UN meeting that began New Thai army Daw Aung Sann Su with unity concludes chief vows to with divisions defend monarchy Kyi portrait goes viral

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WWW.MMTIMES.COM DAILY EDITION ISSUE 1382 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020

Market run A woman carrying vegetables and other food items walks along a street in downtown Yangon on Wednesday, as much of the city is shuttered due to efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Photo: Nyan Zay Htet Rakhine’s case numbers show a slight decline The spread of the virus in Rakhine has slowed down, but infections in Yangon continue to rise, the Health and Sports Minnistry announced on Wednesday. NEWS 3

MORE 100,000 SEEK TRUCK DRIVER IN SNLD FOUNDER PASSES TO TRAVEL MUSE TRADE AREA RESIGNS, PARTY SAYS IN YANGON FOR TESTS POSITIVE FOR IT ELECTION PLANS ESSENTIAL BUSINESS COVID-19 NOT AFFECTED NEWS 3 NEWS 3 NEWS 4 2 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020 Facts and figures for COVID-19 COVID-19 cases in Myanmar Trendline for COVID-19 cases in Myanmar

15000 Confirmed cases 13,373

10000 Deaths from virus confirmed Recovered by tests 310 3,755*

5000 Number of people who tested negative for COVID-19 296,041

Source: Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar Graphic: Khin Zaw/The Myanmar Times 0 01/04/2020 01/05/2020 01/06/2020 01/07/2020 01/08/2020 01/09/2020 COVID-19 cases in Rakhine State by township COVID-19 infections in Rakhine State 15000 Sittwe 871 Kyauk Phyu 209 Mrauk-U 106 Maungdaw 69 Kyauktaw 65 10000 Pauk Taw 55 Buthidaung 42 Min Byar 40 Myae Pon 30 Phonnar Kyun 28 5000 Thandwe 12 Toungup 12 Rathedaung 7 Ann 5 Man Aung 2 0 Gwa 1 01/04/2020 01/05/2020 01/06/2020 01/07/2020 01/08/2020 01/09/2020 Yanbyae 1 0 300 600 900 COVID-19 cases in Confirmed COVID-19 Global numbers Yangon Region by township cases by state and for COVID-19

Insein 785 Thingangyun 642 region in Myanmar North Okkalapa 474 Mingaladon 431 Hlaingtaryar 423 Yangon Hlaing 388 9233 Coronavirus cases: South Ohkala 367 Tamwe 361 Rakhine 1555 Mayangone 322 33,904,593 Kyi Myin Daing 311 Thaketa 305 Pegu Mingalartaungnyunt 305 372 Dala 286 Pabedan 237 Mandalay Shwepyitar 236 290 Dagon Myothit (South) 216 Bahan 210 Mon Lanmadaw 205 280 Than Lynn 205 Kamaryut 200 Ayeyarwaddy Recovered: Dagon Myothit (North) 199 270 Latha 186 Dagon 182 Nay Pyi Taw Tontay 170 125 25,193,925 Sanchaung 162 Pazundaung 160 Sagaing Dawbon 158 61 Dagon Myothit (East) 153 Botahtaung 140 Kachin Yankin 126 50 Alone 122 Kyauktada 118 Magway Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) 97 48 Kunchan Khone 49 Kaw Hmue 46 Kayin Deaths: Kyauktan 45 46 Hmawbi 43 Seikkyi Kanaungtoe 43 Chin Kayan 42 40 1,013,738 Htantapin 28 Hlegu 26 Shan Thonekwa 21 29 Htauk Kyant 3 Thaik Kyi 3 Tanintaryi 29 0 200 400 600 800 Source: worldometers.info

Figures as of 8pm September 30 *Includes patients sent home after 14-day quarantine OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com News 3 Yangon COVID-19 transmissions should fall within two weeks if public cooperates’

HMUE ANGEL, THURA MIN ZAW infection rate will plateau after two ing the total number of cases reported [email protected] weeks and gradually decline to a at the Thiri Mingalar Market to 12, lower level. This is what we are trying Hlaing No.1 Constituency’s Hluttaw YANGON residents should follow the to achieve now by asking everyone to MP U Kyaw Kyaw Tun confirmed. example set by Rakhine and adhere to stay at home,” he said. Another person also tested positive a stay-at-home order imposed across In Yangon currently, travelling be- for COVID-19 at the Padauk Chaung the region to help reduce the number tween townships has been minimised port behind the market where goods of COVID-19 infections, a spokesper- due to the regional government’s are unloaded. son of the Ministry of Health and strict enforcement, so the chain of Currently, all shops where COV- Sports said. contact should break in two weeks if ID-19 positive patients were found “The Rakhine situation has been residents cooperate, said Dr Than Na- have been placed under lockdown positive. There were a few new cases ing Soe. and restrictions are in place in those found in the state a few days ago but Extra care is being taken at the areas. the numbers have declined due to the Yangon markets, which are still al- Some betel nut stands, fruit stalls public’s cooperation with the authori- lowed to open to the public for food and grocery shops have also decided ties in staying at home. This proves and basic supplies. to close. that we can contain case transmis- Just this week, a new COVID-19 case Meanwhile, other essential shops sions if the public obeys the rules,” was detected at the new Thiri Mingalar at the new market will continue to Dr Than Naing Soe, a director of the Market, one of the major wholesale cen- remain open for the public, following ministry, said. tres in Yangon, according to the Minis- an inspection on business conditions U Wai Phyo Han, Insein township YCDC workers along Kabaraye Pagoda Roadd on September 29. try of Health and Sports announcement by deputy mayor U Soe Lwin on Sep- regional MP, said on social media Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing on September 29. tember 27. there are still people in some Yangon The patient sold dried fish at the The efforts and restrictions repre- townships, such as Insein, who con- donors and volunteers have put a lot chain of contacts with positive cas- market and subsequently infected five sent a “last battle” to bring down the tinue to flout rules imposed by the of effort into fighting the disease in es, the more the number of new other vendors from the fruit and veg- infection fate in Yangon, said Dr Zaw authorities. Yangon, so the public should also play patients will drop on a daily basis. etable market, two people selling be- Wai Soe, rector of the University of Dr Than Naing Soe said “health their part. Typically in the first two weeks, the tel nut, two selling fruits, a street stall Medicine 1, Yangon, on September 28. workers, the regional government, “The more we do to break the number of patients will rise but the owner and an oil shop employee, tak- – Translated Muse truck More than 100,000 apply for QR code to travel in Yangon NAING AUNG driver tests [email protected] MORE than 100,000 people have ap- plied for the QR pass code in Yangon, positive for which allows the holder to travel from one township to another amid a region-wide stay-home order. COVID-19 The QR code is issued only for businesses and hundreds of thou- KHIN SU WAI sands of applicants to date, said U [email protected] Aye Win, general secretary of the Un- ion of Myanmar Federation of Cham- A TRUCK driver tested positive for COV- bers of Commerce and Industry (UM- ID-19 at the Muse 105th Mile Station, FCCI) on September 30. while having his cargo inspected. Twelve The UMFCCI released an an- other drivers were taken to Muse for nouncement on September 25 say- swab tests, according to U Thaung Tun, ing that only registered vehicles op- member of Muse Gayuna Social Welfare erating for 27 essential businesses Association. exempted from the government’s The 31-year-old driver complained of stay-home order will be allowed to dizziness and fatigue on September 28. travel from one township from an- He was confirmed positive after taking other in Yangon. the swab test. Those businesses will need to “We tested his swab at Muse Hospital, register online to obtain a QR code, where he is now receiving medical care. which will allow them to travel to dif- Out of the 13 truck drives, two are under ferent Yangon’s townships. quarantine at the district hospital while “The current QR pass system is the other 11 are in a holding area awaiting only for businesses and it is not con- their results,” U Thaung Tun said. cerned with other organisations, de- A Yangon policeman checks documents to a vehicle on September 27. Photo: Nyan Zay Htet Muse residents don’t need to worry, partments or the public, who must as the driver informed authorities of his abide by the health guidelines of the permitted by the ministry. It is not the name of a proxy firm but as the nounced that taxis will also need to symptoms before arriving in the town of- Ministry of Health and Sports,” said concerned with other kinds of busi- registration is carried out by the com- show necessary documentation con- ficials said. U Aye Win. nesses at all. The people don’t know pany owners or a representative, they sisting of the QR code and ID if the However, the driver may have come “The QR pass is not for all busi- this well,” he said. must ensure that the business is real. drivers are travelling to a different into contact with some restaurants along nesses but only for 27 businesses He added that some register using The Yangon Police Force also an- township in Yangon. the way to the border – an estimated 30 people, who will now undergo quarantine in Kyakme, the officials said. Muse has reported four COVID- 19-positive cases. Muse is the largest bor- Cases in Mandalay rise der town for trade between Myanmar and China. – Translated KYAW KO KO other regions and states. The only [email protected] town within Mandalay not to re- cord a single case of COVID-19 is MANDALAY has registered a to- Kyaukse. At present 127 people tal of 286 cases of COVID-19, with in Mandalay have recovered from just one death, during the seven COVID-19, and one 80-year-old months since Myanmar’s first cas- woman from Maha Aung Myay es were reported back in March – township died on September 16. according to data released by the At present, the report said that Mandalay Regional Government. 2,426 people who had close con- According the government re- tact with COVID-19 patients and ports, Mandalay city has a total of who returned from other regions 148 cases; Myingyan 70; and 25 in and states had been placed in Meiktila. quarantine. Of those, 388 people Trucks queue at the Muse 105th Mile A further 14 Mandalay residents are under hotel quarantine. A view of deserted Mandalay Central Railway Station on September 29. Trade Area. Photo: Supplied tested positive after travelling to – Translated Photo: Kyaw Ko Ko 4 SNLD claims no impact from resignation of party’s founder

tions imposed by the Health and Sports Ministry. health and family, U Sai Kyaw Nyunt added. “The party is proceeding based on its existing “U Khun Tun Oo often told us that the party HEIN MYAT policies and programs, including collective lead- can continue without his presence as there are ership,” he told the Myanmar times. “So there is youth members and he requested to let him to U Khun Tun Oo during a recent interview with SOE no impact on the party’s campaign strategy or in rest,” he added. Myanmar Times. Photo: Nyan Zay Htet the campaign initiatives of the candidates.” The SNLD, however, has yet to decide on who [email protected] The Shan-based SNLD is the fourth largest will replace him and until then U Khun Tun Oo fourth largest political party in the country. political party in the country, which is adopting a remains the party leader. The party will be fielding up to 150 candidates THE recent resignation of Shan Nationalities forward-looking strategy of fielding youthful and U Sai Kyaw Nyunt said the party has many in the upcoming elections, 30 percent of whom League for Democracy (SNLD) founder U Khun women candidates that can energize the party generations of leaders that can assume the posi- are from the youth and women sectors. Tun Oo will not have any impact in the party’s and the parliament. tion. It considers armed conflict as the biggest election campaign, a senior party official said. In fact, its key leaders have not contested for “Anyone of the these leaders is capable of and most urgent issue the government needs to U Khun Tun Oo said he will not likely change any position in the upcoming polls, giving way to leading the party,” he said. address, noting that even in some areas where his mind about his decision to step down as the the young blood. U Sai Kyaw Nyunt said that it would be unfair there have been no conflicts before, there is a leader of the party he nurtured for decades. U Sai Kyaw Nyunt the decision of U Khun Tun for the party to ask U Khun Tun Oo to continue sign of restiveness among the people. “Even if the central executive committee re- Oo earlier in the week was not totally expected as his responsibility as leader of SNLD. “There are many armed revolutionary groups offer me the position, I will politely decline it,” he he had been telling the central executive commit- “It would be like making him work for a long- and pro-government militias,” Sai Nyunt Lwin, told Myanmar Times on Wednesday. tee that he wanted to take a rest and spend time er time,” he said. the vice chairperson of the party, told the Myan- U Sai Kyaw Nyunt, the party joint secretary, with his family. In the 2015 elections, the SNLD won three mar Times in an earlier interview. “With or with- said the campaigns of all the party’s candidates Although other party leaders wanted him to seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), out fighting, it is not good to deal with people are proceeding as usual without any problem continue leading the party, they respected his de- 12 in the Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), and 25 carrying guns. I think this is the first problem we and in accordance with the COVID-19 restric- cision to focus on personal matters, such as his in state and regional parliaments, making it the need to address.” – Translated ‘Rose Party’ leader arrested for being a ‘fugitive’

