SEEK THE BEST WAYS IN SPENDING ALLOTTED BUDGETS FOR THE PEOPLE PAGE-8 (OPINION)

NATIONAL NATIONAL Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan-MERP Final Consultation MoH Minister attends opening ceremony of and Presentation led by Working Committee to address the US centre for disease control and preventions impact of COVID-19 on National Economy Virtual Meeting southeast Asia regional office PAGE-3 PAGE-4

Vol. VIII, No. 129, 4th Waning of Wagaung 1383 ME www.gnlm.com.mm Thursday, 26 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.

COVID-19 vaccines distributed nationwide for second injections

HE Ministry of Health conducts vaccination pro- Tgrammes in respective regions/states for target pop- ulations. Starting 26 July 2021, the ministry used Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines donated by China and purchased from China to vaccinate the public for the first injection. For the second dose, the ministry distributed the vaccines via land or with the help of Tatmadaw (Air) and MAI to the remote areas starting 21 August 2021. The vaccines were allocat- ed to Mon, Kayin, Ayeyawady, Bago, Taninthayi, Shan, Magway, Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Kachin and Rakhine until 25 Au- gust 2021. These vaccines were also used to vaccinate the factory workers in Yangon, Mandalay, Bago and Ayeyawady regions. The COVID-19 vaccines are transported and distributed to one of the remote areas with the help of Tatmadaw aircraft. — MNA

INSIDE TODAY

NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL LOCAL BUSINESS LOCAL BUSINESS Imports of COVID-19 Opening ceremony High-valued Thanaka Sesame seeds Myanmar fresh protective devices, for 2nd China- products to be export exceeds chilli pepper export medical aids Myanmar border produced in post- US$292 mln in to Thailand drops continue trade fair COVID-19 period seven months this year PAGE-2 PAGE-3 PAGE-4 PAGE-5 PAGE-5 26 AUGUST 2021 2 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Republic of the Union of Myanmar Public request by State Administration Council Order No 175/ 2021 Ministry of Health 3rd Waning of Wagaung 1383 ME Only when the people cooperate will the work process achieve success in a short time for effective prevention, control and 25 August 2021 treatment of COVID-19 among the people. As such, all the people Appointment and Duty Assignment of are requested to abide by the following points: - 1. Stay at home as much as possible. Deputy Minister 2. Don’t accept the guests at the house. You don’t visit other houses. THE State Administration Council has appointed and assigned Major-General Khun Thant Zaw 3. The older persons above 65 or those suffering from chronic Htoo to the duty of Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Border Affairs, according to Section 419 of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart must be worn masks in the house. They must be placed at well-ven- the State Constitution. tilated sites. By Order, 4. Wear masks if you go outside without fail. Systematically wash hands. Take a six-foot distance from others. Avoid Aung Lin Dwe visits to the rooms where ventilation is not good. Lieutenant-General 5. Avoid the crowds. Secretary 6. If possible, go shopping once a week. Don’t buy anything State Administration Council from the vendors who don’t systematically wear masks. 7. Take care of carrying the virus to the houses whenever return home from outside. Systematically discard the used masks and single disposable equipment outside the houses. Avoid close contact with family members before changing clothes or washing the body. Daily newspapers available online 8. As the vaccines for your quota is the best, accept vaccinations for full time. Despite receiving the vaccination, you should FOR those who would like to read the Myanma Alinn, the Kyemon and the Global New Light of abide by the protective ways. Myanmar, published daily by the Ministry of Information, please visit www.moi.gov.mm/mal, 9. Systematically cooperate in prevention, control and treat- www.moi.gov.mm/km, www.moi.gov.mm/nlm and www.gnlm.com.mm/e-paper. ment of the disease with manpower, money, materials and expertise. News and Periodicals Enterprise Ministry of Health (2-8-2021)

Imports of COVID-19 protective devices, medical aids continue

THE Ministry of Commerce bowsers, four tonnes of liquid is making efforts to ensure oxygen, 4,270 empty oxygen people have access to the cylinders, one oxygen plant, essential medical supplies 279 home oxygen concentra- that are critical to the COV- tors, 3,100 sets of PPE suits, ID-19 prevention, control and and 35 tonnes of masks were treatment activities, including also imported via Chinshwe- liquid oxygen and oxygen cyl- haw, Myawady, Tachilek, Kaw- inders, arranging continuous thoung and Hteekhee trading importation on public holidays. posts. On 25 August (Yesterday), The aforementioned items 259 oxygen concentrators from were imported by 25 compa- Yangon International Airport nies and transported by 25 and two oxygen plants, 870 vehicles, including 3 Bowser empty oxygen cylinders, four vehicles. tonnes of masks and 20 oxygen One Oxygen Plant will be The lorries are seen transporting the imported COVID-19 protective devices and medical supplies to the concentrators from the seaport transported to Yangon, officials needed places. were successfully imported. said. ing with relevant departments, quired in prevention, control quiries can be reached through A total of 57 tonnes of ox- It is reported that the Min- facilitating the importation of and treatment of COVID-19, as the Ministry’s Website — www. ygen (liquid) carried by three istry of Commerce is coordinat- essential medical supplies re- well as contact persons for in- commerce.gov.mm. — MNA

The lorries are seen transporting the imported COVID-19 protective devices and medical supplies to the needed places. 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NATIONAL 3 BGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGA Manufacturing of quality products in full swing

The country requires a large volume of steel wears per year. So, foreign exchange is spent on import of steel wears. So, efforts are being made to resume Pinpet steel plant and Myingyan steel plant. It is necessary to upgrade the techniques of suspended plants for manufac- turing of quality products in full swing.

(Excerpt from the speech to the meeting 1/2021 of the Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar made by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on 11 August 2021) CHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHD Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan-MERP Final Consultation and Presentation led by Working Committee to address the impact of COVID-19 on National Economy Virtual Meeting

THE meeting of final consulta- man of Working Committee tion and presentation on Myan- stated that the current Myan- mar Economic Recovery Plan- mar Economic Recovery Plan- MERP was virtually held by the MERP is formulated, based on Working Committee to address Sustainable Development Goals the impact of COVID-19 on the (SDGs) which is Global Devel- National Economy yesterday opment Agenda, ASEAN Com- morning at Office No. (1), Min- prehensive Recovery Frame- istry of Investment and Foreign work (ACRF) and The Greater Economic Relations. Mekong Sub-region COVID-19 The meeting was chaired by Response and Recovery Plan U Aung Naing Oo, Union Minis- (2021- 2023) as well as to be in ter for Investment and Foreign line with road-map and Eco- Economic Relations as well as nomic Objectives of State Ad- the Chairman of the Working ministration Council in order to Committee to address the im- recover the National Economy pact of COVID-19 on the National affected by COVID-19. Economy. Member of the Work- In addition, the union minis- ing Committee Deputy Minis- ter expressed MERP is a frame- ters, from Ministry of Planning work including 10 Action Plans, and Finance, Ministry of Labour 27 Expectations and 407 Action also required to be linked with Performance Indicator (KPI) MERP was presented by the and Ministry of Commerce, Dep- Lines will be kept as a living doc- the long-term National Plan. in meeting with the targeted Secretary of Working Commit- uty Governor of Central Bank of ument. And it will be arranged The respective leading and im- result of the implementation of tee Dr Wah Wah Maung, Direc- Myanmar and separate invitees for the relevant Ministries and plementing agency is needed the Action Plans. The task to tor-General for Investment and Deputy Minister from Ministry organizations to update their to cooperate and organize with identify KPI will be consulted Foreign Economic Relations. of Investment and Foreign Eco- implementation of the Action the other relevant ministries with the concerned ministries Afterwards, the participants nomic Relations and representa- Plans if there is any change in in order to implement MERP and further release. discussed the draft plan and tives of the Ministries concerned the action plan. Although the Action Plans as necessary. Mon- A detailed discussion on decided to proceed as per the attended the meeting. Action Lines are for the short- itoring and Evaluation will also the Action Plans of the Myan- procedures for further approval In the meeting, the Chair- term and medium-term, it is be conducted by identifying Key mar Economic Recovery Plan- of the plan. — MNA

nd Opening ceremony for 2 China-Myanmar 2,502 new cases of COVID-19 border trade fair reported on 25 August, total

THE opening ceremony of the Promotion Organization, My- fair in the China-South Asia On- figure rises to 380,879 2nd China (Lincang)-Myanmar anmar Ambassador to China U line Expo building, which is being MYANMAR’S COVID-19 positive cases rose to 380,879 after (Lashio) border economic and Myo Thant Pe, Secretary Mar held in Kunming of China from 25 trade fair was organized online Yan Houk Thon of CCP, Economic to 29 August. 2,502 new cases were reported on 25 August 2021 according under the supervision of the My- Counselor Mr Htan Su Phu of A total of 200 Myanmar and to the Ministry of Health. Among these confirmed cases, anmar Trade Promotion Organ- Chinese Embassy and Deputy Chinese entrepreneurs will par- 309,032 have been discharged from hospitals. Death toll ization of the Ministry of Com- Director-General Mr Wang Xi- ticipate in the exhibition display- reached 14,737 after 115 died. merce and Lincang provincial aohwa respectively made the ing rice, beans and pulses, marine COVID-19 vaccine is being injected to those of priority government of Yunnan yesterday. remarks. Then, the attendees to products, foodstuffs, commodi- During the ceremony, Shan the event opened the 2nd China ties, ICT and electric power. groups in regions and states for prevention and control State Economic Affairs Minis- (Lincang)-Myanmar (Lashio) The Myanmar traders who of the disease. Up to 24-8-2021, a total of 4,542,363 people ter U Khun Thein Maung, Di- border economic and trade fair. want to attend the border fair can have been vaccinated. Of them, 1,797,550 people have been rector-General Daw Naw Mu The separate gallery will be register at http://www.csa-expo. vaccinated two times and 2,744,813 people once.—MNA Tar Ka Paw of Myanmar Trade constructed for the border trade com from 25 to 29 August. – MNA 26 AUGUST 2021 4 NATIONAL THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR MoH Minister attends opening ceremony of US centre for disease control and preventions Southeast Asia regional office

