extra flights for usd million tag 48 the 300 chinese new year for casinos To cope with the increasing int’l Gambling licenses outside number of passengers throughout school Manila are expected to the CNY, the Aviation Authority launches require minimum investment approved additional flights ‘phase ii’ of about USD300 million P2 P6 P7 PHILIPPINES

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“ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ”

WORLD BRIEFS

CHINA A court in Xinjiang New Macau avoids calling has reduced the sentences of 11 Uighurs convicted of terrorism and endangering state security, including P4 a naturalized Canadian for Au’s resignation preacher whose life term had been sharply criticized by Ottawa. More on p10

CHINA Asian Champions League winner Guangzhou Evergrande has been fined for secretly filming its opponent’s training session before the second-leg match of the final. Evergrande must pay USD160,000 for several rules violations around the return match against Al Ahli of United Arab Emirates last November. Meanwhile, the club signed star striker Jackson Martinez. More on p19 AP PHOTO

SOUTH KOREA warned of “searing” consequences if N. Korea doesn’t abandon plans to launch a long-range rocket that critics call a banned test of ballistic missile technology. The South’s rhetoric about unspecified harsh consequences comes less than a month after the North’s defiant fourth nuclear test and as diplomats at the U.N. work on strong new sanctions against Pyongyang.

THAILAND Two Russian tourists are badly injured at a beach resort when a speedboat’s propeller severs one man’s leg and cuts deep gashes in the other man’s leg. The men, believed to be in their 30s, were struck while they were diving off Phi Phi Grant Bowie ‘starting to see some island in Krabi province.

P3 GAMING More on backpage early signs of consolidation’ 04.02.2016 thu

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CNY EDUCATION Foreign university Aviation Authority students in Taiwan approves application reach 110,000 HERE were over 110,000 overseas students Tenrolled at Taiwanese universities in 2015. of 48 additional flights According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, those students represent 8.27 percent of its ter- tiary student population. O cope with the in- Foreign students come mainly from Malaysia, Tcreasing number of then China, Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam, in passengers throughout that order. the Chinese New Year, The ministry revealed that the number of non- the Civil Aviation Autho- local students rose by 16,537 last year to 110,182. rity (AACM) approved the Statistics also showed that the number of foreign applications of a total of students taking up advanced degrees increased by 48 additional scheduled 6,000 last year. service and charter fli- Department of International and Cross-strait ghts submitted by three Education section head, Liu Su-miao said that the airlines. These flights are increase was mainly attributed to an additional destined to travel to and 7,000 Chinese students. Liu added that the re- from mainland China (23 cruiting efforts of overseas students by local uni- flights), Taiwan (12 fligh- versities has been aggressive; there has been a de- ts), Japan (seven flights) cline in enrollment of Taiwanese students becau- and the Republic of Korea se of the low birth rate over the past two decades. (five flights). stressed that during the ternational Airport (MIA) Statistics show that the ministry’s target to Air Macau, China Sou- Chinese New Year the Passenger revealed yesterday that the increase the number of foreign students from thern Airlines and Tiger market for the short-haul volume of passenger traffic 30,000 in 2008 to more than 100,000 this year Taiwan began operations flights such as those to numbers and aircraft movements has been achieved. Taiwan’s government is ai- of the above additional and from mainland China, went up 23 recorded an increase of 23 ming to turn the nation into an advanced learning flights on February 1 and Taiwan China, Japan and percent and 4 percent res- powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region, according will run them until Fe- Korea are usually in great percent in pectively for the month of to Liu. bruary 16. demand. January, 2016 compared to Liu noted that there was also a significant rise In a press release, AACM Separately, the Macau In- January the same period last year. in the number of students from India, Indonesia and Myanmar. The ministry said the focus now would be to en- courage foreign students to work in Taiwan and to give the country’s private sector more access to Secretary says policy on overseas graduates. residency remains unchanged COURTS Jilted wife convicted HE policy for handling applica- It was also said that the avera- Ttions by Portuguese citizens for ge processing time for each new of defamation residency in Macau has not chan- application was about 76 days. The ged, according to assurances given average time for processing each by the Secretary for Security, Wong application for renewal of residen- mainland Chinese woman has been convicted Sio Chak, to the Consul General of cy was approximately 25 days. Aof defamation for harassing her husband and Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong, During the meeting, issues re- his alleged lover via text messages. Vítor Sereno. lating to the criteria of how the Upon discovering that her husband was chea- During the meeting held this authorities judge an application ting on her, the accused began messaging the week, the secretary stated that were also discussed. These inclu- couple with insults such as “chick,” “duck,” and “Portuguese citizens in general ded the applicant’s linkages to the “dog,” and threatened to take their lives. A for- have made a range of positive con- region; family ties and “employ- Vítor Sereno and Wong Sio Chak mer dance teacher, the accused used several di- tributions to the development of ment in professions that are in line and of being excessively bureau- fferent numbers to send intimidating messages, Macau over the years,” a govern- with Macau’s development and cratic. In a letter sent to Vítor Sere- often more than ten times a day, from January ment statement indicated. the applicant’s capacity to support no, the advisory body claimed that to April 2013. Wong said figures for the past 12 him/herself with an adequate live- some requests for documents viola- The husband’s alleged lover filed the complaint years showed that only 114 appli- lihood.” te privacy laws. “[Authorities] have and appealed to the primary court to take out a cations by Portuguese citizens for The meeting between the diplo- been requesting bank statements restraining order on the accused. The court fined residency in Macau, or 5.6 percent, mat and Wong Sio Chak follows in order to verify banking move- the defendant a total of MOP12,000 for intimida- were rejected out of a total of 2,039. accusations made by the Council of ments and [have been] requiring tion and defamation. Last year, four applications were the Portuguese Communities, whi- salaries greater than MOP25,000, During the proceedings, the accused appealed to not accepted, from the 131 applica- ch is officiated by lawmaker Pereira a value that we consider extremely the Court of Second Instance. The court charged tions received. Since 2003 only one Coutinho. high,” the letter reads. The num- her with defamation but refused to imprison her. unsuccessful applicant has filed an The council has accused the im- ber of Portuguese citizens applying The fines remained unchanged at MOP12,000 appeal against the authorities’ de- migration department of taking too for non-resident worker status has for defamation, and at MOP20,000 as compensa- cision, Wong stated. long to process local ID requests also been increasing. tion for the victim’s emotional damage.

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GRANT BOWIE Police force protestors out of ‘We can obviously build our DSSOPT Scores of Pearl Horizon protesters were forcibly business from this base’ removed by police on Tuesday night after they staged a sit-in inside GM China’s CEO team members, to clean and de- increased from 60 to 140, and the headquarters of the and executive di- corate 200 households of 65- to the number of beneficiaries has Land, Public Works rector Grant Bowie 90-year-old residents. grown from 80 to 200.” and Transport Bureau said yesterday that Chinese “Fai Chun” (red ban- Commenting on the activity, (DSSOPT). Around 70 Mhe is optimistic and “starting to ners) designed by MGM were Grant Bowie stated: “Through police officers armored see some early signs of consoli- placed on doorways and windows the activity, team members show with shields were dation and some opportunities as festive decorations to welcome their compassion and support to deployed to the area on for growth.” the Chinese New Year. Additio- the community and help to forge early Tuesday evening, “It is not nearly as bad as peo- nally, the gaming operator pre- a stronger bond within the team.” and waited outside of ple say it is and we can obviously sented a New Year “goodie bag” MGM has been working with the headquarters for the build our business from this base to wish every household a healthy “Centro de Dia Brilho da Vida” building to close. After and continue to be successful,” and prosperous year ahead. since 2010 on various activities bureau staff informed Mr Bowie said, adding that MGM According to the information for senior citizens locally. A dedi- the protestors that the Grant Bowie has a musical jam with building would be shut, “would look positively for impro- released by MGM, “year by year, cated team of volunteers was for- the seniors armored officers stormed vement in the gaming revenue the number of volunteers partici- med in May 2011 to pay monthly the structure and forced positive and we need to take care coming this year,” while “also fo- pating in the house cleaning has visits to the center. Staff reporters the demonstrators out. of our customers and to be always cusing on non-gaming initiatives Protesters have increased to bring more customers that may looking for new things to bring to transitioning business from vip to mass market the frequency of their also want to play in our gaming Macau [in order] to bring more demonstrations and sit- rooms as well.” customers [here],” he said. ins recently in response QUESTIONED ABOUT the on those who have been affected” Questioned by journalists yes- For the fifth year, MGM joined to what they view as an troubled VIP business, Grant and to “track the customers that terday on the sidelines of a Chi- hands with “Centro de Dia Bri- inadequate government Bowie said the gaming industry are now transitioning into the nese New Year house cleaning lho da Vida,” a service center for response. Earlier this is “transitioning out of being pri- mass market.” One VIP room activity, the CEO refused to make senior citizens operating under week an Administrative marily VIP business into the mass closed at MGM in the past six revenue projections for the ga- Caritas Macau, to organize the Court in Macau rejected an market,” something that the CEO months, and “about three” shut ming industry. “Spring Clean for Love” event for appeal by Pearl Horizon considered to be a “normal part down during the past year, Bowie “I think analysts are making pre- local senior citizens living alone. plot developer, Polytec, of any business transformation.” confirmed. That leaves seven VIP dictions that are simply guesses. MGM’s senior executives led against the government’s He further said that the priority rooms still operating in MGM’s We just have to live with the busi- a team of 140 volunteers, inclu- decision not to renew the should be to “minimize the impact facilities. ness that we have. We need to be ding more than 50 management land concession.

