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A JAPAN LAWMAKER WAS ARRESTED BISHOP STEPHEN LEE HONG KONGERS ARE HUNTING FOR ON SUSPICION OF BEING BRIBED BY A HOMES ALL OVER THE WORLD AS SHENZHEN-BASED COMPANY SEEKING ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS ANTI-GOV’T PROTESTS LOOK SET TO INVEST IN CASINOS TO RESIST CONSUMERISM TO DRAG INTO THE NEW YEAR P5 P7 P9 AP PHOTO

Indonesia Thousands of people knelt in prayer MACAU FALLS BEHIND IN RACE TO BECOME WORLD’S RICHEST PLACE P3 in Aceh province at THE QATAR GAP ceremonies yesterday marking the 15th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, one of

modern history’s worst WEHDE FLORIAN natural disasters. AP PHOTO

Indonesia People along a swath of southern Asia gazed at the sky in marvel on yesterday at a “ring of fire” solar eclipse. The so-called annular eclipse, in which a thin outer ring of the sun is still visible, could be seen along a path stretching from India and Pakistan to Thailand and Indonesia. AP PHOTO

Philippines A strong typhoon that barreled through the central Philippines left at least 20 people dead and forced thousands to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Catholic country. Typhoon Phanfone stranded many people in sea and Ho Iat Seng returns from The liberalization airports at the peak of P2 of the conservative holiday travel, set off Guangdong trade mission landslides, flooded low- monarchy is a lying villages, destroyed staggering pivot houses, downed trees and electrical poles and from just three years knocked out power in ago, when religious entire provinces. One police would storm disaster response officer described the restaurants playing battered coastal town of music and harass Batad in Iloilo province as a “ghost town” on women for showing Christmas Day. their face

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Wong presides over inauguration of new PSP commander Ho Iat Seng returns from

The Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, presided over the trade mission in Guangdong swearing-in ceremony of the new Commissioner of the Public Security Police Force, Ng Kam Wa. According to the government, Ng will hold the post for a period of one year. Since 2017, the official has served as a deputy commander at the Civil Protection Operations Centre. Managed by the Unitary Police Service, the Civil Protection Operations Centre aims to enhance the coordination of security forces in the event of major security incidents or crises in the territory.

Lawmaker wants to protect youth from gambling

Lawmaker Lam Lon Wai wants the city to prevent local underaged citizens from becoming addicted to gambling. In his interpellation, Lam wants the local government to raise awareness about gaming addiction in local parents, schools and organizations, and carry out promotional and educational work on relevant topics. Earlier, Macau’s JULIE ZHU an important role in the creation Ho also said yesterday that Secretary for Economy and Fi- Health Bureau (SSM) claimed it of an industrial park devoted to he plans to enhance the effecti- nance Lei Wai Nong, also spoke would list gaming addiction as a HIEF Executive Ho Iat Seng the science and technology of veness of government meetings. with the media yesterday. mental illness. Lam expressed has reiterated the two major traditional Chinese medicine. His message resonates with his Wong said that the police concern that, since Macau C priorities of his administration: Guangdong wants to increase accusations of inefficiency and force’s work is always ongoing currently records only a small to improve the livelihoods of lo- the infrastructure connectivity of waste in the previous adminis- and that he will consider how to number of medical treatment cal people and to enhance the the two regions and expand ex- tration, made in an interview advance relevant works in ac- requests for gaming addiction, the existence of undiscovered cases communication and cooperation changes of young people to take with TDM Chinese earlier this cordance with Ho’s new policy of gaming addiction is probable. between Macau and mainland cooperation to a new level, he month. concepts. Lam wants to know if the local China. said. On the subject of his first Five years ago, the security government will conduct research Just days after his stepping Ho and his delegation, which working week, Ho said that he is forces proposed active policing, on the prevalence of gaming into office, Ho visited Guangzhou included senior officials and bu- temporarily using the Moorish community policing, and pu- addiction in Macau. and Zhuhai. siness executives, also visited ma- Barracks as his office. Once the blic relations. In order to coor- Leading a large trade delega- jor projects funded by Macau in- government completes office dinate with the Chief Executi- tion to Guangzhou, Ho met with vestors in Zhuhai before ending clearance procedures, the ma- ve’s requirement for innovation, Explanation wanted Li Xi, Party secretary of Guang- their two day tour and returning jority of secretaries will be able to these three police policies are for ‘talented people’ dong, and provincial governor to Macau. move into the Government Head- said to require updates. department Ma Xingrui to discuss how to Hengqin has so far attracted quarters as their permanent base. According to Wong, the se- expand economic ties between about 3,100 companies from On December 20, the Execu- curity force must constantly Lawmaker Ella Lei wants to the two regions amid Macau’s Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. tive Council (ExCo) held its first adjust to the demands and ex- know the local government’s ambitious task of diversifying its Of those, more than half are fun- meeting. Ho said that the ExCo pectations of the citizens. plan for a human resources economy. Currently, Macau re- ded by money from Macau. has not managed to study Xi management department. Such a department has been planned lies primarily on the gaming and His delegation, which inclu- Jinping’s message, but in the near ECONOMY: A REVIEW to train talented professionals tourism sectors for economic de- ded several policy secretaries, future, Ho will discuss the proto- OF THE PAST 20 YEARS for all of Macau’s industries. velopment. also visited the new and still un- cols and systems with members Asked about the city’s ga- In Lei’s opinion, the five-year According to China Daily, Li der-construction Zhuhai-Ma- of the Council. ming concessions, which are development plan proposed said the province fully supports cau Border in Hengqin. The new Asked yesterday about the due to expire in 2022, Secretary strategic goals for training Macau’s economic development border will only be open to traffic new office headed by the former for Economy and Finance said and development of industry and urged both sides to seize the after Macau establishes laws re- Secretary for Administration and he would first review the past experts, but specific measures opportunities brought about by garding its operation. Justice, Sonia Chan, Ho explained 20 years of experience in the for long-term mechanisms have the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Ma- Macau’s local urban renewal that the office will standardize pu- gaming industry, follow current been insufficient for many years, cau Greater Bay Area in the co- company has already started blic asset funds, relevant applica- relevant regimes and then re- producing few results. The plan ming years. preparatory works for the Macau tion requirements as well as rele- view and modify the laws. proposes actively studying skilled “Guangdong expects to ac- New Community in Hengqin. vant standards and criteria. Commenting on casino worker immigration policies. Lei celerate the construction of the Part of the works can be disclosed employees’ casino entry ban, thinks that there are loopholes Hengqin New Area, which is ad- to the public soon, according to SECURITY: POLICE WORK which comes into effect today, in supervision and misuse in the jacent to Macau,” Li said, as cited Ho. The local government is still IS ALWAYS ONGOING Lei believes that it will take the measures, with abuses continuing by China Daily, adding that inves- discussing land topics concer- Besides Ho, Secretary for public some time to adapt to to occur. tors from Macau are also playing ning the project with Hengqin. Security Wong Sio Chak, and the law.

www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Daniel Beitler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER + 4 Million page views Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] PER MONTH Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Risdon, Linda Kennedy, Lynzy Valles, Paulo Cordeiro de Sousa, Renato Marques, Richard Whitfield, Viviana Seguí MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 DESIGNERS_Eva Bucho, Miguel Bandeira | ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MdME Lawyers, Advertisement [email protected] Thank You! PokerStars, Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua For subscription and general issues: [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd +13,000 like us on facebook.com/mdtimes SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] send newsworthy information and press releases to: [email protected] website: www.macaudailytimes.com.mo www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 3 fri 27.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

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the world’s average. The World Bank also records Macau’s all-time high in 2013 when Macau won’t overtake Qatar it reached $134,960. In the opposi- te direction, Macau’s lowest point on record occurred in 1990 when, under Portuguese administration as richest economy after all at the time, the territory had a per RENATO MARQUES capita gross domestic product of $40,380. XINHUA ACAU will not over- Local economist Albano Mar- take Qatar next year tins told the Times yesterday that to become the wor- the contraction in the economy ld’s richest economy, might be related to the lack of cla- Mbut will instead lose its second-pla- rity over the renewal of the gaming ce ranking to Luxembourg within a licenses. “Until the new gaming li- few years. censes are clarified, the economy Back in 2018, a forecast from will be dragging,” he surmised. the International Monetary Fund Back in 2018, Martins and fellow (IMF) predicted that Macau wou- economist José Luis de Sales Mar- ld soon become the richest place ques had warned the Times that the worldwide in terms of per capita figures forecasted by the IMF could gross domestic product. The wi- be misleading because Macau has dely cited forecast, measured with a very small population when com- purchasing power parity, found pared to other regions and coun- that Macau would surpass the Mi- tries featured in the same report. ddle Eastern country by 2020 when The economists also highligh- its per capita gross domestic pro- an increase of about $10,000 when The IMF prediction equally ex- product by 2023. ted the flaws with using this sole duct would reach $143,116 (about compared to 2018. pects a prolonged contraction. It According to World Bank data, indicator to reflect the wealth of MOP1.15 million), compared to The significant revision comes expects that by 2021, Macau may the per capita gross domestic pro- an economy, noting that it was Qatar’s $139,151. as Macau’s economy entered re- even lose its second place to Lu- duct in Macau was last recorded at “theoretical wealth” and did not However, the most updated cession this year for the first time xembourg, which is predicted to the end of 2018 at $108,831 when shed any light on the distribution report from the IMF now fore- since the VIP gambling crunch of reach $115,190, while Macau will adjusted for purchasing power pa- of wealth. casts that Macau will continue 2014. The latest forecast of the Eco- stabilize at $113,570. rity. The purchasing power is de- Nevertheless, Sales Marques to trail Qatar in 2020, reaching nomist Intelligence Unit suggests Moreover, if the forecasts are termined by the relative cost of li- acknowledged that per capita gross only $113,350, and less than the that the economy will contract at a proven correct, Macau’s slug- ving and inflation rates in different domestic product is a widely used $122,489 recorded in 2018. At the rate of 5.2% in 2019. It also predicts gish economic growth will see countries. tool for what he described as la- same time, Qatar is expected to that the territory will only return to it fall behind Singapore in ter- Despite its small decline, the belling the “international image of reach $138,910, which represents growth in 2021. ms of per capita gross domestic figure is still equivalent to 613% of economic performance.”

