TAKE MEDITATION FOR RAISING OXYGEN IN BODY ORGANS PAGE-8 (OPINION)

Vol. VIII, No. 113, 3rd Waxing of Wagaung 1383 ME www.gnlm.com.mm Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Five-Point Road Map of the State Administration Council

1. The Union Election Commission will be reconstituted and its mandated tasks, including the scrutiny of voter lists, shall be implemented in accordance with the law. 2. Effective measures will be taken with added momentum to prevent and manage the COVID-19 pandemic. 3. Actions will be taken to ensure the speedy recovery of businesses from the impact of COVID-19. 4. Emphasis will be placed on achieving enduring peace for the entire nation in line with the agreements set out in the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement. 5. Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair multiparty democratic elections will be held in line with the 2008 Constitution, and further work will be undertaken to hand over State duties to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards.

Necessary preparations should be undertaken for prevention, control and treatment measures without forgetting the lessons and experiences in outbreak of COVID-19: Senior General

State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister of Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses seventh meeting of prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19.

ARELESS behaviors and experiences in outbreak ordination meeting of the pre- saw high infection rate in the The globe saw more than should not be conduct- of COVID-19, said Chairman vention, control and treatment late June this year. However, 202 million confirmed patients Ced despite declining of of the State Administration of COVID-19 at Bayintnaung the infection of the disease can and more than 4.3 million dead infection rate at present. Nec- Council Prime Minister of the Villa in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday be controlled to some extent at persons till the night of 8 August essary preparations should be Provisional Government of afternoon. present thanks to holding the while Myanmar faced more undertaken for prevention, con- the Republic of the Union of In his address, the Senior meetings, daily supervision of than 320,000 confirmed patients trol and treatment measures Myanmar Senior General Min General said the third wave out- the central committee and co- and over 11,000 dead persons. without forgetting the lessons Aung Hlaing at the seventh co- break of COVID-19 in Myanmar operation of officials and people. SEE PAGE-3

INSIDE TODAY

NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL LOCAL BUSINESS Condemn Village-level poverty Govt tries to Water treatment 6,000 cattle infringement of alleviation model project meet bean plant project in Dala stranded in Muse ethics of a state under implementation in shipping target Tsp to supply 70% of since 2020-end Tatkon Township to India drinking water needs PAGE-2 PAGE-4 PAGE-5 PAGE-6 PAGE-7 10 AUGUST 2021 2 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Press Release Condemn infringement of ethics of a state

On 7 August 2021, Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations in New York released a statement in connection with the arrests of suspects who were planning to injure or kill U Kyaw Moe Tun, a dismissed civil servant of Myanmar. The said plot which was happened among the residents inside the United States of America should be taken actions in accordance with the law of the land. Myanmar has nothing to do with this incident. The former Permanent Representative of Myanmar, U Kyaw Moe Tun, was dismissed as a civil servant since the morning of 27 February 2021 in accordance with the Civil Services Law, rules and regulations due to incompliance with the instruction from the country; abuse of his assigned mandate and duty; and following the instructions of unlawful and terrorist organizations, the so-called Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and the so-called National Unity Government (NUG), and he is currently under warrant of arrest for committing high treason. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already informed the State Department of the United States of America for the extradition of U Kyaw Moe Tun to Myanmar on 12 July 2021. The demand for extradition of U Kyaw Moe Tun who is to be taken legal actions according to the laws of a sovereign state has not been carried out yet. The remarks by the Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations are the accusation on Myanmar. Such behavior violates the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which needs to be followed by a diplomat. Accordingly, Myanmar strongly objects and rejects it. Moreover, the support to U Kyaw Moe Tun who will be taken legal actions of Myanmar is far from the ethics among the United Nations member states. Myanmar also strongly condemns it. Furthermore, Myanmar insists to follow the basic principles of non-interference and mutual respect which are fundamentally stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw Dated 9 August 2021.

Medical supplies, anti-COVID-19 equipment imported as usual on public holidays

THE Ministry of Commerce is making strenuous efforts to im- port the anti-COVID-19 equip- ment including liquid oxygen, oxygen gas, household oxygen concentrators, and medicines via sea, air and border routes on public holidays. A total of 4,242 oxygen con- centrators arrived at the Yan- gon International Airport and 199 oxygen concentrators at international ports yesterday, while 59 tonnes of liquid oxygen on three bowsers, 20 tonnes of liquid oxygen cylinders, two tonnes of oxygen cylinder, 5,422 empty cylinders, one oxygen plant, 5,341 home oxy- gen concentrators, 24,360 PPE suits and 89 tonnes of masks Cargo trucks are carrying medical supplies and oxygen cylinders to be used in prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19. were imported at Muse, Lwe- jel, Chinshwehaw, Myawady, A total of 29 companies A total of 516 tonnes of ders, 65 tonnes of oxygen cylin- The Ministry of Commerce Tachilek and Kawthoung bor- used 57 vehicles in import of liquid oxygen on bowsers, 109 ders, 62,212 empty oxygen con- also released a statement on der trade checkpoints. these materials. tonnes of liquid oxygen cylin- tainers, seven oxygen plants, 8 August that as the border nine oxygen generators, 51,275 trade camps will offer services household oxygen concentra- for importation processes as tors, 141,642 test kits, 305,292 usual even during the public PPE suits, 40 tonnes of gloves holidays from 9 to 15 August, and 726 tonnes of masks have they will allow the imports of been imported so far in August. anti-COVID-19 equipment in In July, a total of 1,294 accordance with the SOP while tonnes of liquid oxygen, 114 the Department of Trade goes tonnes of oxygen cylinder, fully online for import and ex- 40,491 empty oxygen contain- port licence. ers, 69,146 household oxygen The Ministry of Commerce concentrators, eight oxygen has posted contact persons plants, 11 oxygen genera- and department announce- tors, four oxygen filling ma- ments on the Ministry’s web- chines for hospitals, 322,878 site, Commerce.gov.mm, to test kits, 1,104 tonnes of mask access direct contact with rel- and 182,975 PPE suits were evant authorities if assistance imported. is needed.—MNA 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NATIONAL 3 BGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGA Facing severe problems

THE globe has overcome various pandemics in the past. Although various pandemics such as plague and smallpox diseases can be controlled in the advance- ment of medical technologies at present, respiratory disease COVID-19 may cause infections whenever breathing. If public cooperation lacks, it is sure to difficultly control the disease. It can be seen that even developed and developing countries are yet to perform control, prevention and treatment of the disease on the upper hand. Even in the United States, hospitals cannot give adequate accommodation to patients, facing shortages of ventilators and air fresheners. So, the patients are receiving treatments at home. The problem of oxygen is a difficulty for the countries facing the outbreak of disease. Myanmar’s neigh- bouring countries India and Indonesia are facing severe problems.

(Excerpt from the speech to the occasion of six months on 1 August 2021 since the State Administration Council has taken the State’s responsibilities made by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on 2 August 2021) CHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHD Necessary preparations should be undertaken for prevention ...

FROM PAGE-1 basic household medicines and Efforts must be made for en- goods are allowed to be imported suring a half decline of infection without any restrictions. So, it is rate in August and further efforts necessary to sell these goods at to decrease the infection rate fair prices. Problems of oxygen in coming months. More than requirements could be solved There are famous traditional medicine practitioners 3,400 persons were infected on to supply oxygen to the people 1 August and over 3,200 persons thanks to cooperation of the in Kayin, Kachin and Shan states. Some of tradition- on 8 August, accounting for some government, the Tatmadaw, 30 per cent. The infection rate social organizations, well-wish- al medicine practitioners are unknown in the states. could be reduced in Yangon, ers and companies. As variant We need to invite them to discuss how to make the Mandalay and Bago regions in COVID-19 viruses emerge one a short period. In observing the after another, oxygen plants are traditional medicines with their suggestions. If we indicator and figure on infection, being established for supply as people from major cities abide part of preventive measures. make systematic production, it is sure that the COV- by the health restrictions but Careless behaviors should not those from some towns are still be conducted despite declin- ID-19 prevention and treatment medicines can be careless for the disease as usual. ing of infection rate at present. So, officials need to raise health Necessary preparations should manufactured at home. awareness about the disease for be undertaken for prevention, the people. control and treatment of the the health situation. Such move and tidy houses. The first point be poor. We must do it. As a fur- As of last week, the prices disease without forgetting the depends on knowledge and skills is important to create the good ther point, the Ministry of Health of basic foodstuffs and house- lessons and experiences based of the people as well as living environs not only by the govern- cooperates with the medical re- hold medicines have been rising. on lives of the people in outbreak standards and income. The peo- ment but by the people. The sec- search unit under the Directo- The Senior General stressed the of COVID-19. ple and the government need to ond point is to improve individual rate of Medical Services of the need to avoid extreme hiking of In his speech related to fur- have good economy and income. immunity as well as good health Ministry of Defence in conduct- prices over the goods. Officials ther undertakings for the dis- Only when the government has and fitness. It means we need to ing the research on traditional need to manage no rising of ease, the Senior General said: income, will it carry out the tasks encourage the sports sector for medicines against the COVID-19 prices for basic foodstuffs and “I’d like to stress five points over such as establishment of parks ensuring good immunity of the under the leadership of the Tradi- personal goods because some COVID-19. The first point is that and proper drainage facilities. people. For the third point, it is tional Medicine Department. We businesspersons commit stor- COVID-19 would not clearly dis- Such tasks such as good envi- necessary to ensure food suffi- need to expose the new therapy age of goods and manipulation appear. So, we need to create the rons can be carried out if the ciency. If the people gave food of traditional medicines through of prices with attempt to raising good environs. For example, we government has income. Individ- sufficiency, they will have health modern technologies. There are the goods prices. need to create the lifestyle and ually, the people need to create and fitness through exercises. famous traditional medicine Anti-COVID-19 equipment, social systems in conformity with the good environs for their neat The exercises will bring good practitioners in Kayin, Kachin immunity. We need to do so. As and Shan states. Some of tradi- Myanmar is based on agriculture tional medicine practitioners are The fifth point is to emphasize good income for and livestock breeding, we have unknown in the states. We need no reason to face deficiency of to invite them to discuss how to the people. Those who do not have income can do foods. If we have food sufficiency, make the traditional medicines it will contribute much to good with their suggestions. If we nothing. The people must always have income. In condition of public health. If we make systematic production, it the tenures of previous governments, efforts were have good environs and facilities is sure that the COVID-19 pre- for health and fitness, it will ben- vention and treatment medicines made to alleviate the poverty rate. It does not have efit the efforts for prevention of can be manufactured at home. the COVID-19. Meanwhile, we So, I’d like to point out the full the cent per cent success till today. COVID-19 brings need to fully supply prevention kinds of production of preven- and treatment medicines. In the tion and treatment medicines worse result to such projects. So, we need to create future, we must produce preven- including traditional medicines tive and treatment medicines in a long run. The fifth point is to the way for the people to have income through agri- at home without fail. If we al- emphasize good income for the culture and livestock breeding tasks. ways rely on import of medicines people. Those who do not have abroad for more than 50 million income can do nothing. of population, the country will SEE PAGE-4 10 AUGUST 2021 4 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Necessary preparations should be undertaken for prevention ...

