wednesday, january 6, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3578 / 4000 RIEL VN set to get Applause after non-bank 30M UK jabs, may make finance regulator minted Sputnik V VIETNAM will receive 30 mil- Upgraded river lion doses of the Oxford-As- May Kunmakara Sen on September 4, the draft November 25. It comprises cial sector constantly devel- traZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in port in Kampong law on the organisation and five chapters and 25 articles. oping new services and prod- 2021, a Vietnamese health offi- HE private sector functioning of the NBFSA Ministry of Economy and ucts powered by globalisation, cial confirmed on January 4. chhnang province applauded the estab- aims to unify all non-banking Finance spokesman Meas it has become more difficult With a double-dose regime inaugurated lishment of the Non- regulators and manage the Soksensan told The Post that to ascertain the individual given about a month apart, Bank Financial Services rapid growth that the sector the non-banking financial regulators’ jurisdiction under delivery from the UK-based national – page 2 AuthorityT (NBFSA) following has enjoyed in recent years. sector is currently under the which they fall, he said. university and pharmaceuti- Senate approval of a draft law on The 57 senators unani- jurisdiction of two regulators, “In this sense, in response to cal firm will be used to inocu- its organisation and function. mously approved the bill at his ministry and the Securi- actual need and in acknowl- late some 15 million people. Greenlit at a Council of the 6th Senate Session on ties and Exchange Commis- edgment of the importance Deputy Minister of Health Ministers meeting presided December 21 after getting the sion of Cambodia (SECC). Truong Quoc Cuong said over by Prime Minister Hun National Assembly’s nod on With the Cambodian finan- Continued – page 7 the delivery of the Oxford- AstraZeneca jab, which is reportedly more affordable and doesn’t require super- cold storage conditions, will be done in phases. The health ministry is in talks to buy the four most notable Covid-19 jabs, the Kampot port Oxford-AstraZeneca, the US’ Pfizer-BioNTech, Russia’s work veers off Sputnik V, and an unspecified one from China, Cuong said. schedule, now The US-based Pfizer has also tentatively agreed to a fourth- 45% complete quarter delivery, he said. business – page 6 Meanwhile, the maker of the Sputnik V vaccine, devel- oped by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epide- miology and Microbiology, is asking to manufacture the vaccine in Vietnam under a technology transfer agree- ment with a company under the management of the Viet- namese health ministry. The price of the vaccines will not differ significantly, Cuong said, noting that the requirements of the jabs’ Iran enriching storage, delivery and roll- uranium to 20 out, as well as payment issues, matter more and PER CENT purity need coordination from dif- ferent ministries and agen- at Fordo facility cies and even instructions from the Politburo given the WORLD – Page 10 unprecedented nature of Pre-lockdown blessing this undertaking. Visitors walk past Buddha statues at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon (‘Wat Thom Chey Mongkol’ in Khmer) temple in Ayutthaya, north of the Thai capital of The other thing to consider Bangkok on Sunday before the government was to impose further restrictions due to the recent Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. AFP is that these vaccines have varying levels of effectiveness in clinical trials, some reach- ing 65 per cent at the lowest while another could be as Two apologise for quarantine video high as 94.5 per cent, he said. In addition to the commer- Mom Kunthear Following the allegations, it to be taken seriously, and it “Hello, 2021! Everybody else cial route, Vietnam is also officials visited the workers and wasn’t our intention to attack seems fine, but my four sib- eligible for support from the TWO Cambodian workers in questioned them directly about the provincial leaders and lings and one of their children World Health Organisation- Oddar Meanchey province the video they had posted. other officials. In fact, the have all been eating [nothing (WHO) led Covid-19 Vaccine Smiling gecko have made a public apology to The workers, Don Chanthou [quarantine centre] has pro- but] plain rice like in a prison Global Access (COVAX) Facil- authorities, health officials and her older sister Don vided us with good food, not for the past 14 days.” ity which aims to provide runs cluster and the government for having Chanthy, admitted that they raw rice and just fish paste or The provincial hall’s admin- equitable access to vaccines. posted a pre-recorded video had made these allegations prahok like I mentioned in the istration director, Chea Piseth, Cuong said the initiative projects to prop message on Facebook alleging because they missed their fam- video,” Chanthou said. denied the allegations. promised inoculation for 16 up village school that the authorities had provided ily and wanted to go home. The video message posted “It’s not true and totally per cent of Vietnamese pop- inadequate food and supplies “We posted a video on social on Chanthou’s Facebook ulation at the cheapest cost lifestyle – page 13 during their quarantine. media. We didn’t mean any of account on December 31 said: Continued – page 2 possible. VIET NAM NEWS/ANN

THE PHNOM PENH POST Cambodia, Thailand to National enhance collaboration Inside page 2 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Upgraded river port officially reopens in Kampong Chhnang

Nov Sivutha ered 6,523sqm but did not specify the budget for its construction. THE Kampong Chhnang Pro- Chandoeun said the new vincial Administration has port will improve the liveli- inaugurated the redeveloped hoods of farmers and other river port in Chong Kaoh residents in and around Chong Development Zone in Kam- Kaoh Development Zone, not- pong Chhnang town to better ing that the project was part of facilitate transport of people, more extensive plans for devel- goods and vehicles. oping the riverside throughout Provincial hall spokesman the province. Sron Sam Rithy told The Post on “In the past, Kampong January 5 that the new port Chhnang province had a nar- would improve traffic across the row port that caused difficulties river in place of a planned bridge. for people travelling back and People crossing Kampong forth, especially when trans- Chhnang may now travel by porting produce and crossing ferry for 30 to 40 minutes, he with cars or motorcycles. This Im Sour, deputy secretary-general of the CDC’s Cambodian Rehabilitation and Development Board. CDC said. The port was quite small development will resolve all of previously but now can accom- those issues,” he said. modate up to six ferries. Sam Chankea, the provincial “Having seen the difficulties of coordinator for rights group people using the port, the pro- Adhoc, lauded the upgrades, Cambodia, Thailand to boost vincial administration made saying the new port would improvements, and it is now improve commerce and travel. easy for passengers to disembark Furthermore, the construction from a ferry. Previously, going had not detrimentally impact- cooperation in new key areas ashore required ascending a ed any local people. steep slope,” Sam Rithy said. Chankea questioned Niem Chheng Cambodian-Thai Skills De- eight cooperation areas in preciation to the Thai side At the ceremony formally whether or not the upgrades velopment Institute; a three- the Thailand-Cambodia De- and satisfaction with the opening the new port, provincial would allow ferries to dock AMBODIA and Thai- storey building for the Thai velopment Cooperation Pro- development cooperation governor Chhour Chandoeun lengthwise, but regardless, he land are committed language department at the gramme 2021-2023. between the two countries explained that construction had said preparation of the new to enhancing their Royal University of Phnom The Thai ministry said the over the past three years,” begun in January 2017 with facility would benefit the cooperation in three Penh; and the establishment three existing cooperation areas said the press release of Thai funding from the Ministry of prestige of the province while existingC development areas of a transit and reception cen- had 20 development projects Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Public Works and Transport. He making it both more func- and agreed to add five more tre for trafficking victim and in the health, agriculture and The cooperation in the last added that the new facility cov- tional and attractive. areas for the next three-year other vulnerable groups in education sector under the first three years, it said, had yield- collaboration, according to Banteay Meanchey province. Thailand-Cambodia Develop- ed fruitful results and helped the Council for the Develop- Other than that, Cambodia ment Cooperation Programme support the socio-economic ment of Cambodia (CDC). and Thailand also agreed to for 2017-2020. Cambodia and development in Cambodia. The commitment was ex- include five new prioritised Thailand have acknowledged Among the results is the Suffi- pressed during the 15th Con- areas for development – eco- the implementation progress ciency Economy Philosophy ap- sultation on Technical Coop- nomic development, rural of these projects. plication used for a sustainable eration between Cambodia and community develop- “The meeting noted with sat- community development proj- and Thailand held via video ment, social development, isfaction the progress of devel- ect, which was implemented conference on December 30. and environment and human opment cooperation in human in Dam Bok Vil village in Malai The meeting was co-chaired resource development. resource development (HRD) commune of Banteay Meanchey by Im Sour, deputy secretary- Thailand also reaffirmed sector which is the backbone province’s Malai district. general of the CDC’s Cam- its commitment to provide of Thailand-Cambodia Devel- The establishment of the One bodian Rehabilitation and scholarship and short- and opment Cooperation. Village One Product Regional Development Board, and Pat- long-term training to Cam- “[The] Thai side is keen to Promoting Centre and the co- tarat Hongtong, director-gen- bodians for the 2021-2023 pe- share experience and exper- operation on Communicable eral of Thailand International riod, the CDC said. tise in promoting security Diseases Surveillance, Preven- Cooperation Agency (TICA). Thailand’s Ministry of For- and resilience in 4 key ar- tion and Control including In a press release, the CDC eign Affairs issued a separate eas namely: health security, Emerging and Re-emerging said both countries agreed to press release about the meet- job security, food security Diseases was also the result of The new river port facility covers 6,523sqm and can accommodate up to proceed with three existing ing on January 4, reaffirming and energy security. While the three-year collaboration, six ferries. KAMPONG CHHNANG PROVINCIAL HALL construction projects – the that TICA had agreed on the Cambodia expressed her ap- the press release said. Full meals provided to workers in quarantine Continued from page 1

unreasonable, as they now admit. Authorities provided three full meals a day to all the workers who were staying in the quarantine centre, and our medical staff frequently checks on their health,” he said. When questioned, another worker who is staying in the quarantine centre in Oddar Meanchey province said he is pleased with the govern- A returning migrant worker in Oddar Meanchey province. Oddar Meanchey provincial hall ment’s efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to his fam- quarantine the workers had authorities reported an out- for returning migrant workers ily members at home. received some basic supplies break of Covid-19 that had was made in response to the “We come from far away and such as mosquito nets and spread into the community. severity of the outbreak. So far, we do not know if we have blankets in addition to the From December 20 to Janu- 17 returning workers have contracted the Covid-19 virus daily meals. ary 5, between 5,000 and 6,000 tested positive for Covid-19. or not so we understand why Cambodian workers have Cambodian workers had As of January 4, Cambodia the authorities require us to be returned from Thailand through returned from Thailand. had recorded a total of 382 isolated for 14 days,” he said. seven provinces along the Cam- The decision to impose a Covid-19 cases, with 20 patients He also said that during the bodian- Thai border after Thai 14-day mandatory quarantine remaining hospitalised. THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3

4 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Gov’t warns public UNDP: human development against unlicensed impacted by school closures products sold online