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Taiwan Ban on off-duty employees busts online entering casinos starts today gambling

RENATO MARQUES syndicate

HE law amendment AIWAN’S cybercrime police unit have bus- Tbanning gaming indus- BLOOMBERG Tted another illegal online gambling ring try employees from entering falsely claiming to be connected to a Macau gaming floors when off-duty casino operator. (Law 17/2018) will be enfor- The telecom division of Taiwan’s Criminal ced from today. Investigation Bureau (CIB) announced last The measure comes as a week the arrest of 29 individuals suspected way to prevent workers from of involvement in an illegal online gambling several departments from operation that catered primarily to custo- accessing casino floors after mers in mainland China and other Asia-Pa- a number of reports sugges- cific markets. ted gaming industry workers Acting on a tip, police raided an office com- were vulnerable to gambling plex in Taichung City where they discovered addiction. a major online gambling software design and The restrictions on access technical support service. Police seized 57 apply to employees of gaming computers, 102 monitors, 12 mobile phones, concessionaires who work or a number of bank cards and the equivalent of are responsible for duties at around $20,000 in various currencies. gaming tables, gaming machi- The online gambling operations had falsely nes, cashiers, public relations, suggested a connection to the Sands Macao ca- catering, cleaning, security, whether or not the worker New Year and in situations will need to submit a form ex- sino, via the use of the property’s logo. It also and surveillance staff in casi- is attempting to access a ga- where there is a legitimate plaining the reasons, location featured images of the Galaxy Macau property. nos, as well as workers from ming floor belonging to his cause. and duration of such activi- Macau casino operators routinely find their gaming promoters (junkets) employer. A legitimate cause could ty that would be handled by brands abused by online gambling sites. who work in casinos. Workers who are found to include accessing the gaming the Gaming Inspection, and According to gambling news website Calvin As previously mentioned, contravene these provisions floor for training purposes, Coordination Bureau (DICJ). Ayre, Taiwan has a growing reputation as a tech the provisions restrict these may be punished with a fine to complete special work re- In other cases, prior appro- support hub for China-facing online gambling workers from accessing the of up to 10,000 patacas. quested by the employer, and val will be required from the operations. In September, the CIB disrupted areas at all times outside of Similar to the regime alrea- activities related to academic DICJ, based on the submis- what they described as a “one-stop industrial their working schedule and to dy enforced for civil servants, research or association-rela- sion of documents by the en- chain” for several large online gambling sites all casinos and gaming floors there is an exception for the ted activities. tity regarding the training or that reportedly handled a combined annual from all concessionaries, first three days of the Lunar In some cases, the worker special work to be done. turnover of $700 million. DB/CALVIN AYRE ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 27.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

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JON HERSKOVITZ JAPAN & EMI NOBUHIRO

OKYO prosecutors ar- rested a ruling party lawmaker on suspicion of receiving bribes from Ruling party lawmaker arrested Ta Chinese company seeking to invest in the casino industry, dealing a blow to already unpo- pular plans to open the country in casino bribery scandal to the gaming industry. according to the report. Sands Corp. have spent heavily Liberal Democratic Party poli- Akimoto became the first si- to get access to a gaming market tician Tsukasa Akimoto, who had tting lawmaker to be arrested that could become Asia’s secon- BLOOMBERG served as a vice minister in charge in about a decade, according to d-largest after Macau. of promoting the establishment Kyodo. Three years later, some of of casinos in the country, was ar- “I was not involved in any that enthusiasm is wearing off. rested Wednesday on suspicion wrongdoing,” Akimoto said on A number of casino executives, of receiving payoffs of about 3.7 his Twitter feed before the arrest. who declined to speak publicly million yen ($34,000), the because of the sensiti- Tokyo Public Prosecutor’s ve nature of the casino office said. The bribes in- The Chinese firm approval process, told cluded cash, plane tickets Bloomberg News that the and hotel rooms, it said in suspected of paying procedure in Japan has a statement. the bribes runs been more difficult com- The company was not pared with other markets named in the indictment online casinos and that have built gaming and prosecutors didn’t in- industries. At least one dicate what he did in return is headquartered in company, Caesars Enter- for the bribes. Three others the southern city tainment Corp., has pul- who were related to the led out. company were also arres- of Shenzhen Japan’s law allows for ted, prosecutors said. the establishment of The Chinese firm suspected of The nation legalized casino three casino resorts, and Osaka, paying the bribes runs online ca- gambling in 2016 to great exci- Yokohama and Tokyo are among sinos and is headquartered in the tement in the industry, where the local governments seeking to southern city of Shenzhen, accor- many have long tried to get a attract a casino or considering ding to Kyodo News of Japan. It’s foot in the door in a potential doing so, according to the coun- also suspected of smuggling seve- $20 billion gaming market. Com- try’s tourism authority. Opinion ral million yen in cash into Japan panies including MGM Resor- polls show that the public oppo- without declaring it to customs, ts International and Las Vegas ses the idea. BLOOMBERG

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Airport expects LRT records second minor passenger incident since opening growth to RENATO MARQUES reach 15% Light Rapid Transit XINHUA HE Macau International Airport is expec- A(LRT) train failed to stop Tting to finish the year with an aggregate at Jockey Club station after growth in the number of passengers of at least departing from the terminal 15%, said Eric Fong, Director of the Marketing station Ocean Gardens last Department of Macau International Airport weekend, the LRT Company Company Limited (CAM), as quoted by ga- informed in a statement. ming news website GGR Asia. According to the state- Fong estimated that the total number of ment, the train was being passengers transported via the local airport operated in manual mode could reach some 9.5 to 9.6 million by the end and upon its arrival at its first of the year. This figure represents an increase stop, Jockey Club Station, it of around 15% when compared to 2018, when failed to stop in the designa- the airport handled a total of 8.26 million pas- ted area. As a result, the LRT sengers. doors remained closed and The results, if confirmed, represent a signi- passengers could not get on ficant revision of forecasts made earlier in the or off the train. year, when CAM said only around 8.7 million The LRT Operations Con- passengers were expected in 2019. trol Center decided to stop Fong said that according to CAM’s fore- the train as a precautionary casts, approximately 26,000 daily passenger measure, and instructed sta- journeys relied on the local airport in 2019, ff to move the 60 or so pas- This was the second mi- the LRT Company explai- from December 18 to 20. as well as over 200 daily flight departures and sengers on board to another nor incident since the LRT ned that the incident was The suspension of ser- arrivals. train to continue the trip. Taipa line opened to the caused by system safety vice started before Presi- According to the same source, next year the As a result of the incident, public on December 10. measures and was related dent Xi’s arrival and lasted Macau airport will see two additional airlines the LRT service was slightly The first incident occur- to the overloading of one of throughout his three-day begin offering flights to and from Macau. affected, and the train invol- red on opening day, when the carriages. stay. In a statement, the These two new companies will join the 30 ved in the incident was re- a train suffered a malfunc- The LRT was also altered operator said that the de- airlines reportedly operating via the Macau moved from circulation and tion within the first hour of just a few days after ope- cision had been made “in airport, according to the latest CAM quarterly taken to the LRT Depot for operation. Passengers were ning due to security mea- coordination with the spe- report. They are linked to a total of 58 destina- inspection to ascertain the asked to disembark at Lotus sures for Chinese President cial security measures of tions in mainland China, and southeast and cause of the incident. Checkpoint Station. Later, Xi Jinping’s visit to Macau the government.” northeast Asia. RM ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 27.12.2019 澳門 MACAU

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Affordable Bishop Lee encourages housing criticized by believers to resist consumerism Association of ACAU Bishop simply to give up.” Synergy Stephen Lee “In this Christmas sea- has conveyed son, I encourage you to HE Housing Bureau’s (IH) application pro-

the annual tra- VALLES LYNZY imitate Jesus in the manger Tcedures for affordable housing have been Mditional Christmas messa- and approach the people criticized by the President of the Association of ge, encouraging the public around you with a simple, Synergy of Macao, Lam U Tou, in a letter seen to stay away from consu- warm heart and attitude. by the Times. The association president claims merism and materialism, Let us first give more time to that some of the practices may be illegal. as previously conveyed by infect our family and friends In the letter, Lam cited several local resi- Pope Francis. around us with the spirit of dents who complained about IH requiring The Pope often reminds joy, gratitude and care,” the self-employed applicants and business owner the public to live a simple Bishop said. applicants to submit proof of income and a life, not a culture of profli- “I would also like to re- financial report prepared by a registered ac- gacy and abandonment. mind everyone that the spi- countant. Lam said that such requirements “Since the market tends ritual value of the universal never existed in the past. to promote extreme consu- Christmas celebration is the The association president pointed out that merism in an effort to sell most important and worthy to involve a registered accountant to certify a its products, people can ea- of repeated emphasis,” he financial report means that IH is not the only sily get caught up in a whir- added. authority to review affordable house applica- lwind of needless buying Further, Pope Francis tions. In Lam’s opinion, IH thereby violates the also delivered a message on affordable housing regime. and spending,” the Pope has Macau’s Sé Cathedral seen at night said, as cited in the second Christmas Eve about the es- Lam argued that the SAR government has encyclical of Pope Francis. sence of Christmas. He cal- been encouraging local youth to start busines- “Indeed, if we do not correct possessions, but also love, not the root cause.” led for the believers to re- ses and that Macau’s self-employed residents our mindset and allow con- which is the bread of life, He also referenced Ecu- member to do good to their generally have small and unstable incomes. sumerism and materialism quoting a bible verse. menical Patriarch Bartho- neighbors and the Church. Lam also claimed that registered accountants to spread, people will beco- For the Bishop, the key lomew, whom he said “asks The Pope frequently em- can charge substantial fees. me even more possessive.” to changing this unhealthy us to replace consumption phasizes his call for “personal In conclusion, Lam said that the Housing Building on this idea, culture cannot be based on with sacrifice, greed with conversion” in his reform- Bureau’s requirements are not aligned with Bishop Lee further remarked technology alone, but rather generosity, wastefulness minded papacy, believing the purpose of the affordable house law, that the public needs to un- “should come from a chan- with a spirit of sharing, and that true reform cannot be which is intended to assist Macau residents derstand that the meaning ge in man. Otherwise, it will asceticism which entails imposed from high, but dis- of specific income levels to solve their hou- of life is not only in material only cure the symptoms and learning to give, and not cerned from within. LV sing problems. JZ ad page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo GREATER BAY 大灣區 27.12.2019 fri

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Arsonist executed over ktv fire An arsonist who set a fire in a KTV bar in Guangdong Guangzhou scientists Province that killed 18 people was executed on Tuesday. The death sentence of Liu Chunlu has been reviewed and approved by the Supreme People’s find huge meteor crater Court, the country’s top court. At about midnight on April 24, 2018, due to personal dissatisfaction, Liu removed the oil pipe of his motorcycle parked on the in northeast China first floor of a KTV bar in the city of Yingde, allowing oil to flow onto the ground, and ignited the oil with team of Chinese scien- a lighter. The fire engulfed the lounge, leaving 18 A tists, led by the Guan- people inside dead, one seriously wounded and two gzhou Institute of Geoche- others slightly injured. Liu’s close relatives met him mistry under the Chinese before the execution.

