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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004711

Commodity price surge may soon peak

Although the global price rise of commodities may peak in August, it will still take time and greater policy support for businesses in China, downstream ones in particular, to swallow the associated cost and get through tough times in their operations, economists and industrial insiders say.

Most economists believe that this round of commodity price rises has been caused by the quantitative easing steps and fiscal stimulus in Western countries, particularly in the United States, and the severely clogged supply and logistic chains for raw materials in recent months, a result of the constantly evolving pandemic situation.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics last week show that the country’s producer price index, which gauges factory-gate prices, rose by 9 percent year-on-year, the equal highest level this year.

China’s PPI expansion started to pick up pace in March, when the sharp rise of global commodity prices started to feed through and hit China’s domestic market. The country also saw a PPI annual expansion of 9 percent in May.

Wen Bin, chief researcher at China Minsheng Bank, believes this round of commodity price rises is close to its peak, yet continued efforts are required on the macro policy front to ensure commodity supplies and stable prices. In particular, customized support needs to be in place for small and micro enterprises in specific industries.

In China, the price rises have led to a notable divergence in business operation status across industries. Most State-owned and large enterprises have benefited from the sharp price rises, while smaller and micro businesses particularly in manufacturing are painfully bearing the rising costs.

NBS senior statistician Zhu Hong said in a news release in late July that although industrial profits have been recovering in the first half of the year, their recoveries are still uneven. The profit earning of private, micro businesses is on a slower track of recovery, and the high price of commodities has put a squeeze on downstream businesses.

In a similar vein, Li Ke’aobo, a researcher at the Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking at Tsinghua University, believes the divergence is mainly because China’s economic recovery has so far been uneven.

“Smaller and micro businesses mainly cluster in downstream businesses and are mainly at the end of the consumption line. Yet, as the momentum for the country’s consumption has not returned to the pre-pandemic level yet, smaller businesses were not able to increase sale prices and pass on such costs to consumers,” he said, “While, on the other hand, smaller businesses are barely able to bargain with upstream suppliers on prices. This means they have no option but to factor the rising price into their operation cost.”

Li, together with his research team at the Tsinghua think tank, regularly visits and interviews enterprises of different sizes across the country to take a closer look at business operation status. While noticing their suffering, Li said he has also seen the that central government’s recent policy moves are taking effect.

Since May, the State Council and the National Development and Reform Commission have been issuing orders to ensure commodity supply and keep their prices stable, including by screening for abnormal transactions and seriously dealing with price speculation and hoarding in accordance with the law.

Dong Lijuan, a senior statistician at the NBS, said these efforts have achieved notable results. Prices of steel and nonferrous metals both dropped in July.

Meanwhile, small and private businesses are making their own efforts to tide through these tough times.

Song Yijia, chairwoman of Jiangsu S&S Intelligent Science and Technology Co Ltd, a private company engaging in high-end weaving equipment and key components, said that with the policy assistance of the local commerce department, the company has modified its container shipping measures and enlarged its rate of container use by 25 percent.

In response to the increase in raw material prices, she said the firm has communicated with suppliers to share part of the cost to form a mechanism for the entire industry chain to bear the risks together.

She said the company is also learning to apply futures market strategies to hedge against sudden fluctuations in prices of raw materials.

The People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, pledged in its latest quarterly report that it will work to support the continuous recovery of small and mediumsized businesses as well as industries in difficulties.

Going forward, Li, the Tsinghua researcher, suggests regular financial support should be given to these vulnerable smaller companies. In particular, he suggests more training and consultation on financial knowledge, particularly on futures trading, should be properly provided to these firms to help them cushion the price fluctuations, as most smaller companies tend to lack such knowledge, leaving them more vulnerable to prices changes.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : China Daily / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004710

What’s Samsung chief’s next move?

All eyes are on Lee Jae-yong’s next move after the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, released from jail on parole on Friday, set about saving the nation’s pandemic-hit economy.

Straight from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, where he served 60 percent of his 2 1/2-year sentence, Lee went to the Samsung headquarters in Seocho, southern Seoul, and stayed there until night. He was reported to have received a briefing from Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kim Ki-nam and met with the chiefs of other Samsung Group companies.

Despite expectations that he would play a role in revitalizing the economy or solving the nationwide vaccine shortage, it is unclear how he could do either of those things considering his parole conditions.

Lee, who was found guilty of misappropriating company funds worth 8.6 billion won ($7.3 million) to pay bribes to former President Park Geun-hye, can’t join Samsung Electronics’ board or take on any other official position.