Nov Sivutha Mom Kunthear enforce the laws governing pharmaceuticals. HE UN Development THE Ministry of Health called on “Regarding the illegal medi- Programme (UNDP) the public to refrain from pur- cines and promotions, we usu- has analysed the chasing medicines promoted ally just fine them unless they impact of Covid-19 on online by vendors who do not are selling fake medicine – in educationT in Cambodia and its have the necessary permits. those cases criminal charges three neighbouring countries, The appeal was made in an will be filed. So far, we don’t noting that state responses to announcement on January 5 have a criminal case yet, just the pandemic have not been that identified six Facebook financial penalties,” he said. limited to health issues but also accounts promoting sales of He added that the public led to “severe” socio-economic traditional medicines without must be careful with any med- effects, echoing sentiments authorisation. icines being sold without per- from the UN which has called The medicines for sale by the mission and lacking any regis- the disease the “greatest test” it offending accounts do not have tration number from the has faced since its formation. registration numbers. ministry because the registra- In a report released on Janu- The six accounts are all sell- tion number ensures that the ary 5, the UNDP studied the ing a product called “ISOTIN seller can be found and held policies of four countries – Laos, PLUS B/10ml x 6 Vials” under accountable if there is anything Vietnam, Thailand and Cam- the brand name “Eye Doctor wrong with their products. bodia – all of which introduced Cambodia Company”. “We absolutely ban the various similar educational “The advertisements are online sales of unregistered measures during periods of untruthful and contain obvi- medicines, and the ministry school closures. When schools ously exaggerated claims. They never issues anyone permis- reopened, they all reduced or say their product can be used sion for online sales of medi- cancelled planned holidays to for everything from the treat- cines. They pose a dangerous make up for lost time. ment of cataracts to poor eye- risk to the health of those who But given limitations in sight to fluid in the eyes and use them,” he said. terms of data on the reopen- eye inflammation,” it said. Health ministry spokes- A student attends classes at Tuol Tompoung​ Secondary School in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district. HENG ing of schools and compen- CHIVOAN The ministry cited the law on woman Or Vandine said the sation schedules in Laos and management of pharmaceuti- ministry actively works on the Thailand, the UNDP said its ed to a total of 97 days, or 33.5 pact was slightly less severe key exports, particularly in cals and its amendments to issue and has fined many peo- analysis accounts for pro- per cent of the public school (-2.59 per cent), followed by the garment, construction, make their case. The laws ple for unauthorised sales. grammes implemented in calendar. Thailand (-1.69 per cent); and tourism industries. require anyone who wishes to She also said there are peo- Cambodia and Vietnam only. The report continued that Vietnam was least affected, By contrast, the other three distribute medicines in Cam- ple who are educated about The report noted that dur- in Vietnam, learning com- with an estimated contrac- countries had shorter dura- bodia to request permission the law and then let go with a ing the shutdown of Cambo- pensation measures were in- tion of 0.39 per cent. tions of school closures – de- from the ministry and be warning because they have dia’s schools, the Ministry of troduced during the regular The decline in Vietnam spite Thailand and Vietnam issued a registration number committed lesser offenses. Education, Youth and Sports two-month semester break in was just small enough for the both reporting more cases of before doing so. “We will try to address the introduced measures such as June and July, so the effective country to maintain its status Covid-19 than Cambodia. “Before buying traditional issue with public participation television and radio educa- duration of school closures of “high human development” Education ministry spokes- medicines, please check the in this matter. Please do not tion programmes to enable was only 31 days. on par with Thailand. This is man Ros Soveacha noted label on the package. The label buy any products that are not students without internet ac- Simulations showed that due to strong economic per- that the UNDP’s study has no has two parts – first, the name registered correctly,” she said. cess to stay connected. policy responses to Covid-19 formance coupled with a rela- practical effect on education of the importing company, According to a report from the Public schools reopened on are set to cause a drastic de- tively shorter period of school and human resource devel- and then on the second part, ministry’s Department of Drugs, November 2 to make up for cline of Human Development closures and high internet opment in Cambodia, but the there should be a registration Food, Medical Equipment and the lost second semester but Index (HDI) ratings in all four penetration rates, making dis- ministry had utilised the cri- number,” it read. Cosmetics issued in December closed again on the 28th of countries. tance learning possible. sis to transform and improve A ministry official who asked last year, there are 3,156 phar- the month until the end of the Cambodia has been hit The UNDP stated that Cam- implementation of the coun- not to be named said the min- macies and sub-pharmacies; year on account of Covid-19 hardest with aggregate HDI bodia’s HDI contraction is try’s education curriculum. istry will continue to crack 152 vendors of Khmer-Chinese community transmissions. declining by 3.93 per cent primarily attributable to two “Covid-19 has affected the down on unauthorised medi- traditional medicine; 576 phar- The 2020-2021 academic from a score of 0.594 in 2019 factors: a significant decline education sector and other cines, unlicensed pharmaceu- maceutical import-export busi- school year has been resched- to 0.571 last year. This is (-11.11 per cent) in the edu- sectors around the world. The tical companies and unofficial nesses; 16 factories producing uled to commence on Janu- equivalent to erasing all prog- cation index due to prolonged ministry has turned the chal- production facilities, in part- medicines and 22 factories pro- ary 11 this year rather than ress made in human develop- school closures aggravated by lenging problems of the pan- nership with the police and ducing medical equipment in the traditional starting date ment in Cambodia over the a small internet base of 47.9 demic into an opportunity to other relevant authorities. Cambodia. of November 1. Not counting past four years, dating back per cent coverage; and a drop strengthen digital education He said there are many The report further states that previously scheduled summer to 2016 when the rating was of 0.9 per cent in the income in accordance with the Edu- online sales of unregistered there are 26,716 medicines and public holidays, school 0.572. index mostly due to global cation Strategic Plan for 2019- medicines, and the ministry and 1,596 local medicines now closures effectively amount- In Laos, the projected im- demand shocks relating to 2023,” he said. normally takes legal action to registered. Police direct firms to register private security guards

Long Kimmarita ties, condos and apartments who have committed a crime. who hire security guards to “The owners of enterprises, PHNOM PENH municipal complete the registration on establishments, gated com- police’s private security man- time to avoid fines. munities, condos and apart- agement office has given a Nop Kanol, head of the ments should recruit [regis- one-month ultimatum to enterprises and establish- tered] security guards premises owners who hire ments division in the security because they will take care of security guards without per- management office, told The the property. mits to complete registration. Post on January 5 that there are “A proper registration, which Khlok Chunpheng, head of two ways to recruit private is a form of cooperation with the security management security guards. the police, helps them a lot office, told The Post on January The first is where a company because we train them on how 5 that failing to do so will result provides the service of secu- to perform work and identify in fines. rity guards to those in need of individuals [who might threat- He added that according to a them. The second is where an en security] to ensure their sub-decree on private security individual hires a security safety,” he said. management, non-compliant guard to safeguard their safety According to the security enterprises and establishment and pays a salary directly. management office, there are owners could be fined 10 mil- He said the office requires currently 882 enterprises, lion riel ($2,439), and security private security guards to be establishments, gated com- companies that hire guards registered for easier manage- munities, condos and apart- without registering them with ment and to prevent them ments across 14 districts in the Ministry of Interior will be from overstepping boundaries Phnom Penh that have hired fined 20 million riel. in their work. private security guards. But Chunpheng also urged all He added that unregistered only 168 of them, including 19 owners of enterprises, estab- security guards could be dan- gated communities, are legal- lishments, gated communi- gerous individuals or those ly registered. A private security guard stands outside a bank in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. HENG CHIVOAN THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Gemstones allegedly stolen from sanctuary

Soth Koemsoeun

HE Mondulkiri provin- cial authorities said they would assign spe- cialists to investigate allegationsT concerning unknown individuals who had illegally dug blue gemstones in the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary. This followed complaints from the Bunong indigenous people in Laokar village in Sen Monorom town’s Sokdum commune who said the illicit mining activities done at the behest of foreign buyers. District governor Heak So- phan said on January 4 that Mondulkiri provincial authorities are investigating alleged digging of he had yet to receive details blue gemstones in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary. kreung tola page of the allegations, but he would send experts to in- for us to protect them. If the be cut into rings or jewellery, spect the location. culprits are persistent, they and now all gemstones are “If local people witness could seize an opportunity to being bought regardless of anything pertaining to this dig them when our officials their colour,” he said. case, please help to stop it by are not present,” he said. Pen Bunna, the local com- cooperating with authorities. Kreung Tola, a forest con- munity empowerment pro- It’s necessary to report this to servation activist and rep- gramme officer at rights group the police quickly so the op- resentative of the Bunong Adhoc, said stone digging or portunists will not be able to indigenous people, said on mining in forests without per- profit from the illegal exploi- January 4 that the site of the mission is a crime. He urged tation of natural resources. illegal digging is located in an authorities to take urgent ac- “If any violators are found, area of the wildlife sanctuary tion to stop the violations. they will be stopped,” he said. within Sokdum commune. Bunna urged the authorities Sophan noted that natural According to Tola, a group to educate the local people so resources are abundant in the of people had entered the that they will join in efforts to sanctuary, especially forests forest about a month earlier protect natural resources. It and wild animals, but he had to dig for the gems because would be ideal if locals can co- not previously heard of pre- they had received offers to operate with the authorities in cious gemstones in the area. buy them from Chinese and conservation efforts because Collection of natural re- Vietnamese merchants. The they are already located in the sources is permitted only by perpetrators lacked an under- relevant areas, he said. authorities and designated standing of the law, he said. “I think that if our officials specialists, he added. Tola explained that the know about criminal or mis- Sokdum commune chief group had removed the gem- demeanour offences, they Pov Sophat also said he had stones from the forest and must take immediate mea- not received information taken them home on motor- sures to build case files for about the case, but he would cycles. Traders had then come referral to the courts. They conduct an investigation. to buy them, offering $3 to $5 cannot answer that they do “I am not yet familiar with per kg based on their quality. not know about the matter this matter, but I will instruct “We are not certain of the or create an excuse to evade the village chief to look into it. identities of the buyers, but their duties. I think a place that has gem- we have seen them waiting “If a thorough investiga- stones of this kind might be in front of people’s houses to tion reveals that officials have deep in a forest. But near this buy the stones. The brokers benefited from these crimes, village, there are no such stones. are Khmer, but their bosses then they and the perpetra- “If the gems are deep in are Chinese and Vietnamese tors should receive the same the forest, it will be difficult nationals. These stones can punishment,” Bunna said. R’kiri rangers help farmers ward off elephant threat in plantations

Khouth Sophak Chakrya elephants, but they did not use more frequently day and night, force on them to avoid break- and to create noise by hitting RANGERS from the Ratanak- ing the law. plastic tanks or bamboos to kiri provincial Department of Provincial environment drive the elephants away. Environment and O’Yadav dis- department director Phon Yatung commune police trict Unity Command joined Khemrin told The Post on Jan- chief Sen Voeun told The Post forces on January 4 to teach uary 3 that the plantations that the people, police and farmers from Bakham, Paknhai used to be the habitat of wild rangers are working together and Yatung communes how to elephants as they were rich to help villagers monitor and protect their plantations from with their food. chase the elephants away from the threat of wild elephants. The area has valleys and plantations and villages. O’Yadav district deputy gov- streams they can drink from The plan is to drive the wild ernor Sim Lin told The Post on and play with water. But peo- elephants across to the other January 4 that 15 wild ele- ple have occupied the land, side of the Trang stream, which phants, including two fero- formed small villages on it and has a large dense forest. cious males, came in two herds plant crops. This has led to “We cannot catch or shoot and destroyed crops and 22 conflicts between the villagers the elephants, but we cannot plantation huts in the three and the elephants. let them destroy the planta- communes on December 30. “We are teaching the villagers tions either. So the tips given “According to the farmers, about peaceful ways to chase out by expert officials are very use- the elephants appeared, the elephants. It will ensure vil- ful,” he said. destroyed the crops at night lagers do not respond violently Currently, Cambodia has and went down the streams in to the wild animals that could about 400 to 600 Asian wild the next day heading back into lead to danger and actions that elephants living in Mondulkiri the forest,” Lin said. violate the law,” said Khemrin. and Ratanakkiri provinces, as He said the plantation own- He said the villagers were well as the Cardamom moun- ers were very angry with the asked to patrol the plantations tains and other sanctuaries. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,060 1.2735 6.462 102.86 4.0170 1.3187 29.94 0.7716 1.2273 1.3574