Academy of Sciences, has CROMBACH SANDER discovered a meteor crater Six dead in building fire with a diameter of 1,850 meters and a depth of 150 Six were killed in a building fire in Guzhen Township, meters in Yilan County, nor- the city of Zhongshan, south China’s Guangdong theast China’s Heilongjiang Province, the local government said. At 2:03 a.m. last Province. The findings were Sunday, the local fire department received a report published online on the that a fire broke out in a residential building on Jinnan Chinese Science Bulletin on road in the township. The fire was put out at around 3 a.m. So far, six were killed. Further investigation into the Tuesday. cause of the fire is underway. Located in the southwes- tern Lesser Khingan Moun- This file photo shows an impact crater in Italy tains, the bowl-shaped im- 130 detained over telecom fraud pact crater is mostly well ttom of the crater indicate Ming, a professor with the ding to the Earth Impact Da- that there was once a lake at institute. tabase. The Liaoning impact Police in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen preserved, with just one- said they had detained 130 telecom and online -third of its edges eroded. the spot, which disappeared Chen determined that crater was also discovered fraud suspects in a case involving the infringement Most of the pit area is cove- around 10,000 years ago. such a crater may be fou- by a team headed by a re- of citizens’ personal information. In November, red by white birch. The discovery can provi- nd in Yilan County through searcher of the Guangzhou police found that bank and mobile cards, as well as The findings noted that de new evidence of low-al- analyzing satellite images in Institute of Geochemistry. citizens’ personal information, had been sold by the Yilan crater was formed titude glaciers in northeast early 2019. The meteor craters are individuals online. According to the police, selling on Cretaceous granite be- China in ancient times, There are around 190 significant research tools bank cards can enable the scammers to get into the drock, but the exact date of and serve as a “natural cra- confirmed impact craters to better understand the accounts of the victims and use their money, and its formation needs further ter lab” for the future study across the world including shaping of the Earth today, through phone calls, the suspects can steal money study. Meanwhile, the la- of planetary science and one in northeast China’s reported Chinese media. and personal information from the victims. custrine deposits at the bo- geology, according to Chen Liaoning Province, accor- DB/XINHUA ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 fri 27.12.2019 大灣區 GREATER BAY

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“These buyers are looking at trophy homes and are prepared to pay a premium in order to secure BLOOMBERG top-end properties,” Griffin said. Generally through, most Hong Kongers are looking at the under AUD2 million price point, he said. Around AUD1 million will buy you a two-bedroom apartment that’s not too distant from a ca- pital city’s center. Inquiries are increasingly from people wanting to live in the units, rather than use them as investment properties. “Normally in Hong Kong we have people talking about yields and what rentals can be achie- ved,” Griffin said. “Now people are talking more about schoo- ling, where their children can stay, how far properties are from transport and travel times to the city. They’re asking very different questions to what they’ve done over the past few years.” Canada is another popular destination. David Ho, a Vancouver-based HK residents eye homes senior vice president at CBRE, tra- vels frequently to Asia, including Hong Kong and Macau, to meet with buyers as well as potential overseas as protests drag on investors. SHAWNA KWAN, EMILY tralia-based chief economist. -up plan,” said Cat Liu, a salesper- increased interest, with Australia “They’re 35 to maybe 45, you- CADMAN & NATALIE WONG Pro-democracy protests that son in her 40s who’s considering viewed as a safe haven.” ng families. A lot of people are just erupted in June have crippled the buying an apartment in Taiwan CBRE expects the high-end re- trying to learn about Canada and ESIDENTS of Hong Kong city’s economy and caused huge or Malaysia, partly because of the sidential sector will be supported set up a conference call with im- are hunting for homes all inconvenience to people’s daily current political situation. “The by overseas investors, particularly migration consultants, education over the world as tense lives. The police have fired more situation hasn’t gotten any better. those from Hong Kong and main- consultants, mortgage brokers, anti-government pro- than 16,000 rounds of tear gas Both sides are standing firm and land China. accountants that give them a Rtests look set to drag into the new over the past six months while there’s no way to reach a compro- To that end, it recently laun- broad view of everything,” Ho year. black-clad protesters have vanda- mise.” ched an offering called The Pen- said. Real estate brokers from Aus- lized transport facilities and pro- Even though Asian destina- thouse Collection, with a focus They’re looking to buy ho- tralia to Canada have seen a sur- -China shops. tions offer more affordable invest- on luxury apartments in Sydney, mes worth up to CAD1 million ge in interest over the past few Thousands of demonstrators ment opportunities for the mid- Melbourne, Brisbane and the ($760,000) and are “average Joes,” weeks, with the desire to secure swamped the central business dle class in Hong Kong, the more Gold Coast. The units will boast he said. a safer future prompting many to district Monday opposing the affluent tend to opt for properties extras such as private lifts, wine The larger number of inquiries look beyond the Asian financial arrest of four people connected in the West. Australia is also an at- cellars and rooftop pools, in ad- hasn’t always translated into more hub. to a group that helps the protest tractive choice. dition to valet and concierge ser- transactions, however. “There’s been an increase in movement. Hong Kong has even “Buyer interest from Hong vices. “While inquiries have gone up, capital outflows from Hong Kong- canceled its traditional New Year’s Kong has stepped up considera- CBRE in Australia plans to the amount of transactions and -based investors into other major Eve fireworks over security con- bly compared to what we’ve seen work with CBRE offices in Hong the amount of people taking mo- global real estate markets, with cerns, the latest popular event to in the past two years,” said CBRE Kong and mainland China to tar- ney offshore are at similar level” Australia, Singapore, Japan and be scrapped. Group Inc.’s Australia residen- get prospective purchasers. The to this time last year, said Mark the U.S. all seeing an increase Fed up, some residents are tial director, Colin Griffin. “Safety properties average AUD20 million Elliott, Hong Kong-based head of in purchasing activity,” said Ben planning a move elsewhere. concerns for families due to the ($13.8 million), with some costing international residential for Sa- Burston, Knight Frank LLP’s Aus- “I have to come up with a back- recent riots have been driving the upwards of AUD30 million. vills Plc. BLOOMBERG

HONG KONG Malls targeted by protesters during Christmas break

ANNIE LEE to their cause by forcing zen people injured. continue heading into the malls and stores to close, The tumult over the New Year holiday. Gathe- ONG Kong’s sho- according to the notices. holiday adds to what has rings are already sche- Hpping malls have Shopping centers have been an abysmal six- duled for the New Town BLOOMBERG become a flash point been among the sites of -month period for Hong Plaza in Sha Tin on Fri- for protests during the confrontations between Kong’s retailers. Not only day and in Sheung Shui, Christmas holiday. protesters and police in has the unrest dissuaded an area near the Chi- Pro-democracy de- each of the past two days. many of the city’s resi- nese border, during the monstrations have been Police fired tear gas to dents from visiting stores, weekend. called for the afternoon of disperse demonstrators it’s also sapped the flow The Civil Human Ri- Boxing Day at shopping inside a mall in Kowloon of tourists, especially tho- ghts Front, organizer of centers in areas including Bay on Christmas Day, se from mainland China. some of Hong Kong’s bi- Causeway Bay, Mong Kok according to local broa- The most-recent data for ggest peaceful protests, is and Tsim Sha Tsui, accor- dcaster Cable TV. Malls retail sales in Hong Kong, calling for a Jan. 1 march ding to notices distribu- were also the scene for once a mecca for sho- through the city’s center. ted through social media. some of the clashes that ppers, showed a record The organizer said it has The protesters are ho- occurred Christmas Eve, 24.3% plunge. applied for a police per- ping to attract attention which left about two do- Protests are also set to mit. BLOOMBERG page 10 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo BUSINESS 經濟 27.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

The rapid advance of online shopping has challenged Euro- pean retailers in a market where BLOOMBERG some regional rivals have moved more decisively. China’s largest hypermarket chain, Sun Art Re- tail Group Ltd., two years ago sold a 36% stake to internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. for $2.9 billion, boosting its digital capabilities. A few western retailers are bu- cking the trend and expanding in Asia - often with the help of local players with critical market expertise. France’s Auchan Retail SA, for example, boosted its stake in Sun Art as Alibaba invested in the Hong Kong-listed retailer. In November, Walmart Inc. unveiled plans to open about 500 stores and depots over five to se- ven years in China. The Benton- ville, Arkansas-based company has a partnership with local on- Shoppers in Asia want Europe’s line retailer JD.com Inc. handbags, not its supermarkets DISCOUNT BAIJIU Walmart’s membership-based REBECCA SMITH producers of mainstream goods pitfalls that have ensnared some Starting in the 1990s, Carrefour Sam’s Club has thrived in China such as baby formula makers luxury brands and the National opened more than 200 so-called by going upscale and offering VEN as global consumer Danone and Reckitt Benckiser Basketball Association, they’ve hypermarkets selling everything foreign goods to increasingly Ebrands grow more dependent Group Plc have reported hiccups struggled to differentiate themsel- from food to hardware in China affluent shoppers. Rival Costco on Asia for sales of everything in China, they’re also increasingly ves in a market where local rivals before reversing course. In June, Wholesale Corp. in August drew from fancy handbags to baby reliant on Asia. such as Yonghui Superstores Co. it sold 80% of its Chinese opera- crowds for the opening of its first formula, European retailers keep European grocers and big-box are expanding. tions to local rival Suning.com outlet in the country, in Shan- retreating from the world’s fastes- store chains have decided they Tesco, the largest British re- Co., marking the latest Asian exit ghai, offering Kweichow Moutai t-growing markets. can do without the hassle of ope- tailer, folded its China business for the company after India, Ja- Co.’s fiery baijiu liquor at a dis- The U.K.’s Tesco Plc, which rating in a Chinese market whe- into a joint venture in 2013 and pan and South Korea. Carrefour count. said this month that it’s weighing re consumer spending is easing exited South Korea two years la- five years ago pulled out of India, U.K. online supermarket Oca- a sale of its Thailand and Malay- amid a trade war with the U.S. For ter. The company could use pro- a market where burdensome re- do Group Plc has also focused sia operations, is just the latest. many of them, more immediate ceeds from a sale of its Malaysia gulations have kept many foreign on partnerships for boosting its Earlier this year, Germany’s Me- challenges loom closer to home, and Thailand operations, which retailers at bay. international presence, most re- tro AG and France’s Carrefour SA ranging from Brexit to protests analysts have estimated could Metro agreed in November to cently announcing an alliance offloaded their big-box stores in and strikes in France. fetch more than $9 billion, to offload its China business to Wu- with Japanese retailer Aeon Co. China. Britain’s Marks & Spencer “The companies that have a restructure its U.K. business, mei Technology Group Inc. Its to set up robotic warehouses for Group Plc beat them to the exit luxury or premium position are which has cut thousands of jobs Japan, India and Pakistan units online grocery sales. by completing a regional pullback doing much better in Asia” than and shifted to new formats in- have been cited as potential di- Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado’s last year. those that sell everyday items, cluding checkout-free stores vestments by analysts. technology arm, said working The retrenchment, which re- said Ray Gaul, senior vice presi- amid tough competition from with a partner like Aeon is in- verses a two-decade expansion, dent of Retail Insights at research discounters and Brexit-related M&S CLOSINGS valuable because “they have contrasts with continuing growth firm Kantar. “Everyday super- pricing pressure. Marks & Spencer sold its Hong a deep understanding of their for European luxury companies market operators have struggled.” Many European chains “have Kong retail operations last year customers, and we can confi- including LVMH and Kering SA, had to redirect investment to pro- after closing unprofitable outlets gure our technology to meet which have ridden a wave of de- LOCAL RIVALS tect their core operations,” said Nick in mainland China and elsewhe- the specific challenges and mand for Louis Vuitton bags and While western big-box retai- Miles, head of Asia Research at the re, pointing to a fragmented store opportunities of the Japanese Gucci fashions in China. While lers have mostly avoided political Institute of Grocery Distribution. portfolio and lack of scale. market.” BLOOMBERG