MYAT THURA AND HEIN MYAT SOE U Kyaw Myint was then serving a is in progress,” U Zaw Htay said. vide food for their families everyday. In a videoconference, U Kyaw My- 10-year sentence for violating Myan- The flamboyant UDP leader could “I don’t want to be minister and int said the UDP does not fund its POLICE has detained U Kyaw Myint, mar’s business laws under military face up to two years imprisonment if have power,” he said. “I don’t want to candidates and party organizers, but leader of the United Democratic Party rule. He denied all the accusations. he is found guilty of violating the Sec- be president also. I only want the lives it helped some candidates pay the (UDP), for being a fugitive from jus- “It is confirmed, The police de- tion 224 of the penal code. of low-income people to improve.” K300,000 registration fee at the Union tice, a government spokesperson said tained him last night with a police The UDP was established in 2010. U Kyaw Myint owns several com- Election Commission. on Wednesday. warrant as he is a fugitive and charged It is going to field 1143 candidates, panies, such as the Myanmar Kyaw In- There will be 1171 seats up for grabs U Zaw Htay said the leader of the under penal code section 224,” he said. the second highest in the upcoming vestment Group Company Ltd, Myan- in the upcoming polls. The ruling Na- UDP, popularly known as the ‘Rose Police are also conducting investi- November 8 elections. U Kyaw My- mar Kyaw High Tech Company Ltd and tional League for Democracy will field Party’ because of its rose logo, was gation against the controversial party int earlier said that his party aims to Myanmar Kyaw Finance Company Ltd. 1144 candidates, while the main oppo- picked up by police officers at his leader for other charges, such as holding represent the concerns of the working He recently inaugurated the party’s sition Union Solidarity and Develop- house as part of investigation into his several passports of foreign countries. masses, the trishaw and taxi drivers, to main headquarters at a hotel, which he ment Party will field 1128 candidates. escape from jail in the late 1990s. “I could only tell the investigation ensure that they would be able to pro- owns in Hlaing township in Yangon. – Translated Election body to launch mobile app to reach out to voters

THET ZIN SOE ative of Asia Foundation. [email protected] The Union Election Commission (UEC) is also set to release online with- THE Union Election Commission in this week or early next week the re- has launched mVoter2020, an online vised voters for the upcoming Novem- platform that will keep the voters in- ber 8 polls, an official of the regional formed about upcoming November 8 poll commission in Mandalay said. polls that is severely disrupted by the Eligible voters who made correc- COVID-19 pandemic. tions from the initial list released in NLD supporters in Yangon. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing U Hla Thein, chairperson of the July can check whether the erroneous Union Election Commission (UEC), People check the list of voters in July. data have been corrected. said in an videoconerence that the Photo: Nyan Zay Htet The Mandalay official said the re- NLD moves campaign billboard platform will contain pertinent data of vised voters’ list for the region would candidates, so the voters will have an more than 7000 candidates running be released as soon as the union officer away from military camp informed choice when they go to polls. in the polls, the mobile app will also ordered its release. He said the online platform is the contain the policies and programmes “It is estimated that it will be an- THE ruling National League for board about 200 feet away from the best for voters to keep themselves of the 93 political parties, as well as nounced in the end of this month,” Democacy (NLD) dismantled its giant military camp’s brick wall on Septem- abreast with all the election news and their addresses and contact numbers. he said. “As our region does not have signboard in front of a military camp ber 13, with the permission of the city issues during stay-at-home period. The application will also educate a computer server, we will announce in Hmawbi township in Yangon, out development authority. However, he told the voters that there voters on the process of casting their it via ward and village sub-commis- of respect for the Tatmadaw (military) Military officials in the camp filed a might be some minor mistakes in the ballots during election day and other sions,” he said. decision not to allow any political par- complaint twice to the township sub- data uploaded in the platform but guideline set-up by the election com- Voters can still make a final correc- ty to campaign within the vicinity of election commission. these will be corrected later on. mission. tion to the revised list once released at military camps. U Kyaw Shwe, chair of NLD office “I want to request the voters not to The mobile app will be available the end of the month. The final voters’ U Aung Zaya, chief of the Hmawbi at Than Day Pin village, where the mind and be patient if inconvenience through Google’s Play Store and Ap- list will be released a few days before township election office, said respon- camp is located, said that they relent- occurs in searching data by using this ple’s App Store in about a week’s time. election day, the officials said. sible NLD officials agreed with their ed to the township election commis- app,” he said, noting that there are At present, it can be downloaded via The Union Election Commission suggestion to transfer the billiboard sion request to transfer the campaign around 22 mobile app users in the www.maepaysoh.org. The app sup- released the initial voter’s list on July with images of NLD candidates, in an- billboard to another location. country. ports both Zawgyi and Unicode font. 25 and voters had until August 14 to other location. Major General Zaw Min Tun said It is not clear, however, if the mVot- Myanmar software developers have make the necessary corrections. “We suggested it would be better Tatmadaw is a non-partisan institu- er2020 can run on 2G service, which created this app in cooperation with The poll body said an estimated 37 moving the signboard,” he said. “The tion, not associated with any political is what is available now in eight town- the European Union, and other non- million Myanmar citizens are eligible NLD accepted our suggestion. Now it parties, that is why they cannot allow ships in Rakhine and Chin, as part government organizations, such as to vote in the upcoming elections, in- was moved to somewhere else away any party to erect party signboard at of the government security measures Pop Sack, Asia Foundation, Step De- cluding five million first time voters. from the military base.” the front of the military compound. against the Arakan Army. mocracy and IDEA groups, according – (With additional reporting by NLD supporters mounted the bill- – Sai Wanna/Translated Aside from personal details of to Mark McDowell, country represent- Kyaw Ko Ko) Translated OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com Business 5 Business Govt officials to get controversial car import permits ahead of elections

THOMPSON CHAU, JOHN LIU Naing questioned who was behind KYAW SOE HTET this measure, and criticised it as run- [email protected] ning counter to Myanmar’s transition towards a market economy. MYANMAR’S Commerce Ministry will “I honestly don’t see any good revive a scheme that rewards officials rationale to make such an announce- with car import permits in the midst ment at this time, when it’s very close of an economic crisis caused by the to the election,” he said. COVID-19 pandemic and despite pub- As reported by Myanmar Times, lic and industry protests. the Automotive Association and six The Ministry of Commerce, head- European chambers of commerce ed by National League for Democracy recently wrote a joint letter to Daw (NLD) minister U Than Myint, said in Aung San Suu Kyi to warn against a September 29 statement it intended reviving the policy. to revive the scheme, which was The scheme would lead to suspended earlier this year following “unprecedented disruption” in the public and industry outcry. automotive industry and damage My- It is unclear why the ministry anmar’s foreign investment prospects, wants to push out the permits when they told the state counsellor. the commercial capital Yangon is U Than Myint and his ministry struggling with tougher lockdown did not respond to previous requests restrictions which is inhibiting for comment by The Myanmar Times. trade and causing confusion across The government did not reply to the industries. letter either, business groups said. The move, which comes ahead of The NLD’s election manifesto the November 8 general elections, released this month reaffirms that the favours bureaucrats and government party will practice “good governance” employees. which will be “free from corruption”. The licence scheme is not a one-off In 2014, Daw Suu publicly pledged policy. The announcement states that not to give out vehicle import licences it will apply to every new bureaucrat for officials in government. who meets its eligibility criteria. Photo: Mar Naw The announcement did not More than one percent of civil provide a justification for the policy servants as well as military, police and the retirement age of 60. crisis despite repeated complaints don’t know why,” he told Myanmar or clarify the tax status or maximum municipal employees, will be entitled U Aung Win, chair of the Automo- from the private sector. Times. number of vehicles to be imported or to the programme, it says. Eligible civil tive Association of Myanmar, said it “We have sent so many letters and U Aung Win added that some of- bought. More details will be released, servants need to have received “Good was worrying that the government held many press conferences. But ficials may be “too stubborn” to drop according to state-owned Myanma Civil Service Award” and must be at should choose to press ahead with the they [ministry officials] don’t care the scheme even as objections pile up. Radio and Television and a statement least 57 years old, three years before scheme in the middle of a national about this matter [our concerns]… I Businessman and analyst U Zaw on the ministry website. Border trade restrictions lifted Yangon receives between Myanmar, Thailand ADB loan to CHAN MYA HTWE Tachileik District Administrator [email protected] U Myint Naing said the Thais had prohibited Myanmar drivers from improve water TRADE at the Myanmar-Thai border entering through the border after has resumed after a two-week stand- cases began rising in Myanmar but still. neglected to discuss the restrictions supply system After 12 days of only allowing six with their Myanmar counterparts. vehicles to travel between Tachileik, The Myanmar side then recipro- Photo: The Myanmar Times Shan State, and Mae Sai in Thailand cated with similar measures, forcing THIHA KO KO as part of restrictions to contain Thai vehicles to register in Myanmar [email protected] COVID-19, both sides agreed on Sep- to transport goods. As a result of Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. tember 30 to resume trading as usual, the restrictions, trade losses were THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a Yangon accounts for 23% of Myanmar’s GDP. With 5.2 said U Sai Sai, chair of the Myanmar incurred on both sides. US$180 million loan to develop and upgrade the water million people, it has 10% of the country’s population. Kyaingtong-Tacheleik Border Trade Without any imports from Myan- supply system in Yangon. But while the city’s population rose 2.2% per year on av- Merchants Association. mar, Thai traders are estimated to This comes after the Yangon City Development erage from 2014 to 2019, fewer than half of all households “Due to the pandemic, there will have incurred up to 1 billion baht in Committee (YCDC) applied for funds under the Cities have access to piped water. be a reshuffle of drivers and vehicles losses from September 17 to 29. Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) for the Yangon For many of those customers, water services are inter- when passing betwee Myanmar and “Both sides have agreed to make City Water Resilience Project. mittent and water quality varies. Thailand but there will no longer be bilateral discussions whenever there The CDIA is an ADB-backed fund assisting secondary Currently, the Yangon City Development Committee other restrictions on the trucks from are cases at border areas involving cities in Asia and the Pacific to prepare sustainable and (YCDC) is seeking to address these issues with the sup- both sides. We can trade like usual public interests. They also apologised bankable infrastructure projects port of ADB. now,” he said. to us and assured us that this will “The Yangon City Water Resilience Project will ad- The ADB’s assistance will help the government build Trade at Tachileik, the border town not happen again in the future,” U dress critical water infrastructure needs associated with new infrastructure, such as an intake structure at the between Myanmar and Thailand, Myint Naing said. The driver shuffle bulk water supply in Yangon City and strengthen water Ngamoeyeik Reservoir, an online pumping station 900 had come to a standstill after Thai system will still be in place when security. Safe piped water also comes with better sanita- meters downstream, and a dedicated 2.4 metre-diameter authorities on September 17 imposed using Thailand-Myanmar Friendship tion and hygiene, which is critical to controlling the pipeline connecting the reservoir to the Nyaungnhapin restrictions allowing just six vehicles Bridge No. 2 and trucks will commute spread of COVID-19,” said ADB Principal Urban Develop- water treatment plant. from Myanmar to enter the Mae between trade posts as usual. ment Specialist Alan Baird. The project will strengthen YCDC’s ability to operate Sai trade post in Thailand. Myanmar Small traders will also be eligible The ADB will finance the water supply pipeline por- and manage water services and become more responsive drivers , who were also prohibited to travel on the No. 2 Bridge with tion of this project. It will provide a US$180 million loan to climate change. It will also help YCDC to prepare a from passing through, had to switch small vehicles without limitations. to construct a 34-kilometre water transmission system roadmap to strengthen its self-financing capacity and places with Thai drivers at the border. – Translated that will help transfer 818 million litres of water a day to meet the growing demands for water services. 6 Focus www.mmtimes.com THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020