In South Korea, those convicted of embezzling 500 million won or more are banned from working for companies related to their crimes for five years after serving their terms.

Samsung says Lee is exempt from those restrictions as he technically doesn’t work for Samsung anymore, having left the board in 2019 and received no salary ever since.

“The parole terms are actually in the gray area. (But we understand that) Lee was released so that he could get into work,” a high-ranking Samsung official said.

Despite criticism from civic groups that the parole system is being abused as yet another get-out-of-jail-free card for the privileged, the authorities have given the green light to Lee’s economic activities.

On the day of release, President Moon Jae-in, who built his leftist administration on a commitment to social justice, asked for the people’s understanding, saying the decision was in the national interest. Justice Minister Park Beom-kye, who granted parole for Lee, said he had considered “the economic situation under the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”

Expectations are running high that Lee’s release could signal Samsung’s investment plans getting back on track, after his absence put a halt to them.

One of Samsung Electronics’ goals is to invest 171 trillion won by 2030 and become the No. 1 global foundry player. The most urgent task is finalizing the firm’s plans to build a second chip plant in the US worth $17 billion, a decision that can’t be made without Lee. Industry officials warn that if Samsung misses its chance to make a timely investment, there won’t be another chance to catch up with TSMC.

TSMC, which controls 50 percent of the world’s foundry market by market share, announced in April that it would invest $100 billion over the next three years and build six chip plants in the US.

Intel, which announced its reentry into the foundry market, is reportedly mulling the acquisition of the world’s No. 3 player, GlobalFoundries, for $30 billion. If that move is successful, the major foundry players will be narrowed down to TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Intel.

Chips account for 20 percent of Korea’s exports, and Samsung’s massive investment could reinvigorate the domestic chip industry.

Samsung officials and watchers say the firm could also benefit from Lee’s personal business networks in navigating through the cutthroat technology competition, as well as the global supply chain reorganization pushed by the US and other major economies.

In October Lee met with top executives of ASML, the world’s leading photolithography equipment maker, at company headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. During the meeting Lee discussed the development of next-generation chip technology with ASML CEO Peter Wennink and ASML Chief Technology Officer Martin van den Brink.

Lee’s release is also expected to accelerate Samsung SDI’s plans to build its first US battery factory. On the day of Lee’s release, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said in a press conference that there were discussions about bringing in a “major Samsung battery facility” during a meeting with Korean delegates last week.

While the decision has not been finalized, said Durbin, the facility could possibly be next to electric vehicle startup Rivian, which said in April that it would source electric vehicle batteries from Samsung SDI.

Above all, the industry is paying keen attention to whether Lee can once again step up as Korea’s “vaccine ambassador.”

On the day of Lee’s release, Korea dispatched a delegation to meet with Moderna representatives over the delay in shipments of vaccines, as the US firm plans to send less than half of the 8.5 million doses it had pledged to send over this month.

It remains to be seen how Lee could intervene. Previously, he acted as a bridge between the Korean government and Pfizer.

The Korean government had no communication channels with the top leadership of Pfizer until early December, when Lee used his personal network and sought the help of Shantanu Narayen, chairman of the US computer software company Adobe, who was an independent director of Pfizer.

Lee and Narayen first met at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2011. The Adobe chairman visited Seoul to meet Lee later the same year, and the two have maintained ties ever since.

In December, Lee personally phoned Narayen, according to local media.

The Samsung chief was introduced to the head of Pfizer’s vaccine business by the Adobe chairman, providing the Korean government with a way to launch negotiations with the US company.

In April, Seoul announced that it had secured enough additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine for 20 million people.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : The Korea Herald / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004709

Self-defense a must for Filipinos in NYC

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Consulate General in New York City will conduct more self-defense training workshops for members of the Filipino community after two more hate crime incidents were reported this month.

“Just when we thought that race-based violence inflicted on our ‘kababayan’ here in New York had died down, two more incidents in the past week again underscored the need for members of the Filipino community to remain vigilant,” Consul General Elmer Cato said.

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“The number of … incidents involving [our] kababayan in the New York area since the start of the year should be almost 20 by now,” he told the Inquirer.

“As a result of the latest incidents, we are lining up more self-defense training workshops for [our] kababayan,” Cato said.

In May, the Consulate and Philippine Community Center Foundation of New Jersey Inc. held a free workshop for adults and senior citizens.