CORPORATE BITS MGM Cotai to host NYE party at the Spectacle Venetian and Parisian offer NYE countdown parties Spectacle will be transformed specially created New Year’s into a countdown party site, Eve countdown projection li- amid its LED walls, lighting ef- ght show across the façade fects, fizzing champagne and of The Venetian Macao which a wide selection of delicacies. will be followed by a fireworks According to organizers, the display to welcome in 2020. party is open to everyone with Live performances and dance free admission. acts will continue until 1 a.m. Meanwhile, owning the best Further down the Cotai Strip, views of the Spectacle, Aji and partygoers will be able to en- Grill 58 at MGM Cotai will offer joy an evening at The Parisian their own versions of a New Macao, at the Le Jardin gar- Year’s Eve dinner set. Macau’s den opposite the Eiffel Tower only Peruvian Nikkei restau- The Venetian Macao and joy non-stop entertainment accompanied by the tunes of rant Aji will serve an eight-cou- The Parisian Macao are hos- right up to midnight and Supper Moment from Hong This New Year’s Eve, the awardee of the Best Original rse dinner menu that packs ting New Year’s Eve count- beyond at The Venetian Kong. Urban Soul Orches- Spectacle at MGM Cotai will Film Score at the Hong Kong an array of Aji signatures and down parties for end-of-year Macao. The lagoon area will tra from the U.K., and dance be transformed into a 360-de- Film Awards, who will join creative dishes. On the other revelers hoping to bid farewell feature live music with Andy acts including renowned DJ gree music extravaganza hands with pop singers and hand, Grill 58’s seven-course to 2019 and welcome in 2020 Frasco & The U.N. from the LuLu will keep the party jum- countdown party to ring in bands for the celebration. dinner features a wide range of in style. U.S. and in-house favorites ping until 1 a.m. The New Year 2020. The spirit of the party is From 10:30 p.m. on the thoughtfully crafted seasonal From 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, the Blue Note band. countdown will conclude with curated by Yusuke Hatano, the night of December 31, the and luxurious ingredients. guests and visitors can en- Visitors can also enjoy a a fireworks extravaganza. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 11 fri 27.12.2019 中國 CHINA

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER AP PHOTO

South Korea’s status as a trade partner and tighten controls on shipments of Japanese chemicals that are used by major South Ko- China, Japan, South Korea rean companies to produce com- puter chips and smartphones, which are key export items for the country. Abe, in response, said meet on North Korea, free trade that the countries should sort ZHANG WEIQUN, CHENGDU ted States depends on Washing- Jong Un’s government to aban- when Chinese rival India said it out the problems through talks ton’s actions. don its nuclear arsenal. The U.S. would not participate, and the fu- between trade officials, South EADERS from China, Li, Abe and Moon also said has demanded steps toward com- ture of the pact remains unclear. Korea’s presidential Blue House Japan and South Korea they discussed furthering regio- plete denuclearization before any There is friction among the said. reiterated their com- nal cooperation on the economy, sanctions can be lifted, while Bei- three nations that met Tuesday as Li, who is chiefly responsible mitment to ending Nor- the environment and people-to- jing favors a multi-stage approa- well. for overseeing China’s economy, Lth Korea’s nuclear and missile -people exchanges. ch. While Japan and China have acknowledged the frictions be- programs at a trilateral summit “We all advocate for free tra- The trilateral summits be- lately set aside their historical tween Japan and South Korea, Tuesday that comes against the de and promote economic inte- tween China, Japan and South differences, South Korea and Ja- but said that would not alter Chi- backdrop of increasing demands gration. China holds that safe- Korea date back to the fallout pan continue to feud over Japan’s na’s commitment to free trade by Pyongyang for sanctions relief. guarding free trade benefits the from the 1997 Asian financial cri- colonization of the Korean Pe- and open markets. Although Chi- Free trade and economic coo- protection of multilateralism, of sis, which devastated businesses ninsula in the last century, a dis- na has been accused of “weapo- peration were also at the forefront world peace,” Li said. across the region and prompted pute now spilling over into their nizing” trade in political disputes of the meetings between Chinese Moon said the vital economic rela- and unfairly backing its major Premier Li Keqiang, Japanese Pri- sides agreed to su- tionship. state companies, it has been a me Minister Shinzo Abe and Sou- pport efforts to res- Li, Abe and Moon also said Moon and Abe la- leading voice against protectio- th Korean President Moon Jae-in tart talks between they discussed furthering ter met for a one-on- nism amid its ongoing tariff war in the southwestern Chinese city Washington and -one summit, where with Washington. of Chengdu. Pyongyang so that regional cooperation the South Korean “We invite South Korean and Li said the three agreed that “denuclearization president described Japanese enterprises to take an “dialogue and consultation is the and peace ... could on the economy, the the two countries as advantageous position, grasp the only effective way to solve the is- actually advance.” environment and people- “closest neighbors, broad opportunities, win more sues of Korea Peninsula.” Abe echoed that historically and cul- business opportunities and be- “We three countries are willing stance, criticizing to-people exchanges turally” and expres- tter realize mutual success,” Li to work together with the inter- North Korean missi- sed hope that they said. national community to solve the le launches as violating U.N. reso- moves toward greater economic could sort out their differences Moon stressed how industrial issue of Korea Peninsula in a po- lutions and seriously threatening integration. The three countries through dialogue. transformation, climate change litical way,” Li said at a joint news regional security. account for about 24% of world But the meeting ended wi- and trade protectionism require conference following the meeting. “For that purpose, it was con- trade and have tightly bound su- thout a breakthrough, with the that the three countries streng- The North has threatened to firmed that full implementation pply chains, with more than $720 leaders failing to narrow their dif- then cooperation. take unspecified action if sanc- of U.N. Security Council resolu- billion in trade moving between ferences over South Korean court “The three countries over the tions relief is not forthcoming by tions remains important, and we them last year. rulings that called for Japanese past 20 years have cooperated in the end of the year. Speculation need to maintain the momentum With the Trump adminis- companies to compensate aging various fields, including business, has centered on the possibility of the U.S.-North Korea process,” tration’s abandonment of the South Korean plaintiffs for their diplomacy, culture, people-to- of conducting a new missile test, Abe said. Trans-Pacific Partnership, China World War II forced labor, which -people exchanges and the envi- possibly of an intercontinental Although China is North Ko- has led a push for an alternative has been a major sticking point ronment,” Moon said. “We now ballistic missile capable of delive- rea’s most important source of 16-nation grouping, the Regional between the countries. form a core cooperative body in ring a nuclear warhead. investment, diplomatic support Comprehensive Economic Part- Moon’s office said he repea- Northeast Asia that contributes The North has said that what and economic aid, it has shown nership. Momentum toward a fi- ted Seoul’s demands that Tokyo to international peace and pros- “Christmas gift” it gives the Uni- little success in convincing Kim nal agreement hit a snag this year reverse its moves to downgrade perity.” AP page 12 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo CHINA 中國 27.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

public services for education and health. Gov’t vows freer movement for The steps outlined by the Sta- te Council would eliminate the hukou system in cities with less workers by relaxing ‘Hukou’ system than 3 million residents and relax HINA outlined plans late We- it in cities with populations of 3-5 Cdnesday to promote the freer million. For cities home to more movement of labor as authorities than 5 million, such as Beijing and look to cushion slowing growth in BLOOMBERG Shanghai, the household registra- the world’s second-biggest eco- tion system will be simplified, it nomy. said, without giving details. These The policy statement issued steps mirror policies released by by the State Council, China’s ca- the National Development and binet, included a pledge to relax Reform Commission in April. the country’s household regis- This policy change would ef- tration system, which has been fectively eliminate the hukou criticized as discriminatory and hurdle for most of China. Out of a deterrent to urbanization. Au- almost 300 prefecture-level cities, thorities will also make it easier to only 27 have populations excee- move between employers and im- ding 3 million, according to I-City prove incentive systems aimed at Media, which analyzed data from encouraging workers to go to less the Ministry of Housing and Ur- developed regions. ban-Rural Development. These are the latest in a slew Markets reacted positively to of policy announcements Bei- the news. An index tracking sha- jing has made in the final weeks res of property developers listed of 2019 after President Xi Jinping in Shanghai rose by 2.9%, the led a December meeting of top most since September 4, while officials to plan out the coming China’s benchmark CSI 300 index year’s economic priorities. The ses, stabilize employment, and ted the importance of so-called system has been cited by a num- gained 0.9% on Thursday. readout from that conclave signa- bolster the role of private-sector city clusters as part of China’s ur- ber of economists as one hurdle “It’s the first time the central go- led both an aversion to broad-ba- businesses in the economy. Pre- banization strategy. In it, he des- to such movement. It ties the abi- vernment has announced clear- sed stimulus and an emphasis on mier Li Keqiang also pledged last cribe the need for policies that lity of Chinese citizens to access -cut detailed hukou reform,” said spurring “new drivers of growth” week to give foreign investors promote the fair and reasonable public services to the city where Yan Yuejin, lead analyst at E-Hou- through reform. greater access to the country’s ser- movement of the factors of pro- their household is registered. The se China Enterprise Holdings Lt- In addition to labor, the State vice sectors including finance and duction - capital, land, enterprise difficulty of changing that regis- d.’s research institute. “Loosening Council has in the past week also health care. and labor - so that they can aggre- tration, commonly knows as a hukou may spark home-buying unveiled steps to improve the ef- Xi, in an article published Dec. gate effectively. person’s hukou, has left many mi- demand in some tier-3 and tier-4 ficiency of state-owned enterpri- 15 in Qiushi magazine, also tou- China’s household registration grants unable to fully benefit from cities.” BLOOMBERG ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 13 fri 27.12.2019 亞太 ASIA PACIFIC