ad 04.02.2016 thu

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Woman swindled out of MOP29,000 New Macau avoids calling

An English-speaking Indian man, claiming to be a clairvoyant, has swindled a for Au’s resignation 28-year-old woman out of MOP29,000 at St. Francisco HE New Macau Asso- Garden. According to a ciation (ANM) President police report, the conman Scott Chiang refused to I called him to convinced the victim that he comment on whether had foreseen her father’s bad The thinks Au Kam San shou- enquire if [the luck before asking the woman ld step down from his post as a for money and then making lawmaker, following his resig- resignation] the unusual request for a new nation from the pan-democratic was genuine phone, so as to “enhance the organization. prayer’s effect.” On the sidelines of an ANM and if there was press conference calling for grea- IACM’s app ter publicity and public scru- a way to work tiny of the extradition treaty in adds Indonesian progress, Chiang did not clarify around it. and Vietnamese whether he would advocate Au’s SCOTT CHIANG resignation as a lawmaker, whi- versions ch would subsequently trigger a tion of Macau (ACUM), which by-election. netted 18.02 percent of the vote. “I don’t have an opinion on ACUM is in the pan-establish- that,” answered Chiang, before ship applications, as a means of sident, but that he intends to in- ment bloc that opposes the pro- adding, “I see no law regulating stifling potential challengers wi- vestigate the matter further. democrats. that [Au should step down].” thin the association. He also expressed that it was “I called him,” Chiang explai- According to the law, there is no After being questioned over the not a good time to start specu- ned, after the news of Au’s de- requirement for the former ANM membership application system, lating over who might replace parture was broken to him, “to founder to resign from his post Chiang refused to disclose the Au on the ANM list for the next enquire if [the resignation] was now that he has disassociated actual procedure for determining election. Chiang wants to put the genuine and if there was a way to himself from the organization. whether a member will or will whole issue behind him, stres- work around it. Obviously I fai- However, it could be seen as not be permitted to join. He said sing that both sides “think of it as led in that.” inappropriate for the lawmaker that he prefers not to comment ‘water under the bridge’.” Howe- The Civic Municipal Affairs The reason behind Au’s sudden to remain in his post following a on individual cases. ver, this does not explain Au’s de- Bureau (IACM) has updated departure remains unclear, with divergence of views between Au “More are accepted than rejec- cision to halt financial contribu- the “Information about varying accounts being specula- and the association he founded ted,” he cryptically answered. tions to the association from his Macao’s Environmental ted across the media and among and under whose banner he was Chiang also addressed allega- lawmaker salary. Hygiene” mobile application, the public. Some are alleging that elected. tions that the association did not The president added, “we ack- adding Indonesian and Au claimed that ANM adopted According to the law, a by- permit dissenting voices, saying nowledge what Au has done for Vietnamese versions to an arbitrary method for accep- election is to be called within 180 that he could only speak for the the association and for Macau in provide ease of use to ting or declining new member- brief period of his tenure as pre- the past.” Staff reporter residents and visitors of days of a member of the elected various nationalities. The app legislative resigning, unless the features information about current term of office of the AL environmental hygiene and expires before then. Au has not Jason Chao demands full education in Macau, as well made any indication that he will as providing the locations resign, and according to some of public toilets, garbage sources, he has said that he wou- disclosure of extradition treaty chambers, compacting trash ldn’t. bins, recyclable garbage One reason that the pan-demo- ASON Chao has said that the inclusion of suspect or fugitive must have committed a cri- collection points and more. It crats, like ANM, may be reluc- Jan exception clause in the proposed extra- me in both of the countries or states in question. was previously only available tant to push for Au’s resignation dition treaty “is very dangerous” and will po- ANM is concerned that, because mainland of- in three languages: Chinese, is that a by-election is unlikely to tentially allow the abuse of power by MSAR ficials frequently justify arrests of individuals Portuguese and English. go in their favor. The conservati- and mainland government officials. as “endangering security interests,” the excep- ves are considered to have more The New Macau Association (ANM) member tion clause is open to abuse. mobilization power in the event said that the group was alerted to an exception This also applies to the recent arrests of hu- Literary festival of a sudden by-election. clause in the proposed “extradition treaty” man rights lawyers in China due to allega- announces Due to the proportional, list-ba- that allowed the extradition of non-mainland tions of “inciting subversion of state power.” sed voting system, the party with citizens from Macau for acts committed on the Using this justification to arrest individuals concert line-up the most number of votes would mainland, “involving the military or endange- has become “routine practice,” Jason Chao win the vacant seat. If a by-elec- ring interests of national defense,” ignoring explained. Organizers of the Macau tion went the same way as the the requirement of double-criminality. He calls for the immediate and full disclosure Literary Festival announced most recent AL elections in 2013, Double-criminality refers to the agreement on of the complete text of the extradition treaty a line-up of concerts to that party would be Chan Men be included in the event’s extradition that is widely accepted worldwide, and the exact nature of the “consensus” rea- Kam’s United Citizens Associa- program featuring performers when in order to proceed with extradition, a ched with Hong Kong and mainland China. from Portugal, China and Macau. Yao Shisan, a Chinese folk artist, and João Caetano, a Macau-born Portuguese musician, will play at the UM receives former Nobel Committee chairman Macao Cultural Centre on March 11. Portuguese Fado HE University of Macau (UM) recently sor Brink presented another talk titled “The singer Cristiana Branco Theld a public lecture by Professor Lars Standard Model of Particle Physics is Com- will perform on March 12. Brink, the former chairman of the Nobel plete,” illustrating the necessary understan- Another musical event will Committee for Physics at the Royal Swe- ding of the physics the committee needs to feature the Foshan Cantonese dish Academy of Sciences. have which resulted in the 2013 Nobel Prize Opera Troupe. In addition, The talk included a discussion about Al- in physics for the discovery of the Higgs Bo- António Fonseca will present fred Nobel and his founding of the Nobel son. his interpretation of the epic Prizes and the statues behind them. Prof Lars Brink Prof Brink, a distinguished professor at poem “Os Lusiadas.” These Brink explained the nomination selection the Chalmers University of Technology in shows will be held at the Dom process for Nobel Prizes and how the No- and institutions to nominate candidates Sweden, is also a member of the Max Planck Pedro V Theatre on March 6 bel Committees invite thousands of exper- for Nobel Prizes. Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert and 7. ts and scholars from different countries According to a UM press release, Profes- Einstein Institute) in Potsdam, Germany. thu 04.02.2016

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15 arrested in EDUCATION pre-kindergarten to Grade 12. Around 35 percent are from Ma- illegal casino cau, while another 20 percent raid are from other parts of Asia. The Int’l School launches Phase II builds on previous de- velopments made at TIS, inclu- ding the renovation of existing buildings and facilities. A num- new expansion project ber of projects were completed in the previous academic year, including the addition of new special ceremony was held chemistry equipment and sto- Aat The International School rage units, a new waterproofing of Macao (TIS), situated on the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) campus, to Stribbell The Public Security Police mark the official launch of the (PJ) raided an underground “Phase II” construction of the casino ring in Areia Preta said that the extension of the school. on Tuesday night, leading The ceremony, held yesterday, expansion to the arrests of 15 people, included the unveiling of a ban- and the confiscation of was the result ner, the burying of a time capsu- 16 computers, a poker table, and what is being le, and a preview musical ren- of increased dition by some 40 elementary described as millions of Howard Stribbell demand for dollars worth of gaming school students of a song from school building. It includes a chips. The PJ said that 11 the school’s upcoming musical sion was the result of increased school places of the 15 individuals that performance, “Seussical The two-story library, purpose built demand for school places by both were arrested are Macau Musical,” inspired by children’s classrooms for both kindergar- local and expatriate applicants. by both local residents, while the others author, Dr Seuss. ten and high school students, a According to him, the comple- and expatriate are from Hong Kong and “We are very excited to be theatre/auditorium, and addi- tion of the second phase will mainland China. They taking the first step in construc- tional computer labs and music increase the school’s capacity applicants added that they suspect ting Phase II, a building which rooms. The expansion will also from 1,200 students today – a the gaming group had been will complete the full school mo- feature a “discovery center” and figure that was reached in the operating the illegal casino del and the original vision for “covered playgrounds.” 2013-14 school year – by a fur- and rooftop, new fitness equip- for more than one month. the TIS campus,” said head of “Some of the parents want a ther 400 students. ment and lockers kitted out with The leaders of the gambling school, Howard Stribbell. swimming pool… but we are lu- The students themselves cur- power outlets for easy charging ring could face the crime The new campus addition mea- cky to be on the Macau Univer- rently represent a diverse mix of of mobile devices. of illegally operating the sures 12,500 square meters of sity of Science and Technology nationalities, as to be expected Phase II is scheduled to open venue, while the others classroom and school space that campus,” Stribbell told repor- from an international school. in August 2016, just in time arrested may be presented will be spread over five floors ters. There are students from arou- for the 2016-17 academic year. with fines. and will connect with the main Stribbell added that the expan- nd 40 different countries from Staff reporter

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ad GAMING ALERT Philippines sets USD300m tag for casinos outside Manila