Chief Operating Officer – U Wai Linn

ENGLISH EDITION Editor-in-Chief – Kang Wan Chern [email protected] News Editors echnology John Grafilo, T [email protected] Patrick Fong [email protected] Chief Sub-Editor – Kevin Courtney Why Facebook suddenly closed 155 [email protected] Chief Translator – Zaw Nyunt [email protected] Lifestyle/Metro Editors accounts targeting the Philippines Andrew King [email protected] Nandar Aung RALPH JENNINGS [email protected] Head of Photography FACEBOOK’S deletion of accounts targeting the Zarni Phyo, Nyan Zay Htet Philippines from bases in China shows that the US Head of Multimedia – Aung Khant internet giant wants a better reputation in South- east Asia after letting things slide in the past, say PRODUCTION analysts who follow the case. On September 22, Facebook said it had re- Art Director – Tin Zaw Htwe moved 155 of its own accounts and six Insta- Production Manager – Zar Ni gram accounts for violating an internal policy [email protected] against “foreign or government interference Assistant Manager - Zaw Naing Soe which is coordinated inauthentic behaviour on [email protected] behalf of a foreign or government entity.” The accounts originated in China and focused “pri- HR/ADMIN marily on the Philippines and Southeast Asia HR/Admin Manager – Ei Thandar Myint more broadly” as well as on the United States, [email protected] Facebook said. [email protected] Facebook’s move will endear it to Filipinos, who use the service so fervently that it has become a ADVERTISING & SALES de facto official homepage for businesses and gov- ernment agencies but who also worry that it has (959) 25 400 6188 become too permissive, scholars said. [email protected], For Facebook, “it’s more from a kind of a PR [email protected] point of view – I do this at a particular time, somehow, it’s seen as positive and I can say, CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION ‘look, I have done this,’” said James Gomez, re- Circulation & Distribution Manager - gional director at the Bangkok-based think tank Ye Lynn Htay Asia Centre. [email protected] Operators of the deleted accounts had posted in (959) 421 011 651 Chinese, English and Tagalog about naval activity [email protected] in the South China Sea as well as Philippine poli- People with masks picket the Facebook office to protest Facebook’s alleged inaction against fake news Stand-Sales - (959) 421 148 807 tics and tried to cover up their identities, Facebook and hate speech targeting health activists, in Taguig city, Philippines, in May 2019. Photo: AP Subscriber - (959) 550 2539 said. Delivery - (959) 443 063 030 China and the Philippines dispute sovereignty bling televised remarks Monday night on a range Sara Duterte’s potential run in the 2022 Presiden- over a tract of the sea that’s rich in fisheries as well of topics. tial election,” Facebook said, referring to the cur- as undersea energy reserves. China has the upper “You know, Facebook, insurgency is about over- rent leader’s daughter. Presidents can serve just Publisher – U Wai Linn hand militarily, frustrating officials in Manila and turning government,” Duterte said. “What would one term in the Philippines. 01021 Myanmar Consolidated Media Co., Ltd. fanning debate there over whether the Philippines be the point of allowing you to continue if you can- “They have to be active in showing Facebook should ask Washington for more help. not help us?” is no longer used or can no longer be used as The Myanmar Times is owned by Myanmar a platform for inauthentic behaviour,” Araral Consolidated Media Co., Ltd. and printed by App debuted in 2015 said. Myanmar Times Press (00876) with approval The connection to Facebook goes back to 2015, They have to be active in Duterte has pursued friendship with China de- from MCM Co., Ltd. The title The Myanmar when the California-based service joined domestic spite the maritime dispute, but common Filipinos Times, in either English or Myanmar lan- mobile service provider Smart Communications to showing Facebook can remain leery of Beijing’s designs for the surround- guages, its associated logos or devices, and offer an app that allowed free access to 24 heavily ing seas. the contents of this publication may not be used mobile sites. no longer be used as a About 74 million people use Facebook in the reproduced in whole or in part without the But Facebook has made eyes roll in the Philip- Philippines, where the total population stands platform for inauthentic near 109 million. Facebook’s statement said written consent of the Executive Director of pines and other Southeast Asian countries by al- lowing relatively unfettered access by politicians, 276,000 accounts followed one or more of 11 de- Myanmar Consolidated Media Co., Ltd. behaviour. hate-speech spreaders and purveyors of fake news, leted Facebook pages belonging to businesses. The Gomez said. service took down those pages along with the 155 Printing Inquiries – U Htay Maung “We would welcome that there is self-govern- non-business accounts. Facebook said that about [email protected] ance on the part of Facebook,” said Ramon Casi- 5500 people followed one or more of the closed In- ple, executive director of the Metro Manila-based Duterte maintains an “online army” that was stagram accounts. Republishing Inquiries – Kang Wan Chern advocacy group Institute for Political and Electoral reportedly paid to pack Facebook with support- Facebook has removed accounts in Singa- [email protected] Reform. “There was a lot of that [problematic ma- ive material in the name of “grassroots activists”, pore and Myanmar as well, as both countries ap- terial] in the past up till now.”’ Southeast Asian news outlet New Mandala report- proached political milestones, Gomez said. However, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ed in 2017, a year after Duterte took office. In 2018, for example, a UN Office of the High this week questioned why he should allow Face- Commissioner for Human Rights mission found book to continue operating in the Philippines after An eye on the election that Facebook had helped spread “hate” speech Myanmar Consolidated Media Co., Ltd. the social media giant removed accounts he said Filipinos are starting now to eye the 2022 presi- against the Muslim minority in Rakhine State, supported his government’s interests, including dential election, motivating Facebook to clean up which has struggled to get citizenship from the www.mmtimes.com fighting insurgents. so it can avoid criticism, said Eduardo Araral, a country’s government despite living in the state for Duterte did not specify which Facebook ac- Filipino and associate professor at the National generations. Facebook took down a page authored Yangon Head Office: counts he meant. He said he had not thought of University of Singapore’s public policy school. by senior Tatmadaw (military) officials − a long- No. 332 (A), Pyay Road, Myaynigone (North specific steps to take on the issue, though he sought Some of the shuttered accounts carried “con- time nemesis of the group − after the UN findings Ward, Sanchang Township, Yangon. a meeting with the American company in his ram- tent supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte and appeared. – Voice of America Telephone: (959) 51 92046, 250 790 623, 899 170 965, 50 81329

Mandalay Office: No.268/9, between 31st and 32nd Street and Between 85th and 86th Street, Chan Aye Thar Zan township, Mandalay. Tel: (959) 259 059 093, 550 2539 Email: [email protected]

Nay Pyi Taw: (959) 550 2539, 444 811 142, 444 811 143 Nay Pyi Taw Agent: Thurain Win: (+959) 250 692 123 OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES 7 ASEAN Focus

BANGKOK New Thai army chief vows to defend monarchy

THAILAND’S new army chief vowed office on Thursday, said he will con- in 1932, with the most recent ones in on Tuesday to defend the country’s tinue the policy and style of his prede- 2006 and 2014, and the head of the monarchy amid growing protests call- cessor General Apirat Kongsompong, army exerts a considerable influence ing for democratic reforms. who was an ultraroyalist and a harsh in the country’s politics. General Narongpan Jittkaewtae critic of those perceived to oppose the The military reshuffle came amid promised to take a hard line against monarchy. student-led protests calling for demo- Thailand’s retiring army chief General Apirat Kongsompong (centre) marches demonstrators who demand a reduc- Apirat will go on to serve in the roy- cratic reforms in the country to reduce with other officers during their retirement ceremony at Royal Thai Army tion of and greater constitutional con- al household. Both he and Narongpan the influence of the military and the headquarters in Bangkok on September 23. Photo: EPA-EFE trols over the monarchy’s power, and are part of the King’s Guard faction of monarchy. abolishing the country’s strict lese the army, which includes key military There have been almost daily dem- They aim to end the government resides in Germany. majeste laws. units in Bangkok and Lopburi with a onstrations since July, mainly organ- of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, He also increased his control “I am ready to lead the army and strong loyalty to Thailand’s King Maha ised on social media, including one who led the 2014 coup d’état and was over the military and the royal ensure unity and cooperation and con- Vajiralongkorn. two weeks ago that drew tens of thou- elected head of government last year house’s assets, valued at about US$35 tinue and strengthen the role of the Previously Narongpan was also sands of people. in a vote criticised for a lack of trans- billion. army as the guarantor of the nation part of another elite faction of the Initially, protesters were calling parency. This year’s protests have been and the throne,” the 57-year-old com- army, the Queen’s Guard, which in- for constitutional reforms and the Vajiralongkorn, who ascended to peaceful so far but activists are aware mander said at a transfer of power cludes battalions in several provinces dissolution of parliament but later the throne in 2016 and was crowned of violent crackdowns by the military ceremony at army headquarters in in the east of the country. they added demands to reform the in 2019, delayed signing the consti- on previous protests in 1976, 1992 and Bangkok. Thailand has had 13 military coups monarchy and reduce its influence tution to allow himself more auton- 2010 that ended with numerous peo- Narongpan, who will officially take since the end of its absolute monarchy in politics. omy to travel abroad, as he mainly ple killed or injured. − EFE-EPA

SINGAPORE BEIJING China will shoot down US drones Singapore over its territory: state media

CHINESE state media said Tuesday that Beijing team builds will not hesitate to shoot down American drones flying over territories claimed by the country, such as the disputed Spratly Islands, in response to re- cent military exercises by the United States involv- a better ing MQ-9 Reaper drones. In an editorial on Tuesday, the Global Times − which is under the People’s Daily, the official COVID test mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party − said the “MQ-9 Reaper drone was participating in maritime exercises with strike coordination,” add- A TEAM of experts in Singapore has designed ing that this was the “air force’s first drone tactical a patient-controlled robot that can conduct na- training exercise in the Pacific Ocean.” sal swab tests to detect COVID-19, reducing the On Thursday, the US Air Force magazine re- risk of exposure to the virus faced by health- ported that the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicles care workers. were training for “maritime war” with “an eye on Not only does SwabBot minimise the conta- China” and that three of the drones took part in a gion risk but, with a procedure time of around mock amphibious assault on American soil. 20 seconds, it has the potential to be more ef- Dr Rena Dharmawan, associate consultant of head and neck surgery at Singapore General The MQ-9 Reapers, an armed, multi-mission, me- ficient than manual swabbing, which can take Hospital, cleans the SwabBot in Singapore on September 25. Photo: EFE-EPA dium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted air- up to twice as long. craft employed primarily against dynamic execution Unlike a human health worker, the robot against the contraption and the swabs extend ered by a disposable plastic sheet which, along targets and secondarily as an intelligence collection can work around the clock, said Tan Ngian into the nasal cavity to take the sample. with the nose-piece, must be changed for each asset, are “adapting its tactics and training to prove Chye, a senior consultant from the National SwabBot is also designed to detect any re- patient. useful in a theater of war that looks much different Cancer Centre Singapore and the Singapore sistance within the nasal cavity and will auto- Sim Kok Hwee, CEO of Biobot Surgical, is from its typical surroundings,” the magazine said. General Hospital, which developed the ma- matically retract when obstructed. aware of the environmental issues posed by The Global Times said the drones “have been chine alongside medical tech company Biobot “So far, most (patients) if not all have men- SwabBot. involved in assassination and other attacks around Surgical Pte Ltd. tioned they prefer being swabbed by the Swab- “In any product, in any innovation, there's a the world” and added that “particularly eye-catch- “This will reduce the risk to healthcare Bot,” Tan said. “They feel that it's less traumat- certain balancing that you need to do,” he said. ing is that the photo published in magazine shows workers in general and decrease the manpow- ic, that it's more comfortable, than a manual “As we are looking at de-risking the expo- that the patches on related airmen’s uniforms fea- er needed so that healthcare workers can con- swabber.” sure to healthcare workers [and reducing] the ture an MQ-9 superimposed over a red silhouette tinue doing their work in hospitals,” he added. Leo Lim, who demonstrated the use of the dependency on manpower, there may be things in the shape of a map of China.” One healthcare worker can oversee three machine, agreed. like disposables that you have to use along the “According to reports, the last time the US Air or more SwabBots at the same time, accord- “I have personally got swabbed a few times way. So it's a balancing act.” Force put a country on the patch was during the ing to the professor, and although some pa- already by human hands. I feel human hands Sim said the machine had already been ap- Vietnam War,” it says. tients might need some basic instructions to can be quite inconsistent, depending on the proved for commercial use locally and that the The Chinese media described the exercise as a get started, the majority will find the process healthcare worker,” he said. company expected to launch the product to a move “to further stir hostilities between Chinese intuitive. “Sometimes it's quite rough, sometimes it wider audience in two months. and American societies and an [attempt at] extor- In order to take the robotic test, a patient can be quite soft. So far, SwabBot is very con- “I think we are looking at an initial 50-100 tion against China” and “to mobilise public opinion.” sits down in front of the machine and places sistent. I just feel a tickling feeling, which is to be launched globally based on the inquir- “China will shoot down incoming US war- his or her nostrils on the nose-piece, which normal, but I feel totally comfortable.” ies so far, and we hope that it can grow from planes, no matter they are unmanned or manned,” is disposable. Using their chin, they can push To prevent human contact, the robot is cov- there,” he said. − EPA-EFE the media warned. – EPA-EFE 8 International Business www.mmtimes.com THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020

MARKETS World markets mostly lower after raucous Trump-Biden debate

SHARE prices in Europe and Asia to the pandemic. tor down with it. On Wednesday, US were mostly lower on Wednesday after The Caixin manufacturing PMI crude fell 19 cents to US$39.10 per the debate between President Donald slipped to 53.0 from 53.1 in August, on barrel in electronic trading on the Trump and his Democratic challenger a 100-point scale. China’s official man- New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent Joe Biden. ufacturing PMI rose to 51.5 from 51.0, crude, the international standard, gave There was scant sign the clash did its highest level in two years. up 29 cents to US$41.27 per barrel. much to sway investors. Shares fell in “The economic recovery has picked Congress still is arguing over Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo on Wednes- up pace with supply and both domes- the size of a new economic support day, while upbeat manufacturing data tic as well as overseas demand improv- package after additional unemploy- lifted shares in Hong Kong and Shang- ing,” Stephen Innes of AxiCorp said in ment benefits expired. House Speaker hai. a commentary. Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Investors remain cautious with The Hang Seng in Hong Kong Steven Mnuchin have agreed to hold COVID-19 infections on the rise again jumped 0.8% to 23,459.05, but fell another round of stimulus talks. How- in the US and elsewhere. The Trump- back from a 2.1% gain earlier in the ever with the death of Supreme Court Biden debate occurred as coronavi- day. The Shanghai Composite index Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Con- rus deaths worldwide have surpassed gave up its early advance, falling 0.2% gress has redirected much of its atten- ONE million. Many millions of people to 3,218.05. tion to President Trump’s nominee to worldwide are jobless. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 1.5% replace her. Germany’s DAX fell 0.6% to to 23,185.12, while the S&P/ASX 200 The last major jobs report before 12,755.33 and the CAC 40 in Paris lost tumbled 2.3% to 5,815.90. Markets the election will come out on Friday. 0.4% to 4,813.99. The FTSE 100 in Brit- were closed in South Korea. It is a key indicator or how businesses ain edged 0.1% lower to 5,889.73. US The debate’s likely impact on mar- A woman walks past a bank’s electronic board showing the Hong Kong share are faring but also politically impor- futures skidded, with the contract for kets, if any, was unclear. The atmos- index at Hong Kong Stock Exchange Wednesday, September 30. Photo: AP tant for both GOP and Democratic the S&P 500 down 0.8% and that for phere was antagonistic, as to be ex- messaging heading into the election. the Dow industrials falling 0.9%. pected, but for voters still undecided from the debate so far,” Jeffrey Halley dency, and whether the Republicans Economists expect 850,000 jobs were A survey of Chinese manufacturers, about who’d better handle the multi- of Oanda wrote in a report. can block a Biden economic agenda, created in September, with an unem- t he Caixin manufacturing purchasing ple crises that have beset the nation, “My initial thoughts are the de- or whether the Democrats have a clear ployment rate of 8.2%. manager’s index, showed economic the faceoff may not have offered any- bate will not move the needle on the road ahead via control of both houses In currency dealings, the US dollar activity accelerating further in Sep- thing new. Democrat lead in the national polls,” and the presidency.” strengthened to ¥105.67 from ¥105.64 tember as businesses recovered from “Markets have remained calm as he said. “The real race this election, is The price of oil fell 3.2% on Tues- yen late Tuesday. The euro fell to the downturn earlier this year due no policy surprises have emerged for the US Senate, and not the presi- day, dragging much of the energy sec- US$1.1704 from US$1.1744. – AP