UNION Minister for Health Dr cooperation in healthcare be- Thet Khaing Win attended the tween the US and the ASEAN opening ceremony of the U.S. countries, conducting field epi- Health Engagement in Southeast demiology training programmes Asia: Launch of U.S. Centres for and increasing cooperation in the Disease Control and Preventions, fight against the COVID-19 pan- Southeast Asia Regional Office demic, monitoring communicable held through videoconferencing disease and enhancing laboratory yesterday in Hanoi, Socialist Re- tests. – MNA public of Viet Nam. The ceremony was also at- Union Minister Dr Thet Khaing tended by Deputy Prime Minister Win attends the opening of Viet Nam Mr Pham Binh Min, ceremony of the US Health Vice-President of the U.S. Ms Engagement in Southeast Kamala Harris, health ministers Asia: Launch of US Centres for Disease Control and from the ASEAN countries and Preventions, Southeast Asia Papua New Guinea and officials. Regional Office held through The Southeast Asia Region- videoconferencing yesterday. al Office was open to enhance High-valued Thanaka products to be Dala bus terminal provides produced in post-COVID-19 period regular bus services to travellers DALA bus terminal is providing passengers like before. And, its regular bus service for the these bus lines are running in convenience of the travellers, line with the current COVID-19 according to the Yangon Region rules and regulations. The bus Transport Authority (YRTA) in lines are also carrying only five Dala Township. passengers on board. Although The highway express is there are only a few passen- running to the townships in the gers on board, the bus lines are Ayeyawady region and Yangon running for the convenience of region through the Dala bus the passengers, said an express terminal. driver from one bus line based Seven bus lines are current- in the Ayeyawady region. ly running daily as usual to the Besides, over 120 YBS bus- townships in the Ayeyawady re- es and 12 YBS microbus num- gion. Those seven bus lines in- bers 47,48,49 and 50 are running clude Shwe Myanmar bus lines daily as usual from Dala-Twan- (Dedaye-Dala), Pan Yoma, Kau- tay-Kawhmu-Kungyangon Due to the inability to export Thanaka products amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, Ayadaw Thanaka ng Htet Thu/Shwe Lamin, Toe townships to Hlinethaya. Association is planning to produce high-valued Thanaka products such as beads, combs, statues, Thanaka Ayeya, Myit Ayeya Kyaw (Maub- During the pandemic peri- facial foam, Thanaka leave shampoo, powder, lotion and other traditional medicines made from Thanaka. in-Dala) and, Yarthatpan and od, more than 600 passengers IN the post-COVID-19 period, ka facial foam, Thanaka leave ucts, according to U Kyaw Moe. Aung Sitt The (Pyapon-Dala). have been transported daily the traditional Myanmar Thana- shampoo, powder, lotion and oth- While everyone in the busi- Similarly, five bus lines are with five passengers aboard in ka will be produced in high-qual- er traditional medicines made ness is affected, Ayadaw is more also running as usual to the each bus, said an official from ity products to be sold in shops, from Thanaka. affected by the economic crisis townships in Yangon region. the YRTA in Dala township. said U Kyaw Moe, Chairman of The Ayadaw Thanaka venue since most Thanaka trees are Those bus lines are Htet Aung About 294 YBS buses, from the Myanmar Thanaka Asso- has been closed at present as grown in Ayadaw. The plan to Kyaw (Dala-Pyapon), Paing 23 bus lines in Dala township in ciation. COVID-19 cases are on the rise, produce and sell the high-valued Ayeya (Dala-Kyaiklat), Shwe Yangon and Ayeyawady, trans- Due to the inability to ex- facing an economic downturn. Thanaka products also aims to Thahtay (Dala-Pyapon), Hta- port the passengers. The YBS port Thanaka products amid the Both growers and brokers are make a living for the local Thana- waya (Dala-Pyapon) and Shwe business officials have warned current COVID-19 pandemic, affected by the lack of sales and ka growers so that they can gen- Chan Thar (Dala-Pyapon). YBS passengers to wear masks Ayadaw Thanaka Association in order to revitalize the econo- erate income, and people will “The number of passen- and maintain social distance is planning to produce high-val- my, plans are underway to set up also be able to easily buy them in gers has declined due to the from fellow passengers while ued Thanaka products such as shops to produce and sell a wide shops. – Min Htet Aung (Manda- outbreak of COVID-19. Current- travelling on board the buses. — beads, combs, statues, Thana- range of high-end Thanaka prod- lay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM ly, we could not expect many Naing Lin Kyaw (Dala)/GNLM

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. 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR LOCAL BUSINESS 5 Sesame seeds export exceeds US$292 Sino- Myanmar mln in seven months bilateral trade totals YANMAR’S sesame seeds export earned US$7.26 MUS$292.28 million in the past eight months (October-May) bln in eight of the current financial year 2020- months 2021, according to data released by Myanmar Customs Depart- THE value of trade with ment. In early August 2021, black Myanmar’s major trade sesame seeds fetched only partner China through K110,000 per bag, whereas the maritime and sea trade price slightly rose to K125,000 per channels crossed US$7.26 bag in the last week of August. billion in the past eight The price of black sesame seeds months (October-May) quite recovered on the back of demand by China in the recent of the 2020-2021 financial days in the Mandalay market, year, including $3.96 billion the traders from the Bayintnaung worth of exports and $3.29 wholesale market said. Of the cooking oil crops grown in Myanmar, the acreage under sesame seed is the highest, accounting for 51.3 per billion for import, accord- cent of the overall oil crop plantation. The demand for the new- ing to data released by the ly harvested sesame varieties suggested. organic-farming sesame seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Ministry of Commerce. (brown sesame, yellow sesame Both raw sesame seeds and from Myanmar. Japan prefers Sagaing regions. Myanmar primarily and white sesame) is halted for value-added sesame seeds are Myanmar black sesame seeds, Of the cooking oil crops now. The price of black sesame conveyed to China. When the cultivated under good agricultur- grown in Myanmar, the acreage exports agro products has risen on the high demand, COVID-19 cases fall and trans- al practice (GAP), and purchases under sesame seed is the highest, to China through border Soe Win Myint pulses depot in portation barriers are eased, the them after a quality assessment. accounting for 51.3 per cent of the crossings. However, trad- Mandalay stated. sesame market will raise its head Black sesame seeds from Myan- overall oil crop plantation. ing in agricultural prod- “We see a high inflow of black again for sure, he added. mar were previously exported to The volume of sesame ex- ucts is frequently halted sesame from Shwebo, Wetlet and The black sesame seeds South Korea and Japan. ports has registered at over 96,000 on account of China clamp- Monywa areas in the Mandalay fetched about K135,000-160,000 China usually purchases var- metric tons, worth $130 million, market this monsoon season. in the last week of June 2021, ious coloured sesame seeds from in the financial year 2015-2016; ing down on illegal trade Moreover, the sesame seed from according to the Mandalay com- the country, yet, the trade is quite $100,000 tonnes, worth $145 mil- through land borders. Fur- Magway Region also starts to modity depot. sluggish amid the restriction lion, in the 2016-2017FY; 120,000 thermore, China has been enter the Mandalay market. The Normally, Myanmar exports measures to contain the COV- tonnes, worth $147 million, in the stepping up border control black sesame is high in demand. about 80 per cent of sesame pro- ID-19 disease. This year, Japan 2017-2018FY; 33,900 tonnes val- measures to contain the In addition, Yuan value is also duction to foreign markets. China has not purchased Myanmar’s ued $43.8 million in the 2018 mi- spread of the COVID-19 gaining. China uses black sesame is the primary buyer of Myanmar sesame yet. ni-budget period, 125,800 tonnes, since April-end, hindering in the snack food business, oil sesame, which was also shipped Sesame is cultivated in the worth $212.5 million in the 2018- production and making herbal to markets in Japan, South Korea, country throughout the year. 2019FY and over 150,000 tonnes of the border trade. At pres- medicine. There is one thing that China (Taipei), the UK, Germany, Magway Region, which has sesame, worth $240 million in the ent, China has banned all I want to remind the growers of the Netherlands, Greece, and Po- gained a reputation as the oil pot previous 2019-2020FY, the trade the border posts in wake the excess of acid content,” the land among the EU countries. of Myanmar, is the main produc- data of Central Statistical Organ- of the COVID surge in My- owner of Soe Win Myint Depot The EU markets prefer er of sesame seeds. The seeds ization indicated. — KK/GNLM anmar. The value of bilater- al trade with China stood Myanmar fresh chilli pepper export to at $12 billion in the 2019- 2020FY, $11.36 billion in the Thailand drops this year 2018-2019FY, $6 billion in the past mini-budget pe- ment Association. pepper is priced at extremely riod, $11.78 billion in the Myanmar delivered fresh lower than the price registered 2017-2018 financial year chilli pepper to Thailand through last year, fetching only K1,300 the Myawady border with over per viss (a viss equals 1.6 kg). and $10.8 billion in the 2016- 50 trucks per day in the previous Last year, the price hit a record 2017FY, respectively. years. This year, about ten trucks high of K5,000-6,000 per viss, the Rice, various types of loaded with fresh chilli pepper association stated. peas, sesame seeds, corn, are seen on the border every day, Myanmar’s fresh chilli pep- fruits and vegetables, she continued. per is shipped to Viet Nam via sea dried tea leaves, fishery “The number of export route and primarily sent to Chi- products, rubber, minerals trucks drastically declines. About na and Thailand via land border, seven to ten trucks of fresh chil- Daw Ohn Mar Kyaw continued. and animal products are Additionally, the fresh chilli pepper is priced at extremely lower than the li pepper are daily exported to It is commonly grown in the exported to China, where- price registered last year, fetching only K1,300 per viss (a viss equals 1.6 Thailand for now. Earlier, My- Ayeyawady Region and Kyaukse as machinery, plastic raw kg). Last year, the price hit a record high of K5,000-6,000 per viss, the anmar conveyed over 60 trucks Township of Mandalay Region. materials, consumer prod- association stated. of fresh chilli pepper per day to The export varieties of fresh chilli ucts and electronic tools THE export of Myanmar’s fell this year, said Daw Ohn Mar Thailand,” Daw Ohn Mar Kyaw pepper are 692,777,999, Demon, flow into Myanmar. — KH/ fresh chilli pepper to Thailand Kyaw, chair of Myanmar Chilli elaborated. Sunshine and Lucky one. — NN/ via cross-border trade sharply Market and Technical Develop- Additionally, the fresh chilli GNLM GNLM 26 AUGUST 2021 6 PANDEMIC: WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Messenger RNA Covid vaccines 66% effective against Delta: US study