Cecilia Yap and Ian Sayson

HE Philippines AP PHOTO Tis open to issuing gambling licenses outsi- de the capital of Manila and plans to require the minimum investment for new casinos at about USD300 million to en- sure world-class pro- perties are in provincial cities and towns, its ga- ming regulator said. “There are areas which I think are very ripe for a casino,” Cristino Na- guiat, chairman of the Philippine Amusement Dealers at the Solaire Casino, located in Pasay city, south of Manila and Gaming Corp., said in an interview, decli- ends in June, Naguiat 2020, slid 1.1 percent. ning to disclose those said. Aquino’s adminis- The benchmark Phili- locations. The agency is tration followed his pre- ppines Stock Exchange “open to giving out a ca- decessor Gloria Arroyo’s Index lost 1.8 percent. sino license if it can help guidance on investment The regulator, or Pag- boost economic activity requirements for the ca- cor, also runs 13 casinos and if the people in the sinos operating in the in the country, 10 of whi- area want it. We’re de- Entertainment City. ch are outside Manila. veloping a template to “They are trying to Philippine gaming re- ensure that no one wou- replicate Entertain- venue is expected to ld be granted a license ment City on a smaller more than double this unless an investment scale. This will create year’s estimated 135 commitment is made.” competitors,” Jonathan billion pesos ($2.83 The Southeast Asian Ravelas, chief market billion) by 2025 when country, which is ai- strategist at BDO Uni- all four projects are ming to compete bank Inc. “Operators operating, the regu- with Macau and Sin- in Entertainment City lator said. Philippine gapore casinos amid will have to be on their billionaire Enrique Ra- plunging revenues, has toes because if they are zon’s Bloomberry Re- already allowed four re- complacent it’s not im- sorts Corp. was the first sorts being built in the possible that some of to open in the hub in 120-hectare seaside En- the traffic will go to the- 2013, followed by the tertainment City com- se provincial casinos if project of Macau ope- plex in the capital with the properties are world rator Melco Crown En- a minimum investment class”. tertainment Ltd. which of $1 billion each. Japa- Bloomberry shares fell opened a year ago. nese tycoon Kazuo Oka- 4.5 percent at 4.25 pesos Okada’s casino is sche- da will be constructing at the close of trading in duled to start operations the country’s biggest Manila, the biggest loss in December, while property in the Las Ve- in more than two weeks Westside City Resorts, gas-style casino hub by and halting a three- a venture of Philippine spending as much as $2 day rally. Melco Crown billionaire Andrew Tan billion. Philippines Resorts and Malaysian billionai- The minimum invest- Corp., operator of City re Lim Kok Thay, may ment, which could vary of Dreams Manila, sank open by 2020, Naguiat depending on the loca- 5.2 percent, its biggest said in Manila on Feb. 1. tion, will likely be im- retreat in two weeks. Gaming revenue from plemented by the new Travellers International government-run and president after incum- Hotel Group Inc., whi- privately-owned pro- bent leader Benigno ch will open a casino in perties could reach 45 Aquino’s six-year term Entertainment City by billion pesos and 90 billion pesos, respecti- vely, in 2016, Naguiat said. That represents an highlights: gaming industry 8 percent increase from in the philippines a combined 125 billion pesos last year, he said. * Revenue from Pagcor casinos rose 9 percent in 2015 Major casinos outside to 43.5 billion pesos, making up 35 percent of total Manila include Eurone- takings. xt-listed Thunderbird * Nine privately-owned casinos posted a combined Resorts Inc.’s 65-hecta- revenue of 81.9 billion pesos, up 18 percent. re property in northern * Private casino revenue last year came mainly from La Union province and Bloomberry’s Solaire, Melco’s City of Dreams Manila its mountain resort in and Resorts World Manila. Rizal province near the capital. Bloomberg 04.02.2016 thu

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8 BUSINESS 分析

Chinese top Eurozone economy ‘losing economic planner steam’ amid market turmoil predicts 6.5 to 7 percent growth nerate profits. The ECB’s main aim is to get consu- AP PHOTO mer price inflation back AP PHOTO toward the target of just below 2 percent. In the year to January, it stood at a paltry 0.4 percent. Analysts think the ECB could add to its stimulus program, which currently entails 60 billion euros A man buys a monkey-shaped candy stick from a vendor at (USD65 billion) in mon- Qianmen Street, a popular tourist spot in Beijing thly bond purchases throu- gh at least March 2017 — HINA’S top economic planner yesterday effectively pumping new Cpredicted that the world’s second-biggest money into the economy. economy will grow between 6.5 and 7 percent It could also cut the rate on this year. the deposits it takes from The chairman of the National Development and commercial banks from its Reform Commission, Xu Shaoshi, told a news current rate of minus 0.3 conference that downward pressure on the wor- percent. The negative rate ld’s No.2 economy would continue in 2016. is aimed at pushing banks But he said China would be able to achieve its to lend money rather than growth target if it generated sufficient jobs and Pan Pylas, London the pack, followed by Ger- licy is proving ineffective.” hoarding it. maintained stable prices. Xu said governments at many. France appears to It’s a difficult question Though in theory the fall all levels would work to manage unemployment HE economic reco- be stagnating. to answer as the eurozo- in oil prices should buoy and prevent it from affecting social stability. Tvery in the 19-country Though the index re- ne, like all economies, has consumer spending, it “The central government will consider provi- eurozone lost steam in Ja- mains above the 50-point had to contend with extre- doesn’t appear to be really ding policies to help resolve this issue and I be- nuary, a closely watched threshold that indicates me volatility in financial happening in the eurozo- lieve local governments are fully capable of han- survey found yesterday, expansion, the survey markets. Fear of a sharp ne. Separate figures from dling the situation,” Xu said. a sign that the turmoil in found evidence that busi- slowdown in China’s eco- Eurostat, the European China’s economy grew 6.9 percent last year, its global financial markets is ness activity, orders and nomy has been the main Union’s statistics agency, slowest expansion in 25 years. Data for January beginning to weigh on bu- employment are all losing cause of that volatility, showed retail sales up a suggested growth could continue to wane this siness activity. momentum. The survey which has seen oil prices modest 0.3 percent in De- year. An official Purchasing Managers’ Index that Financial information also noted a bigger drag on tank. cember. Though that’s the measures manufacturing activity stood at 49.4 in company Markit said its prices despite the stimulus The fall in oil prices has highest monthly increase January, the lowest reading since August 2012. purchasing managers’ in- measures the European in one way worked against since July, it’s not as much A reading under 50 indicates a contraction in dex — a broad gauge of Central Bank has pursued the ECB’s stimulus efforts, as many economists had manufacturing, which in China employs many activity across both the over the past year to push which involve super-low been predicting and un- millions of workers. manufacturing and servi- them higher. and even negative interest likely to stoke the inflation Growth has been steadily falling for the past ces sectors — fell to a four- “Growth and inflation rates and large-scale bond the ECB desires. half-decade as Beijing attempts to wean the eco- month low of 53.6 points have clearly failed to pick purchases, by reducing Several reasons have nomy away from exports and infrastructure in- in January from 54.3 the up over the past year des- prices at the pump and do- been cited for the consu- vestment and toward domestic consumption and previous month. pite the renewed stimulus mestic energy bills. mer caution, not least un- services. According to Markit, that efforts from the ECB,” said While that should help certainty over the future. However, an unexpectedly sharp decline over means the region has star- Chris Williamson, Markit’s consumers, it also weighs Many households across the past two years has stoked fears of a politically ted off the year growing chief economist. “This rai- on expectations for overall the eurozone are also said dangerous spike in job losses. at a modest 0.4 percent ses the question of whe- price increases, which an to be rebuilding their sa- Measures to reduce overcapacity in the steel and quarterly tick. Rates of ther existing stimulus has economy needs some of to vings after the battering coal industries is expected to throw hundreds of growth also diverged, with simply been insufficient, remain healthy, not least they took over the past few thousands out of work, and job losses have alrea- Spain once again leading or whether monetary po- as it helps businesses ge- crisis-ridden years. AP dy sparked protests in some areas. AP

corporate bits

Melco Crown Entertain- melco crown employees donate mandarin oriental announces ‘seasons of love’ ment (MCE) volunteers re- 23,000kg of rice cently launched a series of To celebrate Valentine’s activities bringing festive Day, Mandarin Oriental invi- blessings to the local com- tes guests to indulge them- munity, including a dona- selves with heart-melting tion of rice and bedding to offers, including a romantic the under-privileged, home getaway, “Seasons of Love.” cleaning for the elderly and According to a press relea- a CNY party for the Concor- se, the getaway allows cou- dia School for Special Edu- ples to enjoy a room upgrade cation. According to a press or a intimate in-room dining. release, over 2,600 MCE The Forbes five-star Vida employees supported the Rica Restaurant and The activities that offered bene- Spa at Mandarin Oriental fits to more than 10,000 in- are also offering special Va- dividuals in total. The MCE lentine privileges, states a Volunteer Team organized press release. Throughout the first employee rice do- this month, Vida Rica’s chef nation in mid-January by presents both a four- and setting up collection boo- employees in just one week. the first batch of rice. In col- six-course degustation din- ths at the Heart of House The elderly residents at laboration with Caritas Ma- ner menu. Lovers who buy 90-minute treatment or an ment for couples. areas last week. The team Centro de Dia “Brilho da cau, the remainder will be from the dinner menu are upgrade to a spa suite at “Seasons of Love” will lau- has collected over 23,200 Vida” were visited by the distributed to those in need entitled to a complimentary The Spa. The Spa offers a nch on Valentine’s Day and kgs of rice from over 2,400 volunteers who delivered before the CNY. 30-minute extension to any two-hour pampering treat- run until March 31. thu 04.02.2016