According to Cato, the latest victims were Filipinos Potri Ranka Manis, a nurse and founder of the dance theater company Kinding Sindaw, and stage actor Miguel Braganza.

Manis suffered injuries after she was attacked by two individuals who told her to mind her own business after she offered them masks on board the E train in Manhattan. She said her assailants had hurled racial slurs while attacking her.

“I just got beaten up, I just got assaulted because I’m trying to help this city of New York to prevent the spread of this new variant,” Manis said in a video she posted on Facebook.

Appeal to De Blasio “This is a public health issue and I’m calling on Mayor [Bill de] Blasio to address this. Violence against Asians, violence because of COVID-19 precaution confusion, is another virus that attacks the New York City community now, particularly Asians and Muslims like me,” she added.

On Aug. 7, Braganza was struck with a gun in the forehead in what the police said was a failed robbery attempt with possible racist undertones after one of the suspects hurled anti-Asian insults against him, the consulate said.

The incidents were the latest in a series of racist attacks on Asians that intensified soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States.

Cato called on authorities to take the necessary action and make sure that those behind the attacks were arrested and brought to court.

“We hope that those behind the recent anti-Asian incidents against two leaders of the Filipino American Community in New York are identified, arrested and brought to court,” he said, adding that the consulate was following up both cases with the police.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : Inquirer / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004708

President says no lockdown, but tighter travel restrictions

Following a meeting held between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the President said he was not ready to impose an islandwide lockdown but opted for tougher travel restrictions, informed sources said.

President Rajapaksa had at the meeting also urged the Task Force to go ahead at full speed with the vaccination program and finish inoculating the targeted population as soon as possible.

The meeting held with the President on Friday was attended by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Lalith Weeratunga, State Minister Channa Jayasumana and DG Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena.

Army Commander General Shavendra Silva was expected to make an announcement shortly.

State Minister Channa Jayasumana, following the meeting with the President said that while a decision was taken not to impose a lockdown, the discussion also focused on controlling the prevailing situation.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : The Island / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004707

HCM City extends lockdown for another month, aims to reduce daily cases in early September to 2,000

HÀ NỘI — HCM City, the current COVID-19 epicentre of Việt Nam, will extend its strict social distancing measures for another month until September 15 given the risk of a resurgence, Phan Văn Mãi, vice secretary of the citys Party Committee, said on Sunday.

Speaking at a meeting to receive goods and necessities for people affected by the pandemic in HCM City, Mãi said the pandemic could become more severe if the city relaxes its vigilance.

“Therefore, it’s essential that social distancing be applied to reduce the number of new cases and gradually bring the city to a ‘new normal’ state”, he said.

In order to do so, people’s awareness is the most important factor, he emphasised.

Mãi said the city has gone 80 days since the fourth wave of infections broke out with the Delta mutation. The period of social distancing, especially the five weeks of tightening Government’s Directive 16, were “unprecedentedly difficult” days for the political system and people.

The city has made great efforts to control outbreaks and infection chains, removing hundreds of locked down areas, promoting control of red zones, as well as expanding green zones. The health sector also cured more than 70,000 people and administered vaccines for over 4.5 million people.

With the spirit of making all efforts to take care of people, the city has tried its best to reduce difficulties, while ensuring the supply of goods and issuing support packages.

Mãi said the pandemic in HCM City has been partially controlled but is still very complicated; the number of infections is still high; the treatment system is overloaded and its operation is not synchronous. The process of receiving and treating COVID-19 cases is sometimes not efficient and the death rate has not decreased.

He said the Government’s requirement to control the pandemic by September 15 is challenging, but it was the common desire of the people. Leaders of the city affirmed maximum priority towards pandemic prevention, while putting the health and life of the people first and foremost.

To achieve this goal, Mãi said HCM City will focus on implementing four main tasks.

The first is to thoroughly apply social distancing, limiting the source of infection, each person and each household must strictly comply with the requirements of social distancing and the 5K message.

“The pathogen remains widespread in the community, close contacts make it more easy to spread, and that could be very dangerous for people with weak immune systems, the elderly, or those with underlying medical conditions,” he said.

Secondly, the city takes good care of people’s lives in the coming days of social distancing, ensuring people’s needs for goods and necessities are met. 

The city will mobilise all possible resources to deploy welfare packages for the poor, elderly people who live alone, freelance workers who lost their jobs, to ensure the basic life of people until they return to a “new normal” life.

