng with relevant Risk Management and Mitiga- authorities. tion Project which is funded by The administration said the the Asian Development Bank. move would smoothen the “This construction serves the control and implementation interests of the farmers growing of the Ministry of Health’s crops in the affected districts Covid-19-related guidelines and helps to raise the living and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s standards of the people there,” recommendations. said Nget Seiha, spokesman for The administration previ- the provincial hall. ously extended the capital’s He said the construction of the three-colour-coded system dam began in August 2017 and until May 19, with each colour is expected to be completed on determining to what extent schedule in June. coronavirus restrictions are According to Seiha, the con- placed on parts of the city. struction of the dam consists of Separately, a total of the main dam and a main canal 2,082,282 Cambodians have with a length of more than been vaccinated since the 90km. beginning of February to He said the Damnak Chheu May 16. The figure represents A woman wedges between two barricades fashioned with banners that reads ‘red zone’, in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district on Sunday. HONG MENEA Krom dam could also become a 20.82 per cent of the target of new tourist attraction because 10 million people aged 18 and tion campaign for the people ple received their second dose. oversees vaccinations in the Sarath also called on people of the scenic natural locations over nationwide. in the red zones in six districts Ith Sarath – Deputy Com- red zone – said the second in- in red zones who have not yet nearby such as the waterfall The Ministry of National De- since May 1, nearly 690,000 mander-in-Chief and Joint oculation process was going been vaccinated to urgently in Veal Veng district’s Stung fence said on May 17 that dur- people had received shots. On Chief of Staff of the Royal well with vaccination groups do so as military medics are Pramoy commune. Voun Dara ing the 16 days of the vaccina- May 16, more than 3,000 peo- Cambodia Armed Forces who taking great care. still providing the first dose. S Reap land clearing Approval given to Khmer textbooks case referred to court Voun Dara

Om Bunthoeurn 14 in the village, but the opera- THE Ministry of Education, tors fled when they arrived. Youth and Sport has given ap- THE Siem Reap provincial For- “We have given the machin- proval to higher education in- estry Administration on May ery and land owners 30 days stitutions (HEIs) and their fac- 17 referred the case of two to come forward,” he said. ulty to author more than 800 pieces of impounded machin- Svay Leu district Forestry Khmer-language textbooks as ery to court after conducting Administration chief Men of the first week of May, with an investigation. Vuthy told The Post that the the work sponsored by the Re- The equipment was seized machinery was being retained search, Creativity and Innova- by authorities as it was used while police were searching tion Fund (RCI Fund). to clear state forest land in for the owners of the machin- The education ministry Trapeang Ruessei village in ery and land. announced the programme Svay Leu district’s Boeung “As far as we know, the land back in October last year and Mealea commune. owner did not encroach on the has received over 1,000 ap- The district Forestry Admin- land but had bought it from plications to participate since istration has not yet identified someone else because the vil- then, working from the basic the owner of the equipment lage chief signed the paperwork. principle that “every sub- or the person who claimed to So, having bought the land, the ject must have at least one own the land. owner cleared it,” he said. Khmer-language textbook”. Provincial Forestry Adminis- However, Boeung Mealea In its press release on May 17, tration chief Mong Bunlim told commune chief Hun Hat told the ministry said the more than The Post on May 17 that officers The Post that he was unaware 800 Khmer-language textbooks Higher education institutions have received the nod to author over 800 Khmer-language textbooks. MOEYS seized the machinery on May of the signature. now being written will be of enormous benefit to Cambo- book before it is submitted. books, there is no develop- opportunities and experi- dian students and researchers To date, 887 proposed text- ment,” said education minis- ence,” said education minis- at the higher education level. books have been approved ter Hang Chuon Naron. try spokesman Ros Soveacha. As of the first week of May, a and the RCI Fund has commit- The ministry said that in prin- The RCI Fund was estab- total of 19 state and private HEIs ted so far to providing the au- ciple all HEIs must have basic lished through an initiative have applied for funding to re- thors of 824 of those textbooks Khmer-language textbooks for of the Ministry of Economy search and write a total of 1,088 with a budget for research, each subject in sufficient quan- and Finance to promote a Khmer-language textbooks. writing and then revising the tities to allow their students to culture of research, creativity According to the press re- titles they have proposed. study and do research. These and innovation to benefit the lease, professors and research- The ministry also reminded can be physical copies of the education sector in response ers who author textbooks will students who wished to con- books or available online. to the demands of the labour submit their work to the Sci- tinue their studies at HEIs that “The creation of hundreds market due to globalisation. ence Council or the Educa- the availability of Khmer-lan- of new [Khmer-language] The education ministry has tion Council of Higher Edu- guage textbooks and study re- textbooks shows our commit- encouraged all professors, writ- cation Institutions for review sources are an important part ment to improving the quality ers and researchers to partici- and evaluation of its contents of evaluating the quality of ed- of education at HEIs through pate in this project and assist along with a proposed course ucation of these institutions. strengthening and develop- in the creation of high-quality description and a synopsis or “The book defines knowl- ing learning resources for stu- Khmer-language textbooks abstract of their work. edge. Knowledge defines dents and researchers. It also in order to promote equity in Siem Reap authorities have impounded machinery used to clear state The board of management at education. Education defines provides our researchers and learning resource accessibility forest land in in Svay Leu district’s Boeung Mealea commune. police each HEI will review each text- development. Without these writers with valuable work for Khmer speakers. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Solution sought for Pailin health official fired for misconduct Long Kimmarita expressed his feelings about a problem he faced in order to PAILIN provincial governor seek a solution. Ban Sreymom has invited for- He said this was the first time mer provincial health depart- the provincial board of gov- ment official KhemM onykosal ernors, on behalf of the new who was fired over a Facebook committee, had summoned post concerning negligence him to comment since his ter- he encountered while on duty mination. He expected that the to clarify the issue on May 18. meeting would provide justice. The invitation comes after “I am ready to address the the provincial administration dispute. I just do not know established a committee to deal what will happen. My expecta- with the case on orders from tion is that a peaceful compro- the Ministry of Civil Service mise can be reached,” he said. which received the complaint Yin Mengly, coordinator from Monykosal in March. for rights group Adhoc for A letter sent to Monykosal Battambang and Pailin prov- and signed by the governor on ince said it was illegal for the May 13, said that the provincial provincial administration to Police visit alcohol poisoning site in Sarika commune in Kandal province’s Lvea Em district. Faceb00k board of governors would like dismiss Monykosal without to discuss with him a compro- going through the proper ad- mise concerning the dispute at ministrative procedures. Be- the sub-national level. sides, the decision shows that Police probe deaths from “The inquiry will be ad- leaders do as they please. ministered by the provincial Mengly believed that the committee for dispute reso- current procedure to solve lution for civil servants at the Monykosal’s case is correct, sub-national level at 8am at as it came after the establish- wine poisoning in Kandal the Pailin Provincial Council ment of a committee for dis- Hall,” the letter said. pute resolution ordered by Nov Sivutha hospital in Phnom Penh. were addicted to wine. But we results reveal the deaths were On March 19, Sreymom is- the Ministry of Civil Service. Lvea Em district police chief don’t know if they died due to caused by wine, producers sued a letter of termination “We welcome this! We do ANDAL provincial Heng Sophal said on May 17 the wine,” he said. and sellers will be legally re- to Monykosal accusing him not know which side is wrong police are investigat- that police suspect the deaths Provincial police chief sponsible. For the time being, of posting inciting content and which side is right. But we ing the deaths of eight were caused by the wine be- Choeun Socheth said the de- authorities had temporarily and disrupting internal uni- don’t want the provincial au- people who report- cause all the villagers were ceased, aged 29 to 57, had at- closed local wine production ty. It came after Monykosal thorities to use their authority edlyK died from drinking rice “alcoholics”, but he noted that tended a funeral where they and sales. had posted messages and to do whatever they want. wine in Skor village in Lvea Em this could not be confirmed had drunk wine. He said police will check pictures concerning a Pailin “We want authorities to be- district’s Sarika commune on until the results of laboratory The survivor, 42, is being whether local rice wine pro- quarantine centre. have in accordance with the May 10. Another villager who tests are released. treated in a hospital in Phnom ducers had permission from Monykosal told The Post on law, not to fire a civil servant drank with the eight is receiv- “We can only confirm that Penh’s Prek Pnov district. authorities. Otherwise, their May 17 that the posts merely arbitrarily,” Mengly said. ing treatment at a hospital in all of the people who died Sophal said if laboratory production will be stopped. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Three Military Police Health ministry receives more officers out of nearly Covid-19 rapid antigen tests 500 positive for Covid Long Kimmarita “The rapid tests showed that Mom Kunthear most of them do not have the Only three out of the nearly disease. We have only found ERNOD Ricard Cam- 500 Military Police officers who three cases and they are not bodge Co Ltd pro- underwent Covid-19 tests were among those deployed in the vided 4,000 Covid-19 found to have contracted the recent lockdown mission. rapid antigen test kits virus, according to command- “They might have contracted toP the Ministry of Health on er General Sao Sokha. the virus from family members the morning of May 17 to be Sokha told The Post that the living in the red zone. But we distributed to referral hospi- testing has been administered don’t know for sure how they tals across Cambodia. by the National Military Police got infected,” he said. In a press release, the com- for a week and will continue Without revealing a specific pany said this is the second until everyone is tested. The number, Sokha said many more time it has provided rapid an- testing started on May 10 at the officers still have to be tested. tigen test kits to Cambodia in National Military Police head- He urged all members of the support of the government’s quarters in Phnom Penh using Military Police to strictly respect efforts to prevent the transmis- Covid-19 rapid antigen tests. the preventive health measures sion of the virus in the country. He said the testing require- introduced by the Ministry of Health minister Mam Bun ment for Military Police came Health and to strictly adhere to Heng said the use of the rapid after they had been assigned to military discipline. antigen test for all patients enforce the government’s lock- In separate Covid-19 tests who come to Cambodia’s down orders in Phnom Penh. administered by the Ministry of health centres for any kind The three officers who tested Health on May 12, a total of 10 of medical treatment has positive for the virus are in officers based in Phnom Penh’s become standard operating good condition and are getting Prek Pnov district were found to procedure across the nation’s treatment at a medical facility. be Covid-19 positive. healthcare system. “In order to increase the ef- fectiveness of health services in Pernod Ricard Cambodge CEO Daren Ong (left) donates rapid Covid tests to health ministry. Heng chivoan public hospitals, the ministry recommends that all hospitals positive for Covid-19 they can because the rapid tests will press release on May 17. use these rapid tests to check quarantine and prevent further allow them to diagnose those “The [telecommunications for the Covid-19 virus,” he said. transmission of the disease. with Covid-19 faster and with ministry] calls on all citizens Pernod Ricard Cambodge “The health ministry is accuracy, quality and safety. to take care of their health chairman Daren Ong told re- in charge of combating the The Ministry of Posts and and to strictly implement porters after the handover cer- Covid-19 epidemic, so we Telecommunications has also the guidelines of the health emony that the fight against want to help them with this provided 100,000 standard Q ministry and to follow Prime Covid-19 was of paramount important work,” he said. Covid-19 rapid antigen test Minister Hun Sen’s ‘three importance to Cambodia and According to Ong, the tests kits to the Samdech Techo Vol- protections and three don’ts’ testing for the virus was a key will assist the work being untary Youth Doctor Associa- guideline in order to prevent part of the battle because when done by the frontline medical tion for use in the fight against the spread of Covid-19,” said The testing has been administered by the National Military Police for a someone knows that they are staff, volunteers and doctors Covid-19, according to their the press release. week and will continue until everyone is tested. GRK News Two arrested for trafficking 70kg drugs into capital PHNOM PENH Municipal Court prosecutor conti- A nued to question two men on May 16 over more than 70kg of drugs seized when they were arrested on May 12 in Phnom Penh. Municipal anti-drug depart- ment deputy director In Song said the two suspects were Chinese nationals aged 40 and 58. “These two Chinese men are accomplices of five other drug suspects – including Cambo- dians and Vietnamese – who were placed in pre-trial deten- tion by the Svay Rieng Provincial Inmates meeting with staff at the Preah Sihanouk provincial prison. General department of prisons Court last week,” he said. The five were detained on May 12 for the suspected trafficking of over 11 kg of methampheta- Preah Sihanouk inmates mines. Song did not go into more de- tail about the 70 kg of drugs that transferred to Kampot police said they had seized in Phnom Penh, citing an ongoing Voun Dara would take about a week. were transferred after they investigation. “The health of the Covid-19 tested negative for Covid-19. But according to the official A TOTAL of 146 female detain- positive prisoners is normal,” “The best option is to remove Facebook page of the National ees have been transferred he said. them to make more room and Police on May 16, officers from from Preah Sihanouk to Kam- Savana said the female maintain safety and reduce the anti-drug department had pot provincial prison to pre- inmates would be held in any fears,” he said. raided a location on May 12 in vent the spread of Covid-19 Kampot until the pandemic In order to prevent the the Borey Boeng Snor gated among inmates caused by subsides. spread of Covid-19, the GDP community in Chbar Ampov crowded conditions after 34 “We decided to transfer had requested Prime Minister district’s Nirouth commune. inmates tested positive for them to Kampot provincial to approve vaccinations for The two suspects were then the disease on May 8. prison because they are a vul- inmates in high-risk areas in found at another location in the The Ministry of Interior’s gen- nerable population and Phnom Penh, Kandal, Siha- commune. eral department of prisons (GDP) because our provincial prison noukville and Siem Reap. During the operation, police spokesman Nuth Savana told only has a security fence,” he After receiving the directive detained the two suspected rin- The Post that there had been no said. “We do not have a stone from Hun Sen, more than gleaders and seized more than new cases found since May 8. wall, so we think the virus is 10,000 detainees in Phnom 70 kg of drugs. Kim Sarom A second Covid-19 test for transmitted easily.” Penh were vaccinated within detainees who tested positive Savana said these detainees three days from May 7-9. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,100 1.2108 6.4398 109.21 4.1290 1.3354 31.44 0.7760 1.2157 1.4104