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分析 BUSINESS 9

China seen risking credit market crunch with leverage crackdown

IX months after a debt- speech weren’t made public. fueled rally in Chine- The “This is clearly aimed at con- se equity turned into trolling risks in the banking BLOOMBERG a USD5 trillion rout, central bank sector," said He Xuanlai, Sin- Sauthorities are stepping up injected an gapore-based credit analyst at efforts to make sure the same Commerzbank AG. thing doesn’t happen in the unprecedented While some of the cash from bond market. Analysts and in- WMPs facilitate off-balance- vestors are concerned the cra- 1.2 trillion sheet lending though repa- ckdown itself could be a risky ckaged loans, 44 percent was move. yuan via invested in bonds or money- The People’s Bank of China open-market market instruments at end- moved to exert more control 2014, according to the China over wealth management pro- operations in Banking Wealth Management ducts, which often invest in Registration System. debt and are popular among January before “As investors unwind posi- investors seeking yields hi- tions to meet regulatory requi- gher than on deposits. It told the CNY rements, liquidity is likely to lenders this week it will limit dry up in the next few weeks, funds raised through the so- debt expanded the conditions weighing on bond market per- called WMPs that they can ou- under which it can restrict fi- formance," Commerzbank’s tsource to other financial ins- nancing in November. He said. “The PBOC may also titutions to manage, according “We saw violent delevera- need to inject additional funds to people familiar with the ging in the equity market in into the market to offset the matter. The PBOC will also ti- 2015, which didn’t end very de-leverage." ghten control of leverage that well,” said Liu Dongliang, se- The central bank injected an banks take on when buying nior credit analyst at China unprecedented 1.235 trillion notes, the people said. Exter- Merchants Bank. “So I think yuan via open-market ope- nal managers often borrow the central bank will likely rations in January before the more aggressively for debt take more mild steps when Chinese New Year holidays purchases, China Merchants A pedestrian walks past a Bank of China Ltd. branch in the Gongbei district of Zhuhai dealing with the bond market next week. The one-month Bank Co. said. leverage.” Shanghai Interbank Offered “There is risk to delevera- lending rates at record lows percent to 13.6 trillion yuan China also warned the na- Rate, a gauge of funding avai- ging when economic growth is to boost the weakest econo- ($2.1 trillion) in 2015, it said tion’s top banking executives lability, climbed to 3.17 per- slowing,” Haitong Securities mic growth in a quarter cen- in a research note dated Jan. that they could lose their jobs cent on Jan. 28, the highest Co. analysts led by Jiang Chao tury. Investors have piled into 28. if they fail to keep risks under level since July, before dro- wrote in a report. “If there is riskier debt including WMPs Outstanding repurchase control, according to people pping to 3.095 percent yester- a limit on how much funds despite warnings of a levera- agreements in the nation’s familiar with the situation. day. banks can give to third parties ge-fueled bubble from local interbank bond market, used Shang Fulin, chairman of “It’s certainly negative to to manage, it means a lack of brokerages. by debt investors to amplify the China Banking Regulatory the market if the regula- momentum for further levera- The PBOC didn’t respond im- their buying power, surged to Commission, told an internal tors roll out measures,” said ging. Based on the history of mediately to a faxed inquiry. 9.7 trillion yuan in December, meeting last month that banks Ming Ming, chief fixed-inco- China’s stock market, there is Chinese banks have been the highest level since at least would be forced to restructu- me analyst at Citic Securities risk of stampede.” scaling up their wealth ma- 2012. re, inject new capital or chan- Co. “A lot of bond buying last The steps highlight challen- nagement businesses as they This was not the first time ge their senior management if year came from demand from ges for Chinese authorities vie for deposits. Standard & the Chinese regulators mo- key risk indicators fall outside wealth management funds, as they attempt to prevent Poor’s estimates the banking ved to contain leverage in the "reasonable ranges," the peo- and the new measures cou- overheating in credit marke- sector’s outstanding off-ba- credit market. China’s clea- ple said, requesting anonymi- ld change the supply and de- ts while keeping benchmark lance-sheet WMPs grew by 35 ring house for exchange-listed ty because the contents of the mand balance.” Bloomberg

either selectively blind, being jealous or serving Yuan gap widens again as depreciation bets their own needs. The nation’s economy is growing at the slowest swamp PBOC fightback pace since 1990, an es- timated USD1 trillion of capital flowed out last HE gap between the People’s Bank of China at Bank of East Asia Ltd. weakest since Jan. 11. The This comes even thou- year and stock markets in TChinese yuan’s ex- launched a two-pronged in Hong Kong. "There onshore currency was li- gh Chinese authorities Shanghai and Shenzhen change rates at home and attack on short-sellers by will be a very intense con- ttle changed at 6.5779. applied stricter capital are in the midst of a re- abroad expanded to the mopping up the curren- frontation between short- The monetary authority controls to scare off spe- newed sell-off. biggest in three weeks, cy overseas and choking sellers and the PBOC in lowered its daily fixing by culators and curb arbi- “Markets remain very a sign that international supply of yuan from the the near term. While the 0.02 percent to 6.5521. trage between the yuan’s bearish on China and are traders are reviving bets mainland. The assault market strongly believes Chinese financial markets onshore and offshore not confident that the against the currency af- pushed the offshore rate there’s room for further will be closed next week rates. The nation has in- authorities can fix the ter getting burned by the to a premium that week, declines, the central bank for the Lunar New Year. creased scrutiny of funds problems of yuan depre- central bank earlier this before it swung the other will try its best to keep the The pessimism is being transferred over- ciation and capital out- year. way again. yuan stable." showing in the options seas and limited advance flows," said Ken Cheung, The yuan traded in “Bears are not giving up The offshore yuan fell market, where the ex- foreign-exchange purcha- a Hong Kong-based stra- Hong Kong fell as much on shorting the yuan sim- 0.25 percent to 6.6444 tra cost for three-month ses for overseas invest- tegist at Mizuho Bank as 0.4 percent, taking ply because of the PBOC’s a dollar as of 6:20 p.m. contracts to sell the yuan ments. In a commentary Ltd. "Selling the offsho- its discount to the cur- attacks, and they are pre- in Hong Kong yesterday, against the dollar in Hong yesterday, the official re yuan will remain the rency in Shanghai to 1.1 paring to return to the data compiled by Bloom- Kong over contracts to People’s Daily newspaper best proxy to execute a percent. That’s the most game," said Kenix Lai, a berg show. It earlier buy jumped in January by said that yuan bears who short-China strategy." since Jan. 11, when the foreign-exchange analyst dropped to 6.6512, the the most since 2011. foresee a hard landing are Bloomberg 04.02.2016 thu

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10 CHINA 中國

But Kamm lauded the deci-

XINHUA sion, telling The Associated Press yesterday that commu- ting Celil's sentence represen- ted "a step in the right direc- tion" and should prompt other Xinjiang prisons to consider mass clemency. The Canadian Embassy in Bei- jing did not immediately res- pond to a request for comment. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress exile group, called the commu- tations a "political propaganda tool" meant to divert attention from Beijing's repressive poli- cies. The long-running Uighur in- surgency in Xinjiang has clai- med hundreds of lives in recent years despite efforts to pacify and assimilate the region that critics say are exacerbating a cycle of discontent and unrest. China's "Strike Hard" cam- Winter sights in northwest Xinjiang paign, which was launched in 2014 in response to an attack on a public market that killed 31 people, will intensify in 2016 with a focus on deploying spe- Court reduces sentences for 11 cial forces and technological tools, the Xinjiang region chair- man said last month. William Nee, China resear- Uighurs, including Canadian cher at Amnesty International, said the reduced sentences Gerry Shih, Beijing making progress de-radicali- Among the 11 prisoners with Aside from the reduction of were intended to show "the zing Islamist militants and se- reduced terms is Huseyin Celil, life sentences to fixed terms, Communist Party's supposed court in western China has paratists using a softer touch. a preacher from Ontario whose four prisoners, including a man benevolence and mercy" amid Areduced the sentences of 11 The rare move of clemency, life sentence in 2007 sparked a convicted of contacting the the broader crackdown. Uighurs convicted of terrorism announced after the prisoners diplomatic row between China ETIP and the Taliban to set up "This is probably the prover- and endangering state security, took courses and repented and Canada. After fleeing Chi- training bases in Afghanistan, bial 'carrot' to the violent 'Strike including a naturalized Cana- their crimes last week, comes na and gaining refugee status in saw their lengthy prison terms Hard' campaign's 'stick,'" Nee dian preacher whose life term at a time when the Chinese go- 2000, Celil lived in Canada un- reduced to six months, Xinhua said. had been sharply criticized by vernment is tightening its grip til he was arrested in Uzbekis- said in a report. He said that without indepen- Ottawa. over the region, expanding its tan and extradited to China. The new duration of Huseyin dent or international oversight The official Xinhua News security campaign and orde- China refused to recognize Celil's sentence has not been of such de-radicalization pro- Agency characterized the sen- ring cultural assimilation pro- his Canadian citizenship and announced, said San Francis- grams, "it will be impossible to tence reductions for the Ui- jects and religious restrictions convicted him of organizing co-based activist John Kamm, judge to what extent they are ghurs at Xinjiang's First Prison that members of the Turkic- on behalf of the East Turkes- who has pressed for Celil's re- effective or in line with inter- as a sign that authorities in the speaking Uighur minority have tan Islamic Movement militant lease on behalf of the Canadian national human rights laws and restive western region were deemed oppressive. group. government since 2009. standards." AP