Third, the city will focus on effective treatment strategies, reducing mortality. The city is expanding the number of hospitals and treatment facilities to meet the needs of emergency, oxygen support, medical care and deploying F0 home treatment.

Fourth, the city is speeding up vaccination to achieve herd immunity. However Mãi emphasised that even when the vaccination rate is high, implementing the 5K message is still a requirement.

The need to impose social distancing for one more month was also noted earlier on Saturday by Secretary of HCM Party Committee Nguyễn Văn Nên at a conference about assessment of pandemic prevention and control results after two weeks of implementing Directive 12, issued by the HCM City Party Committee’s Standing Commission on strengthening several measures to implement the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic in HCM City.

The city has implemented the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 on social distancing rules since July 9 and started to impose even more restrictions from July 24 to contain spread of the virus. 

On July 23, the Municipal People’s Committee decided to extend the application of social distancing measures until August 1.

On August 1, the city issued a decision on imposing city-wide social distancing measures under the Prime Minister’s Directive 16 for an additional 14 days from 0:00 on August 2. — VNS

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Two stages

Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Nguyễn Thành Phong said on Sunday the month-long social distancing will be divided into two stages in a bid to control the COVID-19 outbreak by September 15 as per the Government’s wish.

In stage 1, from August 15 to August 31, the city will try to reduce the death rate, not to leave COVID-19 patients with worsening conditions untreated, expanding ‘green zones’ (COVID-19 free areas), and contain the outbreaks in districts 5, 7, 11, Cần Giờ, Nhà Bè, Củ Chi, and Phú Nhuận.

In stage 2, between September 1 and 15, the city aims to cut down 20 per cent of the number of deaths and seriously-ill cases, have less than 2,000 new patients a day, and 70 per cent of the population (over 18 years old people) having received at least one dose of vaccine and 15 per cent fully vaccinated. 

Phong said the city’s number of daily new cases is ‘flatlining’ and compared to the height of the outbreak in the 13 days between July 20 and August 1, the number of daily new cases in the last 13 days (August 2-August 14) has gone down by 18 per cent (4,615 down to 3,830, respectively).

The city is increasing the vaccination rate with various deployment methods (mobile vaccination vehicles, at-home vaccination, conducting vaccination at night, allocation of vaccines to businesses who hire professionals to do the administration to reduce the burden on public health). — VNS

Published : August 16, 2021

By : Vietnam News / ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004706

Head of EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy calls for genuine political dialogue in Myanmar

Josep Borrell Fontelles, high representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has said that a genuine political dialogue process must be established for a democratic Myanmar.

He wrote on his Twitter account saying he made the remark during a telephone call with Brunei Foreign Minister and ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar Erywan Yusof. 

Josep Borrell stressed the need to stop violence in Myanmar and immediately release all those detained following February 1. He also urged Myanmar to allow humanitarian access.

During the ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting held via video conference on August 6, which was also attended by Josep Borrell, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin said that any support EU or any countries would be providing must compliment the five-point consensus of ASEAN and the five-point roadmap of Myanmar.  But, anything beyond them would not help the special envoy or Myanmar, he warned. 

However, Josep Borrell made his demands further. 

At the meeting, Wunna Maung Lwin also explained that Myanmar would not support the idea of engaging with CPRH and NUG since the Anti-Terrorism Central Committee on 8 May 2021 had declared them and their subordinates as terrorist groups, including non-state actors as stated in the EU’s spokesperson statement on the appointment of the special envoy because it would be a breach of the five-point consensus of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.

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The minister added that EU’s interpretation of a “meaningful political dialogue” should not include non-state actors and unlawful associations which have been declared as the terrorist group because it would not bring peaceful resolution. He also expressed his hope that EU would continue to support Myanmar so that Myanmar could complete the five-point roadmap successfully and reinstate democracy in Myanmar. On humanitarian assistance, he reaffirmed that Myanmar would cooperate with AHA Centre in its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance related to COVID-19.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : Eleven Media / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004705

Four railway police shot dead, two wounded on Yangon circular train

Six railway police were shot on a Yangon circular train at about 5.30pm on August 14 with four dead and two wounded, according to initial reports.

Shooting reportedly occurred near Kyimyindine Station as the circular train travelled from Yangon Railway Station to Insein Station.

Images of the shooting incident went on viral on social media showing one policeman lying on the bench of a railway carriage with some other police beside him seemingly wounded or killed by gunshots.