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: May 17, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,360 16,380 16,380 16,300 2 GTI 4,480 4,500 4,540 4,400 3 PAS 14,600 14,580 14,780 14,500 4 PEPC 3,280 3,340 3,340 3,200 5 PPAP 15,680 15,680 15,720 15,400 6 PPSP 2,230 2,180 2,230 2,180 7 PWSA 8,020 8,020 8,040 7,980 Exports to US to climb 80MW wind farm project in even higher: AmCham

Continued from page 1 and investment relationship, as Kampot hits EdC price snag the US is the largest importer ambassador Patrick Murphy of Cambodian goods, and the Hin Pisei said trade and investment premier position is expected to flows between the US and the only widen from the rest of the RENCH-OWNED The Blue Cir- Kingdom are increasing. field,” Galliano said. cle’s 80MW wind power invest- He said that more US com- The US embassy in Phnom ment project in Kampot province panies are arriving in the Penh and AmCham are un- has hit an impasse, as its proposed Kingdom each year, bringing dertaking a four-point strate- $0.068F per kWh tariff rate for the national with them what he said were gic approach to ramp up US grid exceeds what state-run energy sup- ethical business practices, business and investment into plier Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) is high labour and environ- the Kingdom. A Joint Working willing to pay, according to a Ministry of mental standards, and strong Plan (JWP) was signed to this Mines and Energy senior official. corporate social responsibil- end on April 2 between Mur- The Blue Circle specialises in wind ity programmes that connect phy and Galliano. farms and is the largest provider of renew- with local communities. Galliano added that the JWP’s able energy in Southeast Asia. The com- American Chamber of Com- objectives are to support US pany currently operates in many ASEAN merce in Cambodia (Am- companies trading with and in- countries, most notably in Vietnam. Cham) president Anthony vesting in Cambodia, strength- Victor Jona, the director-general of the Galliano said the rise of trade ening the Kingdom’s business ministry’s General Department of Energy, between the two countries climate, and advancing US- told The Post on May 17 that the company was “great news”. Cambodia economic ties. has been negotiating a power purchase He told The Post on May 17 “Although only recently agreement with EdC for “more than a that with the US recovering signed, there has been concrete year”, the last step before reaching a for- faster from the Covid-19 pan- action in pursuing these goals – mal agreement to build the wind power demic than countries in the the Cambodia Franchise Expo station on Bokor Mountain in Kampot. Total national electricity capacity from renewable energy sources – hydropower, solar and EU, US trade with the bloc is a prime example of prog- With electricity rates trimmed each biomass – reached 1,318.95MW at end-2020. SUPPLIED has been adversely impacted ress. AmCham fully embraces year since 2015 as per government pol- by the expiration of the GSP. the JWP and is honoured to icy, Jona said EdC requires a price under ing wind power projects in the Kingdom, O’Raing district to guarantee the project’s Consumer spending ac- work with the US embassy to the $0.068 per kWh quoted by the com- but neither has broken ground on wind successful implementation, he said. counts for more than two- achieve these ambitions with pany to provide consumers with more turbines or associated infrastructure. After completing a feasibility study, he thirds of US economic activity, our full support,” he said. affordable electricity. Xinglan Maritime Energy Co Ltd (XME), said, the company sent study reports to which grew by “a phenom- Cambodian exports to the “The Blue Circle has yet to begin con- a joint venture between the local Maritime relevant institutions at the ministry and enal” 10.7 per cent in the first US were to the tune of $6.5777 struction, as the company is still waiting Group and a Chinese company, is working answered their follow-up queries. quarter of this year, he said. billion in 2020, up by 22.79 for a successful price negotiation with on a $200 million 100MW onshore wind According to Vara, each turbine will This translated into increased per cent from the $5.3568 Electricite du Cambodge,” he said, add- power project in Mondulkiri province. generate 2.5MW, requiring 40 to fulfil the purchases of Cambodian knit billion posted in 2019, while ing that the firm will submit proposals Maritime Group chief operating officer project’s 100MW commitment. apparel, leather products, imports clocked in at $343.6 and technical specifications to the min- Kong Vara previously told The Post that the Total national electricity capacity woven apparel, footwear and million, down by 33.15 per istry for review to start construction, de- joint technical team – comprising local reached 2,916.02MW at end-2020, up furniture, he added. cent from $514 million, ac- pending on results of talks with EdC. and Chinese experts – has been working by 22.92 per cent year-on-year from “The bilateral trade rela- cording to data from the US While Jona claims that the ministry closely with relevant institutions in their 2,372.22MW, the Electricity Authority of tionship is greatly increasing Census Bureau. “strongly supports” renewable and other research and to ensure that they meet Cambodia (EAC) reported. in importance, especially for In 2019, the Kingdom was green energy projects, he stressed that, in technical standards and requirements. Of that, 1,318.95MW came from non-re- the Kingdom as this is one of the US’ 100th largest goods the interest of consumers, it also insists on They have also liaised to identify po- newable energy sources – coal and oil – and the few bright spots. export market and its 44th low-cost and stable sources of electricity. tential sites via satellite and GPS surveys 1,597.07MW from renewable energy sources “Cambodia can only further largest supplier of goods im- He said two companies have been eye- in Sen Monorom town and bordering – hydropower, solar and biomass, it said. benefit from a flourishing trade ports, the bureau reported. Top four Korea conglomerates eye $35B of investments

SOUTH Korea’s top four conglomer- SK and LG will accompany Moon on won investment. The internet-tech- investment plan official partly due to month that it would invest 2.7 trillion ates are reviewing investments worth the summit as an unofficial busi- nology giant is reviewing potential pressure from the US government. won with General Motors to build a 40 trillion won ($35.3 billion) in the ness delegation. The list includes SK locations for the new factory includ- Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor second joint battery factory in Ohio. US as President Moon Jae-in prepares Group chairman Chey Tae-won, ing the US states of Texas, Arizona announced on May 13 that it would The company added that it will make for his first summit with President Joe Samsung Electronics vice-chair- and New York, while Austin, Texas – invest $7.4 billion in the US for an an independent investment of more Biden on May 21. man Kim Ki-nam, LG Energy Solu- where the company’s current foun- electric vehicle (EV) production than five trillion won to establish two Industry watchers say that although tion CEO Kim Jong-hyun and SK dry plant is located – is viewed as the facility, and other areas including new battery plants in the US. LGES will investments from Samsung, Hyundai, Bioscience chief Ahn Jae-yon. most likely candidate. hydrogen, urban air mobility, robot- complete its review of the potential SK and LG are intended to respond Hyundai Motor Group chairman Last month, Samsung was the only ics and autonomous driving tech- sites within the first half of this year. to Biden’s protective policies – such Chung Euisun will not join the trip. Korean company invited to a special nologies. The state of Alabama is SK Innovation, which is running a as strengthening chip and battery Currently, these four major con- White House meeting on the global listed as one of the potential sites for battery factory and building a second supply chains, the Buy American glomerates have decided or are mull- semiconductor shortage. This month, the new EV factory. in Georgia, is planning to construct policy and Green New Deal initiative ing investments worth 40 trillion won Samsung was also invited to a confer- LG and SK, after their dramatic rec- two more battery factories worth – they are likely to act as a diplomat- combined. ence held by the US Department of onciliation last month over a trade three trillion won combined. Put ic gift in light of the summit. Samsung Electronics’ $17 billion Commerce to further discuss the chip secret spat, are accelerating their bat- together, the four factories will be According to industry sources on investment for a new foundry plant shortage issue. Industry watchers tery businesses in the US. worth six trillion won. THE KOREA HERALD/ May 16, top executives of Samsung, accounts for half of the 40 trillion- have said that Samsung made its LG Energy Solution (LGES) said last ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Virus variants an Indonesia GDP recovery risk