INVESTMENT AP PHOTO ChemChina offers USD43b for Swiss pesticide giant Syngenta

appliance maker Haier end of the year. It said The Syngenta deal is plan to modernize the Group bought General it would also consider also part of a shake-up country's farms to keep Electric's home applian- an initial public offering of the global agricultural up with demand from a ce business while con- of the business "in the and chemical industry, rising consumer class. glomerate Wanda Group years to come." which is being pressured "Our vision for Syngen- acquired Hollywood mo- "We think it's a very by tumbling commodity ta is all about growth," vie studio Legendary En- good deal for Syngenta prices that are forcing ChemChina Chairman Chinese state-owned ment that ChemChina's tertainment. and all the stakeholders farmers to spend less Ren Jianxin said in a vi- A chemical maker of- cash offer is worth the The Syngenta deal, if will benefit from this on seeds, pesticides and deo posted online. "We fered to buy Swiss pesti- equivalent of 480 francs completed, would over- transaction," Syngen- equipment. The com- see big opportunities for cide giant Syngenta for ($482) a share, including take CNOOC's 2012 ta Chairman Michael pany reported yesterday the company to expand USD43 billion in what a special 5 franc dividend purchase of Canadian Demaré said in a video that net income for 2015 its presence in emerging would be the biggest- for shareholders if the energy company Nexen posted on the company's fell 17 percent to $1.3 markets and notably in ever foreign acquisition deal goes through. as the biggest foreign website. billion as it struggled China where there is ra- by a Chinese company. The deal is part of a acquisition by a Chinese Last month, ChemChina with low crop prices, pid modernization dri- Syngenta AG said yes- global acquisition spree company, according to bought German machi- instability in emerging ven by the need to increa- terday its board is recom- by Chinese companies, Dealogic data. nery maker KraussMaffei markets and currency se grain productivity and mending shareholders which are diversifying Beijing-based Chem- for about $1 billion and fluctuations. increase food quality." accept the offer from abroad to counter a slow- China will keep existing took a 12 percent stake in For China, it's an Sygenta agreed to the China National Chemi- down at home while also Syngenta management Swiss energy trader Mer- opportunity to beef up takeover bid after spur- cal Corp., also known as seeking foreign experti- in place following the curia. In March it bought its expertise in the "ag- ning a $46.5 billion offer ChemChina. Basel-based se and technology. Last deal, which is expected Italian tire manufacturer chem" industry as part from agricultural giant Syngenta said in a state- month Chinese home to be completed by the Pirelli. of President Xi Jinping's Monsanto. AP thu 04.02.2016

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中國 CHINA 11

Didi Tang, Beijing

Chinese journalist who disappeared Journalist emerges 22 days while seeking asylum abroad turned up yesterday,A telling his wife by phone he voluntarily returned after disappearance to China for an investigation, in the latest case of Beijing's reach beyond the mainland for ritory's autonomy under the wanted people. "one country, two systems" He Fangmei said she spoke AP PHOTO model. with her journalist husband Beijing also has managed to Li Xin when she was called have the Thai government to into a police station to receive repatriate dissidents and Ui- his call. She said he told her ghur refugees. his return was voluntary, but When a 16-year-old son of a that she believes he was for- detained rights lawyer tried to cibly brought back and spoke flee the country after his pass- against his own will. port was confiscated, Chinese Several people believed to agents were able to track his be wanted by Chinese autho- escape route and nabbed him rities have disappeared over in Myanmar. Bao Zhuoxuan the past year while overseas or has since been brought back in Hong Kong, and some cri- to China and placed under tics allege that Chinese agents house arrest, while his mo- are abducting them without ther faces the charge of state proper authorization to bring subversion and his father on them to the mainland for in- charge of inciting state sub- terrogation. version. "Beijing used to take into State media outlets then told account foreign governments of a story of how Beijing res- and respect other countries' cued a misled teenager from laws, but in tandem with its being illegally smuggled out of rising strengthen in economy the country. and expanding political in- In the latest case, Li was riding fluence, Beijing is becoming a train from Bangkok to Nong more overt in its operations Khai in northeastern Thailand, and feels it can lord over some where he planned to cross over neighboring countries," vete- into Laos and then re-enter ran dissident Hu Jia said. Thailand for visa reasons, his Li fled China in October and wife said. Li was seeking refu- told the AP in an interview Journalist Li Xin talks to an Associated Press reporter over Skype gee status in Thailand. from India that he left because His wife said she had been he had been forced to spy on of Xinxiang. "But I know that's for Human Rights Watch. ppeared one by one. The last banned from leaving China and fellow journalists, and that he the pattern, and Li completely Last October, a publisher of one was Lee Bo, who was be- was recently sent back from wanted to stop. He later sou- spoke contrary to his own will." the Hong Kong gossip pub- lieved to have been picked up the border city of Shenzhen to ght shelter in Thailand before Local police reached by pho- lishing house Mighty Current while in Hong Kong, although their hometown in the central disappearing Jan. 11. ne said they had no knowledge vanished from his apartment he has sent notes to his wife province of Henan. There, she "He won't tell me where he is of the case. in Pattaya, a Thai beach resort. that claimed he returned to the was told she would soon hear in China, but asks me to stay The case shows the "growing Gui Minhai only resurfaced in mainland voluntarily. from Li. rested and live my life. He asks length of the Chinese gover- January on China's state broa- Pro-democracy Hong Kong Yesterday, she was summo- me not to contact any outsider nment's long arm beyond its dcaster CCTV, where he said lawmakers and human righ- ned to a police station and the for it does no good to him or borders" in cracking down on he returned to China to turn ts activists alleged they were call from her husband came me," the wife said in voice and dissenters both at home and himself in for an old crime. abducted by Chinese agents, through on a police landline. text message exchange with AP abroad, said Maya Wang, a Four other members of the and that any such detentions The incoming number was not from the Henan province town Hong Kong-based researcher publishing house also disa- in Hong Kong violates the ter- shown, she said. AP

rean] Peninsula," Lu told ties, Lu said. reporters at a regularly "China will engage in Beijing urges restraint over scheduled news briefing. contact and coordination Lu's comments come with each related side, as U.S. diplomats are ur- and play a constructive North Korea rocket launch ging China to use its po- role in maintaining the litical and economic in- peace and stability of the HINA'S Foreign Mi- fluence with North Korea peninsula and this re- nistry yesterday cal- to compel it to stop such gion," he said.

AP PHOTO C led for all sides to show actions. North Korea's announ- restraint over North Ko- China has pushed back cement came during a vi- rea's announcement that against U.S. calls for tou- sit to Pyongyang by Chi- it plans to launch a ro- gher sanctions. Foreign na's top envoy to North cket in defiance of U.N. Minister Wang Yi argued Korea, Wu Dawei. That sanctions. during a visit last week could be seen as a snub Ministry spokesman by U.S. Secretary of Sta- to Beijing, North Ko- Lu Kang also expressed te John Kerry that sanc- rea's most important ally skepticism over calls by tions are not an end unto which, nevertheless, has the U.S. for tough new themselves and any new been unable to restrain sanctions against North U.N. resolution should Pyongyang's actions. Korea over its Jan. 6 nu- not provoke new ten- Lu said only that Wu clear test. sions. was in Pyongyang for the "We hope all sides show Maintaining peace and purpose of "exchanging restraint and take pru- stability on the Korean views with the North Ko- dent action to avoid any Peninsula is the shared rea side over the current A visitor takes photos of an illuminated model of a globe while others watch at the Sci-Tech Complex in moves that may increase responsibility and com- situation of the Korean Pyongyang the tensions on the [Ko- mon interest of all par- Peninsula." AP 04.02.2016 thu

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12 ASIA-PACIFIC 亞太版

SOUTH CHINA SEA officials say China has essen- lt islands on disputed reefs in tially declared an air defense the Spratly Islands chain that identification zone over the China's neighbors fear could sea by issuing "provocative" be used to threaten their ter- Ambassador says US to challenges to Philippine mili- ritories. China and Taiwan tary flights in the area. have nearly identical claims to Ambassador Philip Goldberg almost the entire South Chi- said the U.S. and the Philippi- na Sea while the Philippines, continue flights, sail-bys nes both have deep interest in Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei ensuring freedom of naviga- say parts of the sea belong to tion and he is not discarding them. The United States does the possibility of joint patrols in the area. AP PHOTO Two U.S. warships have sai- led by China-claimed islands We seek the in the Spratly and Paracel is- land chains since October. best possible "I am not going to announce relationship beforehand what we do in ter- ms of freedom of navigation, with China but suffice it to say that the United States will follow in- but we would ternational law, will continue to enjoy our rights under in- also like… ternational law to sail through engagement international waters or fly to international air space," Gol- of the entire dberg told a media forum. Philippine Foreign Secretary region on Albert del Rosario said last week the officials discussing solutions. possible joint patrols were PHILIP GOLDBERG looking at an area within the US AMBASSADOR Philippines' exclusive econo- mic zone. not claim part of the territory "I am not going to prejudge but says it has interest in the what we are going to do and peaceful settlement of the dis- when we are going to do it, putes and in freedom of navi- whether we are going to do it gation in waters that are criti- with the Philippines or with cal for world trade. others, but we do discuss that "We seek the best possible re- U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg answers questions from the media during a forum at suburban Quezon city, principle with the Philippines lationship with China but we northeast of Manila and so I am not discarding that would also like to see the enga- possibility," Goldberg added gement of the entire region on Teresa Cerojano, Manila sible in the South China Sea, Manila protested when a when asked if a proposal for solutions that are rules-based where the United States has commercial Chinese aircraft U.S. joint patrols with the Phi- and not unilateral," Goldberg HE U.S. ambassador said asserted its freedom to naviga- landed recently on one of se- lippines has been approved. said. Forging of a code of con- Tyesterday joint patrols te by sending planes and ships veral artificial islands Beijing Tensions have risen in the duct in the area "to us is the with the Philippines are pos- into China-claimed areas. has built in the Spratlys, and last two years after China bui- way to go," he added. AP