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Malaysia may reopen Mongolia murder case as Najib vows innocence TERRENCE EDWARDS & YANTOULTRA NGUI BLOOMBERG ALAYSIA’S top pro- secutor will look into reopening the case of a murde- Mred Mongolian woman allegedly linked to former premier Najib Razak, as the victim’s father says he’s pinning his hopes on the country’s new government to find justice. Two former police guards for Najib had been convicted of the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaa- riibuu. “Everybody knew that it just did not make sense for the two of them to be solely culpable,” Attor- ney-General Tommy Thomas said in a Friday interview. “So we knew that the story was incomplete.” The courts that sentenced the two men to death had grappled with their lack of motive, while Azilah’s recent statement indica- Attorney-General Tommy Thomas tes there may in fact be a reason for the murder, Thomas said. “It’s a relief to Shaariibuu Setev, who Ulaanbaatar on Oct. 3. by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption against Malaysia to seek dama- more for the police to investigate has spent more than a decade Australia’s Department of Commission and French authori- ges for her family. That’s proving and we will look into it,” he said, seeking closure over his daugh- Home Affairs declined to com- ties. difficult as local courts refused when asked if he will reopen the ter’s death. He is campaigning for ment on individual cases in an Altantuya died in Malaysia af- to use evidence presented in the case. Malaysia to commute the men’s email on Nov. 15. ter being led to a secluded spot in criminal trial for the civil case, re- One of the convicted men, Azi- sentences via a plea deal so that Altantuya was a linguist who the jungle by the two convicted quiring him to seek funds to fly in lah Hadri, is seeking a retrial after Australia, where one of the men spoke Russian and Chinese, as men. Police reports show she was witnesses from Mongolia, the U.S. penning a sworn statement accu- had fled to seek asylum from the she grew up studying in Russia shot and then blown up using C-4 and Australia to testify. A retired sing the former prime minister death penalty, would agree to and Mongolia, before traveling to explosives, which her father belie- university teacher, he has sought of ordering him to covertly arrest bring them together to tell what China to study economics, Shaa- ves was used to hide evidence, he donations to help pay for his legal and destroy her because she was he says could be the true story riibuu said. said in the interview. fees and the costs of reconstruc- a foreign spy and a threat to natio- behind the murder. Witnesses in the murder trial Najib’s former adviser Abdul ting evidence presented in the nal security. Najib has denied any Shaariibuu said he doesn’t in 2007 said Altantuya worked as Razak Baginda, who admitted to criminal case. involvement. On Friday, he made wish the death penalty on them. a translator and was privy to the an affair with her, was acquitted of “It’s up to Malaysia to resolve a religious oath that he didn’t give “Executing these officers is an government’s purchase of Scor- abetting the killing due to lack of this,” Shaariibuu said. “It’s their the order and had never met her. awkward way to eliminate evi- pene-class submarines, which is evidence. reputation, and the reputation of The prosecutor’s stance will be dence,” he said in an interview in now the subject of investigations Shaariibuu has filed a civil suit their court system.” BLOOMBERG

Japan executes first foreigner in 10 years in family murder

MARI YAMAGUCHI, ghts to them, Mori said at a one was sentenced to dea- hanged. Since 2007, Japan TOKYO news conference. th and the other was given has begun disclosing the

Japan has maintained life imprisonment, accor- names of those executed AP PHOTO APAN executed its first the death penalty despite ding to Japan’s Kyodo News and some details of their Jforeigner in 10 years yes- growing international criti- agency. crimes, but disclosures are terday, a Chinese man con- cism. Japan and the U.S. are still limited. victed in the 2003 murder Mori said she signed the the only two countries in Since Prime Minister and robbery of a family of execution order after ca- the Group of Seven advan- Shinzo Abe returned to four. reful examination, taking ced nations that retain the power in 2012, his govern- Wei Wei, 40, was hanged into consideration the in- death penalty. A survey by ment has executed 39 peo- yesterday at a detention ternational anti-execution the Japanese government ple. Last year, Japan hanged center in Fukuoka where he movement. She said Japan showed an overwhelming 15 people, including the had been on death row for was a law-abiding country majority of the public su- guru of the Aum Shinrikyo more than 16 years, Justice and the execution was ba- pports executions. cult and 12 former followers Minister Masako Mori said. sed on its criminal justice Japan now has 112 peo- convicted in a deadly Tokyo Wei was convicted of ro- system. ple on death row, including subway gassing. bbing and killing a clothing “It was an extremely cold- 84 seeking retrials, accor- Some lawmakers, in- store owner and his wife blooded and cruel case, in ding to the justice ministry. cluding governing party and two children at their which [Wei] killed four in- Executions are carried members who oppose exe- home in Fukuoka. He and nocent members of a ha- out in high secrecy in Ja- cutions, recently launched two Chinese accomplices ppy family,” she said. pan, where prisoners are a group to promote public Japan’s Minister of Justice Masako Mori speaks at a press dumped the bodies into the Wei’s two accomplices not informed of their fate discussion of the death pe- conference on the execution of a convict ocean after attaching wei- were tried in China, where until the morning they are nalty. AP page 14 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo WORLD 國際 27.12.2019 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

US Trump senate impeachment trial finds scant precedent in history MIKE DORNING a titillating scandal: “When you in the middle of the process and ch McConnell has openly declared Senate rules don’t even set a hear somebody say, ‘This is not widely seen as a repudiation of he’s coordinating with the presi- standard of evidence for con- ILL Clinton’s impeachment about sex,’ it’s about sex.” the drive to impeach the presi- dent’s lawyers to set procedures for viction, unlike criminal trials Btwo decades ago set the mo- Partisan strife threatens to en- dent. the trial. And precedent isn’t bin- in which a defendant must be dern template for President Do- gulf the Senate once again as the This time there’s little sign ding on McConnell. proven guilty beyond a reasona- nald Trump’s upcoming trial in the chamber prepares a trial for two that Senate Republicans feel the “He has a lot of latitude,” said ble doubt. Senators only must Senate. But the process may be articles of impeachment against need to distance themselves Trent Lott, the Republican Senate swear to dispense “impartial even more contentious this time Trump, accusing him of abusing from the White House. Trump majority leader during the Clinton justice.” given sharper tribal divisions in his power and blocking Congress’s holds a firmer grasp over his trial. “There is nobody who knows Washington. investigation into that abuse. party than Clinton did -- the the rules of the Senate like Mitch ORATORY SKILLS Clinton’s four-week proceeding The rancor in 1999 eventually biggest political threat to Repu- McConnell. He also knows this is Since Richard Nixon resigned in 1999 riveted the nation. Thir- subsided as leaders from both par- blican incumbents is primary a different time, a different set of before he was formally impea- teen Republican House managers ties moved to contain the damage. challengers, not Democrats. facts.” ched, the only precedent before marched across the Capitol to pre- But they were navigating Clinton was Andrew Johnson’s sent articles of impeachment, led political cross-currents Senate rules don’t LIKE IT OR NOT impeachment trial in 1868. by the silver-maned chairman of that produced very diffe- The day after the Hou- Johnson’s trial lasted al- the Judiciary Committee, Henry rent incentives than their even set a standard se passed the articles of most two months as orators Hyde. An old-school grand orator, counterparts face today. of evidence for impeachment against showed off their speaking skills he cast Clinton’s impeachment as Clinton, Lott picked up to packed galleries. The Se- a matter of national honor and in- PARTISAN VENDETTA conviction, unlike the phone at his home in nate heard from 25 prosecu- voked the sacrifices of war dead. Senate leaders in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, tion and 16 defense witnesses. Chief Justice William Rehn- Clinton trial recognized criminal trials in which and called his Democratic Lawyers for Johnson, who was quist presided, clad in a custom that their own interests a defendant must be counterpart, South Dako- known for intemperate public robe adorned with gold stripes he diverged from their par- ta Senator Tom Daschle. remarks, persuaded him not to had designed based on a costume ty allies. The Democratic proven guilty beyond “I remember very vivi- appear at the proceeding. He from a Gilbert & Sullivan comic White House wanted the dly,” Lott said in an inter- was instead defended by a team opera. entire process discredi- a reasonable doubt view. “I said, ‘Tom, whe- of attorneys, but still gave press Monica Lewinsky, the White ted as a partisan vende- ther we like it or not, this interviews during the trial. He House intern who had an affair tta, but many Democrats were Unlike the last impeachment, issue is in our lap.’” avoided conviction by one vote. with the Democratic president, at the same time repulsed by the Trump is almost certain to lead the The Constitution imposes Lott had good reason for cau- gave video testimony. And Arkan- president’s conduct and didn’t national Republican ticket again in only a few requirements for a tion. The Clinton impeachment sas Senator Dale Bumpers rebut- want to defend it. Republican 2020, tying the fortunes of lower- presidential impeachment. The battle in the House had already ted with a folksy drawl the mana- senators, meanwhile, were acu- -level office-holders more closely Senate has to have a trial. The dragged down two Republican gers’ argument that the case was tely aware of GOP losses in the to his standing. Underscoring the chief justice must preside. And it leaders and sullied another. about principle rather than merely midterm House election, held point, Senate Majority Leader Mit- takes a two-thirds vote to convict. House Speaker Newt Gingrich ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 15 fri 27.12.2019 國際 WORLD