he emergence of new inched toward positive terri- A resurgence in Covid-19 Covid-19 variants is tory, as it contracted by 0.74 cases is expected to hurt the expected to weigh on per cent year-on-year in the economy, because it would hit Indonesia’s econom- January-March period, mark- not only household spending icT recovery and may cause the ing a less severe drop than in but also trade, if Indonesia’s government to miss its target the previous quarters, accord- key trading partners are also of growth between 4.5 and 5.3 ing to data from Statistics In- dealing with a renewed out- per cent this year. donesia (BPS). break, according to Soniza The government reported Financial intelligence firm Zhu, an associate economist on May 17 that 24 cases in- Moody’s Analytics has forecast at Moody’s Analytics. volving new variants, includ- 7.94 per cent annual growth The government has allo- ing sub-variants of B.1.617, for Indonesia’s economy in the cated 699.43 trillion rupiah also known as the Indian vari- April-June period even after ($49.27 billion) for this year’s ant, had been detected in the accounting for the Ramadan Covid-19 stimulus, higher by country, some as a result of lo- social restrictions, partly due around one-fifth than the ac- cal transmission and others as to the base effect, according to tualised recovery budget last imported cases. its May forecast. year. As of April 16, the gov- The new variants may The median forecast for ernment had disbursed 134.07 prompt the government to Indonesia’s growth this year trillion rupiah of the funds. tighten or prolong mobility stands at 4.45 per cent, based But greater fiscal spending restrictions if they lead to a on the latest estimates from will weigh on the state budget, surge in cases, limiting activi- the World Bank, International as the government seeks to ties in the economy, lowering Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian gradually bring down the bud- consumer and business confi- Development Bank (ADB) and get deficit to below the normal dence and thus slowing down the Organisation for Econom- threshold of three per cent of the recovery, according to ic Cooperation and Develop- the country’s gross domestic Faisal Rachman, an economist ment (OECD). product (GDP). This year, the at state-owned Bank Mandiri, However, coupled with A police officer stands guard near a shipping container containing Covid-19 vaccines produced by AstraZeneca deficit is estimated to stand at the second-largest lander in a slower global economic at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on May 8. Indonesia received 1.3 million 5.7 per cent of the GDP. doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the COVAX facility, a multilateral effort that aims for equal global the country by asset value. growth and weaker commod- access to vaccines. ANTARA/THE JAKARTA POST “Wage and subsidy sup- “The risk of economic ity prices, a severe tightening port has been an important growth being lower than the of mobility restrictions is es- Java, after Idul Fitri, for which ing according to World Health cases in India. Following the cushion to the economy, but target range outlined by the timated to lower the country’s millions usually travel back Organisation (WHO) guide- renewed outbreak in India, further fiscal stimulus is likely government is [high] if the growth to 3.1 per cent this year to their hometowns, to an- lines. neighbouring Malaysia, Cam- needed to lift lacklustre do- government cannot success- and 3.8 per cent next year, ac- ticipate an expected surge in As of May 8, Indonesia re- bodia, Thailand and Japan, mestic consumption,” Zhu fully control the new virus cording to the World Bank’s cases. corded 13 cases involving the among other countries, also told the Post in an e-mail on variants coming into Indone- estimate outlined in its De- The government on May 17 UK variant, 10 cases of Indian recorded spikes in daily new May 11. sia and amid public mobility cember 2020 outlook. reported 4,891 new Covid-19 variants and one case of the Covid-19 cases, according to “However, the government’s especially during this mudik Griffith University epide- cases, continuing a downward B.1.351 variant. Most cases Our World in Data. ability to do this is constrained [exodus] season,” Faisal told miologist Dicky Budiman trend since the mid-January involving new variants were “The main concern there- by declining government rev- The Jakarta Post in a text mes- said the government might peak in daily new cases. But found in South Sumatra and fore is that we need to quickly enues and the risk of height- sage on May 17. need to consider an option the daily test positivity rate South Kalimantan. administer vaccines and keep ened sovereign yields and cap- The new variants emerged of imposing large-scale so- stood at 15 per cent, three The new, more transmissi- renewing it every year or two,” ital outflows should the budget at a time when Indonesia’s cial restrictions (PSBB), first times higher than the thresh- ble B.1.617.2 variant has been Dicky told the Post in a phone deficit grow unchecked.”THE JA- economic growth increasingly and foremost across Bali and old signifying sufficient test- linked to the recent surge in interview on May 10. KARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Mangoes sweeten links with China

Thou Vireak It embodies the brotherly friendship between our two countries. hina has taken “special “As Cambodia’s iron-clad friend measures” to facilitate the sharing weal and woe, China will work import of quality fresh with Cambodia to continuously deep- Cambodian mangoes and en practical cooperation in various expectsC 100,000 tonnes of the fruit to fields, including agricultural produce, reach Chinese shores this year, Chi- so as to bring more tangible benefits nese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to both peoples,” Hua said said. spokesperson Hua Chunying told a The official export came after the regular press conference on May 14. Chinese Customs Administration The remark comes a week after on April 26 officially approved a list Cambodia shipped around 100 of 37 mango plantations and five tonnes of fresh Keo Romiet mangoes packaging factories to export fresh to China, in the Kingdom’s inaugu- mangoes to China. ral direct export of the fruit to the Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of East Asian market. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Hua added: “Relevant departments Sakhon voiced hope that the export overcame challenges posed by Covid-19 volume of fresh mangoes would con- and managed to pull through this effi- tinue to increase from year to year. cient and practical trade cooperation in “Sanitary and phytosanitary meas- agricultural products through the inno- ures have been playing an indispensa- vative means of quarantine inspection ble role as a bridge for agricultural through videoconference.” products to foreign markets,” he said. “The cooperation not only helps Cambodia exported 142,556 tonnes meet the demands of Chinese con- of fresh mangoes in the first four sumers by adding choices to the fruit months of 2021, up 239.13 per cent market, but also helps Cambodian from the same period last year, agri- farmers to generate more incomes culture ministry statistics show. and tide over the challenging times As of 2020, mangoes are grown on amid Covid-19,” she claimed. 130,000ha in the Kingdom, of which “The news received much attention 91,104ha (70.08 per cent) are har- and warm welcome from all sectors vested. Mango production reaches in Cambodia. The cooperation is so an average of more than 1.38 million much more than just the mango fruit. tonnes per season. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hua Chunying speaks at a regular press conference on Friday. SUPPLIED Rural sanitation bond named finalist in int’l awards

Thou Vireak finalist in the Impact Investing said in a May 10 press release. reducing stunting among chil- said: “As the investor, our hope “This DIB is USAID’s third category of Fast Company’s According to USAID, World dren and preventing the spread at the Stone Family Founda- and an example of our leader- The Cambodia Rural Sanita- 2021 World Changing Ideas Changing Ideas is one of Fast of disease and contamination tion is that the DIB serves as ship in collaboration, co-de- tion Development Impact Awards, US Agency for Interna- Company’s major annual of drinking water,” it said, add- an example of how long-term sign and innovative financing Bond (DIB) was selected as a tional Development (USAID) awards programmes and cen- ing that it partners with the finance and support can to achieve sustainable devel- tres on “social good”, aiming to Stone Family Foundation and address the critical challenge opment results,” she said. promote finished products NGO iDE in the bond. of universal sanitation, and According to USAID: “The and “brave concepts” that “To date, the DIB has helped demonstrates it is possible to DIB model allows iDE and the improve the world around us. over 500 villages eliminate use impact investment to ena- Stone Family Foundation to Announced on May 4, the open defecation, leading to ble both high social impact learn, adjust and innovate in awards “honour businesses, healthier households and and financial return.” order to achieve the goal of policies, projects and concepts cleaner communities for over USAID added that it will pro- 1,600 open defecation free vil- that are actively engaged and 88,000 people. vide up to nearly $10 million lages while reaching the most deeply committed to pursuing “The Stone Family Founda- in funding to the Stone Family vulnerable households.” innovation when it comes to tion, acting as the impact inves- Foundation, “but only where Lizz Ellis, CEO of iDE, noted solving health and climate cri- tor, is providing the upfront results – open defecation-free that DIB’s outcomes focus ses, social injustice, or econom- investment required to achieve villages – are achieved”. offers flexibility for the NGO to ic inequality”, the agency said. sanitation outcomes, which USAID Cambodia mission adapt its programme to the “The DIB aims to develop will be delivered through the director Veena Reddy said: changing context of the intri- market-based solutions that third phase of iDE’s Sanitation “This new results-based financ- cate and perpetually evolving will contribute to universal Marketing Scale Up pro- ing approach to improving market ecosystem. sanitation coverage in six prov- gramme,” it added. rural sanitation demonstrates “This flexibility is important The Cambodia Rural Sanitation Development Impact Bond (DIB) has inces – Svay Rieng, Kandal, Prey Stone Family Foundation our commitment to supporting in ensuring that all people been named a finalist in the Impact Investing category of Fast Veng, Kampong Thom, Siem director for Water, Sanitation Cambodia’s health and nutri- benefit from the drive towards Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. SUPPLIED Reap and Oddar Meanchey – and Hygiene Paul Gunstensen tion improvement targets. total sanitation,” she said. KNPG Investment gets K Kong sand-mining licence

Thou Vireak company to conduct a techni- tions as permitted for the com- glass factory. Its establishment in Prey Nop district. about $21 million in non-tax cal study on transport infra- pany by the licence,” he said. will help to increase value-add- The ministry has issued revenue from the mining sec- KNPG Investment Co Ltd structure, as well as wastewater The Council for the Develop- ed rather than exporting raw more than 100 licences for tor, gaining five per cent over obtained a licence to mine and solid waste management. ment of Cambodia (CDC) in materials, and it will also create sand businesses nationwide. the $20 million posted in 2018, silica sand in Koh Kong prov- “We would like to address April last year approved KNPG some more local jobs.” In 2019, Cambodia collected according to Monirath. ince’s southwest, at a site pre- impacts and compensation – if Investment’s proposal for a $6 On January 5, the ministry viously operated by Sibelco the implementation of this million silica-sand processing announced a public auction to (Cambodia) Co Ltd. project affects property or land plant to be located in Koh Kong award licences to mine and proc- Deputy provincial governor ownership, or people’s liveli- Special Economic Zone in Kiri ess sand at seven locations cover- Ouk Pheaktra led a virtual meet- hoods – to improve the living Sakor’s Prek Sandor commune. ing over 2,000ha in Koh Kong and ing on May 13 to discuss with standards of locals, through the Ministry of Mines and Ener- Preah Sihanouk provinces. company representatives the recruitment of workers or staff gy director-general for Min- The three locations in Koh results of KNPG Investment’s from the vicinity of the project. eral Resources Yos Monirath Kong cover 1,455ha – the full environmental and social “We also want to take care of told The Post on May 16 that 109ha and 882ha sites are in impact assessment process for the environment, natural the ministry greenlit the Botum Sakor district, while the project in Kiri Sakor district’s resources and biodiversity in licence, and that the company another 464ha plot is in Sre Prek Khsach commune. and near the project site, and is preparing to build a glass Ambel district, the ministry He told The Post that there all construction and work at manufacturing plant. said in a notice. wouldn’t be much of a project- the company’s white-sand He said: “In this business, we The four locations in Preah related impact, noting that the mining business must comply do not allow white sand to be Sihanouk cover 668.2ha – the site is an existing venture. with the guidelines set by the exported, we want it to be proc- 318.70ha and 81.50ha sites are However, he said, the provin- Royal Government, the Minis- essed locally into finished prod- in Stung Hav district, while The Ministry of Mines and Energy has issued more than 100 licences for sand cial administration ordered the try of Environment and regula- ucts as planned. They set up a the 60ha and 228ha plots are businesses in Koh Kong province and elsewhere in the Kingdom. TOURISM MINISTRY THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus pharmaceuticals