HE Philippine Con- PHILIPPINES presentatives yesterday, Tgress has run out of calling lawmakers "anti- time under the current Muslim and anti-peace" president to pass a Mus- Manila fears new fighting for not working on the lim autonomy bill that autonomy bill with ur- aims to peacefully settle gency over the past 17 a decades-long Muslim with stalled Muslim autonomy months. rebellion in the south, The bill "has been sparking concerns the butchered and is now setback may ignite new ted development in the hope that this can really dead. But we're calling fighting, officials said. country's poorest region. be done." on everybody to remain Lawmakers had until The peace deal, which Government peace ne- AP PHOTO calm," said a protest lea- yesterday to deliberate seeks to provide a more gotiator Miriam Coro- der, Kashim Candido. on the bill before they powerful and potentially nel-Ferrer said hard-line In 2008, three Mus- start a three-month larger autonomous re- groups like the Bangsa- lim rebel commanders break at the end of the gion to minority Mus- moro Islamic Freedom led attacks on Christian week. The long-delayed lims in the south of the Fighters, which opposed communities after a pre- legislation is at the heart predominantly Roman peace talks and vowed to liminary peace pact was of a peace deal signed by Catholic nation, should continue fighting for a not signed and was stru- the largest Muslim rebel have been a major legacy separate Muslim home- ck down by the Supreme group and the govern- of Aquino's presidency. land in the south, could Court as unconstitutio- ment of President Be- While the Malaysian- exploit the setback. nal. The attacks sparked nigno Aquino III, whose brokered peace accord "They will be embolde- a major military offensi- term ends in June. remains effective, a new ned to renew their cour- ve, with the clashes lea- The killing of 44 poli- autonomy bill will have se in the hope that they ving scores of villagers ce commandos in figh- to be presented to the will harvest the discon- Filipino Muslims shout slogans during a protest at the Philippine and combatants dead ting that involved some new Congress under tent," Ferrer said. Congress at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila and displacing tens of guerrillas from the Moro Aquino's successor. The Mohagher Iqbal, a se- thousands of people. Islamic Liberation Front presidential election is nior rebel leader, has staged rallies to protest gilant to ensure that ex- Despite the delays, early last year scuttled May 9. said that delays in the the delays in two predo- tremist groups like the the 2014 peace deal re- the early passage of the "This delays the final passage of the autonomy minantly Muslim cities. Islamic State group can't mains valid and will ser- Muslim autonomy bill settlement," said Tere- bill and efforts to water U.S. Ambassador Phi- spread their influence in ve as a roadmap for the outlined in the 2014 pea- sita Deles, the presiden- it down have sparked lip Goldberg said it is the country's south. next administration to ce deal. The separatist tial adviser on the talks. frustration among guer- crucial for peacemaking About 200 Muslim finally end the Muslim conflict has left 150,000 "There will be elements rillas and Muslims in the efforts to continue and protesters rallied at the unrest in the south, De- people dead and stun- that will completely lose south. Residents have for people to remain vi- gates of the House of Re- les said. AP thu 04.02.2016

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亞太版 ASIA-PACIFIC 13

Hyung-Jin Kim, Asan SOUTH KOREA UPPIES bark and wag their tails as they follow a gray-haired woman through a hill- Woman raises 200 dogs saved Pside compound that shelters more than 200 dogs. "Hey, my babies. Give your mom a kiss," says Jung Myou- from streets, restaurants ng Sook, 61. She lowers her face and one puppy near a snow- "My babies aren't hungry. covered kennel licks her lips; They can play and live free- another gently paws her cheek. AP PHOTO ly here," said Jung, whose In South Korea, where dogs clothes are worn and hair is are considered a traditional disheveled. "Some people talk delicacy and have only recently about me, saying, 'Why is that become popular as pets, Jung's beggar-like middle-aged wo- love for her canine friends is man smiling all the time,' but viewed by some as odd. But I just focus on feeding my ba- others see her as a champion bies. I'm happy and healthy." of animal rights. Dozens of other South Ko- Rescuing and caring for dogs reans are believed to be raising for 26 years, Jung has moved large numbers of dogs, some- seven times because of nei- times in unsanitary conditions ghbors' complaints about noi- where diseases spread easily. se. She often stops to pick up Jung says her dogs are mostly dogs roaming the streets, and healthy, although some die in has bought others in danger of fights with each other. being sold to dog meat farms Most of the dogs live with her or restaurants. for good. She said she spends Some question whether so- about USD1,600 a month meone as poor as Jung, who on food and medicine, and ekes out a living cleaning a otherwise relies on donations store and collecting recyclable Jung Myoung Sook, 61, who rescued and sheltered dogs for 26 years, takes care of dogs at a shelter in Asan of soybean milk, pork, dog boxes, can feed and care for so food and canned meat. Family, many dogs. While Jung's dogs rent shelter, which she opened ty here, where one in five hou- or euthanized at public shel- friends and sometimes stran- looked healthy and well-fed in 2014, but have no legal res- seholds has a cat or dog, but ters if not adopted or found gers send her money. during a recent visit by The As- ponsibility to inspect it, accor- activists say public attitudes by their owners. About 81,000 Park Hye-soon, a local res- sociated Press, their condition ding to an official who refused toward pets lag those in the stray or abandoned animals, taurant owner, has given Jung couldn't be independently con- to give his name because he West. mostly dogs and cats, were leftover pork for four years. firmed. wasn't authorized to speak to Supporters of Jung see her as sent to public shelters in 2014, "She lives only for her dogs," Authorities in the central city media on the matter. a heroine, saving stray or lost down from 100,000 in 2010, he said, "without doing much of Asan know about Jung's cur- Pets are growing in populari- dogs from being killed for food the government said. for herself." AP

MALAYSIA AUSTRALIA Politician ousted over criticism Police say school bomb threats of prime minister coming from overseas

HE son of former Ma- OZENS of schools around cent months. But police in Australia laysian Prime Minis- Australia have received threats have yet to determine whether the

T AP PHOTO D ter Mahathir Mohamad over the past week in what police cases are linked. resigned yesterday as the believe is a hoax being orchestrated Because the calls are automated, top leader of a federal sta- overseas. it's tough to know whether they te, saying he was ousted The automated telephone threats, are coming from an individual or a because of his criticism which warn of bombings or shoo- group, Victoria Police Chief Com- of Prime Minister Najib tings at the schools, are believed to missioner Graham Ashton said. Razak over a USD700 be originating from another coun- "Also, because of the international million financial scandal. try and none represents any real nature of this threat, that adds ano- Mukhriz Mahathir said he danger, police said yesterday. Still, ther layer of complexity to the in- had lost majority support the calls have been hugely disrupti- vestigation," he said. "So it may be in the northern Kedah state ve, with several schools going into some time before this investigation assembly following a party lockdown and others forcing thou- properly identifies, and we're able bid to remove him as chief sands of students to evacuate. A few to arrest, these people." minister. Mahathir has Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former PM Mahathir Mohamad children in Queensland state had to The threats were received by been leading calls for Najib be treated for heat-related illnesses schools in New South Wales, Victo- to step down, and Mukriz's in his accounts was a pri- traumatizing all of us," after having to wait outside their ria, Queensland, Tasmania and in ouster was seen as a conti- vate donation from the Mukhriz said. schools in sweltering summer tem- the nation's capital, Canberra. nuing purge of critics in Na- Saudi royal family and Critics have long voiced peratures. "There is no evidence these are jib's government. that Najib had returned concerns over 1MDB, whi- "These anonymous cowards will anything other than hoaxes desig- Mukhriz warned that most of it. ch is mired in 42 billion feel the full force of the law," Vic- ned to cause unnecessary disrup- the ruling Malay party Mukhriz, however, said ringgit ($10.1 billion) in torian Education Minister James tion and inconvenience," New Sou- was now at "its weakest authorities in Switzerland, debt and has been selling Merlino told reporters. "These in- th Wales police said in a statement. point," tainted by scandal- Singapore and other coun- its assets to clear its books. cidents have caused stress, absolute "The threats appear to come from ridden state investment tries are still investigating Najib, who formed 1MDB stress, to our school communities. overseas with no credible evidence fund 1MDB and more than 1MDB for possible graft. in 2009, became embroi- As a parent, I can't imagine the an- they could be carried out here." $700 million that was Two former Malaysian led in the scandal after gst the parents are going through Merlino told the Australian Broa- channeled into Najib's officials also have challen- documents were leaked upon hearing of the threats made to dcasting Corp. yesterday that police personal bank accounts. ged the attorney general's last year suggesting that the schools at which their children were looking into whether the calls The attorney-general decisions. money deposited into his go to." in Victoria came from an elite high last week cleared Najib of "Scandal after scandal, accounts may have come Schools across the world — inclu- school in Melbourne. The school any criminal wrongdoing, we can't take it all. It's from entities linked to ding the U.S., Europe and Japan — principal said he was cooperating saying most of the money too much for us. This is 1MDB. AP have received similar threats in re- with authorities. AP 04.02.2016 thu