“Someone opened fire on them. We learnt that the police were no position to return fire. But we cannot confirm. As it was about 5.30pm, they were going to finish their duty when the train arrived at the destination. One policeman was lying and supposed to be ill. He was sent to a hospital. He did not die,” said an official from the ministry of transport and communications.

He added that someone was likely to open fire on the railway police with a pistol.  

An official from Myanmar Railways said he did not know details about the incident but no passenger or crew member was hurt.

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Lance corporal Win Zaw Latt, and privates Ye Min Tun, Phyo Maung Maung and Htein Lin Aung totaling four were killed in the shooting. Corporals Myint Htay and Kyaw Zin were hospitalized, according to social media sources.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : Eleven Media / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004704

Pakistan closely following unfolding situation in Afghanistan: FO

As Taliban moved further into Kabul, Pakistan on Sunday said it was “closely following the unfolding situation” in Afghanistan, and would continue to support the efforts for a political settlement.

“We hope all Afghan sides will work together to resolve this internal political crisis,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

It said the Pakistan embassy in Kabul was “extending necessary assistance” to Pakistanis, Afghans and the diplomatic and international community for consular work and coordination of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights.

A special inter-ministerial cell has been established in the Ministry of Interior to facilitate visa/arrival matters for diplomatic personnel, UN agencies, international organisations, media and others, it added.

Speaking about the situation in Afghanistan at a press conference in Multan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan had repeatedly emphasised that Afghanistan’s problems “have no military solution”.

“The world and Pakistan are on the same page, that the Afghan issue be solved through talks and negotiation and a transitional setup emerges in a peaceful way which is inclusive and broad-based,” he said.

Terming the ongoing crisis “moments of trial” for the Afghan leadership, the minister said Pakistan hoped that Afghan citizens’ rights were protected and the problem was solved through talks.

Qureshi said Islamabad had played the role of a facilitator in the peace process, and its diplomatic outreach would continue. “After Ashura, I will contact different Afghan neighbours and exchange thoughts so we can go toward a peaceful solution,” he added.

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Afghan delegation reaches Pakistan to discuss ‘matters of mutual interest’

Meanwhile, an Afghan political delegation led by Wolesi Jirga Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani arrived in Pakistan on Sunday evening.

The delegation was received by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, who said on Twitter that the visiting group included Salahuddin Rabbani, Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Ustad Mohammad Karim Khalili, Ahmad Zia Massoud, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Abdul Latif Pedram, Ustad Mohammad Mohaqiq and Khalid Noor.

“Matters of mutual interest will be discussed during the Afghan political leadership’s visit,” Sadiq added.

Qureshi receives call from British counterpart, stresses need for ‘consistent engagement’ with Afghan leaders

Qureshi also received a phone call from Britain Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab, according to a press release by the Foreign Office.

During the call, Qureshi “reviewed the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan” with his British counterpart.

The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s “steadfast support for a peaceful settlement” and stated that the situation in Afghanistan required “international community’s consistent engagement with the Afghan leaders to ensure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan”.

Qureshi, as per the FO statement, “expressed hope that the Afghan leaders would take advantage of international convergence in support of peace and reconciliation process”.

He also apprised Secretary Raab of Pakistan’s “efforts to fully facilitate the evacuation of personnel and staff of diplomatic missions, international organizations, media and others, as requested”.

“The foreign minister reiterated the invitation to his counterpart for the next round of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) in Islamabad,” the FO press release added.

Published : August 16, 2021

By : Dawn / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004673

Phka Mealadei rice sows seeds of success

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on August 13 released a selection of reassuring results of nearly a decade and a half of research on a hybrid rice variety found to be more resilient to climate change and produce significantly better yields than conventional cultivars.

Named after the captivating aromatic pearly-white tropical flower of the hardy gardenia evergreen shrub – also known by its botanical name Gardenia jasminoides, the “Phka Mealadei” cultivar has been a roaring success in its 10 years of experimental trials on farmers’ fields across the Kingdom.

Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Cardi) director Lor Bunna told The Post that Phka Mealadei is a seasonal, medium-term hybrid rice strain derived from a cross of the fragrant Phka Romduol – serving as the female line – and the Cambodian Rice 3 (CAR3) as the male line. Both parent varieties take medium duration to maturity as well.

Phka Mealadei has been tested on varied agroecosystems for 14 years, and the promising results being achieved prompted Cardi to release the seed to farmers in early 2018 for commercial use, he said.

When asked what motivated this hybridisation project, Bunna noted that the institute was keen to invest huge amounts of time if it meant developing a new, sturdy cultivar of the Asian staple that has a relatively high tolerance of water shortages and other climate change-associated stresses.