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US from Lewinsky. The fear was that DANGER SUBSIDES it could veer into sexual details Ultimately, the leaders and that would alienate the public their staffs prepared the way for or make it look like Republican a unanimous agreement on trial Trump senate impeachment trial finds scant precedent in history lawmakers were ganging up on a procedures, finalized in a close- vulnerable young woman. d-door session in the Old Senate “The greatest danger is that Chamber. It skirted the issue of you lose control of it,” Lott said. witnesses until later, initially gi-

BLOOMBERG “Where does it stop?” ving each side 24 hours on the Despite the partisan firestorm, floor to make their cases. Senators Democratic leaders were wary then were allowed to pose ques- of appearing to excuse Clinton’s tions to each side, sending them conduct. One adviser remembers up in writing for the chief justice fearing that five or six Democratic to read aloud. senators could vote for conviction Robert Byrd of West Virginia, and potentially build momentum one of the Democrats the pre- to bring more along. sident’s team had been most But both sides also had par- worried about losing, moved to tisan bases clamoring for an all- dismiss the case after the initial -out fight at the trial. The House phase. Though the move failed on impeachment managers were a largely party line vote, it showed demanding a long trial, with wit- Clinton wasn’t in danger. nesses called to the Senate floor. The House impeachment ma- The prospects for an agreement nagers won a vote to take video- on procedures didn’t look good. taped depositions from Lewinsky, “We both thought it was going Clinton’s friend Vernon Jordan, to be uphill given how much of a and White House aide Sidney Blu- partisan fight it turned out to be menthal. They were allowed to in the House,” Daschle said in an play excerpts to the Senate. But interview. “I think people were the testimony didn’t change the probably betting against us ini- dynamic. quit after the fall election los- vative morality, was humiliated voked a public backlash, and tially.” When the senators voted one ses. His presumptive successor, by the revelation that he had Clinton’s popularity soared to an At one point, Lott reached an by one, neither of the two articles Bob Livingston, announced an affair with a married beauty all-time high around the time of agreement with Daschle for a of impeachment won a majority, his resignation the day of the stylist when he was in his 40s. the impeachment vote. short trial with no witnesses, only much less the two-thirds required. impeachment vote after it was The tawdry sexual details that to be rebuffed by Senate conser- “It was a tragic time, it was a disclosed that he’d had multiple Kenneth Starr, the independent GANGING UP vatives. difficult time, historic,” Daschle extramarital affairs. And Hyde, counsel who led the investiga- From the start, Lott was deter- “Some of my friends did every- recalled. “But nonetheless, I think an anti-abortion crusader and tion into Clinton, included in mined not to risk live testimony thing but stone me and throw me we were able to rise to the occa- renowned champion of conser- his report to Congress also pro- on the Senate floor, especially out on the street,” Lott recalled. sion.” BLOOMBERG

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TV canal macau cinema this day in history 13:00 TDM News (Repetição) cineteatro 13:30 Telejornal RTPi (Diferido) 27 - 31 Dec 15:00 Água de Mar 15:30 Bing 15:40 Os Ursos Boonie na Neve 15:55 Reformas Internas da China 16:45 Portugueses Pelo Mundo Sr.1 17:30 Literatura Agora 18:00 Império (Repetição) 19:00 ModaLisboa Collective 19:30 Ouro Verde Sr.1 20:30 Telejornal 21:15 Volta ao Mundo STAR WARS:THE RISE OF SKYWALKER room 1 21:50 Solteira e Boa Rapariga 2:15, 7:00, 9:45pm 22:20 Império Room 2 4:30 23:15 TDM News Director: J. J. Abrams 23:50 A Viagem do Sr. Ulisses Starring: Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamil, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley 01:10 Telejornal (Repetição) Language: English 2004 Yushchenko wins Ukraine Duration: 141min 01:55 RTPi Directo election re-run

Election officials in Ukraine have declared opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko the winner of the country’s presidential elec- tions by a clear margin. With more than 98% of the votes counted, Mr Yuschchenko is eight points ahead of the Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych. The election was a re-run of a vote last month, won narrowly by Mr Yanukovych, but annulled due to fraud. There have been accusations of dirty tricks throughout the campaign, including allegations of a plot to murder Mr Yush- chenko. Doctors recently confirmed that Mr Yushchenko, who develo- ped a disfiguring skin condition in September, had been poiso- ned with dioxin. MY TYRANO: TOGETHER FOREVER Mass demonstrations in the capital, Kiev, against the first result room 1 5:00 have continued all month. Director: Kobun Shizumo Mr Yushchenko declared victory at midnight GMT while coun- Starring: Kaori Ishihara, Shin’ichirô Miki, Aoi Yûki ting was still in its early stages. Language: Cantonese “Today, in Ukraine, a new political year has begun,” he told a jubi- Duration: 108min lant crowd of supporters. “This is the beginning of a new epoch, the beginning of a new A SHAUN OF THE SHEEP great democracy.” room 2 Thousands of demonstrators, many wearing the campaign’s 2:30, 7:30pm trademark orange, celebrated with a concert and fireworks dis- Director: Richard Phelan, Will Becher play. Language: Chinese Duration: 108min Many have spent the last weeks camping in Kiev’s Independen- ce Square despite sub-zero temperatures. International observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which is monitoring the elections say the re-run has been much fairer than the earlier rounds. “The people of this great country made a great step forwards to free and fair elections by electing the next president of Ukraine,” said the head of the OSCE monitoring mission, Bruce George. Offbeat Ukraine has been plunged into bitter political crisis over the elections. Wisconsin city mulls dumping old The first election result gave Mr Yanukovych 49.46% and Mr Yushchenko 46.61%. But Western poll observers complained of ban on throwing snowballs serious irregularities and said the vote failed to meet internatio- nal standards. For decades, those who have participated in snowball As demonstrations mounted and the political tension heigh- fights in one Wisconsin city have risked getting in trouble tened, the Supreme Court investigated and ruled the results with the law. But that may be about to change. BOMBSHELL invalid, paving the way for fresh elections. A 1962 ban on throwing projectiles in Wausau lumps room 2 snowballs into the same category as rocks and other 9:30 pm Courtesy BBC News Director: Jay Roach items that can cause serious harm. Starring: Charlize theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie City Council President Lisa Rasmussen said that recent Language: English negative national attention over the rarely used ordinan- Duration: 108min ce has raised questions about whether it could be time to take snowballs off the naughty list. In context “Maybe it’s worth giving a look to see if that list could be The outgoing Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, refused to amended, to mitigate that odd news story that keeps co- resign and appealed against the result. ming up like a bad penny,” Rasmussen said. However, on 30 December the Supreme Court rejected his Wausau police and the mayor even made a video showing complaints and his appeal. He finally resigned on 31 December. officers having a snowball fight. The final result, declared on 11 January, gave 51.99% of the “A fun snowball fight is a fun snowball fight,” Deputy Chief vote to Mr Yushchenko and 44.2% to Mr Yanukovych. Mr Yush- Matt Barnes says in the video, “and that’s not something chenko was sworn in on 23 January 2005. (for which) we enforce this ordinance.” Mr Yushchenko’s victory has become known as the Orange Revolution. However his presidency has been marked by in- The video ends with Barnes clocking Wausau Mayor Ro- creasingly bitter in-fighting and a power struggle which led to bert Mielke in the back of the head with a snowball. him sacking his entire government in September 2005. Barnes said the department has used the ordinance to Meanwhile, the constitution is being amended to give more write about 10 tickets in the last 15 years, according to power to the parliament and prime minister. Wisconsin Public Radio News. The citations included cases CATS The optimism that followed the Orange Revolution has faded of people shooting crossbows into a neighbor’s yard, dro- room 3 for many Ukrainians. Economic growth has slowed and prices 2:30, 4:30, 7:30, 9:30pm pping sandbags off the roof of a downtown parking ramp have risen. Director: Tom Hooper In parliamentary elections in March 2006 Viktor Yanukovych’s and, on two occasions, throwing snowballs at passing cars. Starring: James Cordon, Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift party topped polls. Yuliya Tymoshenko’s took second place, The City Council will consider decriminalizing snowball Language: English fights at a meeting next month. Duration: 123min leaving President Yushchenko’s party trailing in third. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 17 fri 27.12.2019 資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT

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YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom

Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 This is not the best time to start off You’ve got one big problem that you in new directions — so either slow can’t solve on your own. Now is the down or make sure that you’re time to hit up a friend and at least putting off whatever plans you had get them to listen to you. They may made for today. Things should snap not have the solution, but they know back into place tomorrow! who can help.

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Communication is your specialty, but It’s too easy to get distracted today today brings a fog of uncertainty that — but if you let yourself wander, you makes you second-guess yourself. may make a huge discovery! Your It’s a good time to let misgivings great energy should point you in lie, as better understanding should the right direction, and it gets better come later on. from there. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Keep reading until you’re satisfied Your relationships are getting a little Beijing 9 clear you’ve mastered the material — bumpy today — but it’s not time to -2 but even then, trust your gut. It’s change course! Just check in with Harbin -17 -4 clear a good day to integrate both sides the right people and make sure that of your brain to reach the right you’re all still committed to making Tianjin 2 11 clear balance. things work. Urumqi -3 7 clear Xi’an 17 clear Libra Scorpio 5 Lhasa 0 19 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 10 16 clear You’ve got way too much going on It’s a great day for creative endeavors Chongqing 12 20 cloudy today — try to pull back from at — so see if you can get your people least one major project or lengthy to join you for some brainstorming Kunming 9 21 clear appointment. If the day seems quiet, or a craft project. Whatever you do, Nanjing 23 cloudy you’d better duck! Something big is expect something really wild and 7 coming. wonderful! Shanghai 12 20 cloudy Wuhan 8 24 clear Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 9 22 clear Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 17 21 cloudy This isn’t a day for progress — but Think outside the box and win! If Guangzhou 14 27 clear you can at least keep yourself from you surprise the competition, you sliding backward. Things are looking can be sure that you are going to Hong Kong 20 25 cloudy up for you and yours, but first you’ve come out ahead. All you really need got to make it past this long, slow is one creative idea, but keep the flow day. going if you can. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow -1 4 clear Frankfurt 0 6 drizzle Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 2 9 moderate rain Don’t trust your sense of what’s Your innermost self is closer to going on with your bank account. It’s the surface today — so make sure London 7 9 drizzle one of those days when assumptions that you’re paying attention! You can cost you quite a bit, so check and may be surprised at what’s been New York -3 1 cloudy double-check before committing to going on down there, but it’s all purchases. positive.