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分析 WORLD 15

Seth Borenstein ZIKA opinion Science Writer HE mosquito World Views behind the Zika Jonathan Bernstein, Bloomberg virus seems to ope- Higher temperatures rate like a heat-dri- Tven missile of disease. The The perils of political hotter it gets, the better the make mosquito hindsight in Iowa mosquito that carries Zika virus is at transmitting its On to New Hampshire. But first, buffet of dangerous illnes- before it fades, here’s what’s in the ses, scientists say. rear-view mirror in Iowa. spread disease more Although it is too early to 1. For the Democrats, there are two ways of interpreting what was basi- say for this outbreak, past cally a tie. Bernie Sanders won on outbreaks of similar disea- spin because the “Sanders surges, ses involved more than just AP PHOTO Clinton in trouble” story is irresistib- biology. In the past, wea- le for the media. But Hillary Clinton ther has played a key role, won on delegates, because if she as have economics, human and Sanders split the regular dele- travel, air conditioning and gates in other races too, she’ll win mosquito control. Even El the nomination thanks to her huge Nino sneaks into the game. lead in superdelegates. Unless the- Scientists say you can't just re’s a media surge for Sanders, Clin- blame one thing for an ou- ton’s enormous and seemingly de- tbreak and caution it is too cisive lead among black and Latino early to link this one to cli- voters seems unshakable. mate change or any single 2. Related: There are hindsight weather event. claims that the strong Sanders As the temperature rises, showing in Iowa meant that Senator nearly everything about the Elizabeth Warren would have won biology of the Aedes ae- had she entered the Democratic gypti mosquito — the one contest. Maybe, but there’s no way that carries Zika, dengue of knowing if Warren or anyone else fever and other diseases — could have run as impressive a cam- speeds up when it comes paign as Sanders has so far. 3. Some people said Donald to spreading disease, said Trump’s decision to skip the last entomologist Bill Reisen of debate hurt him. But doing that the University of California allowed him to dominate the media Davis. for several days. Just showing up, "With higher tempe- as if he was a normal candidate, ratures you have more Three-month-old Daniel, who was born with microcephaly, undergoes physical therapy at the Altino Ventura wouldn’t have achieved that. It’s the mosquitoes feeding more foundation in Recife, Brazil Red Queen Race problem: As the frequently and having a campaign goes on, norms of low greater chance of acquiring in South America. Several it "a temperature-driven Andy Monaghan, a scientist the press covers campaigns make it infection. And then the vi- thousand cases of microce- eruption." who works on public health harder and harder for Trump to do- rus replicates faster becau- phaly have been reported That's not the only role of impacts of climate change minate the media, and he needs that se it's hotter, therefore the in Brazil since October, al- weather. at the National Center for to win. mosquitoes can transmit though researchers have so El Nino, a natural war- Atmospheric Research. "I 4. Just because Marco Rubio is earlier in their life," Reisen far not proven a definitive ming of parts of the central think it is too early to say running as a coalition-style candida- said. The thermodynamics link to the virus. No vacci- Pacific Ocean that chan- anything about the role of te doesn’t mean he’s not very con- of mosquitoes are "driven ne exists for Zika. ges weather worldwide, climate change in the on- servative. His Senate voting record by temperature." In general, mosquitoes usually puts northeastern going Zika outbreak." and his policy commitments during The hotspots for this Zika don't live long, maybe 10 Brazil into a drought, as it However, Monaghan ear- the campaign are down-the-line con- outbreak also have been to 12 days on average, said did last year. Aedes aegypti lier this year presented servative. And on the one issue whe- temperature and drought Tom Scott, a University of does well in less-developed a paper to the American re that wasn’t the case – immigration hotspots recently. Recife, California Davis professor regions in droughts, becau- Meteorological Society's – he has changed his position. Brazil, the largest city in of both entomology and se it lives in areas where annual convention that 5. Ben Carson won the battle for epidemiology. That's also poorer people store water predicts that eventually the most billboards visible on the the Zika-struck region, saw about how long it takes a Aedes aegypti "will move way to and from the Des Moines its hottest September-Oc- in outdoor containers, said airport. Perhaps that was a strategy tober-November on record, virus to grow in the mos- Jonathan Patz, director of northward in the U.S. due aimed at the traveling press, but it’s about 1.2 degrees Celsius quito gut, making the bug the global health institute to future warming, whi- also a way for campaign consultants (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) infectious and able to at the University of Wis- ch would expose people to to convince a candidate that money above normal, according spread the disease. Often consin. the mosquito on a regular is being put to good use (just specu- to NASA data. The state of the insect will die before it "As with all mosquito-bor- seasonal basis in states like lating, for what it’s worth). Pernambuco had its hottest can get a chance to spread ne viruses, climate is one of Missouri, Tennessee, Ken- 6. A lot of people are calling for and driest year since 1998, the disease. many factors that influence tucky, North Carolina, Vir- Iowa to switch to a primary after the according to the state wea- Warmer air incubates the Zika transmission," said ginia and D.C." AP slow reporting of Democratic results ther agency. And globally, virus faster in the cold- this year and the botched counting last year was the hottest on blooded mosquito. So the of the Republican votes in 2012. record. insect has more time to sexually transmitted case Better idea: Keep the caucuses, but Scientists have studied be infectious and alive to have the state, rather than the par- Zika far less than other spread the disease, Scott confirmed in texas ties, run them with properly trained mosquito-borne disea- said. poll workers. Surely officials can pay ses, so for guidance they Warmer temperatures HEALTH OFFICIALS Zika, Dallas County health for this by diverting a small percen- often look at dengue fe- also make the mosquito yesterday (Macau time) re- officials said. The U.S. Centers tage of revenue they raise in sales ver or chikungunya, whi- hungrier, so it takes more ported that a person in Texas for Disease Control issued a taxes from the business generated ch are transmitted by the "blood meals" and can has become infected with the statement saying lab tests con- by campaigns and the visiting press Zika virus through sex in the firmed the non-traveler was same species of mosquito. spread the disease to more corps. Yes, the delays and glitches first case of the illness being infected with Zika. Dengue infects as many as people, Scott, Reisen and are an annoyance mostly for the transmitted within the United The virus, which has been 400 million people a year, others said. And warmer press and impatient campaigns, States amid the current out- linked to birth defects in the temperatures generally in- not voters. And the contests where with a quarter of them sick break in Latin America. Americas, is primarily spread crease the mosquito popu- these problems occurred were in ra- enough to be hospitalized. The unidentified person had through mosquito bites, but ces where there were virtual ties, so Zika was just declared a lation. not traveled but had sex with a investigators had been explor- delays can be explained. Still: Get it global public health emer- Kristie Ebi, a professor of person who had returned from ing the possibility it could be right, Iowa. gency after being linked to global health at the Univer- Venezuela and fallen ill with sexually transmitted. brain deformities in babies sity of Washington, calls 04.02.2016 thu

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16 INFOTAINMENT 資訊／娛樂

what’s ON ... TV canal macau this day in history

13:00 TDM News (Repeated) generation rtists eries xhibitions E- A S E 13:30 News (RTPi) Delayed Broadcast – Trace Contour by SAH 14:30 RTPi Live Time: 11am-7pm 16:50 Castle S.5 Until: February 14, 2016 18:10 Trail of Lies (Repeated) Venue: Portuguese Bookshop 19:00 Montra do Lilau (Repeat) Admission: Free Enquiries: (853) 8791 9814 19:30 Soap Opera 20:30 Main News, Financial & Weather Report Artifacts of Excellence – Seal Carvings by 21:00 TDM Talk Show Luo Shuzhong from the MAM Collection 21:40 Comedy Time: 10am-7pm 22:10 Trail of Lies (Closed on Monday, no admission after 6:30 pm) 23:00 TDM News Until: February 28, 2016 23:30 Television Film Venue: Macau Museum of Art, 00:05 Main News, Financial & Weather Report (Repeated) Av. Xian Xing Hai, s/n, NAPE 00:40 RTPi Live Admission: Adult MOP5 (Free admission on Sundays and public holidays) Enquiries: (853) 8791 9814