Wakamono conducted extensive testing that shows the masks can filter Covid-19 and kill the virus. supplied Researchers spent nearly a year developing the mask. supplied Wakamono ‘anti-viral’ face masks set to join the Kingdom’s battle against Covid-19

ace masks designed to reduce breathable masks that have the ability to viral transmission, offering prevent viruses from entering the human another level of defence against body, Wakamono said. At present they the spread of Covid-19 – with “the are being sold across Asia and in other Fability to prevent viruses from entering international markets. the human body” – are making their entry Some of the other features of the masks into the Cambodian market. include a nose bridge that prevents sliding Wakamono Corporation masks are in- and the fogging of eyewear, comfortable built with a substance that traps viruses elastic ear bands and a fluid protection from passing through, preventing them membrane layer, while high permeability from multiplying and eventually “killing” prevents skin irritation. them, according to the company’s website. while it awaits the Ministry of Health’s And with safety now more important Vietnam-based Wakamono produces consent, said Channda. than ever, the new products are reasonably high filtration masks embedded with Covid-19 particles are estimated to priced at $2 per box of 10 masks. a “gecide” fabric purporting strong be 0.12 microns, and having tested the “During this time profit is only antibacterial and antiviral properties – filtration capacity as per PFE (particle secondary – we see the need for providing providing an extra weapon in the fight filtration efficiency) tests of ASTM better protective equipment to people as against the novel coronavirus. F2100 for an average particle size 0.1 taking a much higher priority. The gecide fabric is a non-woven, anti- μm (micrometres), the Wakamono mask “Wakamono has been marketing this microbial material which can destroy the blocks at least 98 per cent of very small product globally and is confident that pathogenic bacteria that cause diseases in (0.1 micron) tested particles, the company manufacturing can keep up with the humans, the company stated. stated. demand, especially as Cambodia is very The mask is imported by Anana With a virus filtration efficiency close [to Vietnam],” said Channda, who Group and sold under the brand Faceline of around 98 per cent against strains is also the president and CEO of Angkor Cambodia. including the SARS-CoV-2 virus – which Data Communications. “We donated 170,000 masks to the causes the Covid-19 coronavirus disease – Ministry of Commerce and another the NL63 and 229E human coronaviruses, 120,000 pieces to the Techo Young influenza A and H1N1, and poliovirus 1, Volunteer Doctors Association in April. the sub-micron particulate filtration “We also support Cambodia in fighting efficiency is around 98 per cent, the Covid-19 by distributing masks to it added. frontline health workers, police and Researchers spent military personnel, and those living in around a year the red zone areas,” said Sok Channda, developing the the co-owner of Anana and Faceline ultra-soft, Cambodia. easily According to Wakamono, the company has obtained US Food and Drugs Administration approval and the European Union’s CE conformity, with private testing bodies Pacific Bio Labs in the US, Canada’s Bureau Veritas and Germany’s TUV SUD also passing quality and safety certifications. Approvals have in addition been obtained from private laboratories in India and Vietnam, while testing has also been successfully carried out in China, she added. Anana has obtained approval from the Ministry of Commerce to sell the four- Wakamono masks are made using gecide fabric that offers strong protection. supplied layered masks on the domestic market sponsored 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World Fighting resumes in southern Afghanistan

ighting between the Tali- hold back the insurgents without ban and Afghan government Washington’s help. forces resumed on May 16 in “It is now going to be very difficult the restive southern province for us to conduct operations,” an Af- ofF Helmand, officials said, ending ghan army officer said after US forc- a three-day ceasefire agreed by the es pulled out fully from Kandahar warring sides to mark the Eid al-Fitr Airfield this week, once the second holiday. largest base of coalition forces. Violence has soared as the US “Our aircraft can’t fly at night so the military presses ahead with a plan night operations are going to be dif- to withdraw all of its troops by Sep- ficult.” tember, bringing an end to a 20-year The three-day truce initiated by military operation in Afghanistan. the Taliban and swiftly agreed to by Clashes between the Taliban and Kabul had largely held during the Eid Afghan forces erupted early on May holidays. 16 when the insurgents attacked se- But the calm was broken on May curity checkpoints on the outskirts of 14 by a blast at a mosque near Kabul, Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand which killed 12 worshippers includ- province, said provincial council ing the imam. chief Attaullah Afghan. The Taliban denied it was involved An Afghan army spokesman in the in the attack, which has been claimed south confirmed fighting had re- by the Islamic State group. sumed as the three-day temporary The truce was only the fourth truce ended late on May 15. agreed pause in fighting in the two- The Helmand governor’s office said decades-long conflict. 21 Taliban fighters had been killed in The warring sides launched un- the morning fighting. precedented peace talks in Septem- Fighting lasted for several hours ber in Qatar, but they have stalled in and ended later in the day, the Af- recent months. ghan army said, adding that more A three-day truce largely held during the Eid holidays, but the calm was broken by a blast at a mosque near Kabul. AFP Some negotiators from the Afghan insurgent attacks were expected at government and Taliban said they night. two decades on from the terrorist “It gives the insurgents a procla- ince – has long been used as a gate- had met in Doha on May 14 to dis- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah attacks in the US which led Washing- mation of victory, bookends their re- way to the capital and an insurgent cuss speeding up the faltering talks. Mujahid told AFP: “They [Afghan ton to invade Afghanistan and oust moval and eventual return to power, stronghold from which to launch As violence raged, including a wave forces] started the operation … do the Taliban. and signals that the end is in sight deadly attacks. of targeted killings on Afghanistan’s not put the blame on us.” Tens of thousands of Afghans have for the Afghan republic in its current “Today, our forces managed to educated class, international efforts Washington has vowed to end the been killed and millions have since state,” he said. recapture a strategic area in the dis- had been made to jump start the US’ longest war, but missed a May 1 been displaced by the conflict, which May 16 also saw Afghan forces be- trict,” Rohullah Ahmadzai, a spokes- negotiations – including a one-day deadline to withdraw agreed with the has seen a resurgent Taliban take gin an operation to retake a district man for the defence ministry said. conference in Moscow in March. Taliban last year in return for security hold of large swathes of the country. on the outskirts of Kabul that had Government forces have contin- Turkey was also scheduled to hold guarantees and a promise to launch Nishank Motwani, an independent been captured by the Taliban before ued to receive vital air support from an Afghanistan conference in late talks with the Afghan government. Afghanistan expert based in Austra- the ceasefire. US warplanes even as foreign forces April – talks that were postponed in- President Joe Biden pushed back lia, told AFP the Taliban viewed the Nerkh district – about 40km from withdraw, and there are concerns definitely after the Taliban declined the date to September 11 – exactly US withdrawal as a win. Kabul in neighbouring Wardak prov- over whether they would be able to to attend. AFP Media caught in crossfire of Israel-Hamas conflict