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: JANUARY 5, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,860 17,000 17,000 16,820 2 GTI 3,200 3,300 3,300 3,200 3 PAS 14,100 14,200 14,200 14,000 4 PEPC 2,900 2,860 2,900 2,860 5 PPAP 11,700 11,700 11,780 11,700 6 PPSP 1,190 1,200 1,220 1,150 7 PWSA 6,400 6,100 6,400 6,000 Kampot port work veers off schedule Thailand to launch more Hin Pisei INISTER of Public Works Covid relief and Transport Sun Chanthol called for THE Thai government is seeking work on Kampot Inter- measures to combat the economic Mnational Tourism Port to be sped up impact of the new Covid-19 outbreak, so that the seaport can operate by the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha end of this year. said on January 4. Built on 4ha in Kampot province’s The prime minister’s comment westernmost Teuk Chhou district came after the daily infection rate some 6km from Kampot town, the rose to 745 cases, the highest since seaport is now more than 45 per cent the virus emerged early last year. complete, according to the minister. Prayut expressed concern over the With a water depth of 4.5m, the impact on the 28 provinces under port is financed by the Japanese-led “maximum controls” after being hit multilateral lender Asian Develop- by more than 50 cases. Provincial ment Bank (ADB) and is expected to governors would have to decide on cost around $8 million. what restrictions were appropriate During a January 4 inspection, for the Covid-19 situation in their Chanthol noted that the project was province, he said. behind schedule and called on the Responding to calls from business- developer to pick up pace and re- es to extend suspension of debt submit a revised action plan as soon repayments, Prayut said the existing as possible. Construction of the Kampot International Tourism Port is now more than 45 per cent complete. TRANSPORT MINISTRY debt holiday had not yet ended. Many He said: “We are late, this isn’t businesses are still struggling from good, the ADB and the Ministry of Tourism director Soy Sinol told The The seaport will be able to accom- the Covid-19 epidemic has ended.” the impact of the first outbreak, Tourism are not happy – none of us Post on January 5 that this was an- modate cruise ships carrying 200- The seaport will be able to serve though some had resumed repaying are happy at all. other unprecedented new tourism 300 passengers, according to Sinol. 360,000 international and domestic debts to banks before the new surge “The construction company should product for Kampot. Cambodia Association of Travel tourists a year, the ADB said in a re- in cases. recruit more people – work is very slow The seaport will welcome inter- Agents (CATA) president Chhay Sivlin port on tourism in the Greater Me- The prime minister said the fresh – but no technical mistakes should be national tourists via waterways and said the port will inspire the creation kong Subregion (GMS). outbreak called for new measures for made either. Only then will it be done also provide transportation services of new tourism products to woo During the New Year holiday from which the government would have to in six months, as promised to the to the islands, he said. Kampot will more international tourists to visit December 31 to January 3, Phnom find funds. “If we can’t find the fund- Ministry of Economy and Finance – to be bundled with other tourist desti- Kampot’s pristine natural beaches Penh and the Kingdom’s 24 prov- ing, it will be over.” have it operable in December.” nations in package tours offered in laden with pure white sand. inces counted 1.27 million visitors, Meanwhile, the parliamentary According to its representatives, neighbouring countries. She said: “With the government of which 1.26 million were domestic committee responsible for monitor- the company is working day and “Cambodian and Vietnamese is- fast-tracking construction of Kam- and 11,103 were international, ac- ing one trillion baht ($33.4 billion) of night to finish construction by June lands have enjoyed a massive trans- pot’s tourist port and a whole host of cording to the tourism ministry. Covid-relief borrowing were set to as planned by the finance ministry formation of development. Once new infrastructure across the prov- The four coastal provinces logged convene on January 5 for a meeting and complete the entire project by [the port] is in use, Kampot will be inces – especially those flagged for 407,959 visitors – 152,119 to Kampot, with officials from the finance min- year’s end. able to receive more tourists from their tourism potential, the sector will 136,314 to Preah Sihanouk, 87,737 to istry, the Bank of Thailand and the Kampot provincial Department of neighbouring countries,” Sinol said. take on a new lustre after the crisis of Kep and 31,879 to Koh Kong. State Council. Committee spokesman Akadet Wongpitakroj said it wants to amend the Covid relief emergency decree to ease conditions attached to 500 bil- Fisheries exports make $8.3M splash in 2020 lion baht in soft loans to support small businesses. Thou Vireak provincial Fisheries Administration efforts to boost production capacity. boost aquaculture, expand domestic The amendment was needed in Kandal, an area with high potential But he said it should spruce up supply capacity and increase exports because businesses have found it dif- CAMBODIA exported a total of 3,590 for aquaculture, told The Post that the infrastructure for the fisheries sector, in the long-term. ficult to access the loans, he said. tonnes of fisheries products worth administration has been busy pro- with emphasis on ensuring a sustain- “I believe that through these efforts, Meanwhile, the Public Debt Man- more than $8.33 million last year, the moting aquaculture for domestic use able water system. the private sector will be able to agement Office (PDMO), said the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and in the province during Covid-19. “In a bid to boost exports, we can acknowledge that Cambodia is able to government has 400 billion baht left Fisheries reported. He said: “Family aquaculture produce our own competitive, high- step up its hatchery rearing methods to of the one trillion baht in borrowing This was down 74.5 per cent in vol- operations are on a strong upward grade fish feed at reasonable prices upgrade fisheries exports to the inter- to fund Covid-relief projects. The ume from the 14,100 tonnes posted trend and have yielded decent – and [benefit from] low electricity national market to match its needs. PDMO said the government had bor- in 2019, it said. incomes for locals.” costs – as long as our products are “We need to reinforce our breeding rowed about 600 billion baht so far. The decline was due to tighter import- The administration is trying its of good quality. and growing systems to meet [inter- The Cabinet approved borrowing export scrutiny of fishery products dur- hand at promoting the commerciali- “The government is strongly push- national] standards as the govern- of 510 billion baht for Covid-relief ing the Covid-19 outbreak in the King- sation of small or family-owned fish- ing for aquaculture so that we can ment leadership improves the freight last year. The PDMO received 370 dom as the government strives to ery units, he said. export fisheries products, but we forwarding industry,” Sakhon said. billion baht of that money and used promote aquaculture for domestic con- “We have the capacity in Kandal need financiers who are willing to The ministry’s Fisheries Adminis- most of it (348 billion baht) to relieve sumption, industry insiders have said. province to supply the local market invest in the sector,” Radan said. tration reported that it expects aqua- people’s financial burdens, said Total fisheries production totalled and still be able to export, but we need According to Sakhon, freshwater culture production in the Kingdom PDMO director-general Patricia 936,300 tonnes – 413,200 tonnes from to further strengthen the quality of our and marine captures last year were to yield 740,000 tonnes in 2024, Mongkhonvanit. freshwater catches, 122,700 tonnes products,” Sophearith said. valued at $1,071,800,000, while through the implementation of the She said the Cabinet also approved from marine capture and 400,400 Sok Radan, president of Cambodian aquaculture production was to the Strategic Planning Framework for 130 million baht for economic recov- tonnes from aquaculture, according Aquaculturist Association, said the tune of $800,800,000. Fisheries 2015-2024 and the Nation- ery projects in 2020, of which 34 bil- to minister Veng Sakhon. government prioritises the domestic He told The Post on July 14 that the al Strategic Plan for Aquaculture lion baht went to the PDMO. THE NATION Heng Sophearith, director of the market over international ones in its government is actively pursuing to Development 2016-2030. (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business NBFSA will help develop non-bank financial sector Continued from page 1 a regulatory body can be found among “advanced regimes”, he said, noting of this merger of non-bank financial that even they had gone through his- regulators, the government drafted a tories of separation and integration. law on the organisation and func- “I personally believe that the gov- tioning of the NBFSA to integrate the ernment established the right path to mechanisms of management and develop the Kingdom’s financial sec- control of the sector. tors for the long-term perspective. “This is to strengthen and ensure “I hope there will be more proj- the effective management, control ects and opportunities for various and development of the non-bank- public sectors including the newly ing financial industry, as well as approved NBFSA to collaborate promote the development and use and share knowledge, experience of financial technology in the sec- and expertise,” Shin said. tor,” Soksensan said. As of September, Cambodia Insur- He noted that the sector encom- ance Association had 31 members – 15 The $1 billion 700MW coal-fired power station in Preah Sihanouk province broke ground on December 18, 2019.SUPPLIED passes insurance, private pensions, in the general insurance category, 11 securities, social security, project-bid- life insurance players, four micro-in- ding management, accounting and surance companies and one reinsurer. 700MW plant 35% complete auditing, real estate and mortgages. While general insurance increased In Channy, president and group by 18.2 per cent and the life insur- Thou Vireak tion for the project was revealed in been smooth, expressing hope that managing director of ACLEDA Bank ance segment grew 2.8 per cent, the latest joint report issued by the it would be completed in the time- Plc, expressed his appreciation for micro insurance fell 21.7 per cent in ONSTRUCTION of a companies on December 30. frame planned. the central authority, which he said the third quarter of last year, the as- 700MW coal-fired power In their report, the companies “Once the plant is online and con- will make it easier for operators to sociation said. station representing $1 bil- considered factors such as impact nected to the national grid, it’ll dole communicate. At the same time, the total assets of lion of capital investment handling, paper work and orders for out all the power needed in the prov- “I welcome the establishment because all insurers as of the first half of 2020 inC Preah Sihanouk province is 35 equipment, he said. inces and” in Phnom Penh, he said. the sector is growing faster now and amounted to some $678 million, of per cent complete since breaking “In my opinion, we will not have The average power supply in requires a clear regulator to manage or which 63 per cent was injected into ground on December 18, 2019. a problem with electricity supply in Preah Sihanouk was between 83 and enact policy, akin to the one we have in the banking system in Cambodia in Comprising two 350MW units, the Cambodia over the next three years. 85MW during the months of Covid- the banking and financial sector – the the form of deposits. project is a joint venture between lo- Our investors have enough capital 19, he added. National Bank of Cambodia,” he said. Meanwhile, capital investment in cal firm Cambodia International In- and they are very committed to de- CIIDG already operates a $383 mil- Shin Chang-moo, president the construction sector in the first vestment and Development Group veloping the projects. I’ve seen com- lion coal-fired power plant in Preah Si- and CEO of South Korean-owned nine months of 2020 fell 9.6 per cent (CIIDG) and China Huadian Hong panies with government investment hanouk province. The 270MW capaci- Phnom Penh Commercial Bank Plc to $5.868 billion from $6.494 billion in Kong Co Ltd (CHDHK). concessions on power plants con- ty plant was also split into two phases, (PPCBank), said the ultimate func- the corresponding period of 2019, the Built on 54.9ha in Preah Sihanouk’s stantly moving forward,” Jona said. with the second 135MW phase slated tion of a financial regulator is to se- Ministry of Land Management, Urban Stung Hav district, the facility is ex- The project was approved by the to be completed this year. cure prudent management in busi- Planning and Construction reported. pected to be completed by the end Council of Ministers in May 2018 According to Jona, the Kingdom ness operation, finance and risk, It said it approved 3,739 construc- of 2022 and be online in early 2023. under a build-own-operate-transfer generates most of its energy from ensuring that financial consumers tion projects (covering 12.91 million Victor Jona, director-general of the (BOOT) concession for 35 years. hydropower dams and coal-fired are well protected and the industry sqm) during the period, up 306 or Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Gen- Preah Sihanouk Provincial Hall plants, accounting for around 36-40 and economy as a whole will grow 8.9 per cent from the 3,433 (on 13 eral Department of Energy, told The spokesman Kheang Phearum said per cent and 32 per cent of power soundly and in harmony. million sqm) given the green light Post that the percentage of comple- development of the project has production, respectively. Efficiency-wise, an integrated form of during the same time last year. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Samsung to OPEC+ adjourns meet over output levels unveil Galaxy