THE effectiveness against infection of the Pfizer and Mod- erna Covid-19 vaccines dropped from 91 per cent before the Delta variant became dominant to 66 per cent afterwards, according to a large study of US health workers published Tuesday. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been examining the real-world performance of the two vaccines since they were first authorized among healthcare personnel, first responders and other frontline workers. Thousands of workers across six states were tested Emerging countries will bear the brunt of the losses from slow vaccination efforts, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. PHOTO: NARINDER NANU/ AFP/FILE weekly and upon onset of Covid-19 symptoms, allowing researchers to estimate efficacy against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection. By looking at the rate of infec- Slow Covid vaccination to cost tions among vaccinated and unvaccinated people and the amount of time they were tracked, vaccine effectiveness global economy $2.3 tn: study was estimated at 91 per cent in the initial study period of 14 December 2020 to 10 April 2021. THE slow rollout of coronavi- these losses, further delaying lower-income economies," it But during weeks in the run-up to 14 August when the rus vaccines will cost the global their economic convergence said. ultra-contagious Delta variant became dominant, effec- economy $2.3 trillion in lost out- with more developed countries," The report's author, Agathe put, a report released Wednes- the EIU said. Demarais, said the internation- tiveness fell to 66 per cent. The report's authors said there day found. It warned the delayed roll- al effort to provide coronavirus were a number of caveats, including that the protection The Economist Intelligence out of vaccines could fuel re- vaccines to poor nations, Covax, from vaccines could be waning over time anyway, and the Unit's study found that emerg- sentment, increasing the risk has failed to live up to its even 66 per cent estimate was based on a relatively short study ing and developing economies, of social unrest in developing modest expectations. period with few infections. whose vaccine rollouts are far economies. "There is little chance that "Although these interim findings suggest a moderate behind those of wealthier coun- The Asia-Pacific Region the divide over access to vac- reduction in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in tries, will bear the brunt of those will be the worst hit in absolute cines will ever be bridged" with preventing infection, the sustained two thirds reduction in losses. terms, accounting for nearly rich countries providing only a infection risk underscores the continued importance and The report comes as ad- three-quarters of the losses. fraction of what is needed, she benefits of COVID-19 vaccination," they said. vanced nations move towards But as a percentage of GDP, said in a statement. A number of studies have now concluded vaccine effi- providing booster shots to their sub-Saharan Africa will suffer "Finally, the focus in de- populations while the interna- the worst losses. veloped economies is shifting cacy has dropped against Delta, even though the precise tional effort to provide vaccines Around 60 per cent of the towards administering booster level of that drop differs between papers. for poorer nations remains in- population of higher-income doses of coronavirus vaccines, Protection against severe disease appears more stable, adequate. countries received at least one which will compound shortages exceeding 90 per cent, according to a recent CDC study of The study calculated that dose of the coronavirus vaccine of raw materials and production patients in New York. countries which fail to vaccinate as of late August, compared to bottlenecks," she added. Another CDC study of Los Angeles patients released 60 per cent of their populations just one per cent in poorer na- The EIU said its study was Tuesday that was carried out from 1 May to 25 July showed by mid-2022 will suffer the losses, tions, according to the study. Two conducted by combining its in- unvaccinated people were 29.2 times more likely to be hos- equivalent to two trillion euros, doses are required to be fully house forecasts for vaccination pitalized with Covid-19 than the vaccinated -- corresponding over the 2022-2025 period. vaccinated for most shots. timelines in around 200 countries to efficacy of about 97 per cent. Delta became the dominant "Emerging countries will "Vaccination campaigns are with GDP growth forecasts. — strain in the United States in early July. shoulder around two-thirds of progressing at a glacial pace in AFP According to a recent paper in the journal Virological, the amount of virus found in the first tests of patients with the Delta variant was 1,000 times higher than patients in Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' reeling in the first wave of the virus in 2020, greatly increasing its the time of Covid contagiousness. —AFP

SILOS, smokestacks and brown For years activists, who height of the first wave, three pools of water line the banks of gave the 87-mile (140-kilometre) residents were dying every day the Mississippi River in Loui- stretch its sinister nickname, in the community of 43,000. "It siana, where scores of refiner- have been fighting to clean up changed our way of life," says ies and petrochemical plants the area. Then, last spring, it Angelo Bernard, 64, who works have metastasized over a few began making headlines for a for the Marathon refinery. decades. Welcome to "Cancer different reason: one of its par- "In Reserve, we all used to Alley." Industrial pollution on ishes — Louisiana's equivalent get together all the time," he re- this ribbon of land between New of US counties — was hit with the members. "We don't anymore. I Orleans and Baton Rouge puts highest rate of Covid-19-related go out as little as possible." Since the mostly African-American deaths in the country. then nearly one in eight parish- residents at nearly 50 times the "It ran through this com- ioners has been infected. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been risk of developing cancer than munity. People were terrified The Delta variant has made examining the real-world performance of the two vaccines since the national average, according here," says Robert Taylor, 79, a the situation even worse: infec- they were first authorized among health care personnel, first to the US Environmental Pro- resident of the parish of St John's tions have exploded in the last responders and other frontline workers. PHOTO: PATRICK T. tection Agency (EPA). the Baptist. In April 2020, at the three weeks. —AFP FALLON /AFP/FILE 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR WORLD 7 Japan, Britain hold joint naval drill south of Okinawa Island

JAPAN and Britain have held try’s southwest, according to the a joint naval drill in the Pacific Defence Ministry. Ocean south of Okinawa Island, “It is essential to strengthen Japan’s Defense Ministry said cooperation with countries that Wednesday, as the two countries share universal values, regard- deepen defence cooperation amid less of geographical distance,” China’s growing military clout. Rear Adm. Yasushige Konno of The drill, conducted on the MSDF told a press confer- Tuesday, involved the Japanese ence Tuesday. Maritime Self-Defence Force de- When asked about the stroyer Ise and a strike group of stealth fighter jets, Konno said, the British aircraft carrier the “At present, only the United Queen Elizabeth, marking the States and Britain are deploy- first time for the Royal Navy’s ing (the F-35B jets). It is very largest warship to exercise with meaningful for us to be able to the Self-Defence Forces near the participate in a joint exercise and Japanese archipelago. gather information.” U.S. and Dutch naval vessels The Queen Elizabeth and its A F-35B fighter jet takes off from British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth during Japan and Britain’s joint naval accompanying the British strike drill in the Pacific Ocean south of Okinawa Island on 24 Aug 2021. PHOTO: KYODO NEWS strike group left Britain in May group also participated in the to showcase London’s increased drill, according to the ministry. ing to the U.S. Marine Corps and The drill also involved F-15 Japan is considering deploy- engagement in the Indo-Pacific in In the exercise, which was the Royal Navy took off from the fighter jets of Japan’s Air-Self ing a total of 42 F-35B fighter jets the face of Beijing’s active pres- open to the media, the F-35B ad- Queen Elizabeth’s ski ramp-like Defence Force and the U.S. Air in the future to an ASDF base in ence in the East and South China vanced stealth fighter jets belong- deck as part of the training. Force. Miyazaki Prefecture in the coun- seas. — Kyodo News Indonesia sets sail on maritime Why is 31 August the date for the US pullout from Afghanistan? vaccination drive US President Joe Biden said contractors who remained in INDONESIA is taking its vac- coastline in the hunt for unvac- jab willing fishermen in rick- Tuesday that he aims to have the country. cination drive to the sea as the cinated fishermen, from west- ety boats off Sumatra at the all US forces out of Afghanistan Critics said the conjunction world’s biggest archipelago na- ernmost Sumatra to holiday weekend. About 1,000 seafarers by 31 August, ending a mas- of the US pullout and commem- tion ramps up a bid to innocu- island Bali and remote Papua. have been jabbed since the na- sive two-week airlift from the orations of the 20th anniversary late its huge population. Among their targets, a tionwide programme kicked off country at the risk of leaving of the 9/11 attack might not look The navy has deployed 60 navy warship deployed a flo- last week, although authorities potential evacuees behind. good. In early July, Biden set boats and warships to scour tilla of rubber dingeys with admit they don’t even know how How was 31 August set? an earlier, more precise final thousands of kilometres of crew and vaccines aboard to many might be out there. Former president Donald day. “Our military mission in “Bad weather is usually Trump set an agreement with Afghanistan will conclude on the biggest barrier, but the the Taliban insurgents in Febru- 31 August,” he said. real challenge now is actually ary 2020 that all US forces would What was the problem? finding (them) because we don’t withdraw from Afghanistan by Washington also wanted exactly know where they are,” 1 May this year. Biden ordered to give the Afghan government said navy spokesman Laode a review when he came into more time to organize its fight Muhamad Holib, adding that office in January. On 14 April he against the Taliban, including the search area extended 24 announced a four-month post- handing over previously US-con- nautical miles off the coast. ponement of Trump’s deadline, trolled bases and equipment to “We’re just combing the sea.” saying US and NATO troops Afghan forces. Washington and Some Indonesian fishermen “will be out of Afghanistan be- NATO partners expected that spend weeks or even months fore we mark the 20th anniver- Afghan forces would be able far from the coast. sary of that heinous attack on to slow, if not stop, the Taliban Others closer to shore of- 11 September.” campaign against them. US in- ten leave for work before vacci- The focus was to evacuate telligence said that government nation centres open and return the remaining 2,500 US troops, forces should be able to hold on Fishermen got doses of Covid-19 vaccines onboard an Indonesian naval home after they’re closed. — several thousand NATO sol- at least six months after the US ship off the coast of southern Riau. PHOTO: INDONESIAN NAVY/AFP AFP diers, and some 16,000 civilian departure.— AFP Taliban shows off ‘special forces’ in propaganda blitz