Media offices reduced to rub- minutes”, broadcast live by Al Israeli Prime Minister Ben- Israel to house international “Yes, our troops are in Gaza,” start taking up positions. ble, alleged “manipulation” of Jazeera, was denied. jamin Netanyahu on May 16 media raises the spectre that he replied. “These were the anti-tank mis- the press to trick the enemy – Israeli defence officials defended the strike. the Israel Defense Forces [IDF] But two hours later the army sile teams and mortar squads many are concerned truth claimed the building housed Netanyahu told CBS News: is deliberately targeting media clarified that its troops had not meant to strike at incoming could become yet another not only news bureaus but “An intelligence office for the facilities in order to disrupt entered the Gaza Strip, blaming Israeli ground forces.” casualty of Israel’s military offices of the Islamist Hamas Palestinian terrorist organisa- coverage of the human suffer- an “internal communication” On May 14, the Israeli army campaign in Gaza. which controls the Gaza Strip. tion [was] housed in that build- ing in Gaza. problem for the confusion. said its overnight assault on On May 15 afternoon, the Within seconds, journalists ing that plots and organises the “Journalists have an obliga- Was it “manipulation”? Did Gaza involved fighter jets and owner of the 13-storey Jala scrambled to gather as much terror attacks against Israeli tion and duty to cover unfold- the Israeli army deliberately tanks hitting a Hamas tunnel Tower housing Qatar-based Al of their equipment and belong- civilians. ing events in Gaza and it would mislead the media? network dug under civilian Jazeera television and the US ings as they could, then fled, “So it is a perfectly legitimate be illegal for the IDF to use The last major Israeli ground areas. news agency The Associated some running down the stairs, target. I can tell you that we military means to prevent it.” operation in the Hamas-con- In September 2019, Israel’s Press received a troubling call others using the cramped lift. took every precaution to make Human rights group Amnes- trolled Gaza Strip, home to two army faked wounded among from the Israeli forces. Al Jazeera then broadcast live sure that there were no civilian ty International wrote on Twit- million inhabitants, took place its ranks in a skirmish with Jawad Mehdi said an Israeli footage of the air strike that injuries, in fact, no deaths.” ter that the Israeli attack must in 2014. Lebanon’s Hezbollah in a bid to intelligence officer warned him destroyed the building, send- Israel has demolished sev- be “investigated as a war crime. Since then, Hamas has built trick fighters of the Iran-backed he had just one hour to ensure ing a huge mushroom cloud of eral other towers in Gaza in The strike fits a pattern of Isra- a network of underground tun- group into thinking their mis- that the building was evacuat- dust and debris billowing into deadly air strikes since May 10 el’s collective punishment of nels to allow its fighters to move sion was accomplished and to ed, and his plea for “10 extra the sky. which it says targeted Hamas the Palestinian population”. across Gaza unhindered and cease fire. bomb-making facilities and the To enable them to continue unseen by Israeli surveillance Did the army this week really homes of senior militant com- working, Agence France-Presse cameras and spy aircraft. want to use the media to then manders in response to rocket (AFP) has opened its Gaza Overnight May 12 to 13, Israe- bombard Hamas fighters in attacks. office to AP and Al Jazeera col- li drones and aircraft flew over tunnels? Or was the erroneous But the latest attack triggered leagues. Gaza to strike those tunnels. report of a ground operation a storm of condemnation, with Israel’s actions have baffled The next day, local media inside Gaza, as the IDF said, “an some accusing Israel of trying and shocked journalists who reported that the army’s report- honest mistake”? to “silence” media coverage of had already been trying to ed ground offensive had been The Foreign Press Association Gaza, where dozens of children come to terms with another a ploy aimed at allowing Israe- in Israel on May 15 voiced its are among the hundreds bizarre incident that happened li jets to hit the tunnels and kill “outrage” and called on the army killed. just after midnight on May 13. fighters who sought cover to explain what happened. The New York-based Com- The Israeli army sent foreign inside them. In its reply, the IDF apolo- mittee to Protect Journalists media correspondents a What- The Jerusalem Post wrote: gised “for the error”. (CPJ) demanded from the sApp message saying that its “According to reports, due to “Despite conspiratorial reports Israeli government a “detailed troops had entered Gaza. the deployment along the bor- to the contrary in both interna- and documented justification AFP, like other media includ- der and the news coming out tional and Israeli press, this was for this military attack”. ing The New York Times, imme- in the foreign media of a ground not some elaborate attempt to diately contacted army spokes- incursion, Hamas and Islamic An Al Jazeera journalist stands before the rubble of the Jala Tower, CPJ executive director Joel manipulate the media in order which was housing international press offices, following an Israeli Simon said: “This latest attack man John Conricus to confirm Jihad sent their first line of to achieve a tactical victory,” the airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. AFP on a building long known by the message. defence into the tunnels to IDF said. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN UN General Assembly Jakarta most environmentally set to consider calls to impose arms embargo vulnerable city in world: Study on Myanmar’s military he Big Durian has been ranked as the world’s most environmen- The UN General Assembly on under negotiation for weeks, is tally vulnerable metropolis, as May 18 is set to consider a draft co-sponsored by 48 countries, climate change, pollution, heat- non-binding resolution calling with South Korea the sole Asian waves,T earthquakes and flooding are key for “an immediate suspension” country. threats to the Indonesian capital’s resi- of the transfer of weapons to It also calls on military to dents and businesses. the military junta of Myanmar, “end the state of emergency” Jakarta was dubbed the “worst-perform- a UN official said May 16. and immediately stop “all vio- ing city in the ranking”, followed by India’s Unlike Security Council reso- lence against peaceful demon- Delhi – each of which houses more than 10 lutions, General Assembly strators”, as well as “immedi- million people – in a study of the world’s 576 resolutions are non-binding ately and unconditionally largest cities conducted by UK-based busi- but carry strong political sig- release President Win Myint, ness risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. nificance. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Indonesia’s financial hub and most If an approval by consensus Kyi” and everyone who has densely-populated city scored particular- cannot be reached then the full been “arbitrarily detained, ly poorly in terms of air pollution, earth- General Assembly – 193 mem- charged or arrested” since the quakes and flooding. The report noted ber states – will vote on the February 1 coup. that Bandung and Surabaya were also measure. The draft adds a call to “swift- among the world’s top 10 most environ- Introduced by Liechtenstein, ly implement” a five-point con- mentally vulnerable cities. Vehicles move through floodwater at the Bank Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on with support from the EU, Brit- sensus reached with leaders “With rising emissions driving weather- February 25, last year. Heavy rain lashing Jakarta inundated several areas of the Indonesian ain, and the US, the measure from the 10-country ASEAN on related risk and populations growing in capital. ANTARA/THE JAKARTA POST will be considered at the ple- April 24, to “facilitate the visit” many cities across the developing world, nary meeting set for May 18 at of the special UN envoy to the risks to citizens, real assets and com- one of the main reasons the government change would devastate people’s liveli- 1900 GMT (May 19 at 2am in Myanmar, and to provide “safe mercial operations are only going to rise,” wanted to move the country’s capital to hoods by then, especially those living in Cambodia). and unimpeded humanitarian wrote Verisk Maplecroft head of environ- East Kalimantan. vulnerable areas like Jakarta,” he told The The draft resolution calls for access”. ment and climate change Will Nichols of “We need to stop overwhelming Jakarta Jakarta Post via phone call. “an immediate suspension of Several NGOs have long been the report published on May 12. with overpopulation, traffic congestion Meanwhile, Rujak Center for Urban Stud- the direct and indirect supply, calling for an arms embargo on A case in point, flooding in Jakarta in and water and air pollution. We have to ies executive director Elisa Sutanudjaja sale, or transfer of all weapons, Myanmar. 2020 forced more than 34,000 residents tackle these problems,” Jokowi said at a urged the Jakarta administration to tighten munitions, and other military- Since February 1, the Secu- to leave their homes and, according to press conference at Merdeka Palace on regulations related to the city’s transporta- related equipment to Myan- rity Council has unanimously Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association August 26, 2019. tion industry to curb air pollution. mar”. adopted four statements on (Hippi) chair Sarman Simanjorang, cost Greenpeace Southeast Asia climate and The city’s policy, as embodied by the “The meeting will be in per- Myanmar, but each time, they an estimated one trillion rupiah ($70.05 energy campaigner Tata Mustasya on May Jakarta Cleaner Air programme, assumes son,” a UN spokesman told have been watered down in million) in economic losses as stores were 15 said the government’s commitment to that motorised vehicles contribute the AFP. negotiations, notably by Bei- closed and supply chains disrupted. reducing greenhouse gas emissions was largest share to Jakarta’s air pollution at The draft, which has been jing. AFP Acting Jakarta Environment Agency key to mitigating Jakarta’s environmental 46 per cent. Thus, Jakarta has launched head Syarifudin said traffic congestion and climate risks. several programmes to curb transpor- and air and water pollution were com- Indonesia, as per its commitment to tation pollution, such as by expanding mon in large cities worldwide. The Ja- the landmark Paris Agreement, has com- public transportation and implementing karta administration has implemented mitted to reducing its greenhouse gas no-emission zones. measures to curb these problems, but emissions by at least 29 per cent relative “For regional administrations, the easi- cooperation with neighbouring regions to a business-as-usual scenario by 2030, est and fastest mitigation solution is in- remains important, he added. but many researchers are sceptical as to tervening in the transportation and mo- “Controlling water pollution in rivers, the country’s chances of success, mainly bility sector,” she said. for example, requires the Depok, Bekasi, due to its growing use of fossil fuels. Notably, environmental groups, such Bogor [West Java] and Tangerang [Ban- In March, the Ministry of Environment as the Centre for Research on Energy and ten] administrations to curb water pollu- and Forestry announced that the gov- Clean Air (CREA), have challenged the tion in their respective areas because our ernment was planning to set a net-zero city’s assumptions with maps showing rivers are connected,” he said on May 16. emissions target for 2070. that most pollution comes from coal- Jakarta’s environmental risk is so dire “Indonesia’s commitment toward net fired power plants in the neighbouring that Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” zero emissions is, so far, set for 2070, provinces of Banten and West Java. THE JA- Widodo admitted in 2019 that it was which would be too late, because climate KARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

M’sia’s ICUs at 80% capacity, some Anti-coup protesters flash a three-fingered salute in Myanmar.AFP hospitals full as Covid patients rise Government hospitals in over 80 per cent and some hos- 19 cases. From this number, we repurpose other areas into ICU At least seven dead in Malaysia are running out of pitals have even used up all the have allocated 850 ICU beds for units as part of their prepared- beds at intensive care units ICU beds designated to treat Covid-19 patients. ness strategy to cope with the (ICU) to treat Covid-19 patients Covid-19 patients. “However, the total number surge in cases. Indonesia after selfie as the number of people falling Currently, he said, there are a of ICU beds for Covid-19 The government had on May critically ill escalates, says the total of 1,388 ICU beds in 78 patients is increased from time 7 reported a 44 per cent increase country’s Health Director-Gen- government and teaching hos- to time when there is a need,” in admission of critical cases to attempt capsizes boat eral Noor Hisham Abdullah. pitals nationwide, out of which Dr Noor Hisham said in a Face- the ICU nationwide from two Seven Indonesians drowned Authorities said they will Dr Noor Hisham said ICU 850 or about 61 per cent have book post on May 15. weeks earlier. At that time, the after an overloaded boat cap- look into whether there was occupancy rates at hospitals in been set aside to treat Covid-19 He said while hospitals can ICU bed utilisation rates in 22 sized because of tourists negligence by those managing the capital city Kuala Lumpur, patients. turn normal wards into ICUs Covid-19 hospitals were said to attempting a selfie in a reser- the boat rides at the reser- and in Selangor, Penang, “This is the total available for complete with the necessary have exceeded 70 per cent, and voir on Java island, police said voir. Sarawak, Kedah and Perak are both Covid-19 and non-Covid- equipment, it will be a struggle some reaching over 90 per May 16. Lutfi said the boat was to constantly keep up if critical cent. The accident happened when helmed by a 13-year-old. Covid-19 cases continue to rise. As of May 16, the health min- all 20 passengers suddenly Boat accidents are common He explained that hospitals istry reported 3,780 new Covid- moved to the one side of the in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian allocate a certain number of 19 cases, bringing the cumula- vessel to take a group photo on archipelago of around 17,000 beds in their ICUs for Covid-19 tive total to 470,110. May 15 in the Boyolali regency, islands, due to lax safety stand- patients and other critically ill Selangor recorded the high- said Central Java police chief ards. patients and this number can est number of cases at 1,275, Ahmad Lutfi. Last month, rescuers were vary depending on the number followed by Sarawak (405), “The cause of the accident rushed to find 17 fishermen of cases needing treatment. Kedah (363) and Kelantan was overcapacity,” Lutfi told after two boats collided in West “When there is a drop in (357). reporters. Java. Three were found dead critical Covid-19 cases, the This is followed by Kuala “The 20 people took a selfie and 13 were still missing when state health departments may Lumpur (342), Johor (224), on the right side then the boat the search ended. also reduce the number of ICU Penang (187), Pahang (159), lost balance and flipped.” And in January last year, 10 beds to treat Covid-19 patients. Melaka (122), Perak (115), Police added that 11 people people went missing after a If there is an increase in critical Sabah (87), Terengganu (58), were rescued but seven were boat carrying 20 migrant work- cases, the quantum will also be seven each for Labuan and found dead. Rescuers were ers to neighbouring Malaysia The Malaysian government had on May 7 reported a 44 per cent increase increased,” he said. Putrajaya and Perlis (2). THE STAR searching for two people still capsized off the coast of Sumat- in admission of critical cases to the ICU. DR NOOR HISHAM VIA FACEBOOK He said hospitals are ready to (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK missing. ra island. AFP 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion

www.phnompenhpost.com The quest for survival, justice in Israel

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Opinion Managing Editor Randy David Sam Rith Deputy Managing Editor OWHERE is the stark ine- Phuon Chansereivuth quality between Israelis Chief of Staff and Palestinians, who live Phak Seangly in one of the world’s most Business Editor Nhallowed lands, more evident than in May Kunmakara their Covid-19 vaccination record. Deputy Business Editor With 60 per cent of its population ful- Sangeetha Amarthalingam ly vaccinated, Israel leads the world Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk in the race to herd immunity. In con- Pan Simala Senior Reporters trast, Palestinians who are nonciti- Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng, Mom Kunthear zens of Israel have vaccinated only 5.2 per cent of their people. Reporters But today, the fight to tame the Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Covid-19 pandemic through vaccina- Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Hong Raksmey, tion is farthest from the minds of Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, Roth Sochieata, ordinary people in this fiercely con- Orm Bunthoeurn, Ry Sochan, tested patch of land, which Chris- Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha tians refer to as the Holy Land. Since Photographers Monday last week, fighting between Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs Web Editor has, once again, shattered the tenu- Leang Phannara ous peace that has reigned in this Digital Team country since 2014. Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy Palestinian militants have fired Desktop Publishing some 1,800 rockets from Gaza aimed Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath, at Jewish communities in Israel. Than Veasna Many of these crudely made missiles A ball of fire erupts from a building in Gaza City’s Rimal residential district on May 16 during massive Israeli bombardment on the SIEM REAP BUREAU are being intercepted in mid-air by Hamas-controlled enclave. afp Offi ce Manager the Israeli military, while others fall Sophearith Blondeel right within Gaza’s border. But, still, a cessation of hostilities. To outsiders, not under two distinct states. like it was nothing more than an PRODUCTION & PRINTING few of these have killed – mostly civil- the whole episode may often appear In the early 1990s, I was one of adjunct of the Israeli government, Nhim Sokphyrak ians. The Israeli death toll stands at like a ritual of aggression periodically those who keenly followed the rather than the State-in-waiting it Commercial and Graphic Designer eight – one soldier and seven civil- enacted to dramatise the same apoc- progress of the peace negotiation was meant to be. Its lack of credibility Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith ians as of May 16. alyptic message of mutual exclusion between the Israeli government and as a protector of Palestinian interests The Israel Defence Force has and extinction. It does seem like that the Palestine Liberation Organisation further strengthened the influence of

unleashed its own artillery and tank just looking at the images of destruc- (PLO), which culminated in the sign- the radical Hamas, which today fire against targets in Gaza, a narrow tion and displacement, and listening ing of the Oslo Accords. I was hoping effectively controls the Gaza Strip. piece of land along the Mediterrane- to the world’s powers predictably that some lessons from the process Israel’s greatest fear as a Jewish HEAD OFFICE an Sea about 29km long and 8km vowing to stop the conflagration could help us figure out the best way nation-state is that there may come a Post Media Co., Ltd. wide, and sandwiched between Egypt before it gets bigger. forward for our own peace process in time when Jews will become a minor- The Elements Condominium Level 7, and Israel. About two million Pales- Indeed, there are extremists in both Mindanao. ity in their own country. Right now, Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, tinian Arabs live cramped on this camps. There are Israeli Jews who Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom The Oslo process broke new Israel’s Arab citizens make up only strip, where the militant organisation Penh, Cambodia think that the only way they could ground. It led to the recognition by about 21 per cent of its nine million Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 known as Hamas holds sway. The population. They are, however, the Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 number of casualties on the Gaza fastest growing segment of the popu- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 side has been placed at 119, includ- The paranoia is understandable lation. An Israeli State that integrates ing 21 children and 18 women as of the 5.2 million Palestinian Arabs now SIEM REAP in . . . current political climate. But, No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune May 16. living under impoverished condi- At once, the disparity in military tions in Gaza and the West Bank will Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 in the long term, the one-state COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT capability may be gleaned from these tip the population balance slightly in dismal figures. Israel gets most of its Chief Operating Offi cer option might be inescapable favour of Palestinian Arabs. It is a James Ong Soon Teck high-powered weapons from the US. thought that many Israelis refuse to Advertising Department The Palestinians obtain theirs from consider. Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Iran, though some of its rockets are feel secure in their homeland is by the PLO of the State of Israel, and The paranoia is understandable in Hun Channet, 017 578 768 reportedly assembled from compo- establishing a Jewish nation-state Israel’s recognition of the PLO as the the face of the current political cli- Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 nents of Israeli bombs that have where Jewishness is a condition for representative of the Palestinian peo- mate. But, in the long term, the one- Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 failed to explode. What they lack in the full enjoyment of citizenship. ple. The accords established a Pales- state option might be inescapable. A Paing Patrya, 081 872 202 weaponry, however, Palestinian mili- And, there are Palestinian Arabs who tinian Authority but fell short of cre- just society that respects cultural Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 tants have tried to make up for think that their fight for survival as a ating a Palestinian State. Among diversity while guaranteeing the CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION through surprise attacks launched people is only achievable through the other things, Israel agreed to with- basic rights and needs of all its citi- Acting Distribution Manager from the maze of underground tun- expulsion of all Jews from their draw from the Gaza Strip and the zens is not only a vision worth pursu- Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 nels the Palestinians have dug below homeland. Jericho area, and redeploy its troops ing in a globalised world, it also Circulation Supervisor Gaza City. Yet, it is difficult to imagine that rea- from sections of the West Bank. seems the moral thing to do for a Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 As in the past, the conflict may fur- sonable people on both sides, who The two-state plan envisioned by people that experienced untold per- Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 ther escalate, before the UN Security refuse to be ruled by historic fear and the accords never took off. The Pales- secution everywhere until a perma- ADMINISTRATION Council and international mediators resentment, have given up all hope of tinian Authority could exercise only Admin & HR Manager nent home was found for them in PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA Pich Socheat are able to find a suitable formula, finding a common ground for peace- the most limited jurisdiction in the Palestine. NEWS NETWORK Assistants Admin & HR Manager and pave the way for the immediate ful coexistence under a single state, if areas assigned to it. It often seemed Nhel Soaphea Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT & Networking 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 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

Kungfu Kitchen offers tasty takeaway including Sichuan noodles (pictured) and fresh homemade Fresh homemade dumplings and a knitted dumpling keychain are a part of the ‘KungForGood’ campaign that dumplings. SUPPLIED donates to NGOs Local 4 Local, Khemara Cambodia and Cambodia Knits. SUPPLIED Kungfu Kitchen cares for community

Roth Sochieata ers overall are definitely their dump- lings, with pork and beef dumplings UNGFU Kitchen opened its at prices starting from $1.20. first branch in Phnom Penh’s Aside from dumplings, the top Boeung Keng Kang I com- dishes are sweet and sour chicken mune early last year with the ($3.50) and crispy squid ($4.60). The Kordinary purpose of serving food like most popular hotpot set is the beef any other restaurant does, but hop- hotpot ($6.50). ing to do so in a way that embodies Denise and Sean have recently the values of the Chinese martial arts launched two sister brands, both of form for which they are named. which are fairly new concepts. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic KFK Hotpot Mart focuses on pro- has forced the restaurant to dis- viding more value and variety for a cover its own strength and become hotpot experience at home, while more than just a place to eat. Kung- KFK Kitchen Wok is more for quick fu Kitchen is now giving back to the fuss-free meals. These brands are community, donating and trying to also on Nham24 as well as Food- be a voice for people in need. panda and WowNow. Kungfu Kitchen – owned by Singa- It has definitely been challenging porean Denise Lim and her Chinese to stay in business during the Covid- partner Sean – serves modern Chi- 19 era, especially during the recent nese hotpot cuisine. Denise came lockdown – but Denise says their to Cambodia with her family almost team is very committed and they two years ago and fell in love with the managed to re-open shortly after country, the culture and its people Khmer New Year. and decided to make it her home. Denise says they are also very com- Since both owners come from mitted to staff and customer safety. a Chinese cultural background, “At Kungfu Kitchen, we hold our Kungfu Kitchen was named for the team to very high hygiene stan- Chinese martial arts form and they Kungfu Kitchen collaborated with Art and Design on the ‘WE 4YOU’ campaign which allowed customers to show gratitude to dards. We keep the kitchen clean, want their restaurant to embody the delivery drivers by gifting them with free dumplings during the lockdown. SUPPLIED our masks on and we disinfect our principles of Kung Fu. delivery bags. Our team is also fully “We envisioned a team that worked “The delivery driver has risked With the help of Kung Foodies, where our customers can have fun vaccinated,” Denise says. together using the principles of dis- their life while doing their job. Get- Denise says they will expand their and cook the Kungfu Kitchen signa- They have also worked with their cipline, consistency and persever- ting customers’ demands met, going efforts to support more people and ture Sichuan Noodles and Sichuan delivery partners like Nham24 to en- ance and we hoped that these values the extra mile, crossing checkpoints help as many as they possibly can. dumplings themselves at home. sure that the food is delivered safely. would translate into delicious food and roadblocks in every kind of For the “KungForGood” campaign, “Each set has a cute knitted dump- “Nham24 cleans their delivery and amazing experiences that our weather. So we wanted to do some- Kungfu Kitchen has partnered with ling keychain – made by Cambodia boxes and trays regularly and sanitiz- customers would enjoy,” Denise says. thing for them,” Denise says. NGO’s Local 4 Local, Khemara Cam- Knits – and all of the keychain pro- es their hands to ensure safe transac- Seeing that Cambodia was under- If customers commented We4You bodia and Cambodia Knits. ceeds will go to them. To pay it for- tions with customers,” says Denise. going a difficult time because of the in their food orders, Kungfu Kitchen Local 4 Local is a community ser- ward, Kungfu Kitchen will also do- For the time being, Denise says they pandemic, the 35-year-old owner gave the delivery drivers a gift of vice organisation that helps support nate a dumpling lunch set to Local 4 will continue to focus on bringing the says she wants to try her best to help free Sichuan dumplings when they street food vendors and cyclo-driv- Local and Khemara for every “Kung- best delivery or dine-at-home expe- as much as possible. picked them up. ers by purchasing meals from the ForGood” set sold,” Denise explains. rience possible to Kung Foodies and Back in April, Kungfu Kitchen was “It’s a small gesture of thanks from former and hiring the latter to deliv- “KungForGood” has two lunch sets that level of excellence in their prod- able to launch a series of collabora- us for the important job that they er them to the homeless and other available with one priced at $6.20 and ucts and service will be extended to tive efforts with other businesses do,” says Denise. people in need. another larger set priced at $14.95. their dine-in customers whenever and organizations to help out their Kungfu Kitchen gave away free Khemara Cambodia is an NGO The campaign is scheduled to last for they are allowed to open again. customers who they affectionately dumplings to more than 120 deliv- working to empower women and chil- one week from May 13 to May 19. “To all our Kung Foodies, thank refer to as Kung Foodies. ery drivers due to the thoughtful- dren through action within local com- “KungForGood” is exclusively on you so much for your support dur- Kungfu Kitchen did their first ness of Kung Foodies. munities. Their programmes cover a Nham24, so download the Nham24 ing these times! We can’t wait to collaboration with Heekcaa where “Seeing the look of surprise and broad range of areas from early child- app if you’d like to order your own meet you in person once dine-in customers got a free milk tea with a happiness on their faces was heart- hood education to preventing vio- “KungForGood” lunch set. opens again,” says Denise. Kungfu Kitchen meal. warming,” she says. lence against women and children. Denise says that the campaign has Kungfu Kitchen is open daily from Then from April 21 to the end Following the success of that cam- Cambodia Knits is a social enter- gone well and that Kungfu Kitchen 10am to 8pm. The first branch is lo- of the month Kungfu Kitchen col- paign, Denise says she realized that prise based in Cambodia making has donated 80 lunch sets to their cated at #24e St 302 in Boeung Keng laborated with Art and Design on a customers really want to help those in beautiful and high quality hand- NGO partner organisations so far. Kang I and the second branch is at campaign called “We4You” which need if they can. This motivated her to made products while also providing Kungfu Kitchen serve a lot of great #54 St 454 in Tuol Tom Poung I. encouraged customers to show their start another campaign called “Kung- fair and flexible employment oppor- dishes at their two locations – one in For more information, Kungfu gratitude to all delivery drivers dur- ForGood,” which is all about paying it tunities to Cambodian women. Boeung Keng Kang I and the other in Kitchen can be contacted on Face- ing the lockdown. forward and helping others. “We created a “KungForGood” set Tuol Tom Poung I – but their top sell- book @KungFuKitchenkh. 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Taxi driver Wasan Sukjit puts a cloth with Buddhist prayers and symbols above the drivers’ seat of his car before going to work in Bangkok. AFP Holy amulets provide Thai cab drivers with Covid ‘peace of mind’ fter muttering such as a small Buddha statue 10,000-20,000 baht ($320- a prayer, Thai taxi – or more elaborate, featuring $640),” says taxi driver Wasan driver Sopee Silpakit intricate carvings encased Sukjit, 43, who says he re- strings a chain of behind a plastic covering for ceives rare amulets from dif- amuletsA around his neck then protection. ferent provinces as gifts. jumps behind the wheel – Sopee – whose cab has His cab also has a large buoyed by the peace of mind more than a hundred holy cloth scroll featuring a Bud- “SORE SUBJECTS” the ritual gives him against objects adorning its interior dhist monk adorning its ceil- ACROSS 47 Reveals 13 St. Moritz backdrop Covid-19. – says he is “more confident” ing – as if the abbot is watch- 1 “___ pretty sight” 49 May, to Peter Parker 18 Knight fight The 65-year-old’s job driv- that his taxi is virus-free than ing over him as he moves 5 Amistad passenger 50 Annoy 22 Strongbox document, often ing a cab in Bangkok puts him he would be without any spir- through Bangkok’s choking 10 “Stormy Weather” singer Horne 51 Dinosaur, in Hollywood 24 Ekberg of films in contact daily with the pub- itual protection. traffic. 14 Eagerly excited 54 Court contest 25 Exaggerated lic, and his way of life is now “I don’t really care how Among taxi drivers, the be- 15 Hercules type 58 Elliptical 27 No-see-ums plagued with worry, with the much these amulets in my lief in these holy objects is 16 Skating jump 59 Off-key 28 Put restrictions on Thai capital the epicentre of a taxi are worth,” he says, the fuelled by miraculous tales 17 Getting at 62 “Stand By Me” singer ___ King 29 Displeasing third wave. charms hanging from his rear- of drivers surviving accidents 19 Scrape with a rough file 63 Vidalia, for one 31 Relish, as a victory “I pray to these amulets view mirror swinging as he on Thailand’s notoriously 20 High-protein bean 64 Sicilian rumbler 32 League members every day: ‘Don’t let the virus manoeuvres his way around dangerous roads. 35 “The Age of Reason” author Thomas 21 They enjoy being cruel 65 Dog bowl bits come near me,’” he tells AFP. narrow residential alleys. The kingdom has some of 39 Pale purple 23 Muslim’s god 66 Cooktop “I really do believe that they “It really comes down to the deadliest roads in the 41 “Green Gables” girl 26 Gather, as crops 67 Like Santa’s cheeks could protect me from the virus how much it’s worth to my world, according to the World 42 Dijon department? 27 A deadly 60-Down DOWN and keep me in good health.” mind.” Health Organisation, second 43 Common solvent 30 Can’t stand 1 Catch Buddhist-majority Thai- only to war-torn Libya. 46 Kopecks’ superiors 33 Midmorning hour 2 Brutish sort land has a deeply supersti- Spiritual protection “Some Buddhist amulet- 48 Above 34 Paid a gratuity 3 Conflicted tious culture, with much of The tradition of collecting, decorated cars were in ve- 51 Bindle bearer 36 “Norma ___” 4 Disturbs the population steeped in the buying and selling the amu- hicle crashes but the drivers 5 Bordelaise ingredient 52 State with conviction 37 Concert hall equipment belief that luck and good for- lets is so popular that Bang- only sustained minor cuts 6 Permit 53 One of Columbus’ crafts 38 1773 jetsam tune can be accrued through kok even has a dedicated and scratches,” Wasan tells 7 “What Kind of Fool ___” 55 Brussels-based org. 39 Volcanic threat blessed objects. market in its historic quarter AFP, adding that his decked- 8 Moving vehicles 56 B&B relatives 40 “Shop ___ you drop” Some spiritual fads are fu- specialising in them – where out cab also “helps attract 9 “Prepare to fence!” 57 “Don’t go!” 41 Maine national park elled by the media, like the those blessed by a popular customers”. 10 Cowpoke’s rope 60 Transgression of divine law 44 Nuclear energy source hyper-realistic “child angel” abbot fetch hefty prices. His extensive collection 11 Annoy greatly 61 Minor player 45 Caterer’s heater dolls. The government has shut may give passengers peace of 12 Finch’s home But collecting amulets cuts the market whenever Covid- mind from the virus. across different demograph- 19 infections have spiked “But of course the real and Monday’s solution ics – it is not uncommon to over the past year, due to the physical protections would see an entrepreneur wear bazaar’s popularity among have to be masks and alcohol them underneath their polo older Thais. gel,” he says, his surgical face shirt. “The most expensive ones mask always strapped onto The charms may be simple – in my possession are about his face. AFP