EMBERS of the OPEC S21 series group of oil producers and their partners ended next week discussions on January 4 AMSUNG Electronics will Mwithout agreement on production lev- introduce its new flagship els for February, as divisions opened Ssmartphone Galaxy S21 on up between the linchpins of the two January 15, the company announced groups, Saudi Arabia and Russia. on January 4. Ministers adjourned after three The first launch from the global hours of video-conference talks, with smartphone giant this year, the Gal- discussions expected to restart on axy S21 series comprises a 6.2-inch January 5 at 1430 GMT. S21, 6.7-inch S21 Plus and 6.8-inch The OPEC+ ministerial meeting S21 Ultra, which have been drawing came after the Covid-19 pandemic expectations for their upgraded tanked the market for crude in 2020. specs and designs. Despite a slight recovery of prices The models to be launched in towards the end of last year, the 13 North America are expected to members of the Organisation of feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 the Petroleum Exporting Countries processor, while those for Europe (OPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, and their and South Korea will come with ten allies, led by Russia, are still suffer- Samsung’s new Exynos 2100. ing under a highly volatile market. In terms of design, the new After their last videoconference sum- flagship smartphone models have mit, held from November 30 to De- replaced the all-black camera hump cember 3, the OPEC+ members agreed of Galaxy S20 models with metal to raise production levels by half a mil- framed housing in different colours. lion barrels per day (bpd) this month. The standard S21 is expected to At the same meeting, OPEC+ be backed by a 4,000-milliamp-hour agreed to meet at the beginning of battery, while the other two bigger each month to decide on any adjust- models are likely to come with bat- ments to production volumes for the teries with higher capacities. following month. In terms of cameras, the standard Prices for North Sea Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed on Monday at $51.20 and $47.80 respectively. AFP That agreement “paved the way for S21 and S21 Plus will come with four a gradual return of two million barrels ary 4’s meeting, Saudi energy min- Despite demand remaining uncer- to minus $40.32 per barrel – meaning cameras, one on the front and three per day to the market over the com- ister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman tain, analysts have said that OPEC+ producers paid buyers to take the oil on the back. As for the Ultra, there will ing months,” OPEC secretary-general spelled out his country’s much more demonstrated that it can manage the off their hands. be four cameras on the rear, including secretary Mohammed Barkindo said cautious stance. market. Relations between the two oil giants a 108-megapixel main camera. on January 3. He told his counterparts: “As we Prices for North Sea Brent Crude have eased since then, with the Russian During the virtual event next But Rystad Energy analyst Bjornar see light at the end of the tunnel, we and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Saudi energy ministers meeting in week, Samsung Electronics could Tonhaugen said Russia and Saudi Ara- must at all costs avoid the temptation crude hit 10-month highs on Janu- mid-December in a display of unity. introduce several other smart bia brought “different agendas” to Jan- to slacken off in our resolve.” ary 4 but pulled back at the start of It remains difficult, however, to devices as well, including a pair of uary 4’s meeting as to how to proceed. At the risk of being seen as a “kill- that day’s meeting before closing on predict the evolution in demand due wireless earbuds Galaxy Buds Pro. He said: “While Saudi Arabia, sup- joy”, he emphasised continuing un- $51.20 and $47.80 respectively. to developments in the pandemic, Samsung Electronics could also ported by most OPEC+ members, certainty and fragile demand and Though far lower than the prices seen with the virus continuing to spread unveil a Bluetooth tracker called the aims at keeping oil output steady in urged others. “Do not put at risk all at the start of 2020, crude is well up on and vaccination campaigns getting Galaxy Smart Tag and a new colour February, Russia this time seems to that we have achieved for the sake of the lows seen last year, particularly in off to a slower start than hoped for in of Galaxy Watch Active 2, according to have had enough. an instant but illusionary benefit.” March, when Moscow and Riyadh em- some regions. the industry sources. “Russia wants an increase of OPEC members typically meet barked on a brief but intense oil price Despite the heft of the OPEC+ club, Samsung Electronics’ upcoming 500,000bpd next month, the maximum twice a year at the cartel’s headquar- war that caused prices to plummet. countries outside the system have a event – Galaxy Unpacked: Welcome to monthly rise that the existing deal al- ters in Vienna, but last year, summits Russia and Saudi Arabia are respec- major impact on the oil market; prin- the Everyday Epic – will be available lows … Going back to nada from that were scheduled more frequently to tively the second and third biggest oil cipally the United States which is still on the company’s official website.THE for Russia will be very difficult”. maintain a strong influence on the producers in the world after the US. producing 11 million barrels of crude KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Speaking at the beginning of Janu- oil market amidst the pandemic. On April 20, WTI crude collapsed per day. AFP VN builds expressway in Mekong Delta Indonesia okays $282M A GROUNDBREAKING cere- gas project in Kaliberau mony for the construction of the My Thuan-Can Tho Express- INDONESIA’S Upstream Oil role in realising the govern- way, an important project in the and Gas Special Regulatory ment’s ambition of doubling Mekong Delta region’s transport Task Force (SKK Migas) has domestic gas production over system, was held in Vinh Long approved Spain-based Rep- the decade and building new gas province on January 4. sol’s first plan of development infrastructure such that Indone- The My Thuan-Can Tho (PoD) worth $282 million in sia becomes a major Asia Pacif- Expressway is part of the east- the gas-rich Kaliberau field in ic gas exporter by 2030. ern section of the North-South the Sakakemang block, South The task force expects Kalib- Expressway project. It has a total Sumatra. erau field to sell 287.70 billion investment of 4.86 trillion dong SKK Migas said in a state- standard cubic feet (bscf) of ($210 million) and is expected ment on December 30 that the natural gas and 0.17 million to be completed next year. plan, approved on December stock tank barrels (mmstb) of The 23km expressway will 29, entailed re-drilling the condensate throughout its pass through Vinh Long and lucrative KBD-2X well, drilling economical lifespan until Dong Thap provinces. It starts one new production well and 2038. The total reserves are from the My Thuan Bridge 2 in building new infrastructure, estimated at 445.10bscf. Vinh Long city’s Tan Hoa ward including a pipeline to the The field’s production rate is and ends at Cha Va intersec- Grissik central gas plant in the expected to peak at 85 million tion, connecting to National neighbouring Corridor block. standard cubic feet per day Highway No 1 in Binh Minh SKK Migas spokeswoman (mmscfd) for natural gas and town’s Thuan An commune. Susana Kurniasih said: “The 34 barrels condensate per day The My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway broke ground on Monday. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY/VIET NAM NEWS Speaking at the ceremony, [company] is expected to (bcpd). Deputy Minister of Transport create a key transport line given the country’s economy the progress of the project as immediately execute the plan Susana explained that build- Nguyen Nhat said the project from Ho Chi Minh City to Can still faces a lot of difficulties. well as the quality. to start production as soon as ing the pipeline was part of a will help reduce overloads on Tho city. It will shorten travel This is aimed at reducing He welcomed the commit- possible.” bigger plan in “monetising gas National Highway No 1 and push time between the two cities to cost for transport goods in the ment from Vinh Long and The field holds an estimated fields near existing gas distri- up economic development two hours instead of three to Mekong Delta, helping the Dong Thap provinces to com- two trillion cubic feet of recov- bution infrastructure to meet while securing national defence four hours as at present. realisation of the Govern- plete the site clearance to hand erable resources, according to domestic gas demand quickly and security for the Mekong Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan ment’s Resolution No 120/NQ- over land to investors. initial estimates announced in and accurately. Delta province, gradually accom- Phuc emphasised that the CP on sustainable and climate- Phuc also asked the two prov- 2019, which crowned it Indo- “Experts have said that poor plishing the expressway system. project plays a vital role in the resilient development of the inces to quickly build resettle- nesia’s biggest gas discovery in gas infrastructure had limited The completion of the development of the Mekong Mekong Delta. ment areas to quickly stabilise almost two decades after Exx- Indonesia’s gas demand and project together with Ho Chi Delta, saying the government The prime minister asked the lives of local people who onMobil’s discovery of the thus, limited investors’ appe- Minh City-Trung Luong, Trung has approved to shift from the Ministry of Transport, have given up their land to Cepu oil field in Central Java tites to explore new gas Luong-My Thuan Expressways build-operate-transfer mode investors and units involved in make way for the project. VIET in 2001. reserves,” she said. THE JAKARTA and My Thuan 2 Bridge will to using public investment the implementation to ensure NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK The field plays an important POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK wednesday, January 6, 2021 // www.phnompenhpost.com MoEYS continues to plan for further success in education, youth and sport

he Ministry of Educa- tion, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) commences the new academic year onT January 11. As outlined in its existing plans, the ministry aims for continued success in education, youth and sport, as well as in Covid-19 contextualised Stan- dard Operating Procedures as published in The Phnom Penh Post on October 7 last year. The overarching and comple- mentary Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023 and Cambodia’s Education 2030 Roadmap guide the overall work of MoEYS. The ministry accomplished the Education Strategic Plan 2014-2018 in collaboration with members of the Educa- tion Sector Working Group and other stakeholders, with increasing equitable access to education services at all levels – particularly the nine years of basic education – among the achievements. Other successes include The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has been successful in its Covid-19 prevention measures. SUPPLIED increasing opportunities for disadvantaged children and of Education, Science and table and quality education, It responds to the vision of types and levels of education. This helps maintain inclu- young people to enrol at all Technology”. and promoting lifelong learn- Cambodia’s socio-economic This is particularly in line sion and sustainable growth levels of learning, strengthen- It aims to do this by focus- ing opportunities for all. development and the reform with the Kingdom’s develop- through economic diversifi- ing governance of public edu- ing on seven reform priorities MoEYS continues to mini- programmes of the Royal Gov- ment goals of becoming an cation, strengthened com- cational institutions, improving – teachers, the expansion of mise skills gaps by collaborat- ernment of Cambodia. upper-middle income country petitiveness and improved quality of education through schools at all levels, strength- ing with relevant stakeholders The plan applies sub-sector by 2030 and achieving high- productivity. enhancing teacher capacity and ening the comprehensive in- to intensify the supply of skills structural management ap- income status by 2050. In this regard, education growing numbers of scholar- spection of school management training in priority areas, and proaches to address logical Cambodia has achieved 2030 focuses on providing ships for poor students. and the promotion of technical by introducing digital educa- relationships between sub- educational results and best quality services, equitable and Crucial quality improve- education at upper secondary tion in response to policy and sector objectives, strategic practice from Unesco’s global inclusive early childhood, pri- ment measures and responses education. the direction of Cambodia’s frameworks, main activities Education For All movement mary and secondary education, to education services, especially It also targets reform regard- digital economy. and resource requirements, and the UNDP Millennium De- including technical and voca- reform of the upper secondary ing skills education in accor- To achieve these priorities, monitoring and evaluation, velopment Goals for Cambodia, tional education – especially and other exams, have enabled dance with the labour market, MoEYS has embraced two and mechanisms for continu- which are fundamental for to foster life-long learning – to MoEYS to outline further prior- the development of comprehen- overarching policies – to ensure ous quality improvement. achieving the 2030 educational improve quality, effectiveness itised reform programmes. sive curricula and textbooks, inclusive, equitable and quality The Education Strategic Plan targets. and job productivity in line These include improvements and preparations for the 2023 education, and promote lifelong 2019-2023 is aligned with Cam- with the digital age to promote in the teaching profession, the Southeast Asian Games, which learning opportunities for all; bodia’s Education 2030 Road- Equitable and inclusive economic and social prosperity. assessing of student achieve- Cambodia is set to host. and to ensure the effective map. The Kingdom has reached Education plays an important The Cambodia Sustainable ment, and the reviewing of leadership and management of a new development stage in role in human resources devel- Development Goal 4 (CSDG4) curricula and core textbooks, as Lifelong learning education officials at all levels. education sector response opment, providing knowledge Education Roadmap has been well as higher education reform. From 2019 to 2023 towards The Education Strategic to the global and regional and instilling a strong ability to developed through consulta- MoEYS also provides the 2030, and then 2050, MoEYS Plan 2019-2023 is designed context, which with a broad embrace the spirit of entrepre- tions and rigorous analytical training of technical and soft is committed to achieving UN for implementing education, and ambitious scope refers to neurship and innovation, as work between ministries, skills, job market information, Sustainable Development Goal youth and sport reforms, and equitable, quality, inclusive and well as to provide highly ethical institutions, stakeholders and and career counselling and 4 on education, based on the establishing a robust base for lifelong learning in a compre- contributions to promote indus- development partners to en- orientation. principles of inclusive, equi- education in 2030 and beyond. hensive framework covering all trial development. sure coherence with existing policies. Reform priorities This has led to further clar- Young Cambodians have ity and consistency in vision become more active as a result regarding policy and strategies of the involvement of all stake- to achieve CSDG4 by 2030. holders, including the Child The successful implementa- and Youth Council, Red Cross tion of the roadmap will re- volunteer youths and Scout quire dedicated and concerted youths, with physical education efforts by all Royal Govern- and sport key priorities. ment of Cambodia ministries This looks to build on and agencies, development the successes of Cambodian partners, private sector, civil sportspersons who have won society organisations and other gold medals at World, Asian relevant stakeholders. The and Southeast Asian cham- objectives of the roadmap will pionships, and the Southeast be addressed through medium- Asian Games, among other term education strategic plans. competitions. Thus, the Ministry of The Rectangular Strategy Education remains strongly Phase IV highlights human committed to its mission of resource development as a developing human capital and top priority, with MoEYS com- producing truly global citizens mitted to achieving its first in response to the context of goal of “Improving the Quality The new Cambodian academic year begins on January 11. SUPPLIED Cambodia’s development. 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World Turkey lauds Iran steps up uranium enrichment Saudi plan to ran on January 4 said it had start- ed the process to enrich uranium open borders to 20 per cent purity, well beyond the threshold set by its 2015 nu- to Qatar traffic Iclear deal with major powers, sparking international concern. Turkey on January 4 wel- The move at its underground Fordow comed the announcement that facility was confirmed by UN watch- Saudi Arabia will reopen its dog the International Atomic Energy borders and airspace to Qatar, Agency (IAEA). but called for all sanctions on It was the most important suspen- its ally Doha to be lifted. sion yet of Iranian commitments under More than three years after the landmark deal, a process it started Riyadh led an alliance to iso- in 2019 in response to US President late Doha, the Kuwaiti foreign Donald Trump’s dramatic withdrawal minister on January 4 from the accord the previous year. announced Saudi’s move on “The process for producing 20 per the eve of a six-nation Gulf cent enriched uranium has started Cooperation Council (GCC) at Shahid Alimohammadi enrich- annual summit. ment complex [Fordow],” govern- Ankara strongly backed Doha ment spokesman Ali Rabiei said in after the 2017 blockade and comments quoted by the state broad- was at the forefront of nations caster. to supply the Gulf state with President Hassan Rouhani had or- food and services. dered the enrichment “in recent days” Turkey “welcomed” the deci- and “the gas injection process started sion on reopening the borders, as of hours ago”, he said. the Turkish foreign ministry Foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted said in a statement, adding it that “we resumed 20% enrichment as A truck carrying UF6 fuel leaving the Natanz nuclear research centre in the central Iranian province of Isfahan to the underground Fordo was “an important step towards legislated by our parliament”, adding (Fordow) facility. Iran has started the process to enrich uranium to 20 per cent purity at its Fordow facility, state media reported, going resolving the dispute”. well beyond the threshold set by the 2015 nuclear deal. AFP that the IAEA had been “duly notified”. The ministry praised efforts He stressed that Tehran took the step to increase its campaign of nuclear ex- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- gramme would be a “considerable de- by Kuwait and other interna- “after years of non-compliance” by tortion, an attempt that will continue tanyahu reacted angrily and charged parture” from the deal. tional players to end the crisis. other parties and that “our measures to fail.” it proved Iran is seeking to build an Russia’s envoy to the IAEA said Mos- The statement said: “Our are fully reversible upon FULL compli- The Iranian government has sig- atomic bomb – a claim the Islamic re- cow is “not enthusiastic” about Teh- wish is that this dispute will be ance by ALL”. nalled a readiness to engage with public has always denied. ran’s move but emphasised that “there completely and permanently The step comes less than three President-elect Joe Biden, who has ex- Netanyahu said in a statement: is nothing to overdramatise”. resolved on the basis on mutu- weeks before the end of the presidency pressed willingness to return to diplo- “Iran’s decision to continue violating its Mikhail Ulyanov wrote on Twitter: al respect for countries’ sover- of Trump, who has sought to economi- macy with Tehran and takes office on commitments, to raise the enrichment “The nuclear programme remains eignty and that other sanctions cally punish and diplomatically isolate January 20. level and advance the industrial ability fully transparent and verifiable . . . against the people of Qatar will Iran with a “maximum pressure” cam- to enrich uranium underground, can- We should focus on means to restore be lifted as soon as possible.” paign, including tough sanctions. Israel warning not be explained in any way except as comprehensive implementation of the Saudi Arabia led a coalition The outgoing administration de- The IAEA confirmed that “Iran today the continued realisation of its inten- nuclear deal.” of countries including the UAE plored Iran’s plan to step up uranium began feeding uranium already en- tion to develop a military nuclear pro- Iran had on December 31 informed and Egypt which cut all diplo- enrichment. riched up to 4.1 per cent U-235 into six gramme. the IAEA that it would begin producing matic and transport ties with A US State Department spokesper- centrifuge cascades at the Fordow Fuel “Israel will not allow Iran to manu- uranium enriched to up to 20 per cent, Qatar, claiming it was too close son said: “Iran enriching uranium to Enrichment Plant for further enrich- facture nuclear weapons.” the level it had before the nuclear deal to Iran and supported radical 20 per cent at Fordow is a clear attempt ment up to 20 per cent”. The EU said Iran’s enrichment pro- was reached. AFP Islamist groups. AFP Mexico offers political No EU decision on Moderna vaccine asylum to Julian Assange The EU’s drugs watchdog held out, and said its plans would get – four times the population of oped by AstraZeneca and Mexico on January 4 said it revolutionary Leon Trotsky and, off authorising Moderna’s coro- the EU past “bumps on the the entire EU. Oxford University, which was was ready to offer political asy- more recently, former Bolivian navirus jab on January 4 despite road”. US-based Moderna’s jab was approved on December 30 in lum to WikiLeaks founder Julian president Evo Morales. bringing forward a special meet- Spokesman Eric Mamer told found to be 94.1 per cent effec- Britain, is unlikely to get a Assange, after a British judge Academic and foreign rela- ing, as criticism mounts of the journalists: “It’s obvious that tive in preventing Covid-19 green light in the EU in the blocked his extradition to the tions expert Adolfo Laborde bloc’s slow vaccine roll-out. such a complex endeavour is compared to a placebo in a next month. US to face espionage charges. said: “Mexico has a long history The Amsterdam-based Euro- always going to bring with it dif- clinical trial of 30,400 people, The fact that the watchdog President Andres Manuel of offering asylum.” pean Medicines Agency (EMA) ficulties.” performing slightly better in moved from London to Amster- Lopez Obrador told reporters: Whether Assange joins the said it would resume talks on The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine younger adults compared to the dam after Brexit has itself fuelled “I’m going to ask [foreign min- list would depend on political January 6 on whether to give the – developed in Germany – is the elderly. commentary about how Britain ister Marcelo Ebrard] to carry pressures and the stances of the green light to what would be the only one currently authorised The EMA said last week that had been able to move faster out the relevant procedures to various actors and countries EU’s second vaccine. for use in the EU since its fast- the coronavirus vaccine devel- after leaving the EU. AFP request that the UK govern- with an interest in his fate, Under pressure from EU track authorisation by the EMA ment releases Mr Assange and Laborde said. nations to speed up, the regula- on December 21. that Mexico offers him political Assange is wanted on 18 tor had earlier fast-tracked the The US uses it alongside the asylum.” charges in the US relating to the meeting to decide on approval Moderna vaccine, while Britain The leader welcomed the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of from January 12 to January 6, as of January 4 also started using British court’s rejection of the 500,000 secret files detailing and then again to January 4. one by UK pharmaceuticals US request to extradite the aspects of military campaigns Despite launching its vaccina- giant, AstraZeneca. 49-year-old Australian pub- in Afghanistan and Iraq. tion campaign with the Pfizer- EU countries have been lag- lisher due to the risk of suicide, If convicted in Mexico’s BioNTech vaccine, on Decem- ging far behind. France, for calling it a “triumph of jus- northern neighbour, he faces ber 27, the EU’s progress has instance, has given a first jab to tice”. up to 175 years in jail. been much slower than in the just over 500 people. Germany He said: “Assange is a journal- Lopez Obrador’s relations US, Britain or Israel. has started immunising ist and deserves a chance.” with Biden had already got off The EMA said on Twitter: 200,000. Lopez Obrador said Mexico to a rocky start as he was one of “EMA’s committee for human The Netherlands, the last in would ensure “that whoever the last high-profile leaders to medicines discussion on Covid- the EU to start its vaccination receives asylum does not inter- congratulate him on his victory, 19 vaccine [by] Moderna has not programme, meanwhile said vene or interfere in the political saying he wanted to wait until concluded today. It will con- it was bringing forward the affairs of any country”. legal disputes were resolved. tinue on Wednesday. start of jabs – by two days to Mexico has welcomed many Activists held a protest in “No further communication January 6. political asylum-seekers over front of the British embassy in will be issued today by EMA.” The European Commission the years, from Nicaraguan Mexico City after the court The European Commission emphasised it had bought A person unpacks a special refrigerated box of Moderna Covid-19 at the anti-imperialist hero Cesar decision, demanding Assange had earlier defended the bloc access to “almost two billion East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) in Boston, Augusto Sandino to Russian be released. AFP against criticisms of its slow roll- doses” of six potential vaccines Massachusetts, on December 24. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN VN issues resolutions on socio-economic targets