IPO Secretive, never profitable Palantir makes its market debut

BOSTON – Seventeen years after it was born with counter roadside bombings and fight the Islamic corporate ones, where Palantir’s foothold is less the help of CIA seed money, the data-mining out- State group. firm. fit Palantir Technologies is finally going public in But investors also have to reckon with the Pe- Palantir offers two software platforms. the biggest Wall Street tech offering since Slack ter Thiel factor. Foundry is designed to link disparate and largely and Uber last year. The iconoclastic entrepreneur and PayPal co- incompatible data sources into a central operat- Never profitable and dogged by ethical objec- founder endorsed President Donald Trump in ing system. It’s the company’s primary hope for tions for assisting in the Trump administration’s 2016, worked on his transition team and holds broadening its business. deportation crackdown, Palantir has forged the largest chunk of Palantir stock. Thiel already An earlier product, Gotham, has been used ahead with a direct listing of its stock, which is exerts tremendous power from the board of Fa- by defence and intelligence analysts and police set to begin trading Wednesday morning. In its cebook, which dominates global media and seeks departments to identify patterns deep within stock offering, the company isn’t selling newly to create a digital currency. datasets. But the value of “predictive policing” minted shares to raise money; it’s simply listing In its IPO prospectus, Palantir paints a dark tools developed with the platform have been existing shares for public trading. picture of faltering government agencies and questioned for their potential to unfairly target The low-key strategy may not generate the en- institutions in danger of collapse and ripe for people of color. The New Orleans and New York thusiasm many technology offerings do. But it’s rescue by a “central operating system” forged City police departments, once customers, no in character for a secretive company long reliant under Thiel’s auspices. As the offering is struc- longer use it. on spies, police and the military as customers – tured, Thiel will be the dominant voice among A 2017 research paper by University of Tex- and whose founders are holding onto voting con- the Palantir co-founders who will retain voting as sociologist Sarah Brayne found the software trol of the company. control. could lead to a proliferation of unregulated per- The big question for both investors and com- “Is that someone who you want deciding how sonal data collected by police from commercial pany management: Can Palantir successfully a component of the (national) security apparatus and law enforcement databases. transition from a business built on the costly is designed?” asked New York University busi- On Monday, Amnesty International issued a handholding of government customers to serv- ness professor Scott Galloway. “If you believe briefing that says Palantir is failing to conduct ing corporate customers at scale? The company that power corrupts and checks and balances are human rights due diligence around its contracts is a hybrid provider of software and consulting a good idea, this is just from the get-go a really with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, services that often embeds its own engineers bad idea.” calling it “deeply ironic” that the company crows with clients. Earlier in September, BuzzFeed reported that about its determination not to work with re- Analysts say its future depends on selling Thiel hosted a known white nationalist, Kevin A file photo shows Alexander Karp, US co- gimes like China that abuse human rights. multinationals on its tools for gathering dispa- DeAnna, at a 2016 dinner party, citing emails it founder and CEO of the software firm Palantir Palantir’s ICE contracts involve the mainte- rate data from an ever-expanding data universe obtained and published whose authors refused Technologies, leaving and event in Paris in 2018. nance and improvement of two products used and using artificial-intelligence technology to to talk to the online news outlet. Thiel declined Photo: EPA in deportation raid. One of them, its web-based find previously undetectable patterns. Those can through a spokesman to discuss the report. Crit- Falcon tool, has enhanced data accessible to in- theoretically guide strategic decisions and identi- ics say he shares the blame for Facebook’s incom- in losses, raised about US$3 billion and listed vestigators “involving the illegal movement of fy new markets much as they have aided in track- plete removal of toxic disinformation dissemi- US$200 million in outstanding debt as of July 31. people into, within, and out of the United States,” ing terrorists and sorting military intelligence. nated by the pro-Trump far-right fringe. Palantir, named for the mystical all-seeing according to documents obtained by The Associ- The company sets itself apart from most US Then there are Palantir’s fundamentals, which stones from Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings, has re- ated Press, including court records, and by the technology providers, and just moved its head- Galloway considers lousy. The company has just cently been deepening its relationship with Un- nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center quarters to Denver from Silicon Valley. Palantir 125 customers in 150 countries, including Airbus, cle Sam, including winning a modest contract in a freedom-of-information request. colours itself patriotic and belittles other tech Merck, Credit Suisse and the Danish National early in the COVID-19 pandemic for helping the Palantir has acknowledged in its SEC filing firms that won’t unquestionably support US Police. Slightly less than half its 2019 revenues White House gather data on the virus’ impact. that “unfavorable coverage in the media” and dominance in war-fighting and intelligence. were from government agencies, and three cli- Senior emerging technology analyst Brendan from social activists could hurt its business. It “Our software is used to target terrorists and ents – which Palantir did not name – accounted Burke of Pitchbook is bullish, saying he isn’t wor- also says its contractual obligations might pre- to keep soldiers safe,” CEO Alex Karp wrote in a for almost a third of revenues. ried that Thiel’s association with Trump will hurt vent it from being able to defend its actions pub- letter accompanying Palantir’s offering prospec- “They’re massively unprofitable and they’ve the company if Trump loses the election. licly, although it recently named a former Wall tus. While Karp acknowledged the ethical chal- never been able to figure it out,” Galloway said, “The political connections don’t appear to Street Journal reporter to its board. lenge of building software that “enables more noting that it took Google three years to earn a be the main driver of their recent substantial Negative publicity over ICE contracts may effective surveillance by the state”, Palantir’s profit, and Amazon seven. Over a much longer contract wins,” he said, although he noted that also have hurt company recruitment on college prospectus touts its work helping US soldiers span, Palantir has accumulated US$3.8 billion government contracts can be more volatile than campuses. – AP OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com International Business 9

ECONOMY UK economy slump not as bad as feared but still a record

LONDON — The British economy did quarter, against 2.2% previously. not contract as much as originally “It is clear that the UK is in the thought during the second quarter of largest recession on record,” the statis- the year when coronavirus lockdown tics agency said. “The latest estimates measures were at their most intense – show that the UK economy is now though the slump remained the worst 21.8% smaller than it was at the end of Britain’s financial district in London, Monday, September 28. Photo: AP on record. 2019, highlighting the unprecedented The Office for National Statistics size of this contraction.” land’s chief economist, said the econ- having faced a cut in their incomes, trade until the end of this year. The said Wednesday that the British econ- That contraction is greater than omy has recovered more strongly than the speed and scale of this recovery in discussions are about agreeing on the omy contracted by 19.8% in the April those recorded by the other Group of expected and estimates that it will consumption is, I think, fairly remark- outlines of the trading relationship to June quarter from the previous Seven major advanced economies and only be around 3-4% smaller than able,” he added. from the start of 2021. three-month period, slightly less than more or less double the contractions it’s pre-COVID level by the end of the With the virus spreading in the “We expect the UK to avoid a na- its previous estimate of 20.4%. seen in the United States and Ger- third quarter, largely thanks to con- community once again and some lock- tional lockdown and exit the single However, it said the British econ- many, though statistical methods can sumer spending. down measures re-imposed, there are market in an orderly or at least semi- omy contracted by more than previ- vary between countries. “In other words, the economy has worries that the recovery may start to orderly fashion that involves the UK ously thought during the first quarter, Since May, when lockdown meas- already recovered just under 90% of stall this winter. and the EU agreeing to some modest when the virus started to affect busi- ures started to be eased, the British its earlier losses,” he said in a speech. Further risks come from the lack stopgap measures to prevent serious ness activity before the full restric- economy has managed to eke out three “Against a backdrop of more than of progress in post-Brexit trade dis- short-term disruption or with a full tions on businesses were introduced months of growth, which has helped it 40,000 Covid-related deaths, an extra cussions with the European Union. or partial deal,” said Kallum Picker- on March 23. It now estimates that the recoup around half of the output lost. one million people unemployed and Though the UK left the bloc on Janu- ing, senior economist at Berenberg economy shrank by 2.5% in the first Andy Haldane, the Bank of Eng- perhaps a quarter of the workforce ary 31, it is benefiting from tariff-free Bank. – AP

FINANCE Trump facing devastating debt load? Experts say not so fast

NEW YORK — President Donald to pay just US$750 in taxes the year he According to Forbes’ latest valua- him over the years. Nancy Wallace, a real estate pro- Trump reportedly must pay back more won the presidency, and nothing for tion, even pandemic-reduced prices Trump defaulted on bonds that fessor at the University of California, than US$300 million in loans over the 10 of 15 years before that. leave Trump with US$2.5 billion worth the bank helped sell to investors to fi- Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, next four years, raising the possibil- But the Times report was quick to of properties and other assets, and nance his casinos in Atlantic City, New said that hundreds of millions of ity his lenders could face an unprec- note that tax filings alone can’t help that is after subtracting his US$1.2 bil- Jersey, and a bank loan for his Chicago Trump’s bank loans have been pack- edented situation should he win a determine someone’s net worth. And lion in debt. hotel and condo tower, and yet the aged into bonds and sold to investors, second term and not be able to raise several experts said that, while the The Times said Trump’s real estate bank has continued to lend to him. and the banks are no longer in charge. the money: foreclosing on the leader true state of Trump’s financial situ- company has US$421 million in loans Mike Offit, a former executive at If a borrower looks like it is in trou- of the free world. ation is unclear because of a lack of he has personally guaranteed, with Deutsche Bank who lent to Trump in ble, there could be less room to cut it But financial experts say the notion public information, he is probably not US$300 million of that coming due the late ‘90s, said that if a property a break. of Trump going broke anytime soon is scrambling for money. over four years. backing a loan was still throwing off Office buildings and hotels have farfetched. At issue is the often wide difference The Trump Organization did not good cash, and all else was well, the also been hit especially hard by the Even with a total debt load across between what businesses report as immediately respond to an email easiest solution for a bank with a lockdowns and travel restrictions. So his entire business empire estimated profits and losses to the IRS and what and phone call requesting comment. Trump loan not likely to be paid back lenders may not be eager to lend to at more than US$1 billion, they note they actually receive in profits they Trump dismissed the Times story would be to just push out the due date. Trump now, and selling off parts of his he still has plenty of assets he could put in their pockets. Monday as “fake news” and said he is “If I was sitting at my old job and a sprawling empire to raise cash won’t cash in, starting with a portfolio that Plenty of real estate investors re- “extremely underleveraged”. Trump loan was coming due next year be so easy either, and is not likely to includes office and condo towers, golf port big losses under tax accounting “I have very little debt compared to and he’s the president, I would just say get him full value, courses and branding deals that have rules and pay little in federal taxes. the value of assets,” he wrote. let’s extend the maturity,” he said. Still, “the real estate lending mar- been valued at US$2.5 billion. That is because the tax code allows Among his lenders listed in his But several other real estate experts ket is difficult at the moment, but Based on Forbes magazine esti- them to reduce their tax bills with personal financial disclosure are New aren’t so sure Deutsche Bank may be for buildings throwing off cash? That mates of the value of his buildings, for myriad legal loopholes and breaks, in- York-based commercial lender Ladder willing to help Trump much any more. shouldn’t be a problem,” said Bernard instance, selling his partial interests cluding sometimes generous deprecia- Capital, which is owed at least US$110 The bank has been subject to Kent, chairman at Schechter Invest- in just two properties – an office com- tion charges that reflect expected wear million, and Bryn Mawr Trust Co a money laundering and tax evasion in- ment Advisors in Detroit. “For some- plex in San Francisco and a Las Vegas and tear on buildings. suburban Philadelphia bank, which vestigations in Germany and the US, thing like Trump Tower, the future tower that houses a hotel and condos Northwestern’s Braun said Trump’s held Trump debt worth between US$5 and last year settled with the US stock cash flow wouldn’t be tremendously – could bring in US$500 million alone. minuscule tax payments don’t surprise million and US$25 million for Seven market regulators for allegedly violat- affected by COVID-19 or people mov- And even if he doesn’t sell, that him, nor do the losses claimed. “His Springs, a New York estate owned by ing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ing out of New York. Top-flight proper- kind of valuation backing up the loans accountants work really to make sure the Trump Organization. by hiring relatives of government of- ties there tend to hold value.” could make them easier for him to re- he doesn’t pay any taxes,” he said. Trump’s biggest lender on his dis- ficials in Asia and Russia to drum up If all is lost, and Trump is really in finance. A better idea of how Trump is far- closure is Deutsche Bank, his chief fi- business for its investment banking trouble, some experts say there is an- “He’s going to be able to roll these ing, Braun said, comes from Trump’s nancier stretching back two decades. division. In addition, its U.S. division other way he could raise money to pay loans over. They have collateral back- operating profits. It helped him buy and fix up several had failed a few annual “stress tests” off his lender: copy rocker David Bow- ing them up. They’re not that risky to Forbes, which has been valuing buildings in New York and Chicago administered by the Federal Reserve ie, who sold bonds that allow investors the lenders,” said Phillip Braun, a fi- Trump properties for decades for its and his Doral golf club in Miami. It in recent years, hampering its ability to make money off his music royalties. nance professor at Northwestern Uni- annual billionaire issue, says Trump’s is owed at least US$125 million, with to lend for a while. “Trump Bonds” would enable in- versity’s Kellogg School of Business. 40 Wall Street office tower generated loans coming due in 2023 and 2024. Deutsche Bank declined to com- vestors to share in his future earnings Trump’s true financial picture has US$18 million in operating profits in One option for Trump is to get his ment. from selling his name to, say, condo gotten renewed scrutiny in the wake 2019, Trump Tower US$13 million, lenders to refinance his debt or to take Another problem: Not all Trump’s builders or purveyors of steaks or co- of a New York Times report this week and Trump’s share in San Francisco’s out a new loan. Deutsche Bank is an lenders are banks and other institu- lognes or neckties. that he declared hundreds of millions 555 California Street tower US$26 mil- obvious candidate to help him with ei- tions that he can negotiate with across “Trump has a brand that has value,” in losses in recent years, allowing him lion. ther because it has been so forgiving to a table. Kent said. – AP 10 Metro www.mmtimes.com THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020