Monday’s solution

Buddhist-majority Thailand has a deeply superstitious culture as much of the population is steeped in the belief that luck and good fortune can be accrued through blessed objects. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport ‘Extraordinary’ Suarez leaves Goalkeeper Alisson’s dramatic goal rescues Atletico closer to La Liga title Liverpool, Tottenham

iego Simeone of him, he could only pick out hailed Luis Suarez the post. victory boosts hopes as “extraordinary” Atletico’s players might have on May 16 after the thought Real Madrid had Goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s onto Matheus Pereira’s pass UruguayanD scored the goal conceded when a huge cheer dramatic 95th-minute goal and found the bottom corner that could win Atletico Ma- came from the fans outside, gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory at at the Hawthorns. drid La Liga, his late winner but it was Barca who had let West Bromwich Albion on May Liverpool levelled when snatching a dramatic 2-1 win in an equaliser against Celta 16 to maintain their bid to play Sadio Mane, starting in place of over Osasuna. Vigo. All the top three were be- in next season’s Champions the injured Diogo Jota, inter- Atletico trailed Osasuna ing held at half-time. League. cepted a loose pass to Kyle Bar- with nine minutes to go at the Atletico thought they were Tottenham were more com- tley, with the ball then falling to Wanda Metropolitano and ahead on the hour as Stefan fortable 2-0 winners over Salah, who hit a first-time shot faced a defeat that would not Savic finished from Trip- Wolves to move into pole posi- into the bottom left corner. just have postponed their bid pier’s cross. Fans outside set tion for a place in the Europa The Egyptian’s 22nd Premier to be champions but allowed off fireworks, but Savic was League, but Everton’s hopes of League goal of the season drew Real Madrid, who were beating just offside and the goal was European football were dealt a him level with Harry Kane in Athletic Bilbao, to go top with ruled out. massive blow by Sheffield Unit- the race for the English top- one game left. Atletico Madrid’s forward Luis Suarez celebrates his goal during the Atletico put the ball in the ed’s shock 1-0 victory at Good- flight’s golden boot award. Instead, Atletico scored in the Spanish League football match against CA Osasuna on May 16. AFP net again, only for flag to go ison Park. 82nd and 88th minutes to pull up again, Carrasco nipping Alisson’s perfectly executed Kane on target off a stunning turnaround. Re- with a game to spare, Atletico coronavirus infection rate has behind too early before pow- header keeps Liverpool’s top- Kane was also on target as nan Lodi smashed in an equa- needed Real Madrid to slip dropped below the target rate ering in. four fate in their own hands Spurs edged ahead of West liser before Suarez proved the up at San Mames but Nacho set by the government. The flag stayed down at San despite sitting fifth in the Ham into sixth on goal differ- hero, firing in from eight yards Fernandez put Real ahead in At Villarreal the maximum Mames a few minutes later table. ence. to spark mass celebrations. the second half and Atletico’s 5,000 fans cheered their team though as Nacho gave Real Jurgen Klopp’s men trail The England captain fired “He’s extraordinary,” said priority quickly became pres- to a 4-0 home victory over Madrid the lead in the 68th fourth-placed Chelsea by one Tottenham ahead on the stroke Diego Simeone. “He came ervation. high-flying Sevilla. minute, Karim Benzema, who point and Leicester by three, of half-time,curling the ball here wanting to prove people Victory maintains their two- But 60km down the Medi- was offside, missed Casemiro’s with two league games left to into the corner of the net after wrong, wanting to show that he point advantage and another terranean coast, Valencia, cross and Nacho prodded in. play. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s through was a forward still at the top of win away at Real Valladolid whose relations with their Real Madrid were going But with Leicester and Chel- ball behind the defence. his game. Who better than him next weekend will guarantee a fans are strained, sold ony top and seven minutes later, sea still to face off in a repeat of Hojbjerg made it 2-0 just after to decide a match that seemed second league title in 25 years. 3,000 of the available places. things got worse for Atletico the FA Cup final, which the the hour when he followed up to be getting away from us?” Barcelona are out of the The impact was similar as the as Ante Budimir was free at Foxes won 1-0 on May 15, vic- as Gareth Bale’s shot was par- Atletico’s players and substi- running after they lost 2-1 at home team beat struggling the back post to head in a free tories over Burnley and Crystal ried by Rui Patricio as Spurs tutes piled onto Suarez in the home to Celta Vigo. Santi Mina Eibar 4-1. kick. The fans outside went Palace will take Liverpool into bolstered their hopes of at least corner and at full-time, some scored twice, including an 89th In Madrid, no fans were al- silent. the top four. playing Europa League football of their players dropped to minute winner for Celta after lowed in the Wanda Metropoli- Simeone brought on two The already-relegated Bag- next season. their knees, not with ecstasy, Lionel Messi headed in the tano, but they gathered outside substitutes and they combined gies took an early lead through Everton’s miserable home but relief, the title now just one opener. and cheered as the team bus to level. Joao Felix scooped a Hal Robson-Kanu before the record has ended their chances win away. Suarez, who was forced to arrived. superb pass through for Lodi in-form Mohamed Salah equal- of Champions League football “These are moments of hap- leave Barca last summer, has Atletico had 16 shots in the to thunder in with eight min- ised before half-time. as bottom-of-the-table Shef- piness,” said Suarez. “It was scored 20 goals this season, first half but could not find a utes left. field United became the latest one of the best first halves of with his latest strike putting his way through. There was hope and in the ‘God put his hand on my head’ side to win at Goodison. the season. We missed a lot new team on the brink of the 88th minute there was joy, But Liverpool were still head- The Blades scored the only of chances, me in particular, title. Fireworks Carrasco latching onto a Trip- ing for a damaging draw when goal after just seven minutes but to win the league you After more than a year away, The best of them came from pier pass and pulling back Alisson headed in from a cor- when 17-year-old Daniel Jeb- have to suffer and today we fans finally returned to La Liga an Angel Correa cross but Su- perfectly for Suarez, who ar- ner in the fifth minute of stop- bison tapped home Jack Rob- stepped up.” but only for the two games in arez took too long and with rived late, fired in and ran to page-time. inson’s cross. To be crowned champions the Valencia region, where the three Osasuna players in front the corner. AFP The Brazilian’s father died in The Toffees have won just February when he drowned in once at home since December a swimming accident. and remain in eighth, three Alisson could not even return points behind Tottenham and home for the funeral at the time West Ham in the battle for a due to quarantine rules on for- Europa League place. Heavyweight title showdown in S Arabia eign travel and was visibly Leicester’s FA Cup triumph emotional at full-time. means seventh place will also Tyson Fury said May 16 his against Andy Ruiz, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. about a date for Joshua-Fury. “I played since I remember as be good enough for a place in long-awaited world heavy- Briton regained his WBA, IBF “I cannot wait, I repeat, cannot “It’s a very bad secret that the a human being with my father. the new Europa Conference weight title unification bout and WBO titles in December wait to smash Anthony Joshua fight is happening in Saudi Ara- I hope he was here to see it but League next season. against Anthony Joshua would 2019, putting him on a collision on the biggest stage of all-time. bia. I don’t mind giving that I’m sure that he’s seeing with Earlier, Crystal Palace twice take place in Saudi Arabia on course with Fury, who became “This is going to be the big- information, Bob Arum’s God on his side and celebrat- came from behind to beat August 14. the WBC champion shortly gest sporting event ever to already done it.” ing,” said Alisson. Aston Villa 3-2, with Tyrick “Massive announcement afterwards. grace the planet Earth. Do not Hearn added: “It’s the same “You can’t explain a lot of Mitchell’s first goal for the club FURY VS JOSHUA IS ON In a video posted on Twitter, miss it.” people we did the deal with for things in life. For me, the only sealing victory six minutes AUGUST 14 in The kingdom of Fury said: “I have got some What is widely expected to be Andy Ruiz, that event was spec- reason for those kind of things from time. Saudi Arabia. The world’s [sic] massive news. I have just got the richest fight in British box- tacular. As partners, they were is God and he put his hand on John McGinn and Anwar El biggest sporting event all eyes off the phone with Prince Kha- ing history started to loom into fantastic as well, so we’re very my head today and I’m feeling Ghazi were on target for Villa on us,” Fury tweeted. lid of Saudi Arabia and he told view when Fury stopped Deon- comfortable. really blessed.” before the break. Between them, the two British me this fight is 100 per cent on, tay Wilder to win the WBC title “We’re very comfortable. Liverpool were stunned when Christian Benteke and Wil- boxers hold all four major ver- August 14.” in February last year after Josh- Anthony’s comfortable, he Robson-Kanu, making his first fried Zaha twice levelled sions of the heavyweight title. Fury, a year older than ua had avenged the only loss of knows those people. They league start of the season for before Mitchell completed Saudi Arabia staged the Joshua, added: “All eyes of his professional career by delivered on every one of their Albion, put the hosts ahead in the comeback to lift Palace 31-year-old Joshua’s rematch the world will be on the defeating Ruiz. promises last time – we’re the 15th minute after he ran into 13th. AFP Joshua retained his three ready to go.” belts in December with a ninth- Hearn indicated then that round knockout of mandatory August 14 was the more likely challenger Kubrat Pulev. date so as to avoid a clash with Meanwhile a third fight the Olympics, which are sched- between Fury and Wilder has uled to finish six days earlier failed to take place, meaning provided the coronavirus pan- the ‘lineal champion’ has been demic does not force a change inactive in more than 12 or even scupper the already months since stopping Wilder delayed Tokyo Games com- in Las Vegas. pletely. Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum Joshua warned on Twitter recently said a fight in July or May 17, he was “tired” of wait- August was “dead in the water”. ing around for Fury and But earlier this week, Eddie demanded “less talk, more Hearn, who promotes Joshua, action” from his rival. said the two camps were close That in turn led Fury to tell to securing a date as well as a Joshua: “Come get some then Tyson Fury (left) said on May 15 that his long-awaited world heavyweight venue. you big ugly Dosser???? YOUR Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker (third left) scores his team’s title unification bout against Anthony Joshua would take place in Saudi “August 7, August 14,” Hearn [sic] NO TALK NO ACTION.” second goal during the English Premier League football match against Arabia on August 14. AFP told Sky Sports when asked AFP West Bromwich Albion on May 16. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Barca thrash Chelsea to win women’s Champions League for first time