he Vietnamese government largest international airports in the of enterprises, land administrative has just issued two resolu- country Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh management quality, application of tions on major socio-eco- City, Noi Bai in Hanoi, and Danang. information technology, quality of vo- nomic targets for 2021 and The government will continue to cational training, students’ skills, pat- enhancingT business environment work towards improving Vietnamese ent granting, fight against corruption, and national competitiveness, on the people’s quality of life, setting people online transactions, job opportunity heels of a successful 2020 despite the as both the goal and the driving force in knowledge-intensive sectors, and impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. for social development – with the ef- sustainable ecosystem. Government Office chairman Mai fective implementation of national Ministries, municipal and provin- Tien Dung told January 4’s press target programmes and policies on cial People’s Committees and other briefing on the two resolutions that education-training, health, culture, governmental agencies must sharp- the main message is to achieve the sport, et cetera in order to ensure en their focus on removing barriers dual goal of maintaining high eco- equal opportunities for everyone. hindering the effectiveness of coor- nomic growth while keeping the Dung said the government will not dination among them by clearly and pandemic situation under control to trade the environment for econom- transparently assigning rights and re- safeguard public health. ic growth, noting that efforts will sponsibilities of each unit. They must According to Resolution 01 on so- be expended to facilitate the plant- also quickly address issues caused by cio-economic targets, Vietnam aims ing of one billion trees (covering an unclear and overlapping regulations to post a gross domestic product area of 500,000ha), better respond in investment and management of (GDP) growth of 6.5 per cent growth to threats from climate change, land, environment, and natural re- Once completed, the Mai Dich viaduct will help address traffic issues in part of Hanoi. in 2021 (higher than the six per cent VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY/VIET NAM NEWS enhance anti-disaster efforts and sources. assigned by the National Assembly), search and rescue. Resolution 02 underlines the tasks with per capita GDP reaching $3,700, Regarding the specific tasks, the res- partners, and to effective implement The preparations for the upcoming and solutions for the national digital and the Consumer Price Index being olution demands close coordination the free trade deals signed last year – 13th National Party Congress (slated transformation programme by 2025 kept at about four per cent. between fiscal and monetary poli- including the Europe-Vietnam Free for the end of January), election for with a vision towards 2030, as well The percentage of the population cies to unlock difficulties in business Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Re- the 15th-tenure National Assembly as emphasises solutions to improve to be covered by the government- and production, promote sustainable gional Comprehensive Economic and election for the People’s Council the country’s preparedness for new sponsored health insurance pro- and fast development, keep inflation Partnership (RCEP), while giving of all levels for the term 2021-2026 will production in the era of the Fourth gramme would reach 91 per cent, under control and maintain stable more attention to the domestic mar- also be a priority. Industrial Revolution. while the rate of poor households macro foundations of the economy, ket with the message of ‘Vietnamese 2021 is the first year in the 2021-2030 It also requires attention on de- (defined by multidimensional pov- prioritise resources for development people use Vietnamese products’. socio-economic development strate- livering level-3 and -4 online public erty criteria) would go down by 1-1.5 and support for businesses and peo- The resolution affirms the govern- gy and socio-economic development administrative services, particularly percentage points. ple impacted by the pandemic – espe- ment’s commitment to develop mod- plan for the 2021-2025 period, the in healthcare, education, and social The government also aims to have cially in the industry, service, tourism ern economic and social infrastruc- successes of 2021 will be a solid foun- welfare; accelerating cashless pay- 66 per cent of all workers in the work- and aviation sectors, Dung said. ture, especially in terms of traffic, dation encouraging the undertakings ment and developing e-commerce; force trained, with 25.5 per cent hav- The government will continue to energy, urban areas, and adaptation of the following years, Dung said. applying information technology to ing certificates. pursue renovating the country’s eco- to climate change – with a focus on Under Resolution No 02/NQ-CP make public procedures more trans- Environment-wise, the govern- nomic model, enhance productivity, key transport infrastructure projects on improving Vietnam’s business parent; engaging enterprises and ment targets over 90 per cent of all raise the economy’s resilience and such as the eastern part of the trans- environment and national competi- people in government building; pro- urban households getting access to competitiveness based on science, Vietnam North-South expressway, tiveness in 2021, the government or- moting shared databases for state clean water, 87 per cent of all urban technology and innovation. inter-regional transport projects in ders priority be given to improving governance; and developing and im- waste collected and treated properly, This year, the country aims to ex- the northern region, implementation a number of indexes and indicators plementing the programme on sup- 91 per cent of waste from industrial pand and diversify export and im- of non-stop electronic toll collection, regarding construction permit issu- porting enterprises’ digital transfor- zones treated, and forest coverage on port markets, proactively settle com- the first phase of Long Thanh interna- ance, asset registration, settlement mation from 2021-2025. VIET NAM NEWS/ a national level reaching 42 per cent. mercial relationships with its major tional airport, and expansion of three of contract disputes, bankruptcy ASIA NEWS NETWORK Indonesia set to free 2002 Bali bombing-linked cleric Ba’asyir A radical Indonesian cleric the firebrand preacher’s time Ba’asyir, a key figure in mili- linked to the deadly Bali bomb- was cut due to regular sentence tant group Jemaah Islamiyah ings will be released from prison reductions handed to most pris- (JI), was previously jailed over this week, authorities said on oners in Indonesia. the Bali bombings, but that con- January 4, after an earlier bid to “He will be released on Janu- viction was quashed on free him early was axed follow- ary 8, 2021, as his prison term appeal. ing a public uproar. expired and ended,” Rika Apri- He has repeatedly denied Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, 82, once anti, spokesperson for the Min- involvement in the 2002 bomb- synonymous with militant istry of Law and Human Rights’ ings that killed more than 200 Islam in the world’s biggest Directorate General of Correc- people – most foreign tourists Muslim majority nation, will be tions, said in a statement. – in Indonesia’s worst terror freed on January 8 after com- Ba’asyir’s lawyers had attack. pleting a 15-year prison term for appealed for early release citing Two years ago, plans to grant helping fund paramilitary train- his old age and risk of contract- the ageing Ba’asyir early release ing in conservative Aceh prov- ing Covid-19 in the Southeast on humanitarian grounds ince. Asian nation’s notoriously over- sparked a backlash at home and He was sentenced in 2011, but crowded prison system. in Australia. Dozens of Australians were killed in the Bali attacks, and the early release plan was shelved. Ba’asyir has since been regu- larly taken to hospital over his deteriorating health. The 2002 bombings prompt- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. THE NATION ed Jakarta to beef up counter- terror cooperation with the US and Australia. Thailand’s Prayut scraps ban Al-Qaeda-linked JI was found- ed by a handful of exiled Indo- nesian militants in Malaysia in on Bangkok restaurant dining the 1980s and grew to include cells across Southeast Asia. The order banning restaurant Prayut said he had listened arrange their tables in line As well as the 2002 Bali bomb- dining in Bangkok was cancelled to suggestions and concerns with social-distancing prac- ings, the radical group was on January 4, a day before it was from restaurant associations tices. If not, they will be shut blamed for a 2003 car bomb at due to take effect. over the Bangkok Metropoli- down temporarily.” the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta Thai Prime Minister Prayut tan Administration’s (BMA) However, restaurants are still and a suicide car bomb the fol- Chan-o-cha scrapped the ban announcement of seven new banned from serving alcohol. lowing year outside the Austra- after January 4’s meeting of the restrictions. Meanwhile anyone planning lian embassy. Centre for Covid-19 Situation He said: “In response, I have to hold a party or large gathering This week Indonesian police Administration (CCSA). Instead, postponed the order [ban- must seek permission from the said they had discovered videos from January 5 dining in restau- ning restaurant dining]. Cus- BMA or health officials first. Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir (centre) will be released from showing members of JI training rants will be permitted until tomers will be allowed to eat The order is effective from prison this week, authorities said on Monday, after an earlier bid to free at what they described as terror- 9pm, after which they can only in restaurants until 9pm. January 5 until January 31. THE him early was axed following a public uproar. afp ist training camps. AFP offer takeaway services. However, restaurants need to NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion

www.phnompenhpost.com Five things the Philippines’ Duterte

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Managing Editor Post Khmer should learn from neighbours Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Opinion phak Seangly Richard Heydarian Business Editor May Kunmakara T’S an unmitigated dis- Deputy Business Editor aster. By every key met- Sangeetha amarthalingam ric, the year 2020 devas- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk tated the Philippines pan Simala Iway more than it should Senior Reporters have, most especially when Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng compared to our peers. Reporters The facts speak for them- Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, selves. In terms of Covid-19, Long Kimmarita, Hin pisei, Mom Kunthear, the Philippines posted the Hong Raksmey, pann Rethea, Voun Dara, highest fatality rate in the Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, region, and for months the Soth Koemsoeun, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha highest number of infections Photographers throughout East Asia and the Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey Western Pacific. As for the Web Editor economy, the Philippines’ Leang phannara gross domestic product is Digital Teams expected to suffer a contrac- Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy tion of up to 10 per cent, the SIEM REAP BUREAU highest in the region and Offi ce Manager among the worst in the Sophearith Blondeel whole developing world. PRODUCTION & PRINTING The International Mone- Head of Desktop Publishing tary Fund (IMF) warns that Nhim Sokphyrak the Philippines will suffer Desktop Publishing the worst growth decline in Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath the world over the next five Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna years. Millions of Filipinos, especially the youth, will confront years of employ- ment uncertainty, with the The International Monetary Fund (IMF)warns that the Philippines will suffer the worst growth decline in the world over the next five years. Mil- International Labor Organi- lions of Filipinos, especially the youth, will confront years of employment uncertainty, with the International Labor Organisation raising alarm HEAD OFFICE sation raising alarm bells bells over the prospect of a “lost generation” in hardest-hit nations. afp Post Media Co, Ltd. over the prospect of a “lost The Elements Condominium Level 7, generation” in hardest-hit than his Filipino counter- even Vietnam’s ($26.5 bil- class vaccines or/and are in institutions as well as among Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, nations. part is in his refusal to lion). In per capita terms, the process of developing citizens. From Taiwan to Viet- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom The Lancet, an internation- exploit a crisis and impose a ours was only bigger than indigenous versions. nam, both democratic and Penh, Cambodia al medical journal, has protracted and excessively Cambodia’s ($136), Laos’ The third lesson has less to authoritarian regimes have Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 ranked the Philippines at the strict lockdown. ($4.30), and Myanmar’s do with politics than with Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 managed to secure people’s bottom third of global rank- As a result, Indonesia’s GDP Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 ($1.84). political institutions. Across cooperation on social dis- ings in terms of Covid-19 is expected to contract SIEM REAP The second lesson is sover- the world, nations with tancing and basic hygiene No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune management. Among the between -1.7 per cent and eignty. Many of our neigh- strong states, rather than while shunning strict lock- Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 top-ranked nations are our -0.6 per cent this year, less bours were quick to impose strongmen, have proven downs altogether. COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT close neighbours – Malaysia, than a fifth of the economic travel restrictions in the pre- more adept in managing And this brings us to the Chief Operating Offi cer Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar devastation wrought in final element, which is stew- James Ong Soon Teck and Cambodia. neighbouring Philippines, Many of the Phillipines’ ardship. On balance, coun- A cursory look at our where one of the world’s tries under populist leaders Advertising Department neighbours were quick to act Chap Narith, 017 996 241 immediate neighbours, longest and strictest lock- have fared poorly, since pop- almost all of which are fellow downs drove countless busi- ulist leaders rely on divide- Hun Channet, 017 578 768 in the preventative phase of prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 developing countries with nesses over the cliff. and-conquer strategies, dis- Keo puthy, 012 966 605 similar climactic conditions, Duterte was right to the Covid-19 pandemic information, and vacuous phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 reveals five key lessons, or “5 impose social distancing macho posturing. While Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 S’s,” for President Rodrigo measures, but it came too ventative phase of the pan- complex crises such as the these antics have proven CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION Duterte and his successors. late and was extended for far demic. Even Cambodian Covid-19 pandemic. The effective during circus-like Acting Distribution Manager The first lesson is symme- too long. According to the Prime Minister Hun Sen tragic lesson from places elections, they not only don’t Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 try. Indonesia’s handling of IMF, at some point the lock- made it clear that Cambodia such as the US and the UK, protect real people from real Circulation Supervisor the Covid-19 crisis is not down stifled up to 75 per cent won’t rely on untested vac- long admired for their robust crisis, they even exacerbate Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 necessarily ideal, and Presi- of domestic economic activi- cines from any countries democratic institutions, is the crisis. Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 dent Joko Widodo has come ty in the Philippines. since “Cambodia is not a precisely the erosion of Reflecting on the blunder ADMINISTRATION under fire for, among others, Meanwhile, the Philip- dustbin . . . and not a place strong states under incompe- of incompetence, Charles Admin & HR Manager delayed response as well as pines’ economic recovery for a vaccine trial”. tent and erratic leaders. Maurice de Talleyrand pich Socheat overreliance on military programme ($21.45 billion) Meanwhile, from Singapore The fourth crucial element remarked, “This is worse Assistants to Admin & HR Manager generals. But where the was among the smallest in to Indonesia and Vietnam, to the success of many of our than a crime, it’s a mistake.” Nhel Soaphea Indonesian populist has the region, far smaller than neighbours have either neighbours is social cohe- PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS Financial Director shown far greater foresight Indonesia’s $115.78 billion or secured large doses of world- sion, namely trust in public NETWORK Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle SGC running projects to support village school Hong Raksmey they’ve gotten what they needed. “We are in a bit of a remote area so ANNES Schmid, a profes- we have more support from the local sional photographer and authorities. They have been very warm artist from Switzerland, and welcoming and have helped to met a Cambodian girl who boost our projects,” says Sokleap. hadH been forced to beg for money on SGC collects donations from all over the streets of Thailand back when he the world but their main sources of visited there in 2012. funding are organisations in Switzer- She had previously been the victim land and Germany. of an acid attack and then later ended They have also gotten assistance up in Thailand when she was exploit- from universities and institutes to ed by human traffickers. supply technical knowledge and ad- Schmid rescued the girl and returned vice on subjects like farming that SGC her to Cambodia, which was Schmid’s initially lacked. first introduction to the Kingdom. “We have our local management Today, Schmid is a board mem- team who are trained by international ber of the NGO he founded, Smiling coaches. They are experts from abroad Gecko Switzerland, which acts as an serving as volunteer coaches in Cam- international coordinator of dona- bodia for brief periods,” he says. tions and funding for Smiling Gecko Cambodia (SGC). Support for village school SGC executive director Ngon Sok- After obtaining some funding leap (pictured, Hong Menea) tells through international charitable do- The Post: “Through helping this girl nations, SGC initially spent its capital by bringing her back home, Schmid on investments in hospitality projects got to know Cambodia. He could see such as the guesthouse/restaurant A community school in the Village School Project, one of SGC’S cluster projects. SUPPLIED that the people residing in slums or and the purchase of land for their who were homeless or migrants we have about 300 students,” says about our lives and individual experi- ing the agricultural project to sites farming projects. were all facing difficulties.” Sokleap, “We are about to establish ences and he told me not to pursue located away from our main campus. Those projects in turn are supposed A few years later, SGC was registered an education centre for around 1100 my scholarship in Australia and insist- We are currently seeking poor families to help provide support for the Village in the Kingdom as an NGO working students that will serve as a model ed that I run his charity organisation to join our project,” says Sokleap. School Project. towards improving the standard of for [reforming] the school system in with him.” SGC rolled out the Agriculture Com- “For the upcoming school year we living in Cambodia by securing suf- Cambodia.” Though SGC is connected to Smil- munity Project (ACP) to support mi- increased our capacity so that we now ficient funds for long term projects ing Gecko Switzerland (SGS), the two cro-farming that combines growing teach students from kindergarten or devoted to providing better educa- Humble beginnings on the farm organisations operate independently vegetables with raising livestock. Poor pre-school through Grade 4. We are tion via organic agricultural projects Shocked into action by the level of from each other with SGC managed families gain additional income while encouraging parents in the commu- and various other initiatives. poverty that he encountered in Phnom by Cambodian staff and SGS working their [vulnerability due to] dependen- nity to register their children for pre- Located in Kampong Chhnang’s Penh, Schmid started providing food mostly as a donor coordinator back in cy on a single crop is reduced. school at ages as young as 3 years old,” southernmost Samaki Meanchey packages with rice and other groceries Switzerland. “The families are provided neces- says Sokleap. district, SGC is an NGO with proj- for some families here and he began “We founded SGC in 2015 [with just sary infrastructure – pigsties, chicken Sokleap explained that SGC has ects ranging from agriculture to to split his time between Switzerland the two of us] and today we have 260 coops and fish ponds – based on their a memorandum of understanding hospitality and education. and Cambodia. employees,” says Sokleap. personal needs and the requirements (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, “Recently we’ve been using about Schmid realised that his efforts of their farm businesses,” says Sok- Youth and Sport permitting the school half of the 130ha plot [we hold here]. would never be consistent or sus- Smiling Gecko a ‘symbol of hope’ leap. project and they are preparing to reg- In agriculture, we’ve rolled out the or- tained enough to tackle the problem of The smiling gecko and gecko’s feet ister as an international private school ganisation’s industrial poultry farm, a poverty or hunger in Cambodia if they symbols and logo are meant to inspire Overcoming the odds making use of both English-language pig farm and a fish farm, along with were reliant solely on donations out of those who face difficulties related to SGC chose organic agriculture – and Khmer-language curriculums. the Agriculture Family Project [AFP] his own pocket or from his friends and societal ills such as human trafficking. which doesn’t make use of chemicals “We would like our village school on about 30ha of land,” says Sokleap. whenever he visited the slum areas he Sokleap says that the gecko is a such as pesticides – to develop the programme to one day extend all the Starting in 2015, AFP sponsored always found more and more children small reptile that escapes predators by community and support their core way up through university degrees. the relocation of 12 families from the and families that needed help. shedding its tail and being able to sur- education projects. This is our main project in the com- slums of Phnom Penh to SGC’s land in He knew he couldn’t help all of them vive the loss of other body parts such They soon discovered that growing munity since we believe high quality Kampong Chhnang where each family by himself so he came up with a plan as limbs which it is then able to fully crops in the infertile and sandy soil education is the only thing that will was given a 5,000sqm plot of farm land that he thought would at least help regenerate. [on their land in Kampong Chhnang] provide a permanent solution to end to use to provide a living for them. some of them in a lasting way. “It is meant to show people who are is not easy to do. poverty in Cambodia. SGC also built a guest house to “Schmid chose 10 families to earn struggling through adversity that they Sokleap says: “We chose this location “All of our projects create jobs and accommodate visitors, guests and their living by farming crops, fish- can pursue their dreams. And though due to a lack of any experience with provide job training skills but the students along with a kitchen to ing and raising livestock. He always they may fail many times before suc- agriculture at all. Mr Schmid and I are school can help students pursue any serve food made from their farm’s watched over those families,” says ceeding, they can survive that and not expert farmers, unfortunately. career or achieve any goal imaginable. produce and livestock. Sokleap. keep going,” Sokleap says. “One of our employees, a tuk-tuk So our other projects help people in The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko Those early farming efforts failed Twelve families living in the slums driver, brought Schmid to visit the vil- different ways but they are all intended guesthouse and restaurant act as a when the poultry died and the vegeta- or garbage dumps each received 0.5ha lage he was from and so we ended up to support the Village School,” he says. visitor centre where people can gain bles spoiled due to a lack of expertise of land to use as a home and a farm to here [in Samaki Meanchey district]. However, SGC doesn’t have the insight into the organisation’s innova- with agriculture. grow crops and raise animals. “It will take some time to improve funding yet to provide 100 per cent tive and holistic social projects. Schmid then decided to register as “Around 7ha were given to those the soil quality. Since we use organic free education so parents pay a small Sitting on a rattan chair in front of a non-government organisation and first families and today the organisa- processes, it will one day yield a better amount in tuition fees in order to help Farmhouse Smiling Gecko restaurant, seek local partners to work with to tion has expanded to 130ha to use harvest than chemically tainted soil.” keep the school going. Sokleap says: “We’ve built a bunga- make his efforts more effective. for projects in agriculture, hospitality, He says another issue they have is He says that the children in the low resort on 2.5ha here. We have 17 Sokleap, 32, tells The Post “I was in- producing crafts and also the village that in the rainy season the soils are [Tbeng Khpos commune] commu- Khmer style wooden houses which troduced to [Schmid] in December school. waterlogged but in the dry season nity have been given a huge oppor- are divided into 34 rooms.” 2013 a few years after I had gradu- “We can’t buy more land for new- they get drought conditions and their tunity through the Village School pro- Sokleap says SGC is now heavily a t e d from The Royal comers [at present] but we are extend- water usage is much higher, but so far gramme; especially the fact that they focused on their Village School Proj- University of Law are studying English there now from a ect. It was also introduced in 2015, and Econom- young age. working in close collaboration with ics [RULE] and SGC has big plans for their school ETH Zurich and Zurich University of The Institute programme and hopes to expand it by Teacher Education. of Foreign one grade per year going forward. SGC has a two-pronged strategy re- Languages “There are lots of different ways we garding education, with Zurich Uni- [IFL] in 2010. help people but in the end education versity of Teacher Education focused “We talked is the most enduring assistance we on improving what occurs can provide,” he concludes. inside the classrooms and SGC is located in the Tbeng Khpos ETH Zurich focused on commune, in the centre of Kam- building schools and infra- pong Chhnang province’s Samaki structure so that modern Meanchey district, about 70km from classrooms and facilities Phnom Penh. will be available in the Visit Facebook page @smil- first place. inggeckocamobodiaor website “We have a village https://www.smilinggecko.ch/en/ school where today SGC plans to expand their school programme by one grade per year. SUPPLIED for more details. 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Shannon Batte unloads bins full of oyster shells at Red Bluff Road in Pasadena, Texas. AFP Oyster shells given new life as reefs off Texas coast