CROSSWORDS USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

ACROSS: 1-Paint crudely; 5- IV units; 8- Italian treats; 12- Rights advocacy org.; 13- Cathedral; 15- Routine; 16- “Darn!”; 17- Work ___; 18- Editor Wintour; 19- Nostalgic; 22- Leg, slangily; 23- Mined mineral; 24- Den of wild animals and dragons; 26- Lady of Spain; 29- Flag; 31- One-time link; 32- Chilly; 34- Motherless Emergency calls 999 Taxi 28 939 939 / 2828 3283 calf; 36- Deep wound; 38- Legal wrongs; 40- Decrease gradually; 41- Dominant; 43- Lively dances; 45- Disapproving sound; 46- Cease; 48- Small sofa; 50- Fire department 28 572 222 Water Supply – Report 2822 0088 Russo of “Get Shorty”; 51- Actress Vardalos; 52- Martini liquor; 54- Hand tool; 61- Indigo plant; 63- One tenth, usually; 64- “Le Roi d’Ys” composer; 65- Slothful; PJ (Open line) 993 Telephone – Report 1000 66- Lustful deity; 67- Scandinavian capital city; 68- To ___ (perfectly); 69- ___ Cruces; 70- Paper purchase; PJ (Picket) 28 557 775 Electricity – Report 28 339 922

DOWN: 1- Pops; 2- Farmland unit; 3- ___ Bator, Mongolia; 4- Clothing fastener; PSP 28 573 333 Macau Daily Times 28 716 081 5- Adorable; 6- Mindy of “The Facts of Life”; 7- Struck, old-style; 8- George’s brother; 9- Assemble; 10- Sicilian mount; Customs 28 559 944 11- Clothes line?; 13- Mark given for Tuesday’s solution offense; 14- Central Florida city; 20- S. J. Hospital 28 313 731 Fairway choice; 21- Ground; 25- ___

pronounce you...; 26- Rise to one’s feet; Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com Kiang Wu Hospital 28 371 333 27- Orientalize; 28- Nautical direction; 29- Units of computer memory; 30- Wash Commission Against lightly; 31- “…and seven years _____”; 33- Opposite of post-; 35- A mouse!; Corruption (CCAC) 28326 300 37- Stockings; 39- Thin; 42- Fasteners; 44- Show signs of life; 47- Religious IAM 28 387 333 offshoots; 49- Fit with clothes; 52- Big party; 53- ___ the finish; 55- 100 dinars; Tourism 28 333 000 56- Kett of the comics; 57- Reasons; 58- Flower holder; 59- Scat queen; 60- Airport 59 888 88 Chamber; 62- Caustic substance;

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Dancer born with one Operation Holiday hand makes Radio City AP PHOTO Express brings gifts Rockettes history to US troops in Syria UNDREDS of Ame- the 1st Infantry Division, rican troops based in AP PHOTO H flown in from Fort Riley, Syria have received Christ- Kansas. The soldiers recei- mas gifts thanks to Opera- ved stockings stuffed with tion Holiday Express, lau- candies, toiletries and other nched by U.S.-led coalition gifts. Most were donated by forces from across the border military support organiza- Lindsey Vonn goes in neighboring Iraq. tions in the U.S., as well as This year, Santa’s sleigh and churches and charity organi- social with P.K. Subban reindeer were apparently zations, coalition spokesman swapped for a workhorse Col. Myles Caggins said. marriage proposal CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The U.S. at one point had dancer born with one Rockettes after her four- INDSEY Vonn popped front of a Christmas tree with But coalition forces still don- some 2,000 service members Ahand is the first per- th audition. She said she Lthe question to hockey three dogs in the foreground. ned jolly red caps as they un- in Syria, mostly taking part son with a visible disability has been “mesmerized” star P.K. Subban. She also posted a close-up loaded boxes of gifts at five in battles against the Islamic ever hired by New York’s by the troupe, which da- “Merry Christmas and ha- of Subban flashing the ring, locations in eastern Syria, State group. The number famed Radio City Rocke- tes to 1925, ever since first ppy holidays everyone!! On with the words “Drip dri- as seen by The Associated has dropped since the extre- ttes. seeing them on TV in the our 2 year anniversary, in a p”and a blue teardrop. Press. mists’ defeat in March, when “I don’t want to be Macy’s Thanksgiving Day “non traditional” move, I Vonn also said on social In addition to the presents, they lost their last sliver of known as the dancer who Parade. asked PK to marry me and media in August that they Christmas tunes were provi- territory to Kurdish-led figh- has one hand, and not be- Mesher said she started he said, Yes,” Vonn twee- were engaged. ded by a military band from ters backed by Washington. cause that’s a bad thing,” dancing as a child and at- ted on Christmas Day. “Yes The 35-year-old Vonn re- Sydney Mesher, who joi- tended a performing arts (bashful emoji) ! Women cently retired from a skiing ned the Rockettes this sea- high school. In the Radio aren’t the only ones who career that included three son, told Newsday. “But City Christmas Spectacu- should get engagement rin- Olympic medals, four ove- AP PHOTO because I’ve worked very lar, audiences caught up in gs!” rall World Cup titles and 82 hard to be where I am.” the show might not notice The former ski racer closed World Cup race wins, a re- Mesher, 22, is missing a her missing hand, even the tweet with the hashta- cord for a woman. left hand because of sym- where there are minor gs “MerryChristmas” and Vonn had a high-profile re- brachydactyly, a rare con- modifications to the act to “equality.” lationship with Tiger Woods. genital condition. accommodate her. In one Vonn linked a picture of She previously was married The Pace University number where the Ro- herself and Subban with the to former ski racer Thomas graduate from Portland, ckettes ring a bell in each ring, with the couple wearing Vonn, and kept his last name Oregon, was hired by the hand, she rings just one. matching striped pajamas in after they separated. ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 19 fri 27.12.2019 體育 SPORTS

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JOSEPH WILSON, BARCELONA FOOTBALL VEN though Barcelona and Real Madrid have yet to dominate like in past seasons, the two Barca and Madrid lead in Spain Eheavyweights are at the top of the Spanish league for the winter break. Lionel Messi’s Barcelona will at winter break despite flaws head into 2020 with a two-point advantage over second-place

Madrid after completing 18 of 38 AP PHOTO rounds. Barcelona got off to a slow start with only two wins in the first five rounds before newcomer Antoine Griezmann started to click with Messi and Luis Suárez, and the Catalan club ended the year wi- thout a loss in seven rounds. “There are times when you win the league by a wide margin and when everyone expects you to wrap it up months in advance that it loses excitement,” Barcelo- na coach Ernesto Valverde, who is seeking a third consecutive league crown with the team, said Tuesday. “It is better when you win the league on the last round and by one point.” Madrid has only one loss - a 1-0 defeat at Mallorca in October - but it has drawn seven games, including its last three. Its con- tinued scoring problems since Cristiano Ronaldo left two sum- mers ago have left it without a goal in five encounters. “We had difficulties at the be- ginning of the season, but now we are much better and strong de- SURPRISE OF THE SEASON a Madrid team that has yet to re- a tumultuous coaching change chín, its second coach of the sea- fensively, improving every day,” The breakout player is Real place Ronaldo’s missing firepower. could threaten Sevilla and Atlético son, on Monday. Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane Sociedad midfielder Martin Ode- Messi has led Barcelona to 10 for the other two berths. Espanyol has yet to win at said after Sunday’s 0-0 home gaard, who is playing at the Bas- league titles in 15 seasons. Getafe, which was in the home in the league this season draw with Athletic Bilbao. “Today que club on loan from Madrid. “We haven’t reached our cei- running for a top-four finish last and its fans are asking for a goal- we couldn’t score, but the impor- Odegaard has excelled as a pre- ling,” Griezmann said after sco- season until faltering late, cannot -scorer - in addition to yet another tant thing is to create the chances cise passer and is leading one of ring the opening goal in Satur- be ruled out despite its modest coach - in the January transfer and we’re going to turn this arou- the most attractive attacks in the day’s 4-1 win over Alavés. “I am profile. market. nd in 2020 for sure.” league. Sociedad is in fifth place, feeling good before the holidays. Leganés and Mallorca are likely A Sevilla side that has been re- just one point behind Atlético. Messi is the best in the world. We WHO IS GOING DOWN? to also feature in the relegation fi- vitalized by former Madrid and Sevilla continues to introduce have a great squad, and when we Espanyol earned Europa Lea- ght. Spain manager Julen Lopetegui, talented newcomers in powerful need a push, Messi provides it.” gue qualification last campaign, Celta Vigo has been the biggest and by the new players brought defender Diego Carlos and physi- but it has been in a mess since disappointment of the season so in by sporting director Ramón cal forward Lucas Ocampos, both CHAMPIONS LEAGUE both top scorer Borja Iglesias and far and is also near the bottom. “Monchi” Rodríguez, is in third of whom have stood out and are QUALIFICATION ex-coach Francesc “Rubi” Ferrer But with Spain striker Iago Aspas place at five points back. likely on the radar of bigger clubs. While Barcelona and Madrid left for Real Betis in the summer. and former Barcelona midfielders Diego Simeone’s Atlético Ma- will surely get Champions League The Barcelona-based club is in Rafinha and Denis Suárez it has drid has experienced trouble up GOAL OF THE SEASON spots, Sociedad and a Valencia last place after winning just two of the talent to rebound if it shores front after losing Griezmann in Suárez scored not only the best side that is coming on strong after 18 matches and it fired Pablo Ma- up its defense. AP the summer, but its revamped goal so far this season in Barcelo- defense has kept it in fourth pla- na’s 5-2 rout of Mallorca on Dec. 7 ce, seven points behind Barcelo- but one of the best in his goal-stu- na. dded career. Survey finds Spanish football The Uruguay striker wowed PLAYER OF THE Camp Nou when he used an au- giants best paid teams in the world SEASON SO FAR dacious strike with the back of his Messi leads the league with 13 right heel to scoop the ball around OOTBALL players at Spanish powerhouses list last year, is up to third with $10.54 million. goals in just 13 appearances due the diving goalkeeper and just in- FBarcelona and Real Madrid and Italy cham- The other football teams in the top 20 are PSG at to an injury that kept him out of side the far post from a tight angle. pion Juventus are on the best-paid teams in wor- No. 12 and Manchester City at No. 13. the opening games. He is also cre- The goal put the perfect finish ld sports, according to a survey published this The figures used in the survey represent basic dited with six assists by the league to a flowing passing combination week. annual pay and do not include signing bonuses, as he continues at age 32 to be the between Frenkie de Jong and Ser- The 10th edition of the Global Sports Salaries performance bonuses and other extras. team’s best scorer and playmaker. gi Roberto to break down Mallor- study by sportingintelligence.com placed Barce- Teams from the NBA fill the remaining seven An honorable mention goes to ca’s tightly packed defense. lona top of the list with an average basic salary of spots in the top 10 and take 15 of the top 20 pla- Karim Benzema for stepping up It unquestionably goes into the a first team player of $12.8 million. That figure is ces. his play after the injury-hit Eden annals of Barcelona’s most beau- down on last year when Barcelona was also first Among teams ranked 21 to 30 this year, nine Hazard failed to make an impact tiful goals. with an average of $13.7 million, swelled by the are from the NBA, joined by German soccer since joining Madrid on a club- basic pay check of Lionel Messi, which exceeds champion Bayern Munich at No. 22. -record transfer from Chelsea. WHO WILL BE CHAMPION? $65 million. Juventus was ranked No. 32 in 2017 but leapt to Benzema is second in the lea- With Messi, defending cham- Real Madrid retains second place with an ave- 10th place last year with the signing of Cristiano gue with 12 goals in 17 matches. pion Barcelona is favored to edge rage of $11.6 million and Juventus, ninth on the Ronaldo and other high-priced players. MDT/AP Brazil investigates Christmas Eve the attack over Netflix show BUZZ A video on social media in Brazil shows three masked people yesterday, also shows three people throwing gasoline bombs claiming they carried out a gasoline bomb attack to protest a into the building. Christmas program on Netflix that some critics have described There were no injuries in the overnight attack and a security as blasphemous. guard extinguished the flames, according to Porta dos Fundos. A man in the video, whose voice is digitally altered, says the Police are investigating. Christmas Eve attack on a video production house in Rio de Ja- The comedy group’s short film, called The First Temptation of neiro targeted Brazilian humorist group Porta dos Fundos for Christ, depicts Jesus returning home on his 30th birthday and OPINION its Portuguese-language program. insinuates he is gay. Religious groups bristled at the depiction. The man claims to speak for a group he calls the Command of An online petition that was launched in Brazil called for the film Bizcuits Popular National Insurgence. The video, which was circulating to be banned and drew more than 2 million signatures. Leanda Lee