Wholesaler wins award Daw Aung Sann Su for eco-friendly building Kyi portrait goes viral

LAE PHYU PYA MYO MYINT photos. To get such a response from portraits and experimental composi- people was amazing.” tions. He prefers drawing portraits, DESPITE the COVID-19 drama, daily Khin Zaw Latt’s portrait of Daw with a distinctive style using old coins death tolls and the recent Yangon Aung Sann Suu Kyi looks very stamped onto the canvas. His signa- stay-at-home order, one social media minimal, in terms of the colour, but ture style is used to create images of post has garnered more publicity the paint captures a subtle depth of people and Buddha faces. than many others. It’s a post of State expression on the State Counsellor’s He was awarded first prize at the Counsellor Daw Aung Sann Suu Kyi face. Her eye’s really stand out, as Myanmar Portrait Awards in 2011, wearing a facemask, and painted on a they are the only pair on the canvas the Myanmar Contemporary Art 7 by 12-foot canvas. looking out of the frame. Awards in 2008, and the Sovereign The portrait was painted by artist Despite the seriousness of the im- Art Awards in 2009. In addition to his Khin Zaw Latt, and the post has at- age, the painting is also dotted with achievements in the local art world, tracted millions of likes and hundreds small and playful butterfly stamps. Khin Zaw Latt has also made an im- of shares. In fact, many people have Khin Zaw Latt explained: “But- pact overseas with shows in Bangkok, even changed their profile pictures to terflies always come out when there Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, the giant portrait image. is fine whether at home, and they New York and Los Angeles. The painting depicts Daw Aung signify that we will come out of the Artist Khin Zaw Latt’s will keep San Suu Kyi positioned to the left of COVID-19 situation for the better. Our this painting, but will make it avail- Photo: Metro Facebook Page the composition, wearing face mask. country will also be fine.” able for the public to view. He is plan- Her face is painted in gray, but stands The painting’s success comes just ning to include it in an art exhibition, out amidst a background of smaller two months before the 2020 elec- along with his other works, when the CHAN MYA HTWE will further help METRO Myanmar portraits of faces wearing masks. Her tions, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi COVID-19 restrictions have eased. to promote its environmental impact eyes show concern. will recontest her Lower House seat The International Finance Corpora- assessments in the market, and to en- Whilst Khin Zaw Latt was drawing in Kawhmu township. tion (IFC) awarded the wholesaler courage other companies reduce their the State Counsellor’s profile earlier “The painting was supposed to be METRO Myanmar with its prestigious water and electricity costs. in the year he had also started collect- about the COVID-19 period, around Excellence in Design for Greater Effi- “METRO really wants to promote ing portrait photos of people wearing the time of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s ciency (EDGE) certificate. The certifi- efficiency as a leading wholesaler. masks. As he worked on the painting, mask-making competition, but it cate was awarded to the top perform- We set the highest standards for our he began arranging the small photos seems to coincide with the elections ing company within Southeast Asia on warehouse in Thilawa. The building is into a collage. The whole process took now,” the artist said. September 29. designed to reduce waste and exces- around one-and-a-half months. Khin Zaw Latt first created a The wholesaler won the award sive consumption,” said Jens Michel, “This painting is very popular portrait of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in based on its cost-effective and eco- chief executive of METRO Wholesale right now, especially on Facebook. 2010, at that time of her release from friendly building designs, which in- Myanmar. It’s my first piece that has attracted house arrest. This painting marks cludes an energy-efficient air-condi- METRO Wholesale Myanmar built so much attention,” artist Khin Zaw the 10th anniversary since that first tioning system. its warehouse in Yangon under a rec- Latt said. portrait. METRO’s buildings are also ognised environmental impact assess- He added “It was an exciting Khin Zaw Latt graduated from the constructed with environmentally- ment. The company urges local people process working with so many people. University of Culture with a major in friendly plumbing, saving the com- in Myanmar to save energy by reduc- All the people in the small portraits painting. His first series of paintings pany an estimated 37pc on its water ing their waste, said James Smouse, sent me their photos. After one and in 2006 featured Buddha images, and bills. manager for IFC in Myanmar and half months I collected 2000 portrait since then he has branched out into Photos: Supplied The IFC said that the certificate Thailand. – Translated OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com Metro 11 How will COVID-19 affect the way Asians consume meat?

While parts of East Asia have long been home to African swine fever has been spreading across meat-intensive diets, the last couple of decades the region since 2018, leading to the death and have seen the production, trade and consump- culling of 100 million pigs in China and six mil- tion of meat increase dramatically. lion in Vietnam, one-third and one-quarter of The region is undergoing a dramatic process their respective pig populations. of what geographer Tony Weis has dubbed “me- COVID-19 has hit the Asian meat complex at atification”. a moment of vulnerability, which may deepen its This change has led to the emergence of an impact. Asian “meat complex” tying Asian countries to But it’s not all gloom and doom for the Asian each other and to the larger world through the meat complex, as it seems likely that COVID-19 medium of meat commodities and their feed- will strengthen ongoing trends. stocks. The COVID-19 pandemic has large ramifi- A trend towards eating less meat has existed cations for the Asian meat complex. alongside global meat booms, even within Asia. While the pandemic contributes to recon- It is too early to tell whether this will lead to last- figuring and challenging the meat complex at ing change or if the meatification of Asian diets a moment of vulnerability, it also seems to be will be back on track after the pandemic passes. strengthen existing trends towards stricter hy- High levels of meat consumption in afflu- giene control, supermarketisation and increased ent countries around the world depend on industrialisation of meat production. cheap, factory-farmed meat. China’s rapid increase in production, trade In many Asian countries, meat imports from and consumption of meat is well-known – the large producers such as the United States and boom has even had geopolitical implications, es- Brazil are increasingly competing with local pro- pecially in the trade of Latin American soybeans duce. to feed the Chinese pork sector. It can indeed be cheaper to buy chicken that Per capita meat consumption increased almost has travelled around the world than to buy chick- sixfold in the four decades following the initiation en produced by your neighbours. of market reforms in 1978, alongside massive in- Countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have all seen dramatic increases in per capita meat The pandemic is likely to strengthen existing creases in domestic meat production and imports. consumption. Photo: AFP tendencies towards stricter food controls and The “China factor” may overshadow other as- hygiene requirements from producers and retail- pects of meatification in Asia, but several other This has led to new flows of grain and oilseed demic and its link to meat markets has intensi- ers. While beneficial to public health, this will countries are also witnessing meat booms – Ja- crops, both within Asia and between Asia and fied distrust of animal-sourced food. likely favour large-scale meat production. pan, South Korea and Vietnam have all seen dra- Latin America. Consumers have cut back on grocery bills Local markets, an important food source matic increases in per capita meat consumption. The Asian meat complex is increasingly while supply systems have been disrupted. Peo- for billions of people, are under increased pres- Vietnam has developed into a major meat- shaped by large corporations – not only by West- ple are also eating out less due to the pandem- sure due to the pandemic, as are small-scale pro- producing country, surpassing Japan and Thai- ern multinationals, but also by emerging Asian ic, and it is well established that we eat more ducers. land in terms of tonnes of meat produced. agribusiness companies. meat at restaurants than when we cook at home. Large agribusiness, meanwhile, is well placed Asian meatification takes form through Charoen Pokphand, a meat-processing com- Analysts from Rabobank foresee a downturn in to increase its market control, usurping or out- changing diets, new trade flows and new crop- pany, is now Thailand’s largest private company, meat consumption across Southeast Asia, leading competing smaller operations along the way be- ping patterns. Meat is increasingly traded intra- with considerable investments across Asia. to reduced demand for grain and oilseed crops. cause of stricter quality controls. and inter-regionally. There are signs that meat demand is de- Changes in one aspect of the meat complex While there is a need for more sustainable Much of the meat consumed in Southeast creasing globally. China is a major contributor, might cause reverberations across an interconnect- meat production following the pandemic, Cov- Asia is produced in the region, largely through consuming about one quarter of all meat in the ed web of agricultural practices and trade flows. id-19 will likely intensify the industrialisation of industrialised systems dependent on imported world. COVID-19 is not the first zoonotic disease to meat ironically, making the world more vulner- animal feed. In China, as in many other places, the pan- hit the Asian meat complex. able to future pandemics. – Today Online Cambodian man arrested with almost 300 centuries-old jars

SOPHENG CHEANG

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – A man on Cambodia’s southern coast was ar- rested for possessing almost 300 cen- turies-old earthenware jars that he is believed to have salvaged from a ship- Crowds in Phuket are down sharply in June in the absence of group tours. wreck, an official said Tuesday. Photo: Achadtaya Chuenniran Khieng Phearum, a spokesman for Preah Sihanouk province, said the 42-year-old man was arrested late Sunday after authorities determined Phuket ready to open up that he was illegally keeping 281 small and big jars presumed to be legally ACHADTHAYA CHUENNIRAN thorities concerned are ready to protected antiquities at his home. welcome the visitors with COVID-19 The man, who was still being inter- PHUKET is gearing up to receive labs, supplied by the Department rogated on Tuesday, is an expert diver its first group of tourists from Chi- of Communicable Disease Control, and had been spotted in the area of an Photo provided by the Sihanoukville Province Authority on September 27 na who are expected to arrive next now installed at Phuket airport. He underwater shipwreck in the Gulf of showing the seized earthenware jars. Photo: Sihanoukville province Authority via AP week under the Special Tourist Visa said agencies concerned will meet Thailand off the coastal city of Sihan- (STV) scheme. today to rehearse all the procedures, oukville from which the pottery is be- tended to sell the jars, but he is ex- ture and Fine Arts Department of In the initial stage of reopening, including the screening and testing lieved to have been retrieved, Khieng pected to be charged under a law pro- Preah Sihanouk province, said the ori- the first flight, scheduled to land on of tourists. Phearum said, tecting Cambodia’s cultural heritage. gin of the jars and the ship from which Oct 8, is expected to carry 120 tour- Thanit Sermkaew, chief of the He said he did not know how the Long Punna Serivath, a spokesman they were presumably taken have not ists from Guangzhou. provincial health officials, said the man retrieved the jars or how long for the Culture and Fine Arts Ministry, yet been established, and experts will The visitors will stay in alterna- public health system is ready with they have been in his possession, but said Monday that judging from photos study the collection for answers. tive state quarantine for 14 days as 1,222 rooms from nine hotels having the authorities had become aware of of the jars, they were likely made some He said that in 2015, several hun- part of disease control measures. passed inspection and selected as his collection, and after observation, time during the 15th to 17th centuries, dred pieces of similar pottery were col- Phuket governor Narong Woon- alternative state quarantine venues. arrested the man at his home. officially making them antiquities. lected from a sunken Chinese ship off siew said on Tuesday that all au- – Bangkok Post It was not known if the man in- Buth Bupha, a director of the Cul- nearby Koh Kong province. – AP 12 THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020 World UNITED NATIONS UN meeting that began with unity concludes with divisions