arcelona became Chelsea right-back Niamh the first Spanish side Charles and the Dutch inter- to win the women’s national laid the fourth on a Champions League plate for Hansen to tap into an withB a stunning performance empty net. to thrash Chelsea 4-0 in Goth- Two years ago it was Barca enburg on May 16. who found themselves 4-0 The La Liga champions down after just 30 minutes scored all four goals inside 36 against a dominant Lyon side minutes as a Melanie Leupolz in the Champions League fi- own goal, Alexia Putellas’s nal in Budapest. penalty and simple finishes “We deserve it. It has been from Aitana Bonmati and Car- a lot of work since the final oline Graham Hansen killed in Budapest. We had a goal to the game as a contest. get back to the final and win it Barca have romped to the and we’ve done it,” said Bon- Spanish title with a 100 per mati, who won player of the cent record after 26 games in match. La Liga, boasting a 123 goal The French giants had won difference. this competition for the past “Congratulations, champi- five seasons, but their reign ons, you are unstoppable,” was ended by Paris Saint- tweeted Barcelona president Germain in the quarter-finals, Joan Laporta. who were then eliminated by “You are a reference. You Barcelona in the last four. are an example. You are one Chelsea will be hoping to of the big reasons that make show similar resilience to Barca more than a club. You come back and win the com- moved us with your magnifi- petition for the first time as cent victory.” they missed out on becoming Chelsea had been on course the first English side to be- for a quadruple, but even the come European champions big-spending English cham- since Arsenal in 2007. pions were no match for the Barcelona’s players raise their trophy after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League final against Chelsea FC on May 16.AFP Sam Kerr missed a number Catalans’ speed of thought of chances to pull a goal back and movement. “We’re not quite European Kirby’s attempted clearance from close range. lenge and Putellas confidently for Hayes’s women in the sec- “Today was difficult because champions yet, but we are the looped into her own net off Jenni Hermoso pulled an- slotted home the spot-kick. ond-half. the game was over before it second best team in Europe the unlucky Leupolz. other big chance wide for Bar- A brilliant team move made But Barca could afford the began,” said Chelsea manager and I’ll take that as a step in Chelsea had the chance to ca before Harder was denied it 3-0 as Martens fed Hermo- luxury of withdrawing Han- Emma Hayes. the right direction.” hit back immediately as Per- again by a last-ditch tackle in so, who drilled a pass into the sen and Hermoso as they “We will learn from this be- The Blues were rocked after nille Harder, who cost a world an end-to-end start. path of Bonmati and she beat cruised towards the title and cause it is the next step up. I just 33 seconds when after record transfer fee when she But Chelsea were shell- Ann-Katrin Berger from close set a new record winning thought we showed some na- Lieke Martens’s shot came arrived in London from Wolfs- shocked once Hermoso went range. margin in a women’s Cham- ivety at times. back off the crossbar, Fran burg in September, fired over down under Leupolz’s chal- Martens was toying with pions League final. AFP Perfect 10 as Nadal defeats Djokovic in Italian Open

Rafael Nadal defeated world and lay down a key marker two weeks 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Masters 1000 But Nadal got back on track in the win in Adelaide in January. number one Novak Djokovic to win out from the defence of his Roland trophy on the red clay at the Foro third with Djokovic having played She swept through the first set in a 10th Italian Open title on May 16 Garros crown. Italico. nearly five hours on court on May 15 just 20 minutes, allowing Pliskova four while fellow French Open champion “I really wanted this title. This had “I’m overwhelmed, at the beginning between his rain-delayed quarter-fi- points, dropping just 13 in total Iga Swiatek whitewashed Karolina been one of the first important titles I of this tournament I would not have nals and semi-final matches. throughout the match. Pliskova in just 45 minutes to claim won in my career. I’d won 10 in Mon- dreamed of winning it,” said an emo- The Spaniard saved two break points Pliskova tried to fight back in the the women’s tournament. te Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros tional Swiatek, who will break into the on his serve in the fifth game and third game of the second set, holding Second seed Nadal won through and really wanted this one too,” said Top 10 as a result of her run in broke for love for 4-2. a double break to win the third game, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in 2hr 49min against the 34-year-old Nadal. Rome. Djokovic saved a first match point but the Polish player ruthlessly snuffed defending champion to match Djoko- Polish teenager Swiatek crushed “When I was playing I didn’t even in the eighth game but Nadal made out any return. vic’s record of 36 Masters 1000 titles Czech ninth seed Karolina Pliskova know what was the score,” admitted no mistake on his second chance in “From the beginning I felt that she the 19-year-old. the following to seal his 88th career may be a little bit nervous, and I want- “When my coach told me it was 6-0, title after winning in Barcelona earlier ed to use that and actually play as 6-0, I was, like, Really? Isn’t that a mis- this month. many games with that vibe as I can,” take?” “I’m disappointed not to win, but said Swiatek. pleased with my level,” said five-time “But it’s not easy to win the first set Djokovic v Nadal: Chapter 57 Rome winner Djokovic, who leads 6-0, because you always have in the Djokovic and Nadal were facing their overall head-to-head 29-28. back of the mind that your opponent each other for the 57th time, having “Going into Paris it’s a good sensa- may start playing better and they can last played in the 2020 French Open tion. I feel like I want to feel on clay.” change the tactics completely, and final which the Spaniard won easily in The French Open gets underway in then you have to adjust and then straight sets. Paris on May 30 where 13-time cham- you’re going to start worrying.” The pair have won 15 of the last 17 pion Nadal will be chasing a record “I will just quickly forget about Rome titles between them, while 21st Grand Slam title. today,” said Pliskova, the world Nadal leads their head-to-head in Djokovic, the 2016 champion at number nine, who was playing in her finals in the Italian capital 4-2. Roland Garros, will be hoping to third consecutive Rome final. Despite losing his opening service become the first man in over half a The former world number one retired game Nadal broke back in the third century and just the third in history to injured in last year’s final while trailing game hitting twice as many winners win all four majors more than once. 6–0, 2–1 to Romania’s Simona Halep. as the Serb with 21 in the set. “I just was feeling horrible out there A dip in form in the second set ‘Horrible feeling’ today,” said the 29-year-old, who has Rafael Nadal bites the winner’s trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic during the final allowed Djokovic, 33, to break twice Earlier Swiatek, ranked 15, won 16 WTA titles most recently in of the Men’s Italian Tennis Open on May 16. AFP and get back into the game. claimed her third WTA title after a Brisbane last year. AFP