n THE terrace of grown since then to include line protection structures such a seafood restau- some 10 restaurants. as bulkheads.” rant in Houston, Displayed on menus or To date, the foundation has Texas’ largest city, tables, logos and diagrams used its method to protect aO few ladies are enjoying a show guests the fate of the more than 20 miles of coast- local oyster dish: the bread- thousands of shells collect- line and restored 20ha of ed mollusks are slathered in ed: they will simply return to salt marshes. It collected 54 mayonnaise and served in a the waters where they were tonnes of shells in 2012, 125 in sandwich. formed. New oysters will 2019 and 111 in 2020, despite Sitting in the shade of a settle and develop on these the Covid-19 pandemic. palm tree on a warm winter’s shells. Once submerged, the shells day, the diners have no idea are also perfect shelters for that behind the restaurant A ‘coastline of life’ crabs, shrimp and small fish a woman is busy giving the Galveston Bay is home to a that will feed larger ones and shells a second life. seafood-rich ecosystem thanks contribute to the diversity of “A NICE BOUQUET” Thanks to Shannon Batte, to the brackish mixture of the environment. they will soon form part of a fresh water from rivers and ‘Curing site’ ACROSS 46 Gauguin’s island home 12 Provide with a roof reef in Galveston Bay, 10km salt water from the Gulf of 1 Grant’s landmark 48 Lasso loop 13 Currency, in Myanmar away. Out of sight, the Galves- Mexico. In 1845, when Texas Developing the oyster pop- 5 In a frenzy 50 Number in a letter 19 One of Santa’s team ton Bay Foundation employee became a US state, the town ulation also offers another 9 Smart guy 52 Guinness superlative 21 Open to breezes 25 Army scout’s job loads seven trash cans each of Galveston already had its advantage: each mollusk nat- 14 Brother of Cain 56 Physicians’ org. 27 New Hampshire state flower weighing 80kg onto her trailer. own oyster bar. urally filters up to 190 litres of 15 “Death in Venice” author Thomas 59 Brat’s Christmas present 29 Aired a second time The cans are full of not just But in September 2008, Hur- water per day. 16 Chicago mayor before Emanuel 61 Hard worker 31 Prefix with “scope” oyster shells but also water, ricane Ike, which killed 113 But before taking a dip, Batte’s 62 Flower in a Texas tune 17 Soap actress Sofer 32 City in the Ukraine discarded oyster forks and people in the US, destroyed shells stop at what the founda- 65 Colorful parrot 18 Flowery Veronica Lake film (with 33 To be, to Caesar 66 First-stringers squeezed lemons. All year more than half of the oysters’ tion calls a “curing site” between “The”) 34 “Oh, phooey!” round, on Mondays, Wednes- habitat, smothering their reefs Houston and the coast. 20 Computer programming language 67 Hair remover 35 “Arrivederci ___” days and Fridays, she makes with sediment. Batte, 33, empties her gar- 22 Oscar presenter’s take 68 Kong’s kin 36 Great Salt Lake state the rounds of the foundation’s To rebuild the ecosystem, bage cans in a field, removes 23 PC key 69 “___ la vista, baby!” 38 Put in fresh soil partner restaurants. the shells are now dumped the oyster forks and spreads 24 Less stable 70 Certain NCOs 41 Way to get to the top “Most people like to enjoy each spring on rocks placed the shells on the ground. 26 “There’s ___ in the air” 71 Tic-Tac alternative 45 Viking Ship Museum locale their oysters in any month at the bottom of the water. Three months later, they will 28 Select from the menu DOWN 47 Washington seaport that has an ‘r’ in it,” said Batte. Where the current is stron- be turned over using a small 30 Fasten 1 Infield coverings 49 Old cowboy movies “So currently, right now, it’s ger, the shells are piled into backhoe, and then spend at 34 TV’s “The Virginian” star James 2 West Indian sorcery 51 Merits 53 Wed in secret December, so the oyster shell nets and erected as dams. least another three months in 37 Canary’s “nose” 3 Brainy bunch 54 More parched 39 Guns, as an engine 4 Ebony flower collection is a little more. But This becomes a new habitat the fresh air. This prolonged 5 Went for a stroll 55 Secret meeting 40 Campus drilling gp. due to Covid there’s not quite and by breaking the waves, sun treatment in one of three 6 Practice starter? 56 Native maid in India 41 More in need of a massage as much shell as we’ve nor- also helps fight soil erosion. dedicated sites sterilizes the 7 Difficult responsibility 57 Prefix with “physical” 42 Reasons for mally had in the past.” “This is a method that we shells by killing bacteria and 8 “___ man, Bojangles and ...” 58 Hearty libations “Our customers really want adapted from a sister organi- parasites. 43 Eastern nurse 9 Slow tempo 60 Do nothing to know where do our oysters sation in Florida, Tampa Bay The first flies arrive with- 44 “Sack” attachment 10 “___-di-dah!” 63 Back muscle, in the gym come from and what do you Watch. It is used across the out delay and soon four wild 45 Martini add-in 11 Noted first name in jazz 64 “Not my spelling error” notation do with those shells,” said Tom nation, particularly on the boars are licking the shells Tollett, owner of Tommy’s Sea- East and Gulf coasts,” said and chomping on lemons. Tuesday’s solution food Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Haille Leija, who is in charge “They are less and less scared. quoted by the foundation. of the foundation’s habitat Sometimes they don’t wait until It was here that the first restoration. I am gone to feast. I am careful oyster shells were collected “It allows for the establish- because they can attack. Luck- almost 10 years ago, in March ment of a ‘living shoreline’ in ily I have an air horn to scare 2011. The programme has contrast to hardened shore- them off,” she said. AFP

Tuesday’s solution

Oyster shells are seen at a wasteland rented from the Port of Houston used as a curing site. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Dortmund urge Haaland Olympic super-fan Ishikawa: no to emulate ‘world-class’ plan to miss Tokyo 2020 Games Lewandowski’s example Erling Braut Haaland has scoring 33 goals in as many histle-blow- been urged by Borussia Dort- games for Dortmund since his ing, flag-waving mund’s boss to copy the exam- €20 million ($24.6 million) super-fan Kyoko ple of Robert Lewandowski, transfer a year ago from Red Ishikawa has at- who developed into a world- Bull Salzburg. Wtended every Summer Olym- class striker during his four Haaland, now recovered from pics in the past 30 years – and years at the Bundesliga club. a hip injury that sidelined him the Tokyo resident doesn’t plan “Erling, and also his agent for seven games, was booked on missing out on a Games in Mino Raiola, know what they for reacting in frustration after her home city. have in us. I can only advise wasting several clear chances The 51-year-old can’t wait to him to do as Robert Lewan- in the 2-0 win at home to Wolfs- welcome the world to Tokyo, dowski did,” Dortmund’s CEO burg on January 3. even though surging infec- Hans-Joachim Watzke said in The tall Norwegian looked tions and skyrocketing costs December 4 edition of Kicker short of match fitness before have convinced many other magazine. Jadon Sancho ended his goal Japanese that the event should Dortmund plucked Lewan- drought in the league this sea- not go ahead this year. dowski from the Polish league as son after Manuel Akanji’s open- “The Olympics are amaz- a raw talent in 2010 and, as ing header. ing,” said Ishikawa, who has Watzke said, gave “himself the Haaland reportedly has a €75 become a familiar face at time to mature into a world- million release clause in his Olympic venues with her class striker at Dortmund” Dortmund contract, which traditional Japanese outfit before joining Bayern Munich expires in 2024, but Watzke and ‘hachimaki’ headband, in 2014. says he “doesn’t believe” the adorned with her country’s Lewandowski, 32, helped striker will leave at the end of red-and-white flag. Olympic super-fan Kyoko Ishikawa poses in front of an Olympic rings installation outside the National Stadium Bayern win the treble of Cham- the season. “The power of diversity. The in Tokyo. She has attended every Summer Olympics in the past 30 years. AFP pions League, Bundesliga and Watzke said he has urged energy of diversity. The Olym- German Cup last season, top- Haaland to develop his game pics are only three weeks, but chance encounter with Nao- ed when Tokyo was awarded “For Mr Yamada and me, scoring in all three competi- to earn the consistency expect- within that short period you toshi Yamada, a fellow Japa- the Games but also knew it the purpose of attending the tions, netting 55 goals in the ed of a world-class player like get a concentrated picture of nese who had attended every would be difficult to get hold Olympic Games was not just process. Lewandowski. the whole world,” she said. Olympics since the 1964 To- of tickets in Japan, where de- cheering . . . the main purpose He has already netted 22 “You don’t manage that in one A third wave of coronavirus kyo Games and who took her mand was initially sky-high. was sharing love, friendship goals this season, including year. Because it’s clear that if infections is causing jitters in under his wing. She and her family applied and smiles. The value of having two in the 5-2 thrashing of Erling were to leave us at some Japan, with Prime Minister for the maximum 60 tickets it without people from around Mainz on January 2, making point, he would only go to an Yoshihide Suga announcing ‘Olympic Grandad’ each in the first lottery with the world would probably be him the Bundesliga’s top-scor- even bigger club,” said Watzke. on Decembe 4 that he was Together, Ishikawa and Ya- no luck. In the second lottery 50 per cent – or even less – but er so far in 2020/21 with 19 “And there aren’t that many considering declaring a state mada – known in Japan as they got one ticket between it’s still better than nothing,” goals. who fit the bill. of emergency in the greater To- the ‘Olympic Grandad’, in them, for wrestling. she said. Haaland, 20, is rapidly follow- “If you go to a club like, just to kyo area. his trademark gold top hat Now that 18 per cent of tick- Ishikawa also plans to take ing in Lewandowski’s footsteps. give an example, Real Madrid, A recent poll by public broad- – travelled to every Summer ets sold in Japan will be re- part in the rescheduled torch He has attracted the atten- you have to be world class.” caster NHK revealed that a Olympics that followed, turn- funded after buyers asked for relay, and she is looking forward tion of Europe’s top clubs by AFP majority of people in Japan ing heads and making friends their money back, Ishikawa is to adding to her collection of oppose holding the postponed wherever they went. confident she can lay her hands Olympic memorabilia, which Tokyo 2020 Games this year, Yamada died in 2019 aged on more. But she is more con- ranges from tickets and T-shirts with most favouring another 92, leaving his dream of watch- cerned about the possibility of to key chains and programmes. delay or outright cancellation. ing a second Tokyo Olympics the event not taking place at all. Even if the Games are can- But Ishikawa – a successful unfulfilled. celled altogether, Ishikawa businesswoman with her own “It was such a pity, because ‘Symbol of hope’ is determined to look on the IT company, who transforms the Tokyo Olympics would Organisers last month un- bright side, saying it would be herself into an exuberant have been the completion of veiled a raft of virus counter- an “iconic memory” in her life uber-fan every four years – is his life as an Olympic fan,” measures aimed at holding of Olympic fandom. of a different opinion. said Ishikawa. “Without that, the Games safely, from ban- But she is confident that To- Her obsession began on a there’s no closure. ning cheering in stadiums to kyo 2020 will be remembered 1992 backpacking trip to Bar- “I want to try to take on his asking fans to download track- for the right reasons. celona, where she managed legacy and his spirit. Of course, ing apps on their phones. “Definitely, they will hap- to buy a cheap ticket to the I can’t be him, so I’ll try to do Ishikawa is adamant the pen,” she said. “It’s going to Olympic opening ceremony my best and do it my way. He’s Games should go ahead even be a symbol of hope. It’s going and was blown away by the passing the baton but the role if organisers have to reduce to be a sign that we are still atmosphere. is different.” the number of fans, or even fighting – hope for human Dortmund forward Haaland (right) gets past Club Brugge Ivorian The next day, she had a Ishikawa says she was excit- exclude overseas visitors. beings.” AFP defender Simon to score the opening goal on November 24. AFP Ronaldo-inspired Juventus face Milan test as Inter lurk