THE Taliban has been showing to underline how the Talib- Taliban fighter. and equipped fighters within nym of Calibre Obscura said off its own “special forces” on an have better equipped and Rather than a battered the Taliban more broadly, al- the unit would be no match social media, soldiers in new trained men at their disposal Russian-designed Kalashnikov though as you would expect for Western special forces, or uniforms equipped with looted than in the past, experts say. rifle slung over their shoulder, there is a degree of sensation- those of India or Pakistan. American equipment who con- The soldiers are shown the men of Badri 313 hold new alizing in propaganda cover- But “they are more effec- trast sharply with the image of in uniforms, boots, balaclavas US-made rifles such as the M4, age of the unit by the group,” tive than normal Taliban and the usual Afghan insurgent. and body armour similar to sometimes with night-vision Matt Henman from the Janes certainly more than standard Pictures and videos of those worn by special forces goggles and advanced gun- defence consultancy told AFP. Afghan national army troops fighters in the so-called “Badri around the world — and unlike sights. A Western weapons ex- from a couple of weeks ago,” 313” unit have been posted on- the shalwar kameez, turban Badri 313 “likely repre- pert who writes anonymously he told AFP.— AFP line for propaganda purposes and sandals of the traditional sents some of the best trained on Twitter under the pseudo- 26 AUGUST 2021 26 AUGUST 2021 8 OPINION THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR ARTICLE / NATIONAL 9

Seek the best MYANMAR GAZETTE Wakhaung, the month of casting lots festival Appointment of Head of ways in spending Service Organization By Dr Khin Maung Nyunt THE State Administration Council has appointed Deputy AKHAUNG (August) burst forth into bloom, khat-tar Director-General U Myo Nyunt Aung of the Department allotted budgets is the 5th month of or land lily (Crinum amoenum) (Maha Saddhamma Jotika dhaja Sithu) for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana under the the Myanmar lunar is traditionally marked as the W Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture as Director-General calendar. Myanmar is a tropi- flower of Wakhaung. (a) Sangha-bhat which is the bias and prejudice, and being of the Department of Religious Affairs of the same ministry cal country with three sea-sons Sayey Tan Pwe, which may food offered to all monks able to keep the correct list of for the people on probation from the date he assumes charge of his duties. namely hot season (gein hman), best be rendered into English (b) Uddesa-bhat which is the allotted and unallotted monks. rainy season (wathan) and cold as “Casting lots Festival” was food offered particularly to one or The first monk appointed in that is the new era with changing the setting of the season (hei man). Wakhaung falls the traditional festival held in two monks. charge during the lifetime of the NOW financial year from 1 October to 30 September to in the rainy season. The word Wakhaung in the days of yore. (c) Nimantana-bhat which Lord Buddha was Maha Thera ` 1 April to 31 March starting from the 2022-2023 financial year. The ‘Wakhaung’ is a combination of Sayey Tans are lots to decide to is the food offered to the invited Ashin Datba, the son of the Malla past setting of the financial year from 1 October to 30 September two words ‘Wa’ and ‘Khaung’. choose the recipient of food or monks. king. He discharged the duty of was set by the previous government. Hence, the interim budget Wa means Buddhist lent and gift or alms in a religious offer- (d) Salaka-bhat which is the allotting Uddesa-bhat, Niman- Myanmar Daily Weather Report must be drawn for six months from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Khaung means middle or peak. ing. The custom of casting lots food offered to the monks chosen tana-bhat and Salaka-bhat, with (Issued at 7:00 pm Wednesday 25 August 2021) The country may face some economic loss with declining in- So, Wakhaung implies the middle in religious charity originated by casting lots. fairness and correctness. comes including that from taxes and other income in the coming or the peak of the Buddhist lent in the lifetime of the Lord Bud- (e) Pakkhika-bhat which is The lots are either wooden BAY INFERENCE: Monsoon is moderate to strong over the six months. As the government must spend the expenditure on that covers three months of the dha. While the lord Buddha was the food offered to the monks sticks or bamboo slats or bamboo Andaman Sea and South Bay and weak to moderate elsewhere Crinum amoenum(Khatta). prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 without fail, union rainy season namely Waso (July), residing in the Weiluwun Viha- on the waxing and waning moon strips or palm leaves or pei leaves over the Bay of Bengal. ministries need to scrutinize the expenditures as much as they can. Wakhaung (August) and Taw- ra at the Capital of Yazagyoe, days. on which names and addresses Thihathu (A.D. 1298-1312) of the follows: - The estimated income must be actual income to be gained within six thalin (September). In the stone famine hit the city and food was (f) Uposathika-bhat which is of the donors of food are written. Pinya dynasty (A.D. 1298-1364) a “On the 8th waning day of FORECAST VALID UNTIL AFTERNOON OF THE 26 months, and the estimated inscriptions of the Bagan Period, scarce. Buddhist devotees could the food offered to the monks on The lots are then put into the bas- big wooden monastery was built the month of Wakhaung, vil- August 2021: Rain or thundershowers will be scattered in Nay expenditure must be actual another word for Wakhaung was no longer provide ‘hswan’ (food) the Sabbath day. ket and the basket is shaken up- by the royal order, and the king lage monks (Ga ma wa thi) and Pyi Taw, Lower Sagaing, Magway Regions and Chin State, and The allotted cost within six months. used. It was “Nan Kala” (နံကာလ) for all monks of the Vihara. Some (g) Patipadika-bhat which side down many times so that the decreed that ‘he who hath the forest monks (Arin nja wa thi) fairly widespread in Upper Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, Ayeyawady After the annual budget which means the time for plough- wanted to select ten or twenty is the food offered to the monks lots are thoroughly shuffled up. courage let him take possession were invited to the palace. Eight Regions and widespread in the remaining Ragions and States budget is law was enacted, Union min- ing, or the planting season, or the monks to offer food. Some pre- on the day after the Sabbath day. The monks queue up either ac- of it’ At that time there was one priestly utensils and other of- with likelihood of regionally heavyfalls in Taninthayi Region and istries need to spend the month for agricultural activities. ferred to cast lots so as to de- The Lord Buddha then said cording to their serial number if head monk named Soo Twin Pyit fertories were hung on the two Kayin, Mon States and isolated heavyfalls in Upper Sagaing, budget on the implementa- such numbers are given them or Sayadaw who was famous for his hundred and sixty Padeithabins. Mandalay, Yangon Regions and Kachin, Rakhine States. Degree the primary tion of projects. It is because according to the seniority of their learning and knowledge. Hearing His Majesty the King and the of certainty is (100%). the State budget is obtained vasa (ordained age) to draw the the royal decree, the monk took Chief Queen donated them to source for the from incomes and taxes paid lot. Then they go to the house as residence in the monastery. Lat- the monks and poured the liba- STATE OF THE SEA: Squalls with moderate to rough seas by the people. Hence, minis- directed by their lots to partake er the monk advised the king that tion water. Their Majesties then are likely at times Deltaic, Gulf of Mottama, off and along development tries need to carefully spend of the food offered there. During the best way to find the deserving offered Salakabhat Sayey Tan Mon-Taninthayi Coasts. Surface wind speed in squalls may the budgets funded by the the lifetime of the Lord Buddha, occupant for the monastery was hswan (food offered by casting reach (30-35) mph. Sea will be slight to moderate elsewhere of the nation. people on essential projects. offering food to the monks by by casting lots. From that time lots) to the monks.” in Myanmar waters. Wave height will be about (7 – 9) feet in Moreover, all ministries are casting lots could be made at began the casting lots festival. It is to be noted that unlike Deltaic, Gulf of Mottama, off and along Mon- Taninthayi Coasts Those at the responsible for seeking the any place, on any date and in any Later, in the reign of King Thalun the Sayey Tan Pwe of the Lord and about (4-7) feet in off and along Rakhine Coasts. best ways how to earn in- month. There was no rule fixing (A.D.1629-48) of the Nyaung Yan Buddha’s time, Myanmar Sayey management come for the State treasury. its place, date and month. But dynasty (A.D. 1599-1752) there Tan Pwe has the names of the re- OUTLOOK FOR SUBSEQUENT TWO DAYS: Moderate Spending of the budget Myanmar kings chose Wakhaung appeared two religious transla- cipient monks written on the lots, to strong monsoon over the Andaman Sea and South Bay of level need to must be in line with the as the month for performing this tions namely Culavapali nisaya instead of the donors’ names and Bengal. policies, financial rules and religious function because the and Culava-pali Athakatha nisaya addresses and it is the donors exercise thrifty regulations as well as work monks observing lent vows and by the most venerable monk who draw the lots, not the monks. FORECAST FOR NAY PYI TAW AND NEIGHBOURING procedures adopted by the residing together in the same Shwe Umin Sayadaw of Pakhan A list of names and addresses of AREA FOR 26 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. measures in State. In so doing, implemen- monastery might have difficul- Gyi town. In them, he translat- the monks residing in the locality Degree of certainty is (100%). tation of the projects at the ty in getting sufficient food in ed into Myanmar the two Pali is made and these are written spending the Union level should not be Wakhaung. Originally casting lots words “Salaka” and ‘bhatta’ as on the lots which are placed in FORECAST FOR YANGON AND NEIGHBOURING AREA overlapped with that of re- was to provide food to the monks. ‘Sayey Tan’ and “Hswan’. Salaka the bamboo container called ‘wa FOR 26 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. Degree budget on the gions and states not to waste But later, eight priestly utensils means wooden or bamboo sticks kyi-tauk’. At the assembly of the of certainty is (100%). the funds. namely three pieces of the yellow on which letters were written and Buddhist devotees, names of the The budget must be robe, the girdle, the alms bowl, bhatta means food (hswan). Let- donors of food are called out ac- FORECAST FOR MANDALAY AND NEIGHBOURING implementation sought in advance for the the adze, the water dipper, and ters written on the sticks mention cording to their serial number AREA FOR 26 August 2021: Isolated rain or thundershowers. coming financial period. It is the needle and other offertories the names and addresses of the to draw the lots. The following Degree of certainty is (100%). of the projects, necessary to systematically are also donated by casting lots. donors of food. morning the donors either invite spend the budget in the set Such articles are hung on a tree- Myanmar literature of later the monks of their lots to their which must period. Otherwise, the re- There is a Myanmar folk rhyme cide the recipient monks. Some that he approved all of them. shaped stand, which is called Pa- historic periods contained refer- houses to offer food or put food EARTHQUAKE NEWS maining budget must be giv- that aptly describes this season thought of offering food to the Since that time offering food to dei-thabin meaning the tree of ences to the casting lots festival. in the large bowl with a stand (Issued at 12:45 hour MST on 25 August 2021) directly benefit en back to the government. It “ “ဝါဆို၊ ဝါခေါင်၊ ရေဖောင်ဖောင်” (In monks only on the Sabbath days the monks by casting lots be- plenty and variety, comparable Different forms of the poem such and cover (usually of lacquer) A slight earthquake of magnitude (4.9) Richter Scale with is necessary to take care of Waso and Wakhaung there are when they came to the Vihara came a common practice among to the mythical cornucopia. as loota, lay cho, eh-chin, tay htat, called’ hswan ok’ and send it to its epicentre inside Myanmar (about (9) miles northwest of taxpayer people. earning income to meet the billows of rainwater). As these for fasting and observing moral the Buddhist devotees. With the In Myanmar, the earliest tha hpyan etc. on twelve seasons the monks. Just like on other Taunggyi), latitude 20.88°N, longitude 96.95°E, depth (10) kilo- target and spending expend- two months are the peak of the precepts. Others chose the day permission and at the direction evidence of offering food to the composed by eminent bards like Myanmar religious functions, a metres, about (9) miles northwest of Taunggyi seismological iture to avoid nine points of rainy season the countryside is after the Sabbath day for offering of the Lord Buddha, the monks monks by casting lots was found U Yar, Lu U Min, Hpo Thu Daw festival atmosphere is created observatory was recorded at (12) hr (36) min (11) sec MST on weakness examined by the inundated with rainwater. The food because they thought that chose one monk from among in the stone inscriptions of an- U Min, Mei Khwe, U Hpyey, U by the gathering of lay devotees 25 August 2021. Office of the Auditor-General of the Union and to be in line with astrological name of Wakhaung was the day the monks were in themselves and appointed him cient Bagan. In lines 22 and 23 of Ponnya have mention of casting dressed in their finery, and dainty financial rules and regulations. is Simha (သိဟ်) (Leo) and its zo- real need of food. Being unable to “Bhattuddesaka” i.e., the monk Saw Hla Wun pagoda inscriptions lots festival in Walchaung. On damsels carrying offertories on The allotted budget is the primary source for the development diacal sign is a lion. In this month reach a consensus of opinion the who was in charge of allotting of A.D. 1268, 1290 and 1291, there page 229 of one Myanmar Chron- their heads, followed by groups of the nation. Those at the management level need to exercise in the daytime the Sun and the devotees referred the matter to food offered by the devotees. The was mention of Sayey Tan (cast- icle named Konbaung Set Maim of merry-making youths who joy- thrifty measures in spending the budget on the implementation of Hpou Sha stars and at night the the Lord Buddha. Whereupon the monk thus chosen and appointed ing lots). There is one oral histo- Yazawun Tawgyi Volume 11, the ously dance, sing and play folk the projects, which must directly benefit taxpayer people. Moon and Tharawun stars rival Lord Buddha expounded seven must have special qualifications ry, which tells how offering food holding of the casting lots festival music of ‘do-bat’, ‘ozi’, and ‘byaw’ in their radiance. Although all different modes of offering food to such as good health, activeness, by casting lots originated in My- at the palace of King Bagyidaw which befit the occasion. lilies and most trees and plants the monks. They are as follows: - managerial skill, freedom from anmar. During the reign of King (A.D. 1819-37) was recorded as 26 AUGUST 2021 10 ENVIRON: WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Mountain biking rivals skiing in ‘Catastrophic’ pollution Austria as Alps warm plagues Libya beaches WITH untreated sewage in in search of cool. A village in the Austrian Alps the water and rubbish piled on Libya’s infrastructure has known for its family-friendly ski the sand, pollution on Tripoli’s been devastated by a decade of resort has been forced to adapt Mediterranean coast is denying conflict, state collapse and ne- to waning snow due to climate residents of the war-torn Libyan glect since the 2011 overthrow change, turning to a new down- capital a much-needed escape. and killing of dictator Moamer hill sport -- mountain biking. Bik- The environment ministry Kadhafi in a NATO-backed re- ers as young as three ride over last month ordered the clo- bellion. landscaped jumps and curved sure of a number of beaches But Tripoli’s only sewage forest trails, breathing new life along the 30-kilometre (18-mile) works closed years before that, into Sankt Corona am Wechsel, Greater Tripoli coastline, de- like many industrial facilities around an hour’s drive from Vi- spite the roasting summer heat. shuttered for lack of mainte- enna, and offering a model for “The situation is cata- nance or funding. other struggling resorts. strophic,” said Abdelbasset As a result, all of Tripoli’s “We used to be a 100 per al-Miri, the ministry official in wastewater goes directly into cent winter destination. Now, charge of monitoring the coast. the Mediterranean. we have to think about climate Sankt Corona now draws about 130,000 visitors per season thanks to its “We need quick solutions “Huge amounts of sewage mountain-biking trails. PHOTO: AFP change, and summers are boom- for this problem because it gets dumped in the sea every ing,” said Karl Morgenbesser, in half a century, according to a nearly 900 metres, Sankt Corona harms the environment just as day,” said Sara al-Naami of Trip- who runs the adventure park in March study published in The dismantled its winter infrastruc- much as it harms people.” oli city council. Sankt Corona. As the coronavi- Cryosphere scientific journal. ture in 2014 after years of losses Daily discharges of untreat- ‘Summer prison’ rus pandemic increases enthusi- And a recent report by the as annual visitor numbers fell ed sewage from the capital’s Laboratory tests have asm for outdoor activities, many UN’s Intergovernmental Pan- to 25,000 from 70,000 some 20 two million population make found “a high concentration Austrians hope mountain biking el on Climate Change (IPCC) years earlier. this the most polluted section of bacteria, 500 per cent more and other summer sports can found that in the Alps the snow A rollercoaster-like summer of the North African country’s than normal”, including E. Coli, make up for winter losses in the cover will decrease in areas toboggan and climbing space 1,770-kilometre coastline. at five sites along the capital’s Alpine nation, where skiing ac- below 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) soon opened, but the 400-res- Cans, plastic bags and bot- coastline, she added. counts for around three per cent throughout the 21st century. ident village’s fortunes truly tles plague the water and shore. “We have raised the issue of the GDP. Nearly a month of turned when it devised a net- On one beach, near a large of pollution in Tripoli’s seawa- snow cover has been lost in the Lift pulls bikers up work of mountain-biking trails. hotel, open-air rivulets channel ter with the former and current Alps at low and medium altitude Situated at an altitude of —AFP untreated wastewater into the governments, and emphasized sea, where a few young men the urgent need for a sanitation brave the contaminated waters facility,” Naami said.—AFP Thailand takes kratom off illegal drug list