THIS year’s UN General Assembly On the hot-button conflict of the the floor over a dispute with Iran over meeting began with calls for multi- moment, between Armenia and Azer- three Iranian-occupied islands the UAE lateralism and cooperation — a decla- baijan over the separatist enclave of claims and Tehran’s “destabilising con- ration that the urgency for countries Nagorno-Karabakh, diplomats from duct” in the region, including support- to unite “has rarely been greater”. It the two countries went after each ing Houthi Shiite rebels in Yemen. The concluded with a parade of divisive other over responsibility for the latest UAE, in turn, vehemently dismissed A photo provided by the United Nations shows Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for grievances that echoed when the final fighting. Bangladesh went after Myan- Iran’s allegation that the UAE was Foreign Affairs of Germany, speaking in a pre-recorded message played during gavel fell. mar over the more than 700,000 Roh- destabilising Mideast security. the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Tuesday, September 29. Photo: AP Leader after leader in days of ingya Muslims who fled a crackdown Iran, again asked to reply, insisting speeches delivered virtually stressed by Myanmar’s military in 2017 and are on its claim to the islands and accus- member nations was allowed. In his remarks opening the global the importance of working together living in camps in Bangladesh, still ing the UAE of using starvation “as a The main in-person event was a gathering, UN Secretary-General An- to navigate the coronavirus outbreak fearful of returning home -- and My- war tactic in Yemen”. The UAE inter- virtual UN Security Council meeting tonio Guterres had painted a grim and the challenges that lie beyond it. anmar responded. vened for a second time, insisted the that sparked one of the few real-time picture of the state of the world: an As Germany’s foreign minister put it, Iran went after Israel over the islands are occupied. exchanges and centred the escalat- “epochal” health crisis, economic ca- COVID-19 “shows that international speech by Prime Minister Benjamin A Yemeni diplomat then respond- ing US confrontation with China. The lamity, threats to human rights and cooperation is neither an ideology nor Netanyahu, who claimed that the Is- ed to the Iranian, saying: “How does clash at the meeting was over respon- worries of a new Cold War between an end in itself. On the contrary, it lamic Republic would have “enough he dare speak about the situation in sibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. and China. delivers results, far beyond the actual enriched uranium in a few months for Yemen while he is responsible for the which saw Russia back Beijing. But Guterres called for global unity, pandemic.” two nuclear bombs” after it recently situation?” The Yemeni accused Iran the US-China confrontation extends to foremost to fight the pandemic, and Words, though, are not results. began exceeding limits set by the 2015 of “continuing their intervention to trade issues, claims in the South China sharply criticized populism and na- Though the UN and most of its mem- nuclear deal with world powers. destabilise my country by providing Sea and Taiwan. tionalism as failed answers that often ber states largely envision a multilat- An Iranian diplomat accused Israel money, weapons, training and equip- China’s UN Mission issued a state- worsened the situation. eral world, the underlying issues and of disregarding UN resolutions on ne- ment to establish their expansionist ment just before midnight Tuesday General Assembly President Vol- challenges that divide nations sat gotiating a two-state solution with the plan across the region.” night protesting US Ambassador Kelly kan Bozkir ended the six-day meeting squarely in the spotlight, as the “right Palestinians, and countered that Israel While all the leaders delivered Craft’s participation in an online event Tuesday night on an upbeat note, re- of reply” at the end of the closing ses- “poses the most serious threats to the prerecorded speeches, the diplomats hosted by Taiwan on Monday. It said turning to the need for multilateral- sion demonstrated vividly. security of the states in the Middle late Tuesday spoke in person, seated her remarks undermined China’s sov- ism and unity. One by one they came forward — East” because of its widely reported behind their country’s nameplate in ereignty and territorial integrity. “The challenges facing us are enor- lower-level diplomats tasked with nuclear programme, which Israel has the vast General Assembly Hall where “There is only one China in the mous, but so are the possibilities of so- replying to leaders’ speeches with in- never acknowledged. virus restrictions meant only one world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part lutions,” he said. “By working together, tense responses. The United Arab Emirates took representative of each of the 193 UN of China’s territory,” the mission said. we can overcome them.” – AP

KATHMANDU As virus curbs Nepal’s festivals, devotees fear gods’ anger

THE revered living goddess is not leav- the shed and armed police guard the lice blocking the courtyard. ing her temple this year. courtyards. “My family has done this for gen- The old palace courtyard packed “There would be hundreds of thou- erations and not once have I heard it with hundreds of thousands of people sands of devotees crowding the court- was cancelled,” the priest said. “These each year during the Indrajatra festi- yard and streets during the festival festivals are done so that we pray to val is deserted, the temples are locked which would have put so many of them the gods to spare the people of all trou- and all public celebrations are banned at the risk of getting the coronavirus,” bles and protect all of us from diseases by the government to curb the coro- said Kumari’s chief caretaker Gautam and catastrophes.” navirus. Shakya. “We had to stop this centuries- Just south of Kathmandu in Lalit- Autumn is the festival season in old festival for the first time ever.” pur city, a 5-story-high chariot hold- predominantly Hindu Nepal, where Shakya and his family have been ing a statue of the deity Rato Machin- religion, celebrations and rituals are taking care of Kumari for generations. dranath was built for a festival that big parts of lives, but people this year A young flawless girl is chosen from a was parked by government orders. will have to scale down their rituals single clan and is worshipped as the Frustrated devotees revolted and within their homes. living goddess until she is replaced at thousands gathered to pull the chariot Many in this Himalayan nation puberty. High officials and commoners earlier this month. They clashed with believe they would anger the gods by touch her feet to get her blessing. riot police who fired tear gas and wa- shunning the rituals – which would A small group of devotees who ter and beat some with bamboo ba- cause catastrophe. Violent clashes slipped through the lockdown and se- tons. Several people were wounded Even broke out between police and curity to pray before the living goddess and many arrested. devotees defying government orders said they needed to continue the tradi- Nepal’s biggest and most cel- during a separate chariot festival tion followed by their ancestors. Living God Bhairav, centre, walks back home after a ritual performed after the ebrated Dasain festival in October is south of Kathmandu. “The festival and Kumari is not Indrajatra festival was cancelled to control the spread of the coronavirus in celebrated for two weeks with public A lockdown was ordered around just a tradition, it is our culture and Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, August 30. Photo: AP holidays. People travel to see extended the eight days when the cancelled In- a big part of our lives which we just family, celebrate daily feasts and visit drajatra festival would have been held, cannot stop for anything, not even for and prosper,” he said. during the festival. Devotees push temples. However, scaled-down activi- and instead, a small ceremony to seek pandemic,” said Shanker Magaiya, a Nepalese authorities imposed a each other to get a sip of the rice wine ties with some prohibitions are expect- forgiveness from Indra, the Hindu god launderer who was able to offer flow- strict coronavirus lockdown in March that is released from a pipe attached ed this year. of rain, was held under government ers and sweets to the goddess. that was eased in July. More than to the head of the statue. This year, the “We are not celebrating the festi- security. Magaiya felt heartbroken by the 76,000 people have been infected and doors were only cracked open and a vals this year because of the virus and During the festival, Kumari, a girl cancellation, saying while they un- 491 have died. But the ban of outdoor very few people were lucky enough to we have no extra money to spend, but revered as the living goddess, is taken derstand the government order, they festivals and religious gatherings con- sip the holy wine. if we are alive and healthy there will around the core part of Kathmandu needed to protect their religion, cul- tinues and temples remain locked. Temple priest Prakash Tamrakar, be festivals next year and year after in a chariot pulled by devotees. After ture and tradition. “We have disap- Near Kumari’s temple, a huge who looked disappointed, said the fes- that and we have a grand celebration,” the cancellation, she never left her pointed the gods and we need to keep statue of Hindu deity Swet Bhairav is tival should have been allowed with said Kumar Shrestha, a sweet shop temple palace. Her chariot is locked in the gods happy so we all can be happy opened to the public only once a year social distancing precautions and po- owner. – AP OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com World 13

SERIATE , ITALY At virus milestone, Italian priest reflects on loss, lessons

IF there is anything the Reverend many of Bergamo’s victims died at Carminati would send photos of Mario Carminati and the trauma- home or in nursing homes without caskets when he could. tised residents of Italy’s Bergamo having ever been tested. Seriate, a One day he fielded 10 calls from province remember about the worst town of 25,000 along Bergamo’s Se- parishioners reporting deaths in the days of the coronavirus outbreak, it’s rio river, was particularly hard-hit, community. One call came from a the wail of ambulance sirens pierc- losing 200 residents. Carminate says nurse with word that his friend Pio ing the silence of lockdown. around half were parishioners whom had died. She dictated a final mes- Around the clock for weeks on he knew personally. sage Pio wanted Carminati to pass end, ambulances screamed through “This is the thing that made win- along to his wife. Bergamo’s valleys and towns in a ter more tragic then. There were no “He had asked her to report to his terrifying soundtrack of death, as leaves on the trees, and it was all wife that he had always loved her, mothers, fathers, sisters and broth- grey,” he recalled this week during and he still loved her very much,” ers gasping for air were rushed to one of his regular visits to the ceme- Carminati said, tears welling up in the hospital. Thousands never came tery to visit with his flock. “I certain- his eyes. “This was his last farewell back. ly remember it as something gray that he wanted to send his wife.” As the world counts more than and dark, something from which you As he watches infections and one million COVID-19 victims, the felt like you couldn’t get out: a tun- deaths surge elsewhere and the quiet of everyday life and hum of nel that never ended.” world passes the million mark, Car- industry has returned to Bergamo, Early on in the outbreak, the first minati wonders why more countries which along with the surrounding in the West, Carminati opened the didn’t pay attention to Italy’s tragedy Lombardy region was the one-time doors of one of his churches, St Jo- as it was unfolding so they could be epicentre of the outbreak in Europe. seph’s, to house the coffins that had better prepared. Instead, he says, But the memory of those dark win- nowhere to go because local cem- they brushed it off as typical Italian ter days, and the monumental toll of eteries and crematoria were full. In this March 28 file photo, Don Marcello Crotti, left, blesses coffins of people “exaggeration” and believed some- dead they left behind, has remained At first, some 80 wooden coffins who died of COVID-19 with Reverend Mario Carminati in the San Giuseppe how they would be spared. with those who survived only to see lined the central aisle of St Joseph’s church in Seriate, near Bergamo, Italy. Photo: AP “Initially, they lost a lot of time, the rest of the world fall victim, too. church. Carminati and a fellow priest and then some took some absurd “They would never stop,” Car- recited the rite of the dead, with a demic hasn’t passed,” Carminati said goodbye. In Italy, funerals were es- decisions like ‘herd immunity,’” he minati, the parish priest of the Ber- Psalm and Scripture reading, and ruefully during a break in his daily sentially banned during lockdown said. “For those of us who were in gamo town of Seriate, recalled of the gave each coffin a final benediction routine rebuilding a parish that lost and many mourning families were the middle of it, hearing these things ambulances. “They would drive by and blessing with holy water. After a its gardener, its singer at evening themselves in quarantine or other- at that time, we said: ‘These people continuously and you would wonder convoy of army trucks took the cof- Mass and his friend Pio, who volun- wise prevented from visiting isolated are crazy. They have no idea what’s ‘When will this end?’” fins away to be cremated, another 80 teered in the sacristy. COVID wards. coming their way.’” Bergamo recorded its first posi- arrived. Then another. The idea to open his church to On Palm Sunday, Carminati While the numbers of daily new tive case February 23, two days after “That had a heart-breaking im- the coffins, when the parish was placed an olive frond on each coffin. infections and deaths in Italy today Italy’s first locally transmitted case pact on me, something that left me otherwise shuttered under lock- Other days, he lit a candle. are nowhere near the peak, Carmin- was detected. By the end of March, with a great bitterness,” he said. down, came naturally after hospital Some parishioners reached out ati knows how quickly things can the province of Bergamo had regis- In all, Carminati says, some 260 morgues, crematoria and cemeter- to Carminati after learning that he change. His hope looking forward is tered a 571% increase in deaths com- coffins passed through his modern ies filled up. Carminati said he was was taking the coffins in, wondering that the world learns lessons from pared with the five-year monthly av- red-brick church in March and April, asked by local authorities if his par- if he had seen their loved ones pass the pandemic, both big and small. erage – the biggest increase in Italy evidence of the horrific toll of the vi- ish could house the coffins temporar- through. During the peak of the out- “We need to understand we are and one of the biggest localized in- rus in Bergamo that continues today. ily. “There was a need for space,” he break, some families reported cha- not immortal, none of us is immor- creases in mortality rate in Europe. Last month, Carminati buried his said. otic, days-long efforts to locate their tal,” he said after visiting the cem- Many of those deaths don’t even own nephew, 34-year-old Christian But Carminati also felt a need dead mothers and fathers as hospi- etery on a glorious, quiet autumn figure into Italy’s official COVID-19 Persico, after he lost a five-month to provide the dead with a digni- tals struggling to keep people alive Sunday. “The virus ultimately re- toll of 35,851, the second highest battle with COVID-19. fied farewell, since their families lost track of where the dead ended turns to us this dimension of fragil- in Europe after Britain, because so “We’ll have more because the epi- had been denied a funeral and final up. ity.” – AP