FROM PAGE-3 related to COVID-19, supervi- the COVID-19.” The people must always have sions for sales of medicines and Afterwards, the Senior Gen- income. In the tenures of previ- medical equipment, production If the vaccines arrive at the tar- eral said that their organization ous governments, efforts were of pharmaceuticals from State- is the highest to make decisions made to alleviate the poverty own and private pharmaceutical get areas one day earlier than for immediately doing the tasks. rate. It does not have the cent factories, running of relief flights It is necessary to vaccinate the per cent success till today. COV- for citizens from other countries, the schedules, it will prevent people in regions and states ID-19 brings worse result to such and operation of inland water, the disease one day earlier than where there remain high rate projects. So, we need to create aviation and rail transporta- of vaccination. Relevant regions the way for the people to have tions. the planned. If the people have and states need to manage the income through agriculture and They also explained cooper- rapid vaccination and submit livestock breeding tasks. So, ation with traditional medicine received vaccine, they will have the report to the State Adminis- region and state governments practitioners for production of tration Council in time. Region need to lead the projects effec- prevention and treatment med- preventive facilities to some ex- and state authorities must take tively.” icines, appointment of health legal action against those who Next, the Vice-Chairman of staff for necessary areas, rais- tent. So, I’d like to point out rapid hike the prices of medicines and the State Administration Coun- ing health awareness of the distribution of vaccine and quick oxygen. cil Deputy Prime Minister of the people through TV channels, The Senior General noted State and meeting participants daily newspapers and media, use of it for the COVID-19. that NUG and PDF terrorists reported on further measures treatment measures at military committed disturbance against for prevention, control and treat- hospitals, and assignment of vaccination and health care ser- ment of the disease, needs of Tatmadaw members at treat- said: “Vaccines must be distrib- cooperative societies in quick vices in some regions and states. supervision over easing restric- ment centres. uted in a rapid manner. The al- distribution of garlic, cabbage So, it is necessary to systemat- tions due to declining of infec- In his supplementary ready-arrived vaccines should and vegetables with participa- ically control them for taking tion rate, medical examination speech, the Senior General be distributed quickly, especially tion of private businesspersons. security measures of the State. and control of infection over for- stressed the need to distribute to Mandalay and Yangon. More- I mean no products are kept in The Senior General stressed eign returnee citizens, arrivals the arrivals of vaccines and in- over, the vaccines must be quick- hand. It must be changed with the need to effectively control of vaccines imported from for- ject it into the people in time. ly sent to regions and states. If income. It is the first point. For the medicines which can harm eign countries and continuous Priority must be given to the the vaccines arrive at the target the second point, it is necessary the national cause of the State. process of vaccination. health staff in vaccination. Ef- areas one day earlier than the to use the products. If vaccines High prices of goods may They also presented reports forts must be made for relevant schedules, it can take preventive arrive in regions and states, it is be based on inequality of supply on distribution of vaccines to ministries and medical servic- measures one day earlier than necessary to inoculate it to the and demand. Hence, officials regions and states, aid from es corps to effectively produce the planned. It is related to the people quickly. If the vaccines of regions and states should international community in- the prevention and treatment medicine. Likewise, products arrive at the target areas one systematically supervise the cluding ASEAN for combating vaccines through traditional such as foodstuffs and personal day earlier than the schedules, it equality of supply and demand COVID-19, import of oxygen and medicines. Foreign returnee goods from respective regions will prevent the disease one day in products. Creation of jobs for production of it at home and con- citizens must be systematically must be distributed quickly earlier than the planned. If the the people to earn income is of trol of prices in sale of oxygen. conducted medical check-ups and efficiently. For example, people have received vaccine, great importance. Efforts for Further reports comprised and patients provided medical an event happened in Shan they will have preventive facil- food sufficiency and creation of training given to those who par- treatment. State last year. State govern- ities to some extent. So, I’d like job opportunities for the people ticipate in the treatment meas- In his conclusion speech on ment and respective military to point out rapid distribution of to earn income will contribute to ures, distribution of medicines vaccination, the Senior General commands cooperated with vaccine and quick use of it for other sectors.—MNA Village-level poverty alleviation model project under implementation in Tatkon Township UNION Minister for Coopera- The pilot project was being will be an ideal poverty reduction tives and Rural Development carried out with the financial project not only in Myanmar but U Hla Moe inspected the imple- assistance of China (from 2018- also in ASEAN region countries. mentation of village-level pov- 2021) to develop the socio-eco- The Union Minister then erty alleviation model project nomic status and living standard met the executive members developed in Chanayetha Model of the residents in Chanayetha of Seinpannwe Agriculture (2) Village in Tatkon Township yes- Model Village of Tatkon Town- general business cooperative so- terday. ship and Minpyin Village of Lawe ciety in Nweyit Village of Tatkon The project was jointly im- Township in Nay Pyi Taw Council Township and instructed officials plemented by the Department of Area. The project can bring a to make efforts to improve the Rural Development and IPRCC system to improve the ability agriculture and livestock sectors (International Poverty Reduc- for poverty reduction and village and fulfill the needs of society tion Centre) of China. social status growth. The system members.—MNA

CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Printed and published at the Global New Light of Write for us (+95) (01) 8604532, Myanmar Printing Factory at No.150, Nga Htat Kyee www.gnlm.com.mm Hotline - 09 454237515 Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon, by the Global We appreciate your feedback and contributions. If you have any ADVERTISING & MARKETING New Light of Myanmar Daily under Printing Permit www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com comments or would like to submit editorials, analyses or reports ( +95) (01) 8604530, No. 00510 and Publishing Permit No. 00629. please email [email protected] with your name and Hotline - 09 251022355 title. [email protected] [email protected] Due to limitation of space we are only able to publish “Letter [email protected] www.gnlm.com.mm to the Editor” that do not exceed 500 words. Should you submit www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com a text longer than 500 words please be aware that your letter will be edited. 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NATIONAL 5 Govt tries to meet bean shipping target to India

THE Ministry of Commerce on bean exports, systematic is constantly monitoring the plans for the exports of mung prices of products to prevent beans and pigeons unlike oth- shortages and price-gouging er bean exports under G to G in the market for the consum- agreement and plans to meet ers to buy the basic foodstuffs the fixed tonnes of beans yearly. at reasonable prices during He also highlighted the needs COVID-19 outbreak, said Union to increase the export volumes Minister Dr Pwint San during considering the country’s bean a virtual coordination meeting cultivation acres, production yesterday. rate and surplus rate, and the Then, he added that the plans to penetrate the foreign relevant departmental officials markets in addition to Indian and entrepreneurs should dis- market. cuss the matters to be provided Union Minister U Tin Htut or solved by the government in Oo for Agriculture, Livestock distributing the foodstuffs and and Irrigation discussed the preventing the high prices. 5-year solid market for Myan- Deputy Minister U Nyunt mar bean farmers through G to Aung, other departmental of- G agreement with India, plans ficials, Yangon, Mandalay and for farmers to follow GAP, distri- Nay Pyi Taw development Com- The meeting focuses on shipping of Myanmar’s bean to meet the export target to India. bution of proper seedlings and mittee members clarified their modern techniques, issuance of respective work plans. bean and pigeon pea to India India and Myanmar for the ex- production rate, market situ- Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) The Union Minister also under MoU at noon. During ports of mung beans and pigeon ation, good points and weak and other cooperation work presided over a coordination the meeting, the Union Minister peas was made on 18 June 2021. points of exporters, formation in exporting beans to India.— meeting on exporting mung said the bilateral MoU between He also discussed the local of joint oversight committee MNA Extremist insurgents attack COVID-19 checkpoint in Kawlin, vaccination Public request by forum in Namhkam Ministry of Health extremist terrorists (under scru- ONLY when the people cooperate will the work process tiny) attacked the checkpoint with achieve success in a short time for effective prevention, control 40mm grenade launcher from 150 yards west from that place. and treatment of COVID-19 among the people. As such, all During the attacks, four po- the people are requested to abide by the following points: - lice members and one municipal staff were injured and one of the 1. Stay at home as much as possible. police members died on the way 2. Don’t accept the guests at the house. You don’t visit to Kawlin township hospital. other houses. Similarly, two insurgents by 3. The older persons above 65 or those suffering from motorcycle threw a homemade chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and mine into Kyarphyu hall in Ward heart must be worn masks in the house. They must 5 of Namhkam in Shan State be placed at well-ventilated sites. (North) where the health per- 4. Wear masks if you go outside without fail. System- sonnel, social welfare organiza- tion members and officials made atically wash hands. Take a six-foot distance from preparations for vaccination on others. Avoid visits to the rooms where ventilation the same day. The mine blast did is not good. THE government is accelerat- disturb the COVID-19 vaccination not have any injury but damaged 5. Avoid the crowds. ing the COVID-19 prevention processes. about 5ft by 5ft concrete floor. 6. If possible, go shopping once a week. Don’t buy an- and control activities and con- Two remote mines planted The security forces investi- ything from the vendors who don’t systematically ducting COVID-19 vaccination by the extremist terrorists near gate the suspects who committed wear masks. programmes across the nation the inspection gate for COVID-19 the bomb attacks and the people 7. Take care of carrying the virus to the houses whenev- together with the health workers, at the entrance of Kawlin Town- are urged to inform the officials er return home from outside. Systematically discard officials and volunteers, and the ship of Sagaing Region exploded regarding with the activities of the used masks and single disposable equipment extremist terrorists intentionally yesterday morning. Then, four the unscrupulous persons. –MNA outside the houses. Avoid close contact with family members before changing clothes or washing the body. 8. As the vaccines for your quota is the best, accept 3,611 new cases of COVID-19 reported on 9 vaccinations for full time. Despite receiving the vac- August, total figure rises to 333,127 cination, you should abide by the protective ways. 9. Systematically cooperate in prevention, control and MYANMAR’S COVID-19 positive cases rose to 333,127 after 3,611 new cases were reported on treatment of the disease with manpower, money, 9 August 2021 according to the Ministry of Health. Among these confirmed cases, 249,633 have materials and expertise. been discharged from hospitals. Death toll reached 12,014 after 238 died. —MNA Ministry of Health (2-8-2021) 10 AUGUST 2021 6 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Water treatment plant project in Dala Tsp to supply 70% of drinking water needs