THAILAND on Tuesday decrim- where the Food and Drug Ad- ecution costs. inalized kratom, a tropical leaf ministration (FDA) has warned Kratom stimulates the long used as a herbal remedy against its use, citing risks of same brain receptors as mor- but which some health regu- addiction and abuse. phine, though with much mild- lators around the world have The change to Thai law er effects, and in Thailand it is criticized as potentially unsafe. means “the general public will mainly used in the deep south, Kratom — scientific name be able to consume and sell where Muslim workers use it for Mitragyna speciosa — is part kratom legally”, government pain relief after manual labour. of the coffee family, used for spokesman Anucha Bura- It has not been subject to in- centuries in Southeast Asia pachaisri said in a statement. ternational restrictions, though and Papua New Guinea for its A Thailand Development the World Health Organization pain-relieving and mildly stim- Research Institute study esti- announced last month that it Libyans swim in the Mediterranean at the capital Tripoli’s waterfront. ulating effects. mated that decriminalization was examining whether kratom Libya’s infrastructure has been devastated by a decade of conflict, state It has become increasingly will save authorities about 1.69 should be considered for con- collapse and neglect since the 2011 overthrow and killing of dictator popular in the United States, billion baht ($50 million) in pros- trol.—AFP Moamer Kadhafi. PHOTO: AFP Maersk orders eight carbon-neutral container ships