Gifts of Crisis Japan executed its first foreigner in 10 years While Macau has been centre-stage of unequivo- From New York to yesterday, a Chinese man cal messages of national sovereignty during the 20th convicted in the 2003 Anniversary events, I am in Australia and Australia is murder and robbery of a burning. Moscow, Holocaust family of four. Wei Wei, 40, Multiple times a day, my phone buzzes with alerts on was hanged yesterday at a the VicEmergency App with news of incidents in the survivors share memories detention center in Fukuoka immediate area. The Country Fire Authority (CFA), the where he had been on death Metropolitan Fire Brigade and State Emergency Ser- row for more than 16 years, vices coordinate this information in one place. Buzz, Justice Minister Masako Mori said. More on p13 there it goes again. AP PHOTO I am not even in a bushfire zone. While much of the country yearns for any whisper of moisture, our pla-

ce still has some green in the paddocks, and yet “Fire AP PHOTO – Not Yet Under Control” incidents keep popping up among the “Watch and Act” warnings. There were 23 fire-services’ vehicles attending a grass fire beside su- burban housing up the road the other day. This is not normal. Australia Firefighters It is Christmas and it is a Total Fire Ban. No prawns on battling wildfires in the barbie. No driving through grass or crops. No wel- Australia’s most populous ding, grinding or soldering. And my app buzzes again. state attempted to make No wonder we have restrictions. headway yesterday amid The fires started early this year. On 11th November, favorable conditions, before volunteers from four of our local fire brigades joined an “extreme heatwave” hits the CFA Task Force of 50 fire Tankers to Goulburn in embattled areas on the New South Wales. A Catastrophic Fire Rating level was weekend. called for 12th November for the first time since the 2009 February Black Saturday Fires in which 180 peo- ple died, 450,000 hectares burned, and 2,029 homes Holocaust survivor Mikhail Spektr, 86, shows a photo of him as a Soviet Army officer were destroyed. AP PHOTO Since then, fires have raged through 5-million hec- tares in a continent-scale emergency, sometimes JEFFREY SCHAEFFER & difficulties many survivors We didn’t think they were combining into mega-blazes. In NSW which usually ANGELA CHARLTON face in old age. leaving to their deaths.” has 280,000 hectares burnt in a season, 3.41 million Some 400,000 Holocaust The gathering in New Iraq The president refused hectares have gone up already, only half-way through OLOCAUST survivors victims are estimated to still York included some 200 sur- yesterday to designate the the season. A third of the grapevines in the Adelaide Hsang at Jerusalem’s be alive, about half of them vivors, some wearing winter Iran-backed parliamentary Hills have gone. We have lost rainforests that don’t nor- Western Wall, danced in Pa- in Israel — and as many as caps, others wearing kippas. bloc’s nominee for mally burn. The human toll remains low, but tragically ris and lit candles in other 40% are living in poverty, Some smiled as they listened prime minister after he nine people are lost to their families and communities, cities to celebrate Hanukkah said Ruediger Mahlo of the to speeches; others looked was rejected by anti- two of whom were volunteer firefighters, both young together, recalling Nazi hor- government protesters, fathers. Conference on Jewish Ma- on pensively. They touched rors that Jewish community and said he was prepared A family member, driving along the roads from Sy- terial Claims Against Ger- on recent anti-Semitic atta- to submit his resignation to dney to Melbourne to join Christmas dinner, told of leaders fear are fading from many, which organized the cks in the U.S. and on con- Parliament. the sights. There are miles of blackened earth, and yet the world’s collective me- events. cerns that younger gene- more blackened earth with patches of brown in places mory. “We want to make this rations of Americans know Turkey’s highest court where there was no vegetative fuel to start with, in- An 86-year-old man in public in order to help them little about what they went yesterday ruled in favor of terspersed by charred trunks of trees with canopies all Moscow described being and in order that other peo- through. Wikipedia, saying the Turkish shrivelled. Unscathed farmhouses stood incongruou- forced by Nazi occupiers ple help them as well,” he Hand-in-hand with a government’s two-year ban on the online encyclopedia sly in their fresh intactness in the flat never-ending into a ghetto as a child. El- told The Associated Press. rabbi, survivor Mikhail landscape of black and brown. Every single house sa- constitutes a violation of derly survivors in New York With tears in their eyes, Spektr said a prayer and lit ved. Not the sheds, not the outhouses. But every single freedom of expression, shared stories Sunday at the survivors sang Israel’s na- a Hanukkah candelabra in home stood, testament to our country fire brigades. the state-run news agency Museum of Jewish Heritage, Nearly 35,000 firefighters and 21,000 support staff are tional anthem together at Moscow. He then took the reported. Turkey blocked Wikipedia in April 2017, volunteers. In seasons past firefighters from California in the shadow of the Statue the Western Wall, the holiest microphone and sang for accusing it of being part of have helped with backup but now that fire seasons of Liberty. site in the world where Jews members of Russia’s Jewish a “smear campaign” against overlap, those resources are not so available. The va- They worry that today’s can pray. The mood turned community, accompanied youth in many countries the country, after the website lour, exhaustion, sacrifices over Christmas by these he- joyous by the time can- by a fiddler and accordion refused to remove content roes are not lost on anyone. Our communities come to- don’t recognize names of dles were lit, with survivors player. that allegedly portrayed gether in such times of crisis. Together, we are resilient. Nazi death camps, fall prey joining hands, dancing in As a child when the war Turkey as supporting the And in Macau, parenthetically, restrictions on free- to anti-Semitic conspiracy circles and laughing. began, Spektr said, he didn’t Islamic State group and other dom of the press, movement and public gatherings theories, or don’t realize that “For me, the holiday of realize what was going on. terrorist organizations. have raised the ire, angst and fear of what the first may 6 million Jews were killed in Hanukkah is a holiday of vic- When the Nazis came, he impose upon the second system. Now that we have ex- Hitler’s World War II extermi- tory, and it’s very important recalled his grandfather te- perienced what is possible, and now ever more likely nation campaign. should the road to the integration of the two systems for me to see the light of vic- lling him that they were “a ci- AP PHOTO be bumpy, a fire has been put in the bellies (there goes Lighting the Hanukkah tory,” said Amnon Elkiev, a vilized nation, they wouldn’t that buzz again) on both sides of the socio-political candelabra, France’s chief survivor originally from the do anything to us.” divide. Pseudo-intellectuals have been contesting the rabbi, Haim Korsia, told sur- Netherlands who came to But he and his family so-called ideologies of others with little more than big vivors in Paris, “What you the ceremony with his wife. were taken to a ghetto on words, long, long sentences and the smugness that are, each of you, is exactly Renowned Nazi hunter Ukraine’s western edge and Israel The governing only opinionated tribal support can provide. Such has like the light. [...] We will Serge Klarsfeld was among held there from 1941 until Likud party held a primary been the banter that outsiders have rightly characteri- never put out the first fla- vote yesterday in the first those attending a bitter- the Red Army liberated it in serious internal challenge sed as penis-measuring contests. me. When we transmit the sweet ceremony in Paris, 1944. In times of crises, whatever the fight, well-endowed to Prime Minister Benjamin knowledge, your experience where young and old sang “We were all sleeping on Netanyahu in his more than and diverse groups of citizens need to work together and when we transmit it to and prayed together. the floor. We lived on the ter- a decade in power. Veteran in collaboration, with knowledge, experience and others, it takes nothing from politician Gideon Saar fact-based expertise. One cannot fight coercion with Anna Sterman described ritory [of the ghetto], isolated us and it gives to others.” being “hunted ... like mice” from the city by barbed wire. hopes to unseat Netanyahu, opinion, let alone divided opinion. Those words that arguing that he will be better only result in pitting groups of residents against each With folk dancing, festi- as a child near Lyon. Sarah The entrance was guarded ve songs and shared meals, placed to form a government other - the infighting both online and in the print-me- Saragoussi, whose parents by Nazi soldiers and police- in national elections in March dia - serve Macau poorly. In their divisiveness, they are the ceremonies Sunday and were deported to camps, men,” he said. “People who after Netanyahu failed to do worth little more than bumfodder. Monday also aimed to com- said: “We thought they wou- dared [to leave] were indeed so in two repeat elections bat the solitude and other ld come back nonetheless. shot.” AP this year.