ACCORDING to the Dala Town- township. ship Water Supply Committee, In the past, drinking water 70 per cent of the construction for Dala Township was supplied work for 630 mm (24 inch) HDPE directly from the Yangonpauk Main Transmission pipelines Water Supply Station. A water long the Dala-Twantay Road has treatment plant will now be built been completed. to supply and purify Nano Filter Pre-construction works are water. also underway for an interna- An international standard tional standard water treatment water treatment plant project is plant that will supply 3.3 million being implemented to meet the gallons of drinking water per drinking water needs of many day and 66,000 gallons of drink- people in Dala Township, offi- ing water to meet the needs of cials said. many local people in Dala Town- The 630 mm (24 inch) ship, Yangon Region, officials HDPE Pipe Connection along said. Dala-Twantay Road will be Preliminary works such as 23,260 feet long. Under the con- widening 9,500 feet of dirt road struction, it is now 16,478 feet and paving concrete road are long, and thus only 6,782 feet of Heavy machinery are used in construction of water treatment plant in Dala Township to supply 3.3 million being carried out in the water gallons of drinking water per day to local people. work remains to be done. treatment plant project area The construction of the in Phayagyisu village, Twantay (41,569 ft) from the top of en- said officials from Yangon City lons of water daily to the Dala water pipeline is 70 per cent Township. trance road to Yangonpauk Wa- Development Committee. Township Water Supply Station complete and the project is Currently, the construction ter Supply Camp to the Service At present, the Yangonpauk through a 24-inch diameter pipe- expected to be completed by of a 630 mm (24 inch) HDPE Reservoir on Kanaung Road, Water Supply Station in Twantay lines, and supplies water to 4,625 2023, officials added.—Naing Lin Main Transmission Pipelines Dala Township is underway, Township supplies 1 million gal- households in 24 wards in the Kyaw (IPRD)/GNLM Over 36 % of population Myanmar’s maritime trade drops by 5.6 in Lashio vaccinated bln in 10 months against COVID-19

THE second dose of COV- Lashio. ID-19 vaccines are being ad- The employees from pri- ministrated in Lashio, Shan vate factories, companies, State (North) starting from hotels, motels and guests 6 August, it is learnt, Shan have been vaccinated in State (North) has received Shwe Kyei (Golden Star) its second 15,200 doses of hall in ward-7 while the staffs China’s Sinopharm vaccine. from markets, supermarkets These vaccines will be ad- and private transportation ministered to 30,400 people companies are provided the approximately. Lashio town- COVID-19 vaccine at No 3 ship received 1,800 doses of high school in ward-12. its ongoing Sinopharm vac- This is a second time that cine. This translates to vac- Lashio received the Sinop- cination for approximately harm vaccine made in China. 3,600 residents. As the injec- On 29 July, Lashio received Freight handling process is in progress at the port of Yangon. tion is completed this time, it its first 8,800 does of a COV- will cover 36.19 per cent of the ID-19 vaccine to inoculate MYANMAR’S maritime trade drop of $5.6 billion compared to sumer goods. population that needs to be 17,600 people. On 5 August, reached US$ 1.57 billion as of the same period of last FY. The external trade stood at vaccinated, according to the the township accepted anoth- 23 July in the current financial Both maritime trade and $36.73 billion in the 2019-2020 FY, office data of Lashio Town- er 1,800 does of vaccines to be year 2020-21 which started in Oc- border trade dropped amid $35.147 billion in the 2018-2019 ship Committee on Preven- delivered to 3,600 residents. tober, according to the Ministry the coronavirus impacts. The FY, $18.728 billion in the 2018 tion, Control and Treatment Around 1.75 million people of of Commerce. country currently has nine ports six-month mini budget period, of COVID-19. 54 million have so far been The country’s export involved in the sea trade. Yan- $33.578 billion in the 2017-2018 The elderly people at vaccinated in the country, through maritime routes hit gon Port is the main gateway to FY and $29.209 billion in the over 65, the government according to authorities. $ 6.58 billion while its import Myanmar’s maritime trade and 2016-2017 FY respectively, as staff, private health staff and After containing the reached $ 9.11 billion during the includes Yangon inner terminals per the Commerce Ministry’s the volunteers are given the number of COVID-19 cas- period from 1 October to 23 July and the outer Thilawa Port. statistics. second dose of COVID-19 at es at the beginning of the this year. Compared to the same Myanmar exports agricul- Meanwhile, the country’s Lashio township hospital pandemic, Myanmar is now period in the 2020-21 fiscal year, tural products, animal products, total foreign trade registered while the civil service person- struggling with third wave, imports fell by $3.96 billion, while minerals, forest products, and over $12.31 billion as of 23 July nel and its family members recording 329,516 cases and exports reported a decrease finished industrial goods, while this 2020-21 FY, of which its bor- and, bank staff are adminis- 11,776 deaths.—Aye Maung/ of $1.66 billion. Total external it imports capital goods, raw der trade registered over $5.7 tered at No 4 high school in GNLM trade value saw a significant industrial materials, and con- billion.—GNLM 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR LOCAL BUSINESS 7 6,000 cattle stranded in Muse since 2020-end

LEGITIMATE live cattle trad- Live cattle export was al- ing has grounded to a halt since lowed in late 2017, with a view 2020-end and about 6,000 herds to eradicating illegal exports, have stuck in Muse, said U Soe creating more opportunities Naing, chair of Mandalay Region for breeders, promoting their Cattle Exporters Association. interests and generating more “About 6,000-7,000 cattles revenues. are still stranded in Muse at Myanmar shipped US$360 the present time,” U Soe Naing million worth of animal products stressed. including cattle to the external Earlier, around 15,000 herds markets in the financial year were stuck in Muse and some 2018-2019. The value of animal traders returned their cattle to product exports dropped by $100 their home towns owing to the million in the 2019-2020 FY as burden of labour wages and cost against a-year ago period, follow- of feedstuff. Nonetheless, some ing the impacts of the COVID-19. traders embarked on the illegal According to the 2018 pi- sales. At present, about 6,000 lot project of livestock census, herds remained stuck in Muse. there were 1.8 million buffalo and It costs about 400,000-600,000 per 9.7 million cattle, totalling 11.5 Herds of cattle are kept in ranches in waiting for the turn of exportation. 100 herds for feedstuff, labour million, Ministry of Agriculture, wages and general cost, the as- istration certificates. Yet, those were daily exported to China Thailand, Malaysia and Bang- Livestock and Irrigation stated. sociation stated. import criteria do not matter on via Muse land border. China has ladesh. Of them, 1.1 million cattle For legitimate trade, China the black market. banned legal cattle trade at the The Ministry of Commerce are old enough to be placed in permits live cattle import only At present, the legitimate present time. grants a permit to each company market every year. Myanmar after ensuring the cattle is free border trade between China and Myanmar’s live cattle ex- for 100 cattle export and the per- can yearly export over 600,000 from 20 diseases including Foot Myanmar has suspended in light port is heavily relying on Chi- mit is valid for three months. The herds of cattle beyond domestic and Mouth Disease, along with of the COVID-19 threats. na market due to a good price companies can be taken legal consumption of 400,000 herds, vaccination certificates, health Prior to the COVID-19 out- although Myanmar has other action if they do not sell the cattle according to the ministry.—NN/ certificates, and farming reg- break, about 1,500-2,000 herds external markets such as Laos, during three-month period. GNLM Muse border trade falls by Black gram price soars to 12% as of 23 July K1.52 mln per tonne THE prices of black gram (urad) remain on the upward trend MUSE border trade climbed and hit a record high of K1,521,000 per tonne for Special Quality down 12 per cent nearly ten (SQ), as per Bayintnaung’s brokerage data. months in the current financial The black gram price rose by K30,000 per tonne in two weeks. year 2020-2021 against the last It fetched only K1,260,000 per tonne for fair and average quality year’s, the Ministry of Com- (FAQ) in late July 2021. On 9 August, the black gram was priced merce’s data showed. K1,291,000 per tonne for FAQ/RC and K1,521,000 for SQ/RC. As the COVID-19 infections The price is expected to stay in bull market following de- are spiking in Myanmar, trade crease in sown acreage of India and closure of some warehouse through Myanmar’s major bor- and wholesale centres amid the COVID-19 crisis, exporters said. der area Muse has completely Following the policy change of India’s pulses import, the stopped, along with other bor- prices of black gram will remain strong in the domestic market, der posts between Myanmar and according to the traders from Mandalay commodity depot. China from 8 July. The domestic bean market is positively related to the law A distance view shows Muse 105th mile trade zone. The value of trade between of supply and demand. The price depends on the buyers and Myanmar and China via Muse areas, were suspended owing China banned border crossing, sellers, the traders pointed out. land border touched a low of to the COVID-19 cases. The causing the price hike for the As Myanmar is facing the rapid spread of COVID-19, ag- US$3.54 billion between 1 Oc- traders have to send the goods, agricultural input, cement and ricultural exports to China through border posts also came to tober and 23 July in the current including rice and broken rice, medical devices. abrupt stop, resulting in the price slip in green gram, sesame financial year 2020-2021 amid the various pulses and beans, ma- Earlier, China practiced and peanut. political instability and the COV- rine products, onion, chilli and driver substitution programme Nonetheless, the prices of black bean and pigeon remain ID-19 surge. The figures plum- other export items to China via and those drivers were tested high on the back of strong demand by India. meted from $4.03 billion recorded Kyinsankyawt checkpoint ow- every three days. Myanmar shipped over 509,014 tonnes of black gram to for- in the year-ago period, according ing to the closure of the Man Myanmar exports agricul- eign countries as of 23 July, generating an income of US$390.538 to the Ministry of Commerce. Wein checkpoint. tural products including rice, million, according to the Ministry of Commerce. As of 23 July 2021, Myan- Following up the COV- beans and corns, and marine Myanmar’s agriculture sector is the backbone of country’s mar’s exports to China through ID-19 detection of the staff from products such as crab, prawn, economy and it contributes to over 30 per cent of Gross Domes- Muse land border were valued Muse-105th mile trade zone, Chi- etc. Furthermore, Myanmar’s tic Products. The country primarily cultivates paddy, maize, at $2.42 billion, while imports na closed down all the border natural gas export to China cotton, sugarcane, various pulses and beans. Its second largest are worth $1.12 billion. The trade posts. Wamting, Kyinsankyawt is also conducted through production is the pulses and beans, counting for 33 per cent showed a slump in both export and Pangsan (Kyukok) border Muse-Ruili border. The raw of agricultural products and covering 20 per cent of growing and import. posts came to an abrupt halt CMP materials, electrical ap- acres. Among them, black gram, pigeon pea and green gram On 30 March, Man Wein, on 8 July. pliance and consumer goods constitute 72 per cent of bean acreage. Other beans including which is a major border crossing In a bid to contain the are imported into the country.— peanut, chickpea, soybean, black eyed bean, butter bean and between Muse and Kyalgaung spread of coronavirus in border, KK/GNLM rice bean are also grown in the country.—Mon Mon/GNLM 10 AUGUST 2021 10 AUGUST 2021 8 OPINION THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR ARTICLE/ NATIONAL 9 Take meditation ` The Sooner We Call Tenders, the Quicker We Can Drill Myanmar Daily Weather Report (Issued at 7:00 pm Monday 9 August 2021) for raising BAY INFERENCE: Monsoon is weak to moderate over the to Find Discovery and Benefit National Economy Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

By Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing (SMART) oxygen in body FORECAST VALID UNTIL AFTERNOON OF THE 10 August 2021: Rain or thundershowers will be scattered in Nay yanmar’s offshore nat- onshore blocks and four offshore deep waters of our country. The Pyi Taw, Lower Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway Regions, fairly ural gases are interna- blocks signed Production Sharing sooner we call the tenders, the widespread in Bago, Yangon, Ayeyawady Regions and Rakhine, organs tionally transported to Contracts with foreign companies quicker we can sign contracts and M Kayah States and widespread in the remaining Regions and neighbouring countries like Thai- in 2014. In 2015, three Improve Oil start drilling to bring more gas to OST of the people suffering from impacts of COVID-19 land and China, as well as locally Recovery contracts were signed the country. It should be noted that States with likelihood of isolated heavyfalls in Upper Sagaing, in the third wave said they experienced the decrease used to generate electricity for for three old oil fields and sixteen exploration takes nine to ten years Taninthayi Regions and Kachin, Kayin, Mon States. Degree of Mof oxygen in body organs, and so they took oxygen Myanmar and domestic industrial offshore blocks were signed Pro- from the date of discovery of a gas certainty is (100%). supply by hiring the oxygen cylinders form some philanthropic uses. TOTAL Oil Company produc- duction Sharing Contract with to commercial production. Even if centres. es about 800 million cubic feet of foreign companies. the tender is called today and the STATE OF THE SEA: Seas will be slight to moderate in The declining of oxygen in body organs is various danger- natural gas daily from YADANA After striving for EITI mem- contract is to be signed the next Myanmar waters. Wave height will be about (4 - 7) feet off and ous, harmful to the lives of patients. So, family members of the Gas Field. About 600 million are bership and calling for tenders for year, the discovered gas still would along Myanmar Coasts. patients search oxygen cylinders here and there for saving exported to Thailand and 200 mil- blocks, foreign investment reached not be available for commercial their patients in time. But lion are transported to Yangon via USD 9.1 billion in 2016. According until 2031. OUTLOOK FOR SUBSEQUENT TWO DAYS: Weak monsoon. they faced most of the cyl- 24-inch pipelines for power gener- to the World Bank report released Actually, the inders have been hired to ation. POSCO Daewoo Oil Com- on 25th January 2017, this was the How long the gas demand will FORECAST FOR NAY PYI TAW AND NEIGHBOURING meditation is an other patients before them. pany produces about 500 million highest amount of foreign invest- high? Hence, all the people need cubic feet of natural gas from the ment in 10 years (2010-2020). Dur- The idea that oil and gas re- AREA FOR 10 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. exercise of living to culture sympathy over SHWE Gas Field. 400 million cubic ing the government’s tenure from serves should be left behind for Degree of certainty is (100%). all. feet are exported to China and 2015 to 2020, there were no tenders future generations is a miscon- beings, not very In this regard, some of about 100 million cubic feet are for onshore and offshore blocks. ception. We must develop our cit- FORECAST FOR YANGON AND NEIGHBOURING AREA the patients queued at the used for the needs in Myanmar. Imagine how much opportunities izens to benefit maximum growth FOR 10 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. Degree related to the charity centres for hiring PTTEP Oil Company receives we missed in five years? Today, from export gas income. Once we of certainty is (100%). religious orders. the oxygen cylinders. But, 380 million cubic feet of natural gas world oil prices are hovering above manage to build the capacity of some people took the cyl- from the ZAWTIKA Gas Field. Ap- USD 70 for a barrel although they the nation, we can obtain an ed- FORECAST FOR MANDALAY AND NEIGHBOURING inders for their families in proximately, 300 million cubic feet due to low production (15 million Production Sharing Contracts generates significant incomes for used to be only over USD 50 per bbl ucated society. This is the way to Hence, all the AREA FOR 10 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. advance without ailing of are exported to Thailand and the cubic feet of natural gas per day). In the end of 2012, President the country and empowering com- before Covid-19. Despite the third achieve sustainable development Degree of certainty is (100%). people facing or their family members. It remaining 80 million cubic feet are According to EITI (Extractive U Thein Sein (2010-2015) affirmed panies to build oil and gas blocks wave of Covid-19, experts predict for the country. According to the is because they wish read- operated on needs in Myanmar. In Industries Transparency Initia- that they would implement Ex- greatly enhances the country’s that oil prices will rise further by published report of the Mckinsey not facing the iness to use the oxygen year 2000, PETRONAS CARIGALI tive), natural gas exports account tractive Industries requirements foreign investment. In 2011 to the end of the pandemic. Taking in February 2021, natural gas de- cylinders when they need Co., Ltd started the YETAGUN for 30% of Myanmar’s total earn- and prepare to be a signatory to 2012, under President U Thein advantage of the Covid-19 situa- mand is expected to peak in 2037 COVID-19 may oxygen. As such, those Oil Company to produce oil and ings from abroad. It accounts for EITI. As promised, the govern- Sein’s leadership, onshore blocks tion, Malaysia’s Petronas called and after then gradually decline. who actually need oxygen natural gas. Previously, YETA- 4.8% of GDP and provides 5.2% ment worked to meet the require- were tendered and eight onshore for tenders for thirteen offshore Other renewable energy take meditation for cannot search the oxy- GUN Oil and Condensate Field of government revenue. EITI im- ments of the EITI and became a blocks were signed Production blocks in early 2021. Petronas has sources are now becoming more concentration of gen cylinders elsewhere. has been producing more than plements the global standard to member in 2014. As a new EITI Sharing Contract with eight for- announced that they will sign con- affordable. If this prediction is true, In fact, the incorrect way 400 million cubic feet of natural promote the open and accountable member, Myanmar oil and gas ex- eign companies. In 2013, tenders tracts before the end of the year. our country which has a lot of gas their minds as well of breathing oxygen may gas and more than 10,000 barrels management of oil, gas and min- ploration and production present- were called again for onshore and There are still many unex- reserves will have to make imme- cause danger to the pa- of condensate per day. The block eral resources. ed a high degree of transparency. offshore blocks including shallow plored and undiscovered gas de- diate plans before 2037 to commer- as for improvement tients. has been temporarily shut down The sale of natural gas abroad and deep-water blocks. Eleven posits in the offshore shallow and cialize gas from gas reserves. Whatever it may be, of health conditions an advice would be given to overcome the to the people wishing to use oxygen for their health. India’s strategy to combat Covid crisis gave priority to challenges of To regain the satisfactory level of oxygen in the body, COVID-19. they need to take medita- poor, says PM Modi tion. The way of meditation is a kind of breathing. Any- ndia gave first priority to the “Not just wheat, rice or to the spots and carrying out one including confirmed patients of COVID-19 may take such poor in its strategy to com- pulses but over 8 crore poor rescue and relief operations. exercise by breathing in and breathing out. Ibat the COVID-19 crisis, said families were even provided Be it NDRF, Central forces, or Especially, the COVID-19 patients need to concentrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi free gas cylinders during the Air Force, all facilities are being their mind on breathing in and breathing out in a slow manner. on Saturday. lockdown. Over 20 crore wom- provided to the State govern- Firstly, the process may be difficult for those patients but it will While interacting with ben- en received around Rs 30,000 ment for help in this situation,” be gradually comfortable. While breathing, the patients should eficiaries of Pradhan Mantri crores directly in their Jan Dhan he noted. not be downhearted for their health conditions. They should Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana bank accounts,” the Prime Min- He said that at a time when remove worries from their minds. They may take meditation in in Madhya Pradesh, through ister stated. there is a worldwide crisis on appropriate position of cross-legged sitting or supine position. video conferencing, the Prime Terming heavy rain and livelihood, it is constantly being Daily newspapers When the patients breathe easily, it is sure that their oxygen Minister said: “Be it Pradhan floods in several districts of ensured that there is a mini- levels in the body would have risen. Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana Madhya Pradesh as “unfortu- mum loss in India. available online Any persons from various religions may take meditation or Pradhan Mantri Garib Kaly- nate”, PM Modi said, “Lives “For this, many steps have for regaining the satisfactory levels of oxygen. Actually, the an Rozgar Yojana, we thought and livelihood of several peo- been taken in the last year and FOR those who would like to read the Myanma Alinn, the meditation is an exercise of living beings, not very related to about the food and employment ple affected. The Government are being taken continuously. Kyemon and the Global New Light of Myanmar, published daily the religious orders. Hence, all the people facing or not facing of the poor from the first day of India and the entire nation Lakhs of crores of rupees have by the Ministry of Information, please visit www.moi.gov.mm/ the COVID-19 may take meditation for concentration of their itself.” He noted that over 80 stands with Madhya Pradesh been provided to small, small, mal, www.moi.gov.mm/km, www.moi.gov.mm/nlm and www. minds as well as for improvement of health conditions to crore citizens have been pro- in these times of crisis.” “Chief micro industries to continue gnlm.com.mm/e-paper. Nurses from the Rajawadi Hospital make the victory sign gesture as they pose in front of a television broadcasting News and Periodicals Enterprise overcome the challenges of COVID-19. vided free ration after the COV- Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan their work,” PM Modi said. a live address by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the start of the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccination ID-19 started in the country. and his entire team are going Source : ANI drive in Mumbai on 16 January 2021. PHOTO: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 10 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Iran’s daily Covid caseload exceeds 40,000 in new high