DANISH shipping giant AP industry. four more vessels in 2025. Moller-Maersk said Tuesday it Maersk said in a state- According to Maersk, the was speeding up plans for an ment that it will introduce the new ships will enable the com- environment-friendly fleet with “groundbreaking” ocean-going pany to reduce its annual CO2 the order of eight carbon-neutral vessels, capable of operating on emissions by about one million container vessels, a pioneering carbon-neutral methanol, in the tonnes. Global maritime trans- project in the highly-polluting first quarter of 2024. port is more polluting than the industry. The ships, built by Hyun- aviation sector, according to the Danish shipping giant AP dai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Higher Institute of Maritime Eco- Moller-Maersk said Tuesday it equipped with dual fuel engines, nomics (Isemar). was speeding up plans for an will be able to each transport It is responsible for 2.98 per environment-friendly fleet with 16,000 containers, and will ac- cent of global greenhouse gas Global maritime transport accounts for almost three per cent of the order of eight carbon-neutral count for about three per cent emissions, 2018 figures from the greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime container vessels, a pioneering of the company’s fleet. The deal International Maritime Organiza- Organization. PHOTO: AFP/FILE project in the highly-polluting with HHI includes an option for tion (IMO) show.—AFP 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR PANDEMIC: WORLD 11 European football giants to take 2 billion euro Covid hit NEWS IN BRIEF MATCHDAY revenues across the five major European foot- Sri Lanka’s ball leagues took a nearly 2 bil- lion euro hit last season ($2.35 former foreign billion) after spectators were largely barred from attending minister dies matches due to the pandemic, a report by consultancy KPMG of COVID-19 said Tuesday. The projected revenue loss- SRI Lanka’s former For- es dwarf the 500 million euros eign Minister Mangala Sa- that clubs in the leagues suffered maraweera died on Tuesday in the 2019/20 season, when the after being infected with the virus first affected Europe and COVID-19 virus, local media led to sport being suspended reported here. in March 2020, only resuming Samaraweera had been months later without spectators. admitted to the Intensive Care The continent’s top five Unit of a private hospital in leagues are England’s Premier Clubs across the five major European leagues are projected by KPMG to lose 2 billion euros in matchday capital Colombo last week League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s revenues from the 2020/21 season having had no fans in due to the coronavirus pandemic. after he contracted the virus. La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga PHOTO: POOL/AFP Local media quoting and the French Ligue 1. on over 2bn euros of matchday age highest attendance, was the The report stated that of five medical officers said Sa- “It is expected that clubs in revenues combined,” the report most impacted (an estimated 157 big clubs, Barcelona saw the big- maraweera had developed the big 5 leagues will make little- said. million euros drop in revenues) gest dip, registering a 39-million complications and suffered a to-no income from this source For the 2019/20 season the while Ligue 1 suffered the least euros contraction in matchday cardiac arrest. in 2020/21, potentially losing out Bundesliga, which has the aver- (48 million euros). revenues.—AFP He succumbed to the vi- rus on Tuesday morning. Samaraweera, 65, had served as the Foreign Affairs Indonesia’s COVID-19 cases surpass 4 mln Minister and Finance Minister in previous governments but INDONESIA has registered coronavirus wave has passed its stepped down from politics more than 4 million COVID-19 peak. The country’s Health Min- last year. At the time, he was cases since the first case was con- ister Budi Gunadi Sadikin made a member of the opposition firmed in the country in March a statement relating to that in Samagi Jana Balawegaya po- last year. early August. litical party. On Tuesday, the country’s Driven by the highly trans- Sri Lanka is in the midst Health Ministry reported that missible Delta variant, the coun- of a rapid third wave of the the coronavirus cases across try in July has seen an upsurge of COVID-19 which has infected the archipelago country rose by cases which overwhelmed health over 390,000 people to date 19,106 within the past 24 hours workers, and has seen corona- and caused 7,560 deaths.— to 4,008,166 with the death toll virus-related deaths soaring to Xinhua adding by 1,038 to 128,252. record levels. On Monday, Pres- To date, more than 3.6 million People wearing face masks walk at a train station following the ident Joko Widodo said during a implementation of “large scale social restrictions” in Bogor in West Java have recovered from the disease, live-streamed briefing that sev- on 10 April 2020, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic Controversial the ministry reported. PHOTO: AFP/FILE eral areas on Java and Bali, such Indonesia has the highest as Greater Jakarta, Bandung in Peruvian PM number of COVID-19 cases and of deaths. outside the two islands, which is West Java and Surabaya in East gets vaccinated deaths in the Southeast Asia re- The government is current- set to end on 30 Aug. Java, which were previously im- gion. ly implementing four-tiered re- Official numbers from the plementing PPKM Level 4, can The coronavirus has spread strictions on community activities Health Ministry showed that the now lower the level of the restric- IN Lima, Peru, 42-year-old to all the country’s 34 provinces (locally abbreviated as PPKM) number of new cases of corona- tions to Level 3. Since last week, Prime Minister Guido Bellido, with the national capital Jakarta on the most populated island of virus in the last few weeks are the government has started to alongside Environment Minis- having the most cases, while Cen- Java and the resort spot of Bali declining, suggesting that In- ease the restrictions in several ter Ruben Ramirez, has been tral Java has the highest number as well as a number of provinces donesia’s devastating second major cities.—Xinhua vaccinated against COVID-19. Despite having been eli- gible for the vaccine for some Ecuadorian authorities time, Bellido had pushed back his vaccination for unknown reasons. He, like Minister launch vaccination drive in Ramirez, were both inoculat- ed with a SinoPharm vaccine. Amazonian region As he was vaccinated, Bellido also commented on IN Orellana, Ecuador, authorities are carrying out mass COVID-19 several issues pertaining to vaccination drives in this relatively isolated area as part of a wider the embattle Pedro Castillo plan to immunize the communities of the Amazonian region. administration — chief among Local reception to the vaccine drive has generally been positive, which is the President’s his- as Orellana has already reported nearly 3000 cases of COVID-19 over torically low approval rating the span of the pandemic, though fortunately no deaths. just a few weeks into his gov- In the province of Amazonia, authorities say that 85,000 suc- ernment and the controversy File photo of an Amazonian women getting a Covid-19 jab in Brazil’s cessful vaccinations have been reported in total since the start of over Bellido’s own appoint- Amazonas State. PHOTO: AFP the drive. — AFP ment.— AFP 26 AUGUST 2021 12 ECON: WORLD THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NEWS Indonesia seizes tanker wanted over IN BRIEF Cambodian oil heist China reopens world’s third busiest Indonesia’s navy said it was questioning the crew of 13 Indi- port after partial virus halt ans, three Bangladeshis and a trio from Myanmar at its base CHINA reopened a key terminal at the world’s third-busiest cargo port near Singapore. on Wednesday, after a shutdown to control the coronavirus caused The 183-metre (600-foot) major backlogs elsewhere and worsened export already extended tanker, sailing from Thailand to delays caused by the pandemic. Indonesia’s Batam island, had The halt at the eastern Ningbo-Zhoushan port started two weeks turned off its identification sys- ago, when a worker at its Meishan terminal tested positive for the tem and anchored illegally in disease. the archipelago’s waters, naval The terminal handles a fifth of the container volume at Ning- authorities said. Its Bangladeshi bo-Zhoushan and the hold-up forced ships to other Chinese ports, The MT Strovolos was picked up by the Indonesian navy off the coast of captain could face up to a year which were left facing their worst levels of congestion in seven years, Sumatra. PHOTO: HANDOUT/ INDONESIAN NAVY/AFP in prison and a $14,000 fine if reported Chinese media outlet Caixin this week. convicted on maritime violation The closure added stress to an already stretched global shipping INDONESIA’S navy said Strovolos was picked up on 27 charges, they added. “The Indo- network, with soaring demand for goods from Western consumers Wednesday it has seized a tank- July off the coast of Sumatra, nesian navy will not hesitate to in the pandemic piling pressure on Chinese exporters who face strict er and its crew who were want- they said, days after Phnom take action against any type of domestic virus controls. ed on charges of stealing nearly Penh issued a red notice on crimes committed within Indone- The Ningbo-Zhoushan port handled almost 1.2 billion tonnes of 300,000 barrels of crude oil from Interpol to seize the ship over sia’s jurisdictional territory,” First goods in 2020. But Ningbo authorities said late Tuesday that restric- Cambodia’s reserves. claims it stole the kingdom’s Fleet commander Arsyad Abdul- tions will be lifted from Wednesday morning. “All units in the zone The Bahamian-flagged MT crude. lah said in a statement.—AFP must comprehensively do a good job in epidemic prevention and control, as well as resumption of work and production,” said a notice republished by state broadcaster CCTV.—AFP Surging COVID cases delay emergence of

Biden’s nearly $5 trillion spending plans pent-up demand: BOJ member win key House vote mand, a Bank of Japan board member said Wednesday. US President Joe Biden’s plans to spend nearly $5 trillion to change the Toyoaki Nakamura, who sits world’s largest economy advanced in the House of Representatives on on the BOJ’s Policy Board, said Tuesday, after Democratic leaders reached an agreement with centrist the Japanese economy is pick- lawmakers to end a dispute threatening the bills. ing up as a trend but cautioned Biden and his Democratic allies controlling the chamber are push- against downside risks due to ing for passage of both a $1.2 trillion infrastructure overhaul and a bill the spread of the highly conta- costing $3.5 trillion over 10 years that would pay for improvements to gious Delta variant during a vir- education, healthcare and climate change resiliency. tual meeting with local business The dispute erupted when centrist Democrats in the House said leaders in Miyazaki Prefecture, the infrastructure bill, which the Senate already approved, must be southwestern Japan. “Due to voted on first. the resurgence of infections, the On Tuesday, those lawmakers backed a compromise resolution timing for pent-up demand (to that allowed both bills to advance, while guaranteeing a date to vote Toyoaki Nakamura, who sits on the Bank of Japan Policy Board, holds emerge) is likely to have been a virtual meeting at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo with local business on the infrastructure bill near the end of September. leaders in Miyazaki Prefecture on 25 Aug. 2021. PHOTO: KYODO slightly delayed,” Nakamura told “Today the House of Representatives has taken significant steps the meeting. “Thereafter, it is toward making historic investment that’s going to transform America, THE Japanese economy re- and the surging number of COV- possible that we will see econom- cut taxes for working families and position the American economy mains in a “severe” situation ID-19 cases is causing a delay in ic activity picking up more than for... long-term growth,” Biden said following the vote.—AFP amid the coronavirus pandemic, the emergence of pent-up de- anticipated.”—Kyodo