The wide adoption of Phka Mealadei could lead to a marked improvement in rice yields nationwide to feed Cambodia’s burgeoning population, as well as improve rural livelihoods and quality of life.

This would dovetail with the government’s greater efforts to build a supportive financial and market infrastructure for domestic agricultural products, in its drive to unlock the potential of the sector and develop it into a sustainable growth engine, as a major linchpin of the Kingdom’s economy.

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Bunna added: “Broadly speaking, it’s for the market, owing to this type of rice’s hallmarks of magnificence, splendour, softness and delectability, and on top of that, its resilience to climate change shocks such as irregular rain patterns or regional water deficits – this variety is hardy.”

But large-scale hybrid rice seed production still requires refinement and a deeper understanding of market needs, and by and large remains priced out of reach for smallholder farmers.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon noted in a Facebook post that this push for the adoption of Phka Mealadei has led to the creation of 220 demonstration farms that use the cultivar, as well as 12 registered seed producers and 11 other venues that exhibit the seeds.

These are all in the six target provinces of Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat, the minister said.

The Australian government has given a major impetus to the initiative, pitching in funds since end-2018 through its Cambodia-Australia Agricultural Value Chain Program to fast-track the diffusion of the hybrid rice strain, he said, indicating that a total of 40 tonnes of seed have been produced thenceforth.

“According to the results from the 220 demonstration farms, the Phka Mealadei rice variety grows well. It increased yields around 14-27 per cent higher than long-term dry season cultivars,” he said, adding that 231 farmers have become direct beneficiaries of the project, either by obtaining genetically-pure first-generation hybrid seeds or the method to produce them.

For reference, the latest dry season crop reached about 2.93 million tonnes on a total cultivated area of 646,530ha, or an average of over 4.5 tonnes per hectare, according to General Directorate of Agriculture chief Ngin Chhay.

The minister claimed that 284 additional people have embraced the cultivar and are eager to work towards advancing its cultivation, processing, promotion and marketing come next season. This includes growers – mostly neighbours of farmers already cultivating the hybrid variety – traders, rice mill owners and agricultural extension officers, Sakhon said.

Bunna called on growers nationwide to consider delving into Phka Mealadei and diffusing the crop to other farmers, and to seek guidance from specialist officials each step of the way.

A number of rice associations have purchased first-generation seeds at around $3.50 per kg with intent to export, he said, noting that offspring grains grown by farmers fetch far lower rates.

Published : August 15, 2021

By : The Phnom Penh Post / ANN

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40004672

Trash collectors unsung heroes during COVID restrictions

HÀ NỘI — Refuse is still being collected despite Hà Nội announcing its decision to extend stringent citywide social distancing and citizens having to stay at home for 15 more days until August 23.

Streets in the capital that are normally crowded are now deserted. At night, things are even quieter.

When everyone is asleep, many sanitation workers begin their work, as it is essential for minimising germs arising from waste to ensure environmental sanitation and people’s health during lockdown.

Cleaning the street is not just hard work, but also requires many sacrifices. Sometimes, streets at night can be extremely dangerous for the such workers.

In the early hours of August 3, Lê Thị Trâm, 40, was collecting garbage off Đại Mỗ Street. Due to the heavy garbage trolleys, she had to ride her motorbike to pull the trolleys to the local collection point.

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While she was carrying out her duties, she was robbed by four young men riding two motorbikes without licence plates. The group grabbed her and took her motorbike despite her pleading.

“This motorbike was my family’s most valuable asset, without it I don’t know what to do,” Trâm said.

Luckily, she was not alone in this fight.

On August 3, when receiving information about the robbery, Nam Từ Liêm District Police officers donated part of their wages to buy a new motorbike for Trâm, and were later able to track down the robbers.

The next day, she even received three more new motorbikes from people in the community.

“I am really surprised and touched to receive four new motorbikes,” she said. “However, I’d like to donate two of the new motorbikes to my colleagues in difficult circumstances.”

“Previously, my husband and I shared a motorbike … so I would like to keep only two motorbikes, one for me and one for my husband. I would like to thank the community who have helped me. Also I want to say that I will stop accepting gifts.

“There are many more people who need help more than me, especially during this pandemic.” 

Despite working alone at night, the trash collectors who devote their careers to the cleanliness of public streets will never be alone. — VNS

Published : August 15, 2021

By : Vietnam News / ANN