MEXICO CITY Influencers behaving badly: Mexico kicks them out of ruins

ARCHAEOLOGICAL authorities in ing around and posing in close contact later launched a redesigned page. Mexico said Tuesday they kicked some atop one ancient structure. The snafu came right after the US cast members of a popular local reality Yucatan officials denied they paid State Department cited the high num- show out of the Mayan ruins of Uxmal the cast members but acknowledged ber of COVID-19 cases in Mexico for after they behaved “immaturely” and the visit was part of a promotional issuing a “do not travel” advisory for refused to wear masks or follow social campaign and defended the invitation. the country in August, its highest level distancing rules. Michelle Fridman, the Yucatan of warning. It was the latest round of bad pro- state tourism secretary, wrote in a And earlier, the resort of Acapulco motional work in Mexico’s desperate Tweet that “the influencers were not was forced to pull “anything goes” attempt to revive its tourism industry, paid one single peso. It also wasn’t tourism ads that showed people par- which has been decimated by the coro- some half-baked idea but rather part tying without masks and the words navirus pandemic. of a strategy included in the plan for “there are no rules”. It seems the young, ripped cast recovery from COVID, and if we care- The ads touted the faded resort’s members of Mexico’s popular Aca- fully measure the impact, we estimate reputation as a nightclubbing spot — pulco Shore reality show and another we got 200 million hits for a sector despite the fact that nightclubs are contestant show – whom the state that urgently needs promotion.” currently closed to enforce social dis- government of Yucatan described as Fridman’s office did not respond to tancing. “influencers” – were invited to tour the requests for comment, but her stance “We have stopped being a postcard ruins soon after they were reopened in apparently boiled down to ‘any news is from the past, today we have changed a bid to encourage tourists to return. good news’ in a state where tourism is the rules,” says the narration in one of But the National Institute of An- vitally important. the pulled videos. thropology and History said the half- Tourist arrivals at airports in Mex- A view of part of the Uxmal Mayan ruins illuminated in colourful lights. Photo: EPA “In fact, there are no rules,” says dozen cast members “were asked to ico fell by 93.4 % at the worst point in another voice, as people can be seen leave, in compliance with health rules.” May, and even with projections show- tourism promotion. got machine-translated as “Noble” and eating bizarre meals and going out to Employees at the 1,000-year-old ing some recovery in the second half In August, due to disputes over “Warrior”. The Caribbean resort of nightclubs. “Eat whatever you want, complex of Mayan temples, palaces of 2020, are expected to end the year payments and control of the English- Tulum somehow became “Jumpsuit”. have fun day and night and into the and pyramid platforms said the cast 42.8% below 2019 levels. Tourism pro- language version of the country’s And the names of other tourist towns early morning hours ... find new acted “immaturely” and refused to fol- vides 11 million jobs, directly or indi- tourism website, its internet page ap- were also mangled. friends and new loves.” low posted rules requiring facemasks rectly in Mexico. peared with hilarious mistranslations. Mexico’s Tourism Department is- Authorities said the ads weren’t ap- and social distancing. Photos posted The Uxmal dispute was just the lat- On the VisitMexico.com site, states sued a statement apologising for the propriate during the coronavirus pan- on social media showed them clown- est chapter in a bad year for Mexican like Hidalgo and Guerrero apparently apparently out-sourced errors and demic. – AP 14 World www.mmtimes.com THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020

YEREVAN, ARMENIA Azerbaijan and Armenia brush off suggestion of peace talks

LEADERS of Azerbaijan and Armenia brushed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged off the suggestion of peace talks Tuesday, accus- An Armenian serviceman fires a Armenia to withdraw immediately from the sepa- ing each other of obstructing negotiations over cannon towards Azerbaijan positions ratist region, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, in the self-proclaimed Republic Cavusoglu said Turkey is “by Azerbaijan’s side on with dozens killed and injured in three days of of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, the field and at the (negotiating) table.” heavy fighting. Tuesday, September 29. Photo: AP Armenian officials said that Turkey, a NATO In the latest incident, Armenia said one of its member, is supplying Azerbaijan with fighters warplanes was shot down by a fighter jet from from Syria and weapons, including F-16 fighter Azerbaijan’s ally Turkey, killing the pilot, in what jets. Both Azerbaijan and Turkey deny it. would be a major escalation of the violence. Both Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan’s Defence Min- Turkey and Azerbaijan denied it. istry said Armenian forces shelled the Dashke- The international community is calling for san region in Azerbaijan. Armenian officials said talks to end the decades-old conflict between Azerbaijani forces opened fire on a military unit the two former Soviet republics in the Caucasus in the Armenian town of Vardenis, setting a bus Mountains region following a flareup of violence on fire and killing one civilian. this week. It centres on Nagorno-Karabakh, a re- Armenia’s Foreign Ministry denied shelling gion that lies within Azerbaijan but has been un- the region and said the reports were laying the der the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed groundwork for Azerbaijan “expanding the ge- by the Armenian government since 1994 at the ography of hostilities, including the aggression end of a separatist war. against the Republic of Armenia”. The UN Security Council called on Armenia German Chancellor Angela Merkel has and Azerbaijan Tuesday evening to immediately pushed for “an immediate cease-fire and a return halt the fighting and urgently resume talks with- to the negotiating table” in phone calls with the out preconditions. The UN’s most powerful body leaders of both countries, her office said. strongly condemned the use of force and backed She told them the OSCE offers an appropri- Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ earlier call ate forum for talks and that the two countries’ to stop the fighting, deescalate tensions, and re- ing to break the format of negotiations that has into their territory outside of the Nagorno-Kara- neighbours “should contribute to the peaceful sume talks “without delay.” existed for 20 years”. bakh area on Tuesday. solution”, said her spokesman, Steffen Seibert. Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev told Rus- Pashinyan, in turn, told the broadcaster that The separatist region of about 4,400 square US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said dur- sian state TV channel Rossia 1 that Baku is com- “it is very hard to talk about negotiations ... when kilometres, or about the size of the US state of ing a visit to Greece that “both sides must stop mitted to negotiating a resolution but that Arme- specific military operations are underway.” He Delaware, is 50 kilometres from the Armenian the violence” and work “to return to substantive nia is obstructing the process. said there is no military solution to the conflict border. Soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy negotiations as quickly as possible”. “The Armenian prime minister publicly de- and called for a compromise. some Azerbaijani territory outside the region. Russia, which along with France and the clares that Karabakh is (part of) Armenia, peri- But first, Azerbaijan must “immediately end Armenia also alleged that Turkey, which sup- United States co-chairs the Minsk group, urged od. In this case, what kind of negotiating process (its) aggression towards Nagorno-Karabakh and ports Azerbaijan, was involved. “Turkey, according every country to help facilitate a peaceful resolu- can we talk about?” Aliev said. He added that Armenia,” Pashinyan said. “We all perceive this to our information, looks for an excuse for a broad- tion of the conflict. according to principles brokered by the Minsk as an existential threat to our nation, we basi- er involvement in this conflict,” Pashinyan said. “We call on all countries, especially our part- group, which was set up in 1992 by the Organi- cally perceive it as a war that was declared to the The Armenian military said an SU-25 from its ners such as Turkey, to do everything to convince zation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Armenian people, and our people are now simply air force was shot down in Armenian airspace by the opposing parties to cease fire and return to resolve the conflict, “territories around the forced to use the right for self-defense.” a Turkish F-16 fighter jet that took off from Azer- to peacefully resolving the conflict by politico- former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region Since Sunday, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence baijan, and the pilot was killed. diplomatic means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry should be transferred to Azerbaijan”. Ministry reported 84 servicemen were killed. The allegation of downing the jet was “abso- Peskov said Tuesday. Aliev noted that if Armenian Prime Minister Aliyev said 11 civilians were killed on its side, lutely untrue”, said Fahrettin Altun, communica- Putin spoke to Pashinyan on Tuesday for the Nikol Pashinyan says “that Karabakh is Armenia although he didn’t detail the country’s military tions director for Turkey’s president. Azerbaijani second time in three days, urging de-escalation and that we should negotiate with the so-called casualties. officials called it “another fantasy of the Arme- and, like the other leaders, an immediate cease- puppet regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, (he is) try- Both countries accused each other of firing nian military propaganda machine”. fire. – AP

UNITED NATIONS LONDON UN council urges speedy halt

A file photo of to Nagorno-Karabakh fighting a grey parrot. Five similar birds in a THE UN Security Council called on of dialogue without preconditions.” self-determination.” London zoo Armenia and Azerbaijan Tuesday to In a press statement read by the Estonia’s UN ambassador Sven have been immediately halt fighting over the council president after closed consul- Jürgenson urged both sides in his separated separatist territory of Nagorno-Kara- tations, members expressed concern remarks, which were also released, after using bakh and urgently resume talks with- concern at reports of “large scale mil- to respond to secretary-general Gu- foul language. out preconditions. itary actions” and expressed regret at terres’ call on March 23, which he Photo: EPA-EFE The UN’s most powerful body the loss of life and toll on the civilian reiterated to world leaders last week, strongly condemned the use of force population. for a global cease-fire to tackle the and backed Secretary-General An- Five European council members COVID-19 pandemic. tonio Guterres’ earlier call to im- – France, Germany, Britain, Belgium “We would like to remind that mediately stop fighting, deescalate and Estonia – asked for the closed indirect participation in the conflict tensions and return to meaningful council meeting following the up- by an external parties is not accept- Grey parrots separated at zoo negotiations without delay. surge in fighting. UN political chief able and further escalates tensions in The two neighbours have been Rosemary DiCarlo briefed members the region,” an apparent reference to locked in conflict over Nagorno- on the current situation. Turkish forces’ support for Azerbai- after swearing a blue streak Karabakh, a region of Azerbaijan Germany’s deputy UN Ambas- jan. that has been under the control of sador Gunter Sautter called on At almost the same time the coun- A BRITISH zoo has had to separate five these five relish it.” ethnic Armenian forces backed by neighbouring states “to play a more cil was discussing Nagorno-Kara- foul-mouthed parrots who keepers say Nichols said no visitors had com- Armenia since a war there ended in constructive role in this regard and bakh, diplomats from Azerbaijan and were encouraging each other to swear. plained about the parrots, and most 1994. International efforts to settle avoid everything that could further Armenia were trading accusations Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade and Elsie found the situation funny. the conflict have stalled, and clashes raise tensions,” according to the text in the UN General Assembly about joined Lincolnshire Wildlife Centre’s “When a parrot tells tells you to have been frequent. of his remarks to the council which responsibility for the latest flare-up. colony of 200 gray parrots in August, ‘f-— off’ it amuses people very highly,” The council expressed full sup- were released. The diplomats were exercising their and soon revealed a penchant for blue he said Tuesday. “It’s brought a big port for “the central role” of the He said German Chancellor An- right of reply to the prerecorded language. smile to a really hard year.” Organization of Security and Coop- gela Merkel underlined to the lead- speeches by the leaders of both coun- “We are quite used to parrots Nichols said the parrots have been eration in Europe, which has been ers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in tries during the annual high-level swearing, but we’ve never had five at separated to save children’s ears. They trying to mediate peace talks, and phone calls that the conflict must be meeting of world leaders held almost the same time,” said the zoo’s chief ex- were moved to different areas of the urged the sides “to work closely resolved on the principles of “non- enitrely virtually this year because of ecutive, Steve Nichols. “Most parrots park so they don’t “set each other off,” with them for an urgent resumption use of force, territorial integrity and the COVID-19 pandemic. – AP clam up outside, but for some reason he said. OCTOBER 1, 2020 THE MYANMAR TIMES www.mmtimes.com Sport 15

TENNIS DQ forgotten, Djokovic leaves French Open foe ‘suffocated’

PARIS — Novak Djokovic’s backhand the few fans on hand under the roof at “Winning a 6-love first set is the clipped the net and landed wide, so he Court Philippe Chatrier. best possible way to start a Grand shook his head. That was it. But otherwise, what was there for Slam,” he said. “This is exactly what Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after missing a shot against Sweden’s Mikael Later, a too-soft drop shot found Djokovic to be disturbed about? my intentions will be – trying to get Ymer in the first round of the French Open at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, the white tape and bounced back on “I just felt very suffocated out off the blocks very strong, with a good Tuesday, September 29. Photo: AP his own side, finally ceding a game in there. It’s just corner, corner; very, intensity, obviously, because players in a dominant debut performance at the very rarely miss. His position is unreal the early rounds have nothing to lose.” “The way he’s playing,” observed trailed Jaume Munar before advanc- 2020 French Open. Djokovic simply in the court,” Ymer explained. Maybe that’s why 17-year-old Clara Australian Open champion Sofia ing 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, while Rublev bowed and walked to the sideline. “You know how the snake kills its Tauson of Denmark was able to earn Kenin, “he’s unbeatable.” knelt on court and covered his face And when he flubbed yet another prey?” Ymer said, pantomiming a boa her first tour-level win by knocking off She found herself in quite a tus- with his hands after turning things drop shot – he kept using them on the constrictor’s attack by bringing his US Open semifinalist and No. 21 seed sle but got through it, struggling a bit around to beat Sam Querrey 6-7 (5), slow red clay during a 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 win arms around and putting his hands Jennifer Brady 6-4, 3-6, 9-7. when a rain delay interrupting things 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. over 80th-ranked Mikael Ymer – and together. “That’s a little bit how I felt Or why No. 19 Alison Riske and No. after the first set, but emerging with Querrey led the third set 5-2 and got broken Tuesday, Djokovic pulled being out there.” 26 Donna Vekic also lost. a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory against 125th- served for the victory at 5-3 but let an extra tennis ball out of his pocket Ymer said he didn’t pay any atten- With Dominic Thiem, the US Open ranked Liudmila Samsonova. things get away from him. and merely gave it a gentle tap with tion to Djokovic’s mood or energy. champion and two-time French Open “Just relieved,” the fourth-seded “I went 0-4 in serving out sets. I his racket strings. And Djokovic, for his part, said that runner-up, watching from the stands Kenin said. would like to think that will never The ball landed right behind him, what happened in Flushing Meadows in a black winter coat, Djokovic broke Others feeling that way on Day 3 at happen to me again. It’s probably nev- safely in the middle of the court. was of no concern to him, either, as he Ymer nine times and ended up with a the year’s last Grand Slam tournament er happened,” Querrey said. “Someone Playing his first Grand Slam match began his pursuit of a second title at 32-12 edge in total winners. included No. 2 seed Karolina Pliskova, with my serve, I can’t let that happen.” since his US Open disqualification for Roland Garros and 18th Grand Slam And when Djokovic did have a who came back to beat 172nd-ranked Another American who played a smacking a ball after dropping a game trophy overall. rare misstep, dropping a service game qualifier Mayar Sherif 6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-4; five-setter, Marcos Giron, did pick up a and accidentally striking a line judge “I have not had any traces of New to make it 2-all in the second set, he and the two men who were finalists at win, edging Quentin Halys 7-5, 3-6, 6-7 in the throat, Djokovic never really York in my mind. I’m over it. Honestly responded in a constructive way: im- the Hamburg tuneup event that ended (5), 7-5, 8-6 to become the eighth US gave himself reason for histrionics or forgot about it. I’m not thinking about proving his play. Sunday, No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and man to reach the second round. shouts of dismay or displays of anger. it,” the No. 1 seed said after improving Eighteen minutes and four near- No. 13 Andrey Rublev. That’s the most in Paris since nine Sure, there was some eye-rolling and to 32-1 in 2020, the only blemish being perfect games later, the set belonged Both dropped the first two sets got that far in 1996. one sarcastic kiss directed at one of that fourth-round default this month. to him. before coming back to win. Tsitsipas Last year? One did. – AP