Paintings and Calligraphy Donated cinema by Jao Tsung-I cineteatro Time: 10am-6pm Daily (No admission after 5:30 04 Feb - 07 Feb 1973 Vietnam observers’ pm; Except on Mondays, open on public holidays) struggle for peace enue V : Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de International inspection teams in Vietnam have Almeida, No. 95 C-D, Macau been sent into the countryside to monitor the truce Admission: Free agreed last Saturday in Paris. Enquiries: The International Commission of Control and Super- (853) 2852 2523 vision (ICCS) was created at the Paris Peace Accords - signed by the US, the Vietcong, North Vietnam and 10th Macau Design Biennial South Vietnam - on 27 January and includes dele- Time: 10am to 7pm gates from Hungary, Poland, Canada and Indonesia. But the warring parties have been unable to agree (Closed on Monday, no admission after 6:30 pm) ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: ROAD CHIP_ the details of the settlement and fighting has conti- Until: February 14, 2016 room 1 nued in spite of the ceasefire. Venue: Macau Museum of Art 2.30, 4.30, 6.00, 9.45 pm About 3,500 communists have been killed by South Director: Walt Becker Vietnamese troops, who claim they have suffered si- dmission A : Adult MOP5, free for Children under 12 Starring: Jason Lee, Jesica Ahlberg, Josh Green milar numbers of casualties over the past week. years old, elderly over 65 years old (Admission is Language: Cantonese (Cantonese/English) The ICCS announced yesterday it was not going Duration: 92min free on Sundays and public holidays) to wait for the reconciliation meeting between the Enquiries: Vietcong and South Vietnamese in Paris tomorrow. (853) 2836 7588 ALL’S WELL END’S WELL_ Seven teams of observers are on their way to esta- room 1 blish regional headquarters in the provincial capitals 9.30 pm anuel argaleiro pintura of Quang Nam, Thua Thien, Pleiku, Pham Thiet, Bien M C - : 1954-2006 Director: Clifton Ko Time: 10am-7pm (Closed on Mondays) Starring: Leslie Cheung, Stephen Chow, Raymond Hoa, My Tho and Can Tho. They had already set up a skeleton presence in three Until: March 3, 2016 Wong, Maggie Cheung Language: Cantonese (Cantonese/English) of the areas after the Joint Military Commission met Venue: Casa Garden Orient Foundation Duration: 100min to produce guidelines for the ICCS on 2 February. Admission: Free The Military Commission - comprising Vietcong, South Vietnam, North Vietnam and the US - is res- Enquiries: (853) 2855 4691 THE LAST WOMEN STANDING_ room 2 ponsible for the security and transport arrangements 2.30, 4.30, 7.30, 9.30 pm of the ICCS. Director: Luo Lu A spokesman for the ICCS said they will be settling Starring: Shu Qi, Eddie Peng Yuyan, Hao Leie into their areas until the Military Commission has laid Language: Mandarin (English and Cantonese) down the infrastructure for them to move to the fronts Offbeat Duration: 100min and supervise the ceasefire. Senior figures from the Military Commission met in Saigon on 29 January to decide how demarcation Eagles vs Drones: Dutch police lines should be drawn between the South Vietnamese eye birds to prey on drones and communist Vietcong armies in South Vietnam. Under the terms of the peace agreement the ICCS is to establish regional and sub-regional administra- It may sound tions, with headquarters in 26 towns and 12 obser- like a flight of vation teams based in the demilitarised zone below AP PHOTO fancy, but Du- the Seventeenth Parallel. tch police are considering Courtesy BBC News using birds of THE GOOD DINOSAUR_ prey to swoop room 3 down and plu- 2.30, 4.30, 9.30 pm ck rogue dro- Director: Peter Sohn n context Language: English (Cantonese) I nes out of the Duration: 93min Fighting continued in four main areas in spite of ICCS activi- sky. ties. Police are THE BIG SHORT_ On the northern Quang Tri front there was a heavy artillery working with room 3 battle as both sides tried to prevent any further ground ad- a Hague-based company that trains eagles and other 9.30 pm vances. birds to catch drones to investigate whether the birds Director: Adam Mckay In Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces there were a series of can be used above large events or near airports, where Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling clashes over the North-South highway in a mainly communist- the small flying machines are banned. Language: English (Cantonese) controlled area. Dennis Janus of the national police said this week that Duration: 130min North and south of Pleiku, in the Central Highlands, the South trainers exploit the birds’ natural instincts to tackle the Vietnamese also fought to keep the roads free. In the Northern Delta and north of Saigon the battles were high-tech problem of drones flying in restricted areas. over the control of hamlets. Janus says the birds are trained “to think drones are macau tower But the fighting became less intensive and moves towards their prey” and get a reward if they catch one. 04 Feb - 02 Mar peace continued. Video released by police showed a small white dro- By the middle of March the US reported it had decreased its ne with four propellers rising into the air and a bird of THE GOOD DINOSAUR_ force by 75% to 7,769 men. prey grabbing it from above with its talons in one fluid 2.30, 4.45, 7.15, 9.30 pm The Vietnam War finally ended with the fall of Saigon in April motion. Director: Peter Sohn 1975 and the reunification of the country under communist Dutch police will likely make a decision later this year Language: English (Cantonese) rule. whether to use the birds. Duration: 93min thu 04.02.2016 th Anniversary

資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT 17

YOUR STARS THE BORN LOSER by Chip Sansom Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 April 20-May 20 You’re not comfortable with the Why be a sourpuss? You can be just as pace of your own personal economic passionate about making lemonade recovery, but there’s not much you from the lemons life has given you as can do to speed things up. The best you are about wishing it were a bowl you can do is look on the bright side: of cherries. You know just what to do At least things aren’t going wrong. when you feel squeezed.

Gemini Cancer

May 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Money has no feelings. It’s not The emotional intensity is easing. generous, and it’s not willful How can you continue being upset either. Do yourself a favor and be about what’s basically worth less dispassionate yourself when thinking than a new pair of sneakers? Stop about your next few steps. In fact, be thinking about yesterday’s value and as calculating as you can be. focus on today. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sept. 22 CHINA Your instinct is to look at issues You may not believe the pessimists Easy Easy+ deeply. But no matter how far beneath around you. Don’t. Your goals the surface you search, there’s no may be unrealistic but that doesn’t Beijing -5 4 cloudy information to help you figure out make them impossible. The most Harbin clear/cloudy your next steps. Switch gears and important ingredient is your own -19 -8 focus on your family instead. faith in how things will turn out. Tianjin -3 4 cloudy Urumqi -9 clear Libra Scorpio -16 Xi’an -2 8 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Lhasa -5 15 clear The time to be greedy is past, but what You don’t have the highest energy Chengdu 0 12 drizzle/clear do you do with all those acquisitive levels of all time, but at least you’re feelings that linger? A few minor not stuck in the doldrums anymore. Chongqing 6 9 drizzle/overcast changes in attitude might be all A tiny drop of optimism is all it takes Kunming 3 15 cloudy/overcast you need to put them to good use. to launch a full-fledged rebirth. You’re Consider yourself motivated for more. on your way. Nanjing -1 7 cloudy/overcast Shanghai 1 6 cloudy/drizzle Sagittarius Capricorn Wuhan -1 10 cloudy/clear Medium Hard Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Hangzhou -1 7 overcast You may want to be alone. In The major decision of the day has to Taipei 12 20 drizzle fact, you may want to crawl do with money, yes, but mostly it has Guangzhou overcast under a rock. But staying to do with friendship. Don’t be cold 8 15 connected to others is your only and detached when making up your Hong Kong 13 17 cloudy lifeline to the bigger picture. mind. That is the approach with the Don’t cut it just yet. least possible return.

Aquarius Pisces WORLD

Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Moscow -1 2 sleet Now that things have slowed down, you If something has you scratching your Frankfurt 3 5 drizzle have time to examine your emotions. head, it goes without saying you’re Your deeper ambitions might just not ready to commit. But what if Paris 3 10 drizzle surprise you. At least you don’t have to it’s more subtle than that? Even the London 4 11 drizzle make the effort to switch gears, since slightest bit of fuzziness is enough to life is already doing it for you. put off signing on the dotted line. New York 7 12 moderate rain

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體育 SPORTS 19

AMIE Vardy's stunning FOOTBALL | EPL looks back to his sharpest, ha- volley set Leicester on ving scored eight goals in as its way to a 2-0 victory many games in 2016. over Liverpool yester- Tottenham won 3-0 at Norwi- Jday, keeping the unlikely title ch thanks to a double from Har- challengers top of the Premier Vardy keeps Leicester’s ry Kane and another goal from League on a night Manchester young midfielder Dele Alli. The United rediscovered its scoring win lifted Spurs to third, above touch at Old Trafford. north London neighbor Arsenal Manchester City and Totte- title charge rolling on goal difference. nham also won to stay in touch Also, Aston Villa had forward with Leicester, but Arsenal was Jordan Ayew sent off in the held 0-0 by Southampton and 17th minute for elbowing an dropped to fourth place. opponent in a 2-0 loss at West Leicester preserved its three-­ AP PHOTO Ham, which left the league's point lead over City and its title last-place team 10 points adrift charge shows no sign of slowing of safety. West Bromwich Al- — nor does Vardy's prolific bion scored two minutes into form this season. injury time to draw 1-1 against The England striker volleyed Swansea, and Bournemouth in a looping shot from 25 meters won 2-1 at Crystal Palace. before adding another goal in With 14 games left this cam- the second half to sink Liverpool paign, Leicester is closing in at King Power Stadium and take on a Champions League quali- his tally to 18 this campaign. fication place — the team is 10 "We are free of pressure," Lei- points clear of United — and cester manager Claudio Ranieri must now be seen as a definite said. "The players have a good title contender. feeling." Few thought a team that only United beat Stoke 3-0, sco- narrowly avoided relegation ring in the first half at home for last season could keep up its the first time since September. challenge at the other end of Jesse Lingard, Anthony Mar- the standings, but the Foxes are tial and Wayne Rooney