IRAN’S daily Covid caseload health crisis, but the innoculation crossed the 40,000 mark on campaign launched in February Monday, its health ministry said, has progressed slower than au- marking a new record in infec- thorities had planned. tions and deaths for the second Choked by US sanctions that day running. have made it difficult to trans- In the past 24 hours, 40,808 fer money abroad, Iran says it is people tested positive for the struggling to import vaccines for coronavirus and 588 died, it said. its 83-million-strong population. The latest figures bring More than 13 million people the total number of infections have been given a first vaccine to 4,199,537 since the pandemic does, but only 3.7 million have started and the number of deaths received the necessary two jabs, to 94,603. the health ministry said Monday. Iranian health officials have More than half of Iran’s 448 acknowledged that the Islamic counties including Tehran are republic’s Covid figures under- currently listed as “red” -- the estimate the real toll. highest risk level on the coun- Iran remains the Middle try’s colour-coded scale, ac- East country worst hit by the cording to the ministry. In red pandemic. Iranians wear face masks as a measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in a street in the capital Tehran, on 7 zones, all commercial activity Covid infections have been July, 2021. PHOTO: ATTA KENARE / AFP must shut down except for those surging since June, in what of- considered essential, such as ficials have warned is a “fifth the highest numbers of deaths, He also told ISNA news wave,” Tavakoli said, adding that grocery stores and pharmacies. wave” caused by the highly in- infections and hospitalisation, ac- agency “we will see deaths in- Tehran’s hospitals and emergen- But malls and small retail shops fectious Delta variant. cording to Nader Tavakoli, deputy crease in the coming days”. cy wards are overburdened. in northern and central Tehran Tehran, with a population head of the capital’s virus task “We have no idea when we Iran has pinned its hopes were still operating, according to of over eight million, is facing force. would reach the peak of this fifth on vaccinations to help with the AFP journalists. — AFP

NEWS Russian tourists fly in to Egypt’s Red IN BRIEF Sea resorts after 6-year ban Samsung heir Lee granted parole, set to be released on Fri A Russian tourist flight from Moscow landed in an Egyp- THE Justice Ministry said Monday it will release Samsung heir Lee Jae tian Red Sea resort Monday Yong on parole on Friday, just ahead of the country’s August 15 Libera- for the first time since the Oc- tion Day. tober 2015 jihadist bombing Justice Minister Park Beom Kye said economic concerns are rising of a Russian airliner, a civil amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and that was the main factor aviation official said. in the ministry’s decision to grant parole to Lee, who had met the re- Moscow barred direct quirements for parole eligibility by completing 60 per cent of his prison flights to Egypt after the sentence, and business groups are hoping will get back to managing the bombing of the passenger nation’s major conglomerate. plane shortly after it took The vice chairman to South Korean tech giant Samsung Electron- off from the popular Red Sea ics Co. has been jailed since he was sentenced to two and a half years in resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, prison by the Seoul High Court in January in a retrial of a bribery case killing all 224 people on involving ousted former President Park Geun Hye.— Kyodo News board. Monday’s EgyptAir Visitors from Russia arrive in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Hurgada on 9 flight from the Russian cap- EU countries boost fire-fighting help to Greece August 2021 on the first Russian tourist flight since the October 2015 ital brought 300 tourists to bombing of a Russian airliner, according to the Egyptian civil aviation Hurghada, and a second authority. Moscow barred direct flights to Egypt after the bombing of the EU countries are stepping up their help to Greece to fight forest fires flight is due on Tuesday to passenger plane shortly after it took off from the popular Red Sea resort devastating its mainland and some islands, the European Commission bring Russia holidaymak- of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people on board. Egypt reopened said on Monday as it coordinated the assistance. ers to the popular resort of to foreign tourists in July last year after having closed its borders in March to stem the flow of coronavirus infections. PHOTO: EGYPTIAN There are now nine planes, 1,000 firefighters and 200 vehicles Sharm el-Sheikh. MINISTRY OF TOURISM / AFP deployed by European Union states, a statement said. EgyptAir CEO Amr France, Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia added resources Abulenein told AFP the na- The attack six years ago before the pandemic struck, and were sending extra fire fighting units, adding to ones already in tional carrier would be oper- claimed by the jihadist Islam- tourism made up about 12 per Greece from France and other EU nations. ating a total of seven flights ic State group dealt a blow to cent of Egypt’s GDP. In addition, EU help has gone to battle fires that are also burning a week between Moscow Egypt’s key tourist industry, After a long period of po- in Italy as well as in neighbouring non-EU countries North Macedonia, and Hurghada and Sharm and the sector has been fur- litical instability that dented Albania and Turkey, the commission said. el-Sheikh. ther battered by the Covid-19 earnings, revenues from the “We are mobilising one of Europe’s biggest ever common firefight- A Russian delegation in- pandemic. sector recovered to $13 billion ing operations as multiple fires affect several countries simultaneous- spected both airports and Egypt reopened to foreign that year. ly,” the EU commission for crisis management, Janez Lenarcic, said. resort hotels at the end of tourists in July last year af- But in 2020, a year when “I am very thankful to all the countries who have offered help last month to check on secu- ter having closed its borders Egypt had initially eyed a fur- for their tangible solidarity. Our thoughts are with all those affected rity and health procedures, in March to stem the flow of ther rebound to $16 billion, and with the first responders who are risking their lives to battle the according to Russia’s Tass coronavirus infections. takings collapsed to $4 billion. fires.”— AFP news agency. In 2019, the last full year — AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR WORLD 11

NEWS IN BRIEF Typhoon Lupit weakens to extratropical cyclone over western Japan

TYPHOON Lupit weakened to an extratropical cyclone Monday morning as it traversed western Japan following its landfall earlier in the day, the weather agency said, warning of downpours and stormy winds across wide areas. It is forecast to reach the Sea of Japan, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to western, eastern and northern Japan areas through Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The ninth typhoon of the year hit the southwestern Kyushu region Sunday before making landfall near Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture shortly past 5 am Monday. A 46-year-old man in Masuda, Shimane Prefecture went missing after he fell into the swollen Takatsu River while trying to bring a capsized boat closer Local residents fight the wildfire in the village of Gouves on Evia (Euboea) island, second largest Greek island, to the bank at around 6:50 am Monday, according to local police. on 8 August 2021. PHOTO: ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP The weather agency’s highest-level rain alert was issued at one point Monday morning for the town of Kitahiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture, but there were no reports of injuries Firefighters try to stop Greek island or houses being flooded there as of 8:30 am, according to local firefighters.— Kyodo News blaze from reaching forest

FIREFIGHTERS tried Monday also toiled until dawn to quench tinued to suffer from an intense Twelve soldiers killed in attack in northwest to prevent fires from reaching flames at Monokarya in order heatwave that Greek Prime Min- Burkina Faso key communities and a thick for- to protect the town of Istiaia, all ister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said est that could fuel an inferno that without the help of water-dous- should show even doubters the TWELVE Burkina Faso soldiers were killed and eight wounded in one official said has destroyed ing aircraft, ANA reported. hard reality of climate change. an ambush by suspected jihadists near the West African country’s hundreds of homes in seven days Thick and suffocating smoke On Sunday Civil protection border with Mali, the government said Monday. on the Greek island of Evia. on Monday also enveloped the deputy minister Nikos Hardali- Communications Minister Ousseni Tamboura “strongly If most of nearly two weeks coastal region of Pefki, where as warned of “another difficult condemned the barbaric attack” on Sunday near the village of of fires had stabilised or reced- hundreds of villagers had been night” ahead, saying that strong Dounkoun in Toeni commune in Sourou province, the latest in a ed in other parts of Greece, the evacuated by sea, while others winds were pushing a fire front series both near the borders with Mali and Niger. ones on rugged and forested regrouped, an AFP reporting towards beach villages on Evia, “Members of the ground forces and the rapid intervention Evia were the most worrying team said. northeast of Athens. force GARSI were ambushed” in the northwest Boucle du Mou- and created apocalyptic scenes. - Climate change reality - Among 650 firefighters de- houn region, Tamboura said in a statement. “The provisional toll Firefighters were putting Greece and neighbouring ployed on the island, Greece’s indicates 12 soldiers fallen and eight wounded.” the priority on saving the villages Turkey have been battling the second biggest after Crete, were The statement added seven soldiers went missing after the of Kamatriades and Galatsades devastating fires for nearly two 250 from Serbia and Romania, ambush but were found at dawn on Monday, including one who on Monday because “if the fire weeks as the region suffers its supported by 11 planes and heli- had been wounded in the thigh, though he was in stable condi- passes through there, it will end worst heatwave in decades. Two copters dousing flames with wa- tion. up in a thick forest that will be people have been confirmed ter during the day, according to “Clean up operations are under way and the wounded have difficult to extinguish,” firefight- dead in Greece and eight in the Greek firefighting services. been evacuated,” said the minister, who is also government ers told the Greek news agency Turkey, while dozens have been But the air support faced spokesman. ANA. hospitalised. “serious difficulties” because President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said in a tweet that After the fire laid siege to While rain brought some of turbulence, thick smoke and “we continue to wage without concession the war the obscuran- one village after another on the respite from the blazes in Turkey limited visibility, Hardalias tist and barbaric forces have imposed on our country.” — AFP north of the island, firefighters over the weekend, Greece con- said. — AFP