Australian national science agency calls for embracing advanced recycling

AUSTRALIA’S national science has set a target of 70 per cent for food packaging, such as food agency has called on the nation of plastic packaging materials pouches and chocolate wrap- to embrace advanced recycling recycled or composted by 2025. pers. When collected, these types to convert plastic bound for land- Sarah King, a CSIRO re- of plastics may be contaminated fills into valuable resources. searcher, said that embracing with food, or mixed with other In a report published on new technologies was critical to materials so currently can’t be Wednesday, the Commonwealth boosting the recovery and recy- recycled. Scientific and Industrial Re- cling of plastics. “Advanced recycling could search Organization (CSIRO) “Advanced recycling tech- process this plastic waste to evaluated how advanced recy- nologies could turn hard-to-recy- increase opportunities for the cling technologies, also known cle plastics, such as mixed, mul- polymer manufacturing and as feedstock, molecular and ti-layer, flexible or contaminated waste sectors by supporting new chemical recycling, could boost plastics back into food-grade re- industries. The North American the Australian economy. cycled plastics or other products market is estimated at 120 billion It found that less than 12 per through chemical, thermal or Australian dollars (86.8 billion cent of Australia’s plastic waste biological processes,” she said U.S. dollars), demonstrating is recycled while 85 per cent ends in a media release. there is economic potential for Scientists have measured bag impacts taking into consideration materials, manufacturing, use, and disposal or recycling. up in landfills. “It is suitable for flexible or adopting advanced recycling in PHOTO: AFP/FILE The Australian government soft ‘scrunchable’ plastics used Australia.”— Xinhua 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR BIZ: WORLD/ AD 13 Business sentiment among S.Korean Thai cabinet keeps VAT rate at 7 manufacturers worsens in August pct for another two years SENTIMENT among ment index (BSI) for man- reported 2,155 more cases South Korean manufac- ufacturers declined to 95 of COVID-19 for the past turers over economic in August from 97 in the 24 hours, hovering above situation worsened this prior month, according to 1,000 for 50 straight days. month amid the contin- the Bank of Korea (BOK). The BSI among ued COVID-19 resur- It came as the COV- non-manufacturers gence here, central bank ID-19 pandemic resurged gained 2 points over the data showed Wednesday. here in early July. In the month to 81 in August The business senti- latest tally, South Korea as people spent more on travel-related services during the summer va- cation season. The BSI in all indus- tries stood unchanged at 87 in August compared to the previous month. The index is based Employees prepare to close a grocery shop in Bangkok on 19 July 2021, ahead of a on a survey of 1,634 man- night-time curfew restriction implemented to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 ufacturers and 1,180 coronavirus. PHOTO: AFP / CANDIDA NG non-manufacturers con- ducted between Aug. 10 THE Thai Cabinet on Tues- an, this extension will not also extended the dead- Visitors look at industrial robots during a smart logistics and 18. The reading below day decided to keep the impact the state revenue line for online tax filing demonstration event organized by South Korea’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry at Hyundai robot 100 indicates pessimists current 7 per cent rate of collection during fiscal year and payments, in order to logistics demo centre in Gwangju on 30 March 2021. outnumbering optimists. Value Added Tax (VAT) for of 2022 and 2023, as it has give the general public and PHOTO: AFP — Xinhua at least another two years, already been incorporated business operators more hoping to reduce the finan- in the revenue projection. financial liquidity. cial burden of consumers The VAT has been at Moreover, penalties for and businesses wrought by 7 per cent since the Asian late filing or failure to file Walmart opens delivery COVID-19 pandemic. financial crisis in 1997. taxes by both general pub- According to Racha- The Ministry of Fi- lic and businesses will also services for all businesses da Dhanadirek, a deputy nance revealed that the be waived or charged at a government spokeswom- Revenue Department has reduced rate.—Xinhua US shopping giant Wal- retailers, in its latest push transportation infrastruc- mart on Tuesday an- to reposition itself and fend ture, in which it has invest- nounced it was opening a off Amazon’s rise. ed heavily in recent years, delivery service for busi- The chain announced available to other stores nesses, including other it will make its logistics and through a service called Walmart GoLocal. “We’ve worked hard to develop a reliable last-mile delivery programme for our customers. Now, we’re pleased to be able to use these capabilities to serve another set of customers — local merchants,” Tom Ward, a senior vice-pres- ident for Walmart’s US US retail giant Walmart’s new shipping service is the latest location, said in a press move in its competiton with Amazon. PHOTO: AFP/FILE release.—AFP

THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR CLAIMS DAY NOTICE CLAIMS DAY NOTICE MINISTRY OF ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY M.V PRESIDIO VOY.NO. (065N) M.V ECO DESTINY ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION ENTERPRISE GROUND MOUNTED SOLAR POWER PROJECTS Consignees of cargo carried on M.V PRESIDIO Consignees of cargo carried on M.V ECO DESTINY IN MYANMAR are hereby notified that the vessel will are hereby notified that the vessel will be VOY.NO. (065N) VOY.NO. (76L) (Tender No. EPGE PV 02/2021-2022) be arriving on 26-8-2021 and cargo will be discharged into arriving on 26-8-2021 and cargo will be discharged into the premises of HPT where it will lie at the consignee’s the premises of IBTT where it will lie at the consignee’s In accordance with section 8 2 “AMENDMENTS” risk and expenses and subject to the byelaws and risk and expenses and subject to the byelaws and of Request for Proposals RFP of EPGE PV 02/2021- conditions of the Port of Yangon. conditions of the Port of Yangon. 2022, EPGE herewith would like to announce that Bid Damaged cargo will be surveyed daily from 8 am Damaged cargo will be surveyed daily from 8 am Submission Date shall be amended as 1st October 2021 to 11:20 am and 12 noon to 4 pm to Claim’s Day now to 11:20 am and 12 noon to 4 pm to Claim’s Day now and the Addendum No.2 shall be issued. declared as the third day after final discharge of cargo declared as the third day after final discharge of cargo from the Vessel. from the Vessel. No claims against this vessel will be admitted after No claims against this vessel will be admitted after the Claims Day. the Claims Day. Phone No: 2301185 Phone No: 2301928 Shipping Agency Department Shipping Agency Department Myanma Port Authority Myanma Port Authority Agent For: Agent For:

M/S NEW GOLDEN SEA SHIPPING PTE., LTD. M/S BEN LINE AGENCIES (S'PORE) PTE LTD 26 AUGUST 2021 14 SOCIETY THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR NEWS G-7 vows to ensure safe Afghanistan evacuation, IN BRIEF keep Taliban on watch Two injured in acid attack at THE Group of Seven industrial- on Washington for easing the ized nations on Tuesday vowed to timeline amid the ongoing inter- station in Tokyo work to safely evacuate their cit- national airlift operations from izens from Afghanistan following Afghanistan to help people flee TWO people suffered burns in the unexpectedly swift takeover from the Taliban rule. an acid attack at a Tokyo sub- by the Taliban, while urging the A joint statement issued by way station with the perpetra- militant group to respect human the G-7 leaders following their tor still at large, police and local rights in the country and prevent meeting did not mention the U.S. media said Wednesday. terrorism. troop withdrawal deadline, only The attack took place at During a virtual meeting of emphasizing that their “imme- Shirokane Takanawa station the G-7 leaders to discuss Af- diate priority is to ensure the in an upscale part of Tokyo ghanistan, U.S. President Joe safe evacuation of our citizens on Tuesday night, while the Biden conveyed his intention to and those Afghans who have Paralympics opening ceremo- stick to his self-imposed dead- partnered with us and assisted ny was being held under tight line of 31 Aug. for completing the our efforts over the past twenty security in the capital. withdrawal of American troops years.” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga participates in an online One of the victims, a there as he seeks to end the war Japanese Prime Minister summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations at the 22-year-old businessman, sus- that started following the terror Yoshihide Suga told reporters prime minister’s office in Tokyo on 24 Aug. 2021. PHOTO: CABINET tained burns to his face after attacks of 11 Sept. 2001 on the that Tokyo will work closely with PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE/(KYODO) the suspect sprayed liquid at United States. the other G-7 members on ef- refugees who flee Afghanistan on pace” to finish pulling out its him on an escalator, a police His remarks came as U.S. forts to evacuate people from to neighbouring countries. Bid- troops by the end of the month, spokesman told AFP. allies such as Britain and France Afghanistan and that his coun- en said during the meeting that according to White House Press Public broadcaster NHK have reportedly been calling try is prepared to help support the United States is “currently Secretary Jen Psaki.— Kyodo said the man was severely in- jured by the liquid, which it named as sulphuric acid. A 34-year-old woman also Voice of jihad: Taliban spokesman in spotlight fell and reportedly suffered mi- nor burns to her legs.—AFP after shadowy fight

collapse of the US-backed gov- a special attack” carried out by Palestinians ernment, Zabihullah Mujahid the Taliban. forge ‘grassroots’ presented himself to the public The spokesman is now sit- campaign against for the first time in a surprise ting in Menapal’s old seat, seek- press conference in the Afghan ing to allay concern about how the wildcat settlement capital. At first glance, there Taliban will rule. “All those on the was little that distinguished the opposite side are pardoned from Using laser pointers and noisy Taliban spokesman from its oth- A to Z,” said Mujahid as he fielded horns to torment Jewish settlers er leaders — the middle-aged questions from the remnants of across the valley, Palestinians jihadist sported a black turban the Afghan press corps. in Beita have set themselves and full black beard framing a “We will not seek revenge.” apart from others demonstrat- stoney demeanour carved from For years, there was a debate ing against Israel’s occupation decades of war. “We have expelled as to whether Mujahid was even of the West Bank. the foreigners,” he proclaimed in a single person — his moniker But beyond attention-grab- his opening remarks. serving as cover for the Taliban’s bing tactics, protesters in the Days after the Taliban captured Kabul, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid Just days earlier, Mujahid sprawling information wing. presented himself to the public for the first time. PHOTO: AFP Palestinian town near Nablus announced via social media the But Mujahid was real and insist their weeks-long cam- FOR years the Taliban’s top online where he live-tweeted the assassination of leading govern- relaxed in his public debut, deliv- paign against the wildcat set- spokesman shunned the public insurgency. ment spokesman Dawa Khan ering assurances in a live broad- tlement of Eviatar is distinct for eye, even as he amassed hun- But days after the Taliban Menapal, boasting that the kill- cast on behalf of a group that once another reason. dreds of thousands of followers captured Kabul following the ing had been orchestrated “in banned television.— AFP They describe it as a grass- roots movement, not inspired or directed by Fatah secularists Two French travellers detained for perching atop iconic statue who control the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, or BRAZILIAN authorities have through a hatch on one of the their rivals from the Islamist detained two French men for arms to enjoy the view of the Hamas that runs the Gaza Strip. watching the sun rise over Rio city and Guanabara Bay. The “Here there is only one de Janeiro from the top of the statue’s outstretched arms flag: That of Palestine. There iconic Christ the Redeemer span 28 metres. are no factions,” Said Hamayel statue while the monument The adventure ended when told AFP. “We are doing from was closed. one of the security guards at the below what Palestinian leaders Clement Dumais, 28, and site noticed the men. “We were cannot do from above,” argued Paul Roux-dit-Buisson, 27, en- standing on the arms and the Hamayel, who said his 15-year- tered the site of the 38-metre head and a security officer saw old son Mohammed was killed (125-foot) monument Sunday us,” Roux-dit-Buisson told AFP. by Israeli army gunfire in a mid- night and stayed there after the The two men were detained June protest. The army said it statue was closed for the day. on Monday and released after had opened fire to suppress “ri- The two men snuck inside posting 10,000 reais ($1,900) in oters” who posed a grave threat before dawn, climbed a long bail. The two will now have to The Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the most visited site in Rio de to troops.— AFP spiral staircase and came out appear before a judge.—AFP Janeiro, Brazil’s tourism capital. PHOTO: AFP/FILE 26 AUGUST 2021 THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR GLOBAL AFFAIRS 15 Putin gifts pensioners cash payments ahead of polls