Cristiano Ronaldo-powered Inter Milan lurk just one point titles and aren’t far behind us.” The 39-year-old Swede Lukaku remains uncertain The 21-year-old has been Juventus will meet Serie A behind their city rivals with a But a failure to take three scored 10 goals in six games after picking up a thigh injury on-form in Ibrahimovic’s leaders AC Milan on January 6 chance to pull ahead against points would weigh heavily on played before picking up a in their 6-2 win over Crotone absence, scoring the fastest- with little room for error in mid-table side Sampdoria. Pirlo’s team who currently sit muscle problem. on January 3. ever goal in Serie A history their push for a 10th consecu- “Against Juventus it’s not fifth. Including Ibrahimovic, 13 Six points behind Inter, after just six seconds before tive Serie A title. decisive nor a passing of the It will be a clash of styles different players have scored third-placed Roma travel to Christmas, and also curling Andrea Pirlo’s side are 10 baton,” insisted Milan coach between Milan and the cham- for Milan since the beginning rock bottom Crotone, with in a strike from a tight angle points behind unbeaten Milan, Stefano Pioli. pions, who have relied heavily of the season, compared to just Napoli two points away from on December 3. having played a game less. “Juve have won the last nine on Ronaldo this season, with eight for Juventus. the capital side ahead of their “Rafa is a player with enor- the Portuguese scoring 14 of Milan’s young team have match with lowly Spezia. mous potential and super qual- their 29 goals, including six been harnessed by Ibrahimov- Sassuolo look to get back ity. I expect a lot from him,” said braces. ic’s return to Lombardy a year winning ways against 19th- Pioli of the U21 international Without the 35-year-old, ago, promising to deliver the placed Genoa, with Atalanta who has netted 11 times in 49 Juventus have struggled for vic- ‘Scudetto’ they last won with hosting struggling Parma hop- games for Milan. tories, being held three times him in 2011. ing to close the three-point gap Key stats: in his absence by Crotone, Hel- Since March, Milan are between them and the Cham- 40 - Inter’s goals in 15 games las Verona and Benevento. unbeaten in the league and on pions League places. 27 - AC Milan’s unbeaten Juve will also be without Sunday won 2-0 at Benevento Ninth-placed Lazio host league run injured forward Alvaro Morata, despite playing a man down for Fiorentina, sitting 14th, des- 17 - Consecutive Serie A games their second best scorer after an hour. perate to keep in touch with the in which AC Milan have scored Ronaldo, with defender Alex “It’s too early, in April we will European spots after a wildly at least two goals Sandro also out after testing see where we are in the stand- inconsistent season so far. 8 - Cagliari’s winless run positive for coronavirus. ings and understand where we 4 - Milan players with at least Milan have remained solid can arrive,” Pioli added. One to watch: Rafael Leao four goals this season – Ibrahi- despite missing injured top Big-scoring Inter go to Clau- AC Milan forward Rafael movic, Theo Hernandez, Leao scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic since dio Ranieri’s Sampdoria chasing Leao will test himself against and Franck Kessie Juventus forward Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his second goal in late November, winning five and a ninth straight league win. fellow Portuguese Ronaldo in 3 - Juventus’ away wins in the Italian Serie A match against Udinese on January 3 in Turin. AFP drawing two in his absence. But top scorer Romelu the San Siro. seven league games. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 6, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Premier League festive season talking points

iverpool’s strug- the table and with West Brom, but pressure is now being ap- gles over the packed Newcastle and Southampton plied for players to be subject festive schedule has to come, many expected Jur- to bans on the field for put- opened up a fascinat- gen Klopp’s men to pull clear. ting the future of the season ingL Premier League title race Instead, they dropped points at risk. with Manchester United and at Anfield for only the second Manchester City closing in on time in 34 league games against Lampard on the ropes the champions. the Baggies and failed to break Chelsea entered mid-De- The defending champions down either Newcastle in a 0-0 cember on a 17-game unbeat- have failed to win in three con- draw or Southampton in a 1-0 en run, sparking hopes a title secutive league games for the defeat on January 4. challenge as a return on their first time since 2018, allowing United have taken full ad- £220 million (today €244 mil- United to move level on points vantage thanks to a run of eight lion) investment in new play- at the top of the table with a wins and two draws in their last ers in the transfer market. game in hand still to come. 10 league games. Instead, a run of one win and City are also steadily climb- For the first time since Alex four defeats in six games has left ing the table after a slow start, Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Frank Lampard fighting for his but their troubles with a coro- the Red Devils head into the job as boss at Stamford Bridge. navirus outbreak serve as a new year a contender in the The Blues are languishing warning for what is likely to be title race with a highly-antici- in ninth in the table, seven a bumpy few months for the pated visit to Anfield to come points off the top. Premier League. on January 17. Lampard publicly ques- Three matches in the past City are still lingering down tioned his players’ commit- week have been postponed in fifth, but have two games in ment in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal and they are unlikely to be the hand on Liverpool to close the last weekend, but has not got last with infection rates soar- four-point gap and produced Manchester United Aaron Wan-Bissaka clears the ball as Aston Villa striker Anwar El Ghazi tries to head the the response he desired as City ing across England and a new their best performance of the ball during their English Premier League match Villa at Old Trafford on January 1. POOL/AFP toyed with them after scoring national lockdown ordered by season to sweep aside Chelsea three times inside 35 minutes Prime Minister Boris Johnson 3-1 on January 3. with just three goals conceded and staff tested positive in the ham trio Erik Lamela, Sergio on January 3. on January 4. Pep Guardiola said he saw in their last 11 games. latest weekly round of testing Reguilon and Giovani Lo Cel- Big money signings Kai Hav- Here are three talking points signs of the side that won back- and that was before further so were pictured attending a ertz and Timo Werner have from the Premier League’s to-back titles in 2017/18 and Covid chaos cases came to light at Fulham Christmas party with family struggled to adapt in their Christmas and New Year fix- 2018/19 at Stamford Bridge Premier League chiefs re- and City. and friends along with West first season in England, but ture pile-up.s as for just the third time this main adamant there are no However, the league’s de- Ham’s Manuel Lanzini. the pressure is on Lampard season City scored more than plans to pause the season de- termination to continue has City are also investigating to quickly summon their best Manchester giants gain ground twice in a league game. spite the rising case numbers not been helped by a series of after Benjamin Mendy broke form if he is not to suffer the Liverpool’s 7-0 thrashing of At the back Guardiola ap- and call offs and they retain embarrassing own goals from the rules by hosting a New same fate as many of the Crystal Palace the weekend pears to have addressed the government support to con- players flouting coronavirus Year’s Eve party. Chelsea managers he played before Christmas opened up defensive problems that undid tinue during the lockdown. restrictions. In each case internal sanc- for since Roman Abramovich a five-point lead at the top of their title defence last season A record high of 18 players Over the weekend, Totten- tions have been promised, took charge of the club.AFP 12 teams for virus-hit ATP Cup Uruguayan players’ union brands World number one Novak Melbourne in the week leading contesting the knock-outs and Djokovic and second-ranked into the Grand Slam. the four remaining progress- English FA ‘racist’ for Cavani ban Rafael Nadal will headline a Teams’ qualified for the ATP ing to the semi-finals. The Uruguayan Football Play- which the post was sent. to be overturned to clear his slimmed-down field at the coro- Cup based of men’s singles Each tie has two singles ers’ Association (AFU) launched “Unfortunately through this name from a racism charge. navirus-hit ATP Cup, organisers rankings, with Austria, Russia, matches and one doubles. The a scathing attack on the Eng- sanction the English Football “We request the FA to imme- said with the tournament cut in Greece, Germany, Argentina, draw will be made on January lish Football Association (FA) Association expresses absolute diately overturn the sanction half to 12 teams. Italy, Japan, France and Canada 20 ahead of the tournament on January 4 for banning Man- ignorance and disdain for a imposed on Edinson Cavani The innovative championship also making the grade. starting on February 1. chester United striker Edinson multicultural vision of the and reinstate the good name debuted across three Australian Australia was included as a - Greece (Stefanos Tsitsipas, Cavani over a social media world,” said the AFU. and honour in the world that cities – Perth, Brisbane and Syd- host nation, but without show- Michail Pervolarakis, Markos post the governing body ruled “It has not just punished one has been so unfairly tar- ney – in January last year with 24 man Nick Kyrgios, who was Kalovelonis, Petros Tsitsipas) was in breach of anti-racism person, but also a whole cul- nished by this reprehensible nations split into six groups not on the team sheet. - Canada (Denis Shapovalov, rules. ture, our way of life, which is decision.” ahead of a finals series. All of the world’s top 10 play- Milos Raonic, Peter Polansky, Cavani posted a message on truly a discriminatory and rac- The AFU statement has been Djokovic’s Serbia emerged ers will take part, except Roger Steven Diez) Instagram shortly after scoring ist act.” widely shared by prominent triumphant, overpowering Federer who has pulled out of - Germany (Alexander Zverev, twice in United’s 3-2 win over Cavani has already served players such as Atletico Madrid Nadal’s Spain to win the inau- the Australian Open for the Jan-Lennard Struff, Kevin Krawi- Southampton where he thanked one match of his suspension in striker Luis Suarez, who him- gural title. first time in his career as he etz, Andreas Mies) a friend for his congratulations United’s 2-1 win over Aston self was at the centre of a rac- But the onslaught of Covid-19 continues his recovery from - Australia (Alex de Minaur, using the commonly used Villa on January 1. ism storm during his time in forced a radical change to how two rounds of knee surgery. John Millman, John Peers, Luke Spanish term “negrito” (small But the AFU still called for it England with Liverpool. AFP the 2021 season will look, with ATP Finals champion Daniil Saville) black person). the Australian Open pushed Medvedev headlines a strong - Serbia (Novak Djokovic, The former Paris Saint-Ger- back three weeks to February 8. Russian team alongside fellow Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic, main striker swiftly deleted Players will arrive in Austral- top 10 star Andrey Rublev, while Nikola Cacic) the post and issued an apol- ia from January 15 and under- world No.3 Dominic Thiem will - Argentina (Diego Schwartz- ogy after being made aware go a mandatory two-week try to take Austria to glory. man, Guido Pella, Horacio of the connotations in Eng- quarantine before the ATP Cup The 12 teams will be divided Zeballos, Maximo Gonzalez) lish, with the player releasing is held alongside two WTA 500 into four groups of three with - Spain (Rafael Nadal, Roberto an apologetic statement say- and two ATP 250 events, all in the winners of each group Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers, ing he was “completely Pablo Carreno Busta) opposed to racism”. - Italy (Matteo Berrettini, Fabio That did not stop the FA Fognini, Simone Bolelli, Andrea imposing a three-match ban Vavassori) and a £100,000 ($137,000) fine. - Austria (Dominic Thiem, The sanction has sparked Dennis Novak, Philipp Oswald, outrage in Uruguay with the Tristan-Samuel Weissborn) country’s Spanish language - Japan (Kei Nishikori, Yoshi- academy saying the FA had hito Nishioka, Ben McLachlan, made a “questionable resolu- Toshihide Matsui) tion” as a result of its “poverty - Russia (Daniil Medvedev, of cultural and linguistic Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev, knowledge”. Evgeny Donskoy) In a lengthy statement the - France (Gael Monfils, Benoit AFU went further, accusing the Paire, Nicolas Mahut, Edouard FA themselves of racism for not Manchester United’s Uruguayan striker Cavani was banned three Djokovic hits a return against Nadal in last year’s ATP Cup final.AFP Roger-Vasselin) AFP acknowledging the context in matches by the English FA for a ‘racist‘ social media post. POOL/AFP