Coronavirus: Latest global developments

HERE are the latest devel- Tokyo after the Games ter Jacinda Ardern pours cold opments in the coronavirus The Japanese capital water on Australian hopes that crisis: wakes to a huge bill and soar- their National Rugby League ing virus cases after pulling off grand final could be played in France Covid pass a mid-pandemic Olympics that front of a crowd in Auckland. People in France must now at times looked impossible and show a health pass to order a faced hostility at home. Over 4.2 million dead coffee in a cafe or travel on in- The coronavirus pandem- tercity trains as President Em- German exports soar ic has killed at least 4,294,735 manuel Macron’s controversial For the first time since the people worldwide since the vi- plan to squeeze infections and virus wreaked havoc on trade, rus first emerged in late 2019, encourage vaccination comes official data shows German according to an AFP compila- into full effect. exports soared past pre-pan- tion of official data. demic levels in June as indus- The US is the worst-affect- Mass cremations try shrugged off supply chain ed country with 616,829 deaths, Sri Lanka begins mass shortages. followed by Brazil with 563,151, New Zealand’s team lineup for the national anthems at the first rugby cremations to clear a backlog India with 428,309, Mexico Test between the New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland of dead bodies from Covid-19 as Rugby blow with 244,420 and Peru with on 7 August 2021. `PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP cases surge across the island. New Zealand Prime Minis- 196,950.— AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 12 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR France implements Macron’s Climate report must be ‘death knell’ Covid pass despite protests for fossil fuels: UN chief PEOPLE in France will from businesses to get used to the Monday need to show a health new rules. A bombshell climate science re- temperature is projected to hit new coal plants could be built pass to enjoy usually routine “The pass and the vaccina- port “must sound a death knell” 1.5 or 1.6 degrees Celsius above and that all energy derived from activities such as sipping a cof- tion drive should help us avoid for coal, oil and gas, United Na- preindustrial levels at around burning coal must come from re- fee in a cafe or travelling on an new curfews and lockdowns,” tions Secretary-General Antonio 2030, no matter what trajectory newable sources by 2040. intercity train, in a plan cham- Health Minister Olivier Veran Guterres said Monday, warning greenhouse gas emissions take Atmospheric levels of plan- pioned by President Emmanuel told Le Parisien daily. that fossil fuels were destroying in the meantime. et-warming CO2 are currently at Macron to squeeze Covid-19 Veran announced slight the planet. By mid-century, the 1.5C their highest in at least the last infections and encourage vac- modifications in the rules -- The Intergovernmental Pan- threshold will have been breached two million years, with methane cination. notably that tests could be 72 el on Climate Change concluded across the board, by a tenth of a and nitrous oxide levels at their The government is press- hours old and not 48, and also that the 1.5C temperature goal degree along the most ambitious highest since 800,000 years ago. ing ahead with the extension that self-tests carried out under of the Paris Agreement would pathway, and by nearly a full de- Despite a record drop in car- of an already-existing health medical supervision would be likely be breached around 2030 gree at the opposite extreme. bon pollution last year driven by pass to cafes, restaurants and allowed. — a decade earlier than it itself ‘The alarm bells are deaf- pandemic restrictions, the IPCC intercity travel, despite four ‘Enough is enough’ projected just three years ago. ening’ found “no detectable decrease” in weekends of angry protests But he emphasised there Guterres called the IPCC’s In his most frontal assault the rate of greenhouse gas accu- that saw almost a quarter of would be no going back on rules assessment — the most detailed yet on the fossil fuel industry that mulation. a million rally nationwide on which will remain in place until review of climate science ever powers the global economy, Gu- Guterres called on world Saturday. at least November, lamenting conducted — “code red for hu- terres said “immediate action” leaders to ensure the COP26 cli- Macron, who has ex- the attention paid to those who manity”. was needed to decarbonise the mate summit in November leads pressed exasperation with the are “anti-vax, anti-science and “This report must sound energy sector. to ramped up emissions cuts and protests, hopes that the plan anti-state” over those who re- a death knell for coal and fossil “The alarm bells are deafen- finance to countries already deal- will help ramp up vaccinations spected distancing and had fuels, before they destroy our ing, and the evidence is irrefuta- ing with the fallout from global and quell the fourth wave of been vaccinated. “I am willing planet,” he said in a statement. ble: greenhouse gas emissions heating. coronavirus in France in a to hear the fears, do everything “Countries should also end from fossil fuel burning and de- “If we combine forces now, strategy similar to that of EU to reassure. But there comes a all new fossil fuel exploration and forestation are choking our planet we can avert climate catastro- neighbours such as Italy and time when enough is enough,” production, and shift fossil fuel and putting billions of people at phe,” he said. Germany. he said. subsidies into renewable energy.” immediate risk,” said Guterres. “But, as today’s report The health pass is generat- The numbers in hospital In its first major scientific The Portuguese diplomat makes clear, there is no time ed in a QR code either by a full are still way off previous highs assessment since 2014, the IPCC said keeping the 1.5C tempera- for delay and no room for ex- course of vaccinations, a recent seen in the pandemic, but there said that Earth’s average surface ture goal in play meant that no cuses.” — AFP negative virus test or a recov- were 1,510 people in intensive ery from Covid-19. The gov- care with Covid-19 on Saturday ernment expects a one-week compared with 1,099 just one German exports rise past pre-pandemic grace period for consumers and week ago. — AFP levels in June GERMAN exports soared past pre-pandemic lev- emergency snared Germany. els in June for the first time since the coronavirus The indicator rose for the 14th month in a row, crisis wreaked havoc on trade, official data showed and was 1.3 per cent higher compared to May, after Monday, as the industry shrugged off supply chain seasonal variations and calendar effects were taken shortages. into account. The pandemic has severely disrupted global “Today’s strong data illustrates that supply supply chains, leading to shortage in raw materials chain frictions have not yet affected German ex- or components including timber, plastics and steel. ports,” said analyst Carsten Brzeski of ING. But he Germany’s crucial car industry has also been warned that this could change in coming months. hit by a global computer chip crunch caused by a “While order books are still richly filled, supply surge in demand for home electronics as employees chain frictions, particularly the lack of microchips, are asked to work from home to cut infection risks. could lead to more delivery problems in key sectors A waiter checks a customer’s Covid-19 health pass on a mobile phone But Europe’s biggest economy exported 118.7 like the automotive industry and therefore to some at the entrance of his cafe in Valenciennes, northern France, on 9 billion euros ($140 billion) of goods in June, 1.1 per distortions of export data in the coming months,” August 2021. PHOTO: FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP cent more than in February 2020 — before the health he said. — AFP