ATHLETICS London Marathon virus testing finds runner, coach positive

AN Ethiopian runner had to pull out Berlin Marathon in a time that was of the London Marathon after she and A photo issued by London Marathon only 2 seconds off Kipchoge’s world re- the coach of two other elite maratho- Events shows Kenya’s Edith Chelimo, cord set the year before, also in Berlin. ners tested positive for the coronavi- right, training on the grounds of the official Kosgei is back to defend her title. rus, the race director said Tuesday. hotel and biosecure bubble in London, The 26-year-old Kenyan holds the Degitu Azimeraw, who won the Monday September 28. Photo: AP world record of 2:14:04, set in winning 2019 Amsterdam Marathon, and coach the Chicago Marathon last October. Haji Adilo tested positive in Ethiopia. Kosgei will be challenged by Ken- “As a result (of the positive tests), yan teammates Ruth Chepngetich and they didn’t get on the plane,” London Vivian Cheruiyot. Manuela Schär and Marathon event director Hugh Brash- David Weir will feature in the wheel- er said in a conference call ahead of chair events. Sunday’s race. “We have, we believe, some athletes Adilo is the coach of Ethiopian run- in great shape, but they’ve all been ners Shura Kitata and Alemu Megertu, training in unique conditions, so it is both of whom will remain in the race probably the most difficult marathon because there was no “face-to-face to predict,” Brasher said. contact” with their coach in the past Another modification is prize two weeks, Brasher said. money. The men’s and women’s win- The London race has all the trap- ners each get US$30,000, down from pings of a 2020 sporting event: hotel US$55,000 last year, excluding a po- bubble for athletes, competition modi- tential bonus of US$125,000 for the fications and no spectators. Athletes men’s and women’s winner if they set a and their coaches are staying at a world record. The men’s and women’s hotel reserved only for them outside wheelchair category winners will take London. home US$20,000 each. Protocols required virus testing The race was expected to draw before athletes left for London and on 750,000 spectators. An estimated the day of their arrival. They’ll also be 45,000 registrants will also compete tested on Friday. in a “virtual marathon” and have a full Instead of snaking along the River 24 hours on Sunday to run or walk the Thames, the athletes will compete on a distance, all tracked by a marathon 42.2 kilometre closed-loop course con- app. sisting of 19.6 clockwise laps around Times will be eligible for qualifi- St James’ Park, ending on the Mall. It cation for the Tokyo Olympics, which should be a fast course for defending were postponed until 2021 because of champions Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Ko- lieve that there will be some incredible reduced to elites only. cord holder (2 hours, 1 minute, 39 sec- the pandemic. British running great sgei and their challengers, but poten- racing that will live long in people’s Even with prize money slashed onds) who last year became the first Mo Farah – a four-time Olympic cham- tial wet weather could dampen hopes memory, and it could be incredibly nearly in half, the event has drawn person to run a marathon distance in pion on the track – will be among the of world records. quick.” elite runners who have had few op- under 2 hours, in an unofficial exhibi- pacemakers. “Heavy rain is not ideal conditions Only one other World Marathon portunities to compete during the tion. The London Marathon is usually to do a world record in,” Brasher said Major – Tokyo – was held this year pandemic. Kipchoge’s top challenger is expect- held in April. Next year’s race has been of current forecasts. “You want light as Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New All eyes will be on the 35-year-old ed to be Kenenisa Bekele, a three-time rescheduled for October 3 in hopes winds, you want dry conditions. York all cancelled because of the pan- Kipchoge as he seeks his fifth London Olympic champion on the track. The of allowing all qualifying runners to “We, whatever the conditions, be- demic. Like Tokyo, London’s field was victory. The Kenyan is the world re- 38-year-old Ethiopian won the 2019 compete. – AP THE MYANMAR TIMES OCTOBER 1, 2020 DQ forgotten, Djokovic leaves French Open foe ‘suffocated’ SPORT 15 SPORT

FOOTBALL Newcomers and long- absent clubs freshen up Champions League

GENEVA — A growing group of new- Rennes Istanbul Basaksehir Fans of Ferencvaros celebrate after the team’s Champions’ League playoff comers and long-absent clubs is giving In the 66th season of a competition Turkey’s new champion might be the second leg match against Molde FK outside Groupama Arena, in Budapest, the Champions League a fresh look formerly known as the European Cup, most unfamiliar club in Thursday’s Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, September 29. Photo: AP this season. Rennes will play its first game at this draw. The 32-team lineup in today’s draw level. The team now known as Istanbul rounds, Ferencváros will be the low- Founded as recently in 2008, one includes at least three group-stage Rennes rode its luck. A best-ever Başakşehir was formed 30 years ago est-ranked team in the draw – No. 135 year before Leipzig, Krasnodar is in debutants and another club which had French league finish of third was out of a three-club merger, but took its in UEFA standings calculated by Eu- the Champions League playoff round not qualified since the 1990s. sealed on a points-per-game aver- current name only in 2014. That fol- ropean results over the five previous for the second straight year. Its In most years just one or two first- age when the season ended with 10 lowed a promotion back into the top seasons. 36-year-old coach Murad Musayev timers join the likes of Bayern Munich, rounds left because of the coronavirus league and being taken over by the Much credit goes to coach Serhiy even now has the full UEFA qualifi- Barcelona and Real Madrid competing pandemic. Turkish sports ministry. Rebrov, the former Dynamo Kyiv and cation. for international club soccer’s biggest That earned Rennes a place in Istanbul Başakşehir has struggled Tottenham forward who has won the Funded by retail billionaire Sergey prize. Champions League qualifying need- to find popularity and a strong iden- Hungarian league title in each of his Galitsky, Krasnodar would be better The list of fresh faces this time does ing to beat two opponents to reach the tity in a city with passionate, long-time first two seasons. known if its impressive 35,000-seat not even include clubs quickly break- groups. Rennes was lifted up directly rivalries between Galatasaray, Fener- Ferencváros is another club with stadium had been picked as a 2018 ing into Europe’s elite – Atalanta was a because the Europa League was won bahçe and Beşiktaş. The team strug- government support. It’s 22,000-seat World Cup venue. quarterfinalist in its debut last season, by Sevilla, which already qualified as gles to fill its 17,000-capacity stadium stadium was state-funded and the PAOK’s owner Ivan Savvidis got and Leipzig reached the semifinals in Spain’s fourth-place team. far from the city centre. club chairman, Gábor Kubatov, is a his share of headlines for entering the just its second entry. It’s a reward for the long-time On the field, Başakşehir has got lawmaker and campaign leader in the pitch with a holstered gun at a game The Champions League looks less Rennes owner, who might be the help from signing international veter- ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister in 2018. predictable and more open at a time richest businessman at a Champions ans with time spent in Europe’s big-fiv Viktor Orbán. PAOK twice played in the old Eu- when some storied clubs want to close League team this season. leagues: Martin Skrtel, Nacer Chadli ropean Cup era as Greek champion, the door on challengers from outside François Pinault is in the world’s 30 and Demba Ba are on the current ros- Krasnodar of PAOK Thessaloniki the last time in 1985. Its third title last the established order. richest billionaires ranked by Forbes ter. A Russian debutant or a Russian- year merely led to a third recent exit UEFA must soon re-open talks about magazine, far ahead of Chelsea’s Ro- owned Greek club absent from the against Ajax in Champions League reforming its club competitions – tak- man Abramovich outside the top 100. Ferencvaros competition since before the Euro- qualifying rounds. ing effect in the 2024-25 season – with a Another standout personality at Ferencváros returns to the Champions pean Cup became the Champions Another Champions League debu- stated goal to “keep the dream alive’’ for Rennes is midfielder Eduardo Cama- League group stage after a 25-year gap League in 1992. tant could join the group later Wednes- teams in all 55 member countries. vinga, the Angola-born France inter- as Hungary’s first qualifier since De- Krasnodar took a 2-1 lead from the day. Denmark’s champion Midtjylland This season’s Champions League national who will turn 18 during the brecen lost all six games in 2009. first leg in Russia to Thessaloniki for hosts Slavia Prague after a 0-0 draw in will put new dreamers on centre stage. group stage. After navigating four qualifying the return game on Wednesday. the first leg. – AP

FOOTBALL Mourinho gets better of Lampard as Spurs beat Chelsea in Cup

LONDON — Jose Mourinho had just completed social media photo. The last time Tottenham Mourinho copes with the demands of this being his third and final Tottenham substitution when contested a penalty shootout – losing in the FA his team’s third game in five days – with another Eric Dier sprinted off the field past him. Cup to Norwich in March before the coronavi- to come on Thursday. With Tottenham losing 1-0 to Chelsea on rus shutdown last season – Dier ended up charg- With nine changes from the side that was Tuesday, the manager chased after his midfielder ing into the stands to confront a fan and being held by Newcastle on Sunday, Tottenham was Tottenham players celebrate during the English into the dressing room. banned for four matches. completely overwhelmed by an expansively re- League Cup fourth round match against Chelsea “He wasn’t happy,” Dier said, “but there was Tuesday’s unexpected exit from the pitch had shaped Chelsea side. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, nothing I could do about it, nature was calling.” a better ending. It was one of Tottenham’s new signings at England, Tuesday, September 29. Photo: AP Tottenham was a goal down, a man down, “After playing on Sunday and tonight it wasn’t fault for the opener on his debut. Left back Ser- and without its manager. easy,” Dier said. gio Reguilón gave the ball and Werner had the the stands with the stadium largely empty. “I was just pushing him,” Mourinho said, “to The League Cup was the first trophy Mour- space to strike past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the Going out of the League Cup was the latest come back as soon as possible.” inho collected as Chelsea manager in 2004 be- 19th minute for his first goal since joining from setback for Lampard, whose side has only four Dier was soon back on the pitch to help Mour- fore sweeping back-to-back Premier League titles Leipzig for around US$60 million. points from its opening three Premier League inho see off his former side and reach the quar- in that first spell in charge. Now Frank Lampard, But Reguilón, who was signed from Real Ma- games. terfinals of the League Cup in his first full season who was so instrumental to Mourinho’s success drid, showed his attacking prowess down the “You sleep for one minute and don’t recover with Tottenham. at Chelsea, is leading the west London club. left flank in a second half. Tottenham was trans- and defend a zone where players score goals then First Erik Lamela had to equaliSe in the 83rd And the pair became involved in a brief heat- formed, showing the threat missing before the you are going to concede,” Lampard said. “Play- minute, cancelling out Timo Werner’s first-half ed exchange in the first half of a London derby break, with Harry Kane, Lucas Moura and Pierre- ers have to get better at that.” goal. Then, once the game went straight to pen- that lacked some of the unusual intensity with Emile Højbjerg having to be deployed. Tottenham, which hasn’t won a trophy since alties after 90 minutes, Tottenham scored all five fans locked out of the stadium due to the pan- Shortly after Dier’s toilet pit stop, Reguilón last picking up the League Cup in 2008, returns spotkicks before Mason Mount hit the edge of demic, made amends for his first-half mix-up. The Span- to action in its stadium on Thursday to play the post with Chelsea’s fifth. Lampard had asked why Mourinho spends iard chipped the ball over for Erik Lamela, who Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League qualifying Tottenham, which had a bye into the fourth more time speaking to the referee than his own got ahead of Emerson Palmieri to net the equal- playoffs and then plays at Manchester United on round due to coronavirus cases at Leyton Orient, players. iser in the 83rd minute past goalkeeper Edouard Sunday. advanced 5-4 in the shootout to put Mourinho “I think he was feeling the sense of the first Mendy. “The football authorities, with so many rules two wins from a first final with Tottenham. half and how it was,” Lampard said. Then, on his Chelsea debut, Mendy didn’t which are in place, should be forbidding a player Dier was named man of the match, and the It was a first half when Tottenham played get close to making a single save in a penalty to play two matches in 48 hours,” Mourinho said. award was proudly placed on the toilet for a without a recogniSable striker in the lineup as shootout lacking the usual pressure coming from – AP