United Russia party struggle. tral bank, which in June hiked its Ahead of next month’s elec- The cash handouts come as key interest rate to the same fig- tion, United Russia is polling part of a litany of social spending ure -- its biggest increase since around 30 per cent, according sweeteners Putin has proposed a 2014 currency crisis. to state-run pollster VTsIOM -- a ahead of September’s lower Putin on Sunday also pro- 10-point drop from the last lower house State Duma polls, with posed giving 15,000-ruble bonus- house elections in 2016. United Russia’s ratings dent- es to military staff. The party currently con- ed by rising prices and falling In June he promised to trols 75 per cent of seats in the wages. According to a Kremlin spend billions on repairing roads State Duma, with the rest held statement, the Russian presi- and developing public transport, by parties widely seen as doing dent ordered payments of 10,000 infrastructure and healthcare. the Kremlin’s bidding. rubles ($135) to be handed out in United Russia’s ratings In the run-up to the elec- September, effectively doubling started falling steeply in 2018 tions, Russian authorities have the monthly state pension which after the government passed a waged a crackdown on the oppo- is roughly the same amount. controversial pension reform sition and independent voices. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered pensioners get In a meeting with United plan that raised the retirement Jailed opposition leader $135 in a bid to drum up support ahead of parliamentary elections next month that could see the unpopular ruling United Russia party Russia officials on Sunday, Putin age. Alexei Navalny has seen his or- struggle. PHOTO: RAMIL SITDIKOV / SPUTNIK / AFP said that pensioners had been hit The move came as Russia’s ganizations declared “extremist” hardest by this year’s soaring economy had been stagnating, and banned in the country. RUSSIAN President Vladimir up support ahead of parliamen- inflation. battered by waves of Western His top allies have fled the Putin on Tuesday ordered pen- tary elections next month that Annual inflation has reached sanctions after Moscow annexed country or been placed under sioners get $135 in a bid to drum could see the unpopular ruling 6.5 per cent, according to the cen- Crimea in 2014. house arrest.— AFP German police launch Philippines’ Duterte to run for ‘attempted murder’ probe vice-president, says party over university poisoning party said in a statement. GERMAN police launched an smell”. The affected building The party is also expected investigation into “attempted was closed off by police and any to endorse Duterte’s top aide, murder” on Tuesday after a foodstuffs on site taken away for Senator Christopher Lawrence poisoning at a university left investigation. “Bong” Go, to be their presiden- one student in a critical con- No further victims have yet tial candidate. Duterte has not dition and six others in need to present themselves, although said publicly yet that he will run, of medical attention. German one 30-year-old student was in a but PDP-Laban president Alfonso police launched an investiga- critical condition as of Monday, Cusi told AFP: “He confirmed he tion into “attempted murder” police said. Authorities recom- is running for VP in 2022.” on Tuesday after a poisoning at mended anyone displaying po- The vice-president and pres- a university left one student in a tential symptoms or whose “ex- ident are elected separately in critical condition and six others tremities turn blueish” should the Philippines, with the former in need of medical attention. seek medical help immediately. assuming the top job if the latter The victims at the Tech- “We are shocked by the ap- dies, becomes incapacitated, or Rodrigo Duterte is barred under the constitution from seeking another nical University Darmstadt parent offence that happened at resigns while in office. term as president. PHOTO; POOL/AFP had consumed food or drink, our university,” the institution’s During his term Duterte to which a “harmful substance” president Tanja Bruehl said in PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo flagged the possibility of contest- has waged a brutal war against had been introduced, notably a statement. Duterte will run for vice-presi- ing the country’s second-highest drug users and dealers that via packets of milk and contain- “I wish the affected all the dent in next year’s elections, his office. rights groups say has killed tens ers of water. Police say packets best, a quick recovery and can party said Tuesday, after months “President Rodrigo Roa of thousands of people. of milk and water containers assure them my full support,” of speculation about whether he Duterte agreed to make the sac- International Criminal Court were among the items spiked Angela Dorn, the science minis- would seek to stay in power. rifice and heed the clamour of the prosecutors are seeking to launch over the weekend with the ter for the state of Hesse, which Duterte, who was elected to people, and accepted the endorse- a full-blown investigation into the chemical, which they described includes Darmstadt, said in a the top job in 2016 and is barred ment of the PDP Laban Party for anti-narcotics crackdown, raising as having a noticeably “pungent statement.—AFP under the constitution from seek- him to run as vice-president in the stakes for next year’s elec- ing another term, has previously the 2022 national elections,” the tions.—AFP

Free housing offered to 20,000 Afghan refugees

ONLINE accommodation plat- on Twitter. nb and Chesky as well as donors form Airbnb offered on Tuesday “We feel a responsibility to to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, to house 20,000 Afghan refugees step up,” he said. the company said in a statement. for free around the world, as Airbnb has made it possi- “I hope this inspires oth- people flee Kabul following the ble for hosts to offer temporary er business leaders to do the Taliban takeover. housing to people fleeing conflict same. There’s no time to waste,” “The displacement and re- and natural disasters through Chesky said. About 50,000 for- settlement of Afghan refugees its Open Homes platform since eigners and Afghans have fled in the US and elsewhere is one 2012. the country from Kabul’s airport German police launched an investigation into “attempted murder” on Tuesday after a poisoning at a university left one student in a of the biggest humanitarian cri- The cost of the stays for Af- since the Taliban swept to power critical condition and six others in need of medical attention. ses of our time,” Airbnb chief ghan evacuees will be funded on 15 August, according to the PHOTO: AFP executive Brian Chesky wrote through contributions from Airb- US government.—AFP 26 AUGUST 2021 16 SPORT THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR

Republic of the Union of Myanmar State Administration Council Nine Objectives

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

Myanmar MMA star Tial Thang’s fight to be launched on 27 August Paralympics: 14-yr-old Min Jong of South Korea in the it will be a good match because Men’s Bantamweight category of the participation of famous swimmer of the ONE Championship event. fighters, and thus it will be an In the main card or Feath- important fight for Tial Thang. Yamada wins erweight Men’s Muay Thai bout, This is Song Min Jong’s 20th Japan’s 1st Sittichai of Thailand will fight bout, winning 11 of 19 bouts and against Tawanchai of Thailand. has faced eight matches loss- medal in In the Men’s Catchweight es. Tial Thang has won three bout, Dejdamrong of Thailand straight wins in the ONE history Tokyo will face Banma Duoji of China. with no loss record. Next in the Men’s Flyweight The Myanmar fighter lives MIYUKI Yamada won the host fight, Dae Hwan Kim of South in the United States and trains nation’s first medal of the To- Korea will take on Xie Wei of with well-known Burmese kyo Paralympics on Wednes- China. Python Aung La N Sang. Tial day, in the process becoming In the Women’s Atomweight Thang joined ONE Champion- the youngest Japanese to Myanmar MMA starfighter Tial Thang celebrates the victory after fight, Binguyen of Viet Nam will ship in 2019 for the fourth time reach the podium in the his- beating Paul Lumini in Singapore on 5 February 2021. PHOTO: ONE meet against Jenelyn Olsim in a row. tory of the Summer Games at CHAMPIONSHIP of the Philippines. In another The Myanmar star has beat just 14 years of age. Men’s bout of Bantamweight, Saroth, a Cambodian national Yamada won silver in THE ONE “Battleground III” organized by the ONE Cham- Purev Otgonjargal of Mongolia in March 2019, Kim, a South the women’s 100-metre back- event will be held in Singapore pionship and will start at 7 pm will fight with Ben Royle of the Korean national in December stroke S2 class, touching the on 27 August with the partici- Myanmar Standard Time. United Kingdom. 2019, and also won Paul Lumini wall in 2 minutes, 26.18 sec- pation of Myanmar MMA star Myanmar MMA star Tial The event does not include in February 2021 respectively. onds, finishing 9.57 behind Tial Thang. The tournament is Thang will fight against Song the World Championships, but —Ko Nyi Lay/ GNLM reigning Paralympic and world champion Yip Pin Xiu of Sin- gapore. Fabiola Ramirez of Mexi- Australia’s Greco grabs first gold at co claimed the bronze medal. Yamada got off to a blaz- Tokyo Paralympics ing start thanks to a great push off the wall but was overhauled AUSTRALIAN cyclist Paige Greco scooped the first hours later. Silver medallist Wang — who had also by Yip by the end of the first gold medal of the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday, beaten Greco’s old world record in the heats — had lap. as the sport got under way a day after a high-energy no answer to the Australian’s power, finishing more Yip extended her lead in but poignant opening ceremony. than four seconds adrift. In the wheelchair rugby the second 50 to win her fourth Despite a year-long postponement and with pool stage, defending gold medallists Australia Paralympic gold medal in her the shadow of Covid-19 hanging over the event, suffered a shock setback in their bid to become the fourth games. Yamada has a records began falling almost immediately in both first team to top the podium at three consecutive shot at a second medal in the cycling and swimming as the competition heated up. Games, losing 54-53 to Denmark. Meanwhile, British 50 backstroke on 2 Sept. Greco took gold in record-breaking fashion in track swimmer Reece Dunn set a new Paralympic record Later Wednesday, fellow cycling’s C1-C3 class 3,000 metre individual pursuit, in the men’s 100m butterfly S14 category. Australian cyclist Paige Greco Japanese Takayuki Suzuki beating China’s Wang Xiaomei. The Australian had The Games were declared open on Tuesday scooped the first gold medal of the swam to bronze in the men’s Tokyo Paralympics on Wednes- smashed her own world record by nearly eight night by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, with Interna- day, as the sport got under way a 50 breaststroke SB3, taking seconds to qualify fastest from the morning heats. tional Paralympic Committee chief Andrew Parsons day after a high-energy but poign- his sixth Paralympic medal She then lowered that time by another second paying tribute to the grit of the athletes who made ant opening ceremony. and first since 2012. — Kyodo and a half to 3min 50.815sec in the final just over two it to Tokyo. — AFP PHOTO: AFP News