Egypt papyrus makers keep tradition alive despite tourism slump IN the lush green fields of Egypt’s fertile Delta hieroglyphics, Arabic calligraphy and representa- Valley, farmers and artisans are struggling to tions from antiquity and nature to create souvenirs make a living as they keep alive the Pharaonic-era for eager visitors. tradition of making papyrus. In the 1970s, an art But tourism in the North African country has teacher in the village of Al-Qaramus taught farm- taken a battering since its 2011 revolution, and after ers the millennia-old techniques for transforming a Russian airliner was downed by the Islamic State the plant into sought-after paper decorated with group in 2015. The Covid-19 pandemic has further ornate drawings and text. debilitated the sector: Egypt earned just $4 billion The village and its surrounds, located about in tourist revenues last year, a quarter of what it had 80 kilometres (50 miles) northeast of Cairo, now anticipated before the global health crisis. Today, make up the largest hub of papyrus production in Al-Qaramus has 25 farms trying to make ends meet A woman uses a thread to slice papyrus into thin strips at the workshop the country, experts in the sector say. by selling papyrus, compared to around 500 prior to in the village of al-Qaramous in Sharqiyah province, in Egypt’s Once used by ancient Egyptians as writing the revolution, according to farmer and artist Said northern fertile Nile Delta region, northeast of the capital, on 28 July paper, local artists now decorate the papyrus with Tarakhan. — AFP 2021. PHOTO: AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR BIZ: WORLD 13 Aluminum cans slowly replace plastics Asian markets rise but to tackle marine pollution Fed taper talk, Delta A number of Japanese bev- tic bottles, according to the erage vendors have recently Japan Aluminium Association keep traders on edge moved to abandon the use and the Council for PET Bot- of plastic bottles, replacing tle Recycling. ASIAN markets rose Monday but investors remained them with aluminum cans In the case of plastic bot- cautious after a forecast-beating US jobs report reinforced in a bid to combat marine tles, as the material weakens optimism about the economic recovery but fanned specu- plastic pollution, wreaking over multiple bouts of recy- lation the Federal Reserve could begin tapering monetary havoc with the ecosystem. cling, they often end up being policy this year. All 12 teas and soft drinks reshaped into plastic trays for Spiking infections around the world from the Delta sold by Ryohin Keikaku Co, food. Meanwhile, aluminum operator of retail brand Muji, cans can better prevent their Covid variant are also jangling nerves as governments have been provided in alu- contents from deteriorating reassess their growth outlooks with some — including minum cans since April af- as their opacity keeps light China — forced to reimpose lockdowns and other con- ter data showed the rate of from damaging them. Ryo- tainment measures. “horizontal recycling,” which hin Keikaku introduced those Data on Friday showed the world’s biggest economy allows for the reuse of materi- cans also to cut down on wast- als in a comparable function, ed drinks. created 943,000 new jobs in July, while the June reading was substantially higher for By switching to alumi- was also revised higher to more than 900,000. The news Photo taken 22 April 2021, shows such cans compared to plastic num cans, expiry dates for aluminum-can drinks sold at a Ryohin provided some much-needed reassurance that the re- bottles. soft drinks were extended 90 Keikaku Co store in Tokyo. PHOTO: bound was still on track despite Delta’s spread. The rate of horizontal days to 270 days, according KYODO NEWS However, it also renewed concerns that in a bid to recycling for aluminum cans to the retailer. The packages ent colors to indicate the contents of the stands at 71.0 per cent com- were newly designed to in- drinks, which are visible in transparent prevent overheating, the Fed will start to wind down the pared to 24.3 per cent for plas- clude illustrations and differ- plastic bottles. — Kyodo News ultra-loose policies — including record low interest rates and a vast bond-buying scheme — that have been integral to an equity market rally since April last year. China Telecom eyes $8.4 bn Shanghai IPO, The bank has continuously stressed that it will main- tain its accommodative stance for as long as the economy world’s biggest in 2021 needs to recover but with inflation at multi-year highs CHINA Telecom could raise China Telecom was delist- by TikTok rival Kuaishou Tech- and jobs returning, it is coming under increasing pres- more than $8 billion in a Shang- ed by the New York Stock Ex- nology in February. sure to act. hai initial public offering that change in January along with fel- Many of China’s biggest tech “You have these concerns that if the economy is would be the biggest this year, low state-owned telecoms firms and telecom firms listed their growing very, very strongly then that might bring forward months after it was delisted in China Mobile and China Unicom shares on the more developed the United States amid Washing- following an executive order by US stock markets in the 2000s as the tightening or the tapering by the Fed,” Shane Oliver, ton’s stand-off with Beijing.The former president Donald Trump. they sought access to funding, but at AMP Capital, told Bloomberg Television. firm said it had priced its offer The order banned investments by the tide has been turning. Author- “There is a good chance they might announce that at 4.53 yuan per share, which Americans into a range of com- ities have been pushing in recent tapering in September and it would start later this year.” would be worth 47.1 billion ($7.3 panies deemed to be supplying or years to instead encourage such And National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril added: billion), according to a filing with supporting China’s military and companies to list on its domestic the Shanghai Stock Exchange security apparatus. exchanges in Shanghai and Shen- “Overall, there is not a lot of disagreement on a taper on Friday. China Telecom is the coun- zhen, as well as Hong Kong, a announcement coming sometime between September-De- However, if an over-allot- try’s largest fixed-line operator, trend expected to be accelerated cember followed by actual tapering sometime between ment option was exercised that and the share issue would be the by an ongoing government cam- November and January.” — AFP would jump to 54 billion yuan ($8.4 biggest of the year, topping the paign to strengthen control over billion), Bloomberg News said. $5.4 billion raised in Hong Kong its major tech giants. — AFP

Historic drought threatens California farms supplying much US food

IN the valleys of central Cal- ers or wildlife, have abruptly ries that with “the wrong po- ifornia, the search for water cut supplies to farms, provok- litical agenda, we’re simply has turned into an all-out ob- ing anger and consternation. going to starve ourselves and session as the region suffers Along the roads between major probably the rest of the world.” through a drought that could farming operations, billboards California authorities don’t threaten the US food supply. have popped up everywhere, seem to be hearing that mes- Residents have watched urging: “Save California’s Wa- sage. with dismay as verdant fields ter.” They accuse the author- Reacting to dire signs of a have turned into brown, dusty ities of “dumping... our water worsening climate crisis, they plains, leaving shriveled trees, in the ocean.” passed new emergency leg- dying plants and exasperated Growers complain that the islation last week to prevent farmers. Much of California, state’s Democratic governor, thousands of people -- nota- and of the broader US West, Gavin Newsom, is strangling bly farmers -- from diverting has suffered through years them under a mountain of Farmer Liset Garcia completes a sale at her Sweet Girl Farms stand in streams or rivers. “In a year of lighter-than-usual precipi- pointless restrictions, leaving Reedley, California in California’s drought-stricken Central Valley, 23 when Mother Nature doesn’t tation and a particularly dry them unable to fill their usual July 2021. PHOTO: ROBYN BECK / AFP make it rain, there is no water winter. role of supplying America’s week,” 28-year-old Nick Foglio, (800 hectares) of alfalfa going for them,” said Jeanine Jones, State and local authorities, supermarkets. a fourth-generation farmer dry.” a manager with the California fearful that there may not be ‘Starving’ the world and feed broker, told AFP. He Standing in a dusty field Department of Water Resourc- enough water for city dwell- “I had two wells dry up last added that he has “2,000 acres near Fresno, he said he wor- es. — AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 14 WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR California wildfire now second-worst in state history Soviet the historic town of Greenville dissident before it burned down. “My neighborhood is gone — I mean gone, gone. Everybody Sergei I care and love about that’s in that neighborhood, their homes Kovalev are gone,” she said, adding: “I didn’t have insurance.” dies On Saturday, Governor ONE of Russia’s most fa- Gavin Newsom visited the mous human rights defend- charred remains of Greenville, ers and former Soviet dis- expressing his “deep gratitude” sident, Sergei Kovalev, has to the teams fighting the flames. died aged 91, his family said He said authorities had to Monday. devote more resources to man- Kovalev was a biologist aging forests and preventing who became one of the lead- fires. ing members of the USSR’s Flames shoot into the sky as the Dixie fire jumps across highway 89 near Greenville, California on 3 August But he added that “the dries pro-democracy movement. 2021. PHOTO: AFP are getting a lot drier, it is hotter He was held in Soviet labour than it has ever been... we need camps for his activism. THE monstrous Dixie Fire in destroyed 489,287 acres (198,007 Over the weekend, it sur- to acknowledge just straight up After the collapse of the northern California has grown hectares), authorities said, up passed the 2018 Mendocino these are climate-induced wild- Soviet Union, he became a to become the second-largest from the previous day’s 447,723 Complex Fire to make it the sec- fires.” fierce critic of Moscow’s war wildfire in state history, author- acres. It now covers an area ond-worst fire in state history. Climate change amplifies in Chechnya and warned ities said Sunday, with three larger than Los Angeles. “It was like driving out of droughts, creating ideal condi- against democratic backslid- people reported missing and The Dixie blaze is the larg- a war zone that you see in a tions for wildfires to spread out ing when President Vladimir thousands fleeing the advancing est active wildfire in the United movie,” Tami Kugler told AFP, of control and inflict unprece- Putin came to power in 2000. flames. States, but only one of 11 major sitting beside her tent at an dented material and environ- His son Ivan Kovalev As of Sunday, the fire had wildfires in California. evacuation station after fleeing mental damage. — AFP said on Facebook that his father died “in his sleep” in the early hours of Monday morning. US ‘failing’ on Covid: top Russian rights group Memorial, which Kovalev health official once chaired, said he was “faithful to the idea of hu- WITH the United States re- states like Florida are being man rights always and in cording its highest daily Covid overwhelmed as young people everything — in war and case load in six months, a top are increasingly affected. peace, in politics and every public health official warned “We should not really have day life”. Sunday that the country is ever got to the place we are,” The leading rights or- “failing” in its battle to keep Francis Collins, director of the ganisation — which has been the coronavirus in check. National Institutes of Health, labelled a “foreign agent” by A surge of the highly trans- said on ABC’s “This Week.” Russian authorities under missible Delta variant has “In that regard, yes, we are a controversial law — said brought a slew of bad news in failing.” Kovalev had campaigned for the United States, which al- Fears about the Delta human rights since 1969. ready has the highest report- variant have sparked a surge “He consistently fought People look at a Covid-19 sign promoting safety measures, posted at the ed death toll worldwide from in vaccination rates, but mil- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Building for the same principles” in Covid-19 at more than 616,000. lions, especially in conserva- in Washington, DC on 6 August 2021. PHOTO : DANIEL SLIM / AFP post-Soviet Russia, it said Total daily new cases have tive-leaning areas of the coun- on Facebook. soared to 118,000, their highest try, remain skeptical about Collins said. “Now we’re pay- the federal Food and Drug A dissident under the level since February; deaths getting the shot. “We would ing a terrible price.” Administration could come as late Soviet leader Leonid are up 89 percent over the past not be in the place we are right Another top health official, early as this month — some- Brezhnev, Kovalev was ap- two weeks, even while slightly now with this Delta surge if infectious diseases expert thing some skeptics have said pointed chairman of Presi- declining around the world; we had been more effective in Anthony Fauci, said final full they need to hear before taking dent Boris Yeltsin’s human and children’s hospitals in US getting everybody” vaccinated, approval of key vaccines from the plunge. — AFP rights commission in 1994. He was dismissed from the post for his outspoken Taliban seize three more Afghan provincial capitals in northern blitz criticism of Russia’s brutal intervention in the Chechen THE Taliban tightened the noose around month. all the installations there.” conflict. northern Afghanistan Sunday, capturing Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan in the The insurgents said on Twitter later Kovalev also criticised three more provincial capitals as they take north fell within hours of each other Sunday, Sunday that they had also taken Taloqan, the political system created their fight to the cities after seizing much of lawmakers, security sources and residents the capital of Takhar province. by Putin, a former spy for the the countryside in recent months. in the cities confirmed. Parwina Azimi, a women’s rights activ- KGB security agency. The insurgents have snatched up five In Kunduz, capital of the province of the ist in Sar-e-Pul, told AFP by phone that gov- “A controlled democra- provincial capitals in Afghanistan since Fri- same name, one resident described the city ernment officials and the remaining forces cy is being created in our day in a lightning offensive that appears to as being enveloped in “total chaos”. had retreated to an army barracks about country that seeks to create have overwhelmed government forces. “After some fierce fighting, the mu- three kilometres (two miles) from the city. problems for ‘enemies inside Fighting in Afghanistan’s long-running jahideen, with the grace of God, captured The Taliban had the compound “sur- as well as outside’,” he said conflict has intensified since May, when the capital of Kunduz,” the Taliban said in a rounded”, said Mohammad Hussein Mu- in July 2001, two months af- foreign forces began the final stage of a statement. “The mujahideen also captured jahidzada, a member of the provincial ter Putin was inaugurated as withdrawal due to be completed later this Sar-e-Pul city, the government buildings and council. — AFP president. — AFP 10 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR GLOBAL AFFAIRS 15

Japan fulfilled responsibility as Olympics host, Suga says

PRIME Minister Yoshihide of COVID-19. Suga said Monday that Ja- Suga said that getting pan has fulfilled its respon- vaccinations and refraining sibility as host of the Tokyo from nonessential outings Olympics and thanked the were keys in preventing the people for their coopera- spread of the virus. The cu- tion. mulative total of vaccine “Although the Olym- doses administered in the pics were postponed for a country has topped 100 mil- year and held under vari- lion, he said. Doves are released at Peace Park in Nagasaki on 9 August 2021, during a ceremony marking the 76th ous restrictions, I believe “With the Bon holidays anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city. PHOTO: KYODO NEWS we were able to fulfill our starting this week amid responsibility as host coun- the continuing spread of Nagasaki marks 76th A-bomb anniversary, try. I would like to express a highly contagious (COV- my sincere appreciation ID-19) variant, now is an urges Japan be nuke-ban proactive to the Japanese people for extremely important peri- their understanding and od” to curb infections, the NAGASAKI marked the 76th clear Weapons as a “new hori- But Prime Minister Yoshi- cooperation,” Suga said a prime minister said. He anniversary Monday of the US zon” for nuclear disarmament but hide Suga again did not touch on atomic bombing of the city in also expressed concern about the the treaty when he addressed the day after the closing of the was referring to the major World War II, with its mayor urg- growing danger presented by an crowd, which included survivors Summer Games. summer vacation season in ing the Japanese government ongoing nuclear arms race. and families of the victims, re- Suga was speaking Japan when many people to take a more active role in re- “In order to follow a single flecting the country’s conflicted at a press conference in return to their hometowns alizing a world free of nuclear path toward a world free of nu- position. Japan has maintained Nagasaki after attending or travel elsewhere. weapons. At the annual memorial clear weapons amidst these two its three principles of not produc- a ceremony marking the Suga called on young- ceremony, Mayor Tomihisa Taue conflicting movements, world ing, possessing or allowing nucle- 76th anniversary of the er people to refrain from urged the government to sign leaders must commit to nuclear ar arms on its territory. But the US atomic bombing of the traveling during the period, and ratify a UN treaty banning arms reductions and build trust country sits under the US nuclear southwestern Japan city. saying about 70 per cent of nuclear weapons and join as an through dialogue, and civil society umbrella and hosts its military observer in its first meeting of must push them in this direction,” facilities under a decades-old bi- The Olympics were new COVID-19 patients in state parties to the treaty, which Taue said in his speech at the lateral security accord. According held mostly without specta- Tokyo were in their 30s or came into effect in January, and city’s Peace Park. Taue’s call on to a research center at Nagasaki tors under a state of emer- younger. explore building a nuclear-weap- Japan to join the nuclear weapon University, there were an esti- gency over the coronavirus The government will on-free zone in northeast Asia. ban treaty followed a similar ap- mated 13,130 nuclear warheads pandemic in the capital and continue providing infor- After a moment of silence peal made by Hiroshima Mayor across the globe as of June, with other areas. The event end- mation targeting them via was observed at 11:02 am, the Kazumi Matsui three days ago, the number in military stockpiles ed as Japan was suffering YouTube and Twitter, he exact time of the bombing on 9 when the city, also devastated not decreasing amid reignited from an explosive spread said. — Kyodo News August 1945, Taue praised the by an atomic bomb during World tensions among major nuclear Treaty on the Prohibition of Nu- War II, had its annual ceremony. powers. — Kyodo News Sri Lanka holds mass cremations as Ex-US officials ask Japan Covid cases surge leaders to accept no-first-use nuke plan SRI LANKA has begun mass cremations to clear a backlog A group of former US officials, including former Defense Secre- of dead bodies from Covid-19 as tary William Perry, and experts on nuclear disarmament sent cases surge across the island, an open letter Monday asking Japanese political parties not to officials said Monday. Daily virus oppose a “no-first-use” nuclear stance that may be announced infections in the country have by the United States. doubled in a month to more than The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, 2,500 with nearly 100 deaths, put- among other party leaders, states how US President Joe Biden is ting huge strain on hospitals. On considering a declaration saying the United States would not use Sunday evening Colombo Munic- nuclear weapons in an initial attack, requesting Japan support the ipality began mass cremations, policy after the country expressed opposition earlier in the year. disposing of 15 corpses at the Co- The move comes as Japan marked the 76th anniversary of the lombo General Cemetery after wartime atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Friday the island’s main hospital said it and Monday, respectively. had no more freezer space. People sit in a queue as they wait to receive a dose of the AstraZeneca “It would be tragic if Japan, the only country to suffer nuclear vaccine against the Covid-19 coronavirus in Colombo on 5 August It was the first mass cre- attacks, and a staunch advocate of the abolition of nuclear weap- 2021. PHOTO : AFP mation since December when ons, blocked this small but important step toward the abolition of the government overruled re- national protests, the govern- union said bodies of Covid-19 pa- nuclear weapons,” the letter reads. Prior to his inauguration, Biden ligious objections and cremat- ment then allowed Muslims to tients piled up at hospitals over expressed support for the policy to the media, saying the United ed 15 members of the Muslim be buried in a remote corner the weekend as crematoriums States’ nuclear arsenal should exist solely to deter an attack. minority, including a 20-day-old of the island’s east, in accord- working round the clock were He suggested nuclear weapons should only be used to baby. ance with Islamic traditions. The unable to cope with a rapid rise retaliate against a nuclear attack against the country or its Following local and inter- Public Health Inspectors (PHI) in deaths. — AFP allies. — Kyodo News 10 AUGUST 2021 16 SPORT THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Cambodia prepares for 2023 South Republic of the Union East Asian Games of Myanmar Asian Sports Federation also focused on the proposal of Viet State Administration Nam to postpone the 2021 SEA Games to next year and after Council that Cambodia will host the tour- ney in 2023. Nine Objectives Officials also discussed the committee’s efforts in imple- menting strategic plans for the 1. Political affairs SEA Games 2023. (a) To build a Union based on democracy and fed- Vath Chamroeun said, “The eralism, through a disciplined and genuine mul- Cambodian SEA Games Organ- tiparty democratic system that is fair and just. ising Committee (CAMSOC) will continue its preparations led by (b) To emphasize the achievement of enduring Cambodia will host the South East Asian Games in 2023. PHOTO: peace for the entire nation in line with the Na- KHMERTIMESKH.COM Deputy Prime Minister and Min- ister of National Defence, Tea tionwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). CAMBODIA is now preparing hard work invested in preparing Banh, President of CAMSOC (c) To continue implementing the principle of peaceful for the next 2023 South East for the games, adding however and CAMSOC Permanent Vice co-existence among countries through an inde- Asian Games, said the tourney that any final change will be de- President Thong Khon, Minister pendent, active and non-aligned foreign policy. organizers. cided by the Royal Government of Tourism. Cambodia is commit- Vath Chamroeun, Secretary of Cambodia. ted to be host the historic XXXII 2. Economic affairs General of the National Olympic A special meeting was SEA Games and ASEAN Para (a) To enhance production based on agriculture Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) chaired by the Secretary General Games 2023 in the country,” the and livestock through modern techniques and said in a virtual meeting that and representatives from mem- secretary general added.—Ko strengthen all-round development in other sectors Cambodia will not give up the ber countries of the Southeast Nyi Lay/GNLM of the economy. (b) To develop a stable market economy and promote international investment in order to enhance the economic development of the entire National No Messi, no problem as Barcelona people. (c) To promote and support local businesses to create defeat Juventus employment opportunities and increase domestic BARCELONA started life without Lionel Messi on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Juventus in production. the pre-season Gamper Trophy. 3. Social affairs Messi had earlier Sunday said his farewells to the club he had served for 20 years at (a) To ensure a strong and dynamic Union spirit, the a tearful news conference. genuine spirit of patriotism. Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona after just three minutes with Martin (b) To respect and promote the customs and tradi- Braithwaite adding a second goal just before the hour mark from a corner. tions of all National peoples and preserve and Young hope Riqui Puig scored a third in stoppage time with a fine left foot drive. safeguard their cultural heritage and national In Sunday’s other high-profile friendly, Real Madrid and AC Milan fought to a 0-0 characteristics. stalemate. (c) To enhance the health, fitness and education Spain’s La Liga season gets underway on Friday while the Italian Serie A starts on 22 quality of the entire nation. August. — AFP

PSG braced for Messi arrival as Barcelona weeps

LIONEL MESSI is expected to arrive in the French on Monday morning. capital on Monday, lured by the limitless funds of “It only seems to be a matter of hours,” sug- Paris Saint-Germain, having said a tearful farewell gested sports daily L’Equipe, which proclaimed “we to Barcelona after 21 years. are entering the most incredible days in the history The 34-year-old, seen by the French giants’ of the French championship.” Qatari owners as the vital missing piece of their Before signing the contract in Paris, Messi frustrating Champions League puzzle, has already will first have to undergo a medical examination. had fans playing a guessing game. Stressing no deals had been done, Messi con- On Sunday night, dozens of PSG diehards gath- ceded at his tearful farewell news conference in ered at the gates of Le Bourget airport to the north Barcelona on Sunday that joining PSG was a “pos- of the capital in the hope of catching a glimpse of sibility”. In reality, they are the only club who can their newest ‘galactico’. afford what is expected to be a deal worth 35 million Their wait was in vain although French media euros ($41m) a year for the 34-year-old Argentine. maintained that it was a question of ‘when’ and not “I gave everything for Barcelona from the first ‘if’ Messi arrives. day that I arrived right to the last. I never imagined Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi cries at the start of a press conference at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on 8 August “The news is expected Monday, even Tuesday. having to say goodbye,” a tearful Messi told the 2021. PHOTO: PAU BARRENA / AFP This is the most likely scenario,” said Le Parisien news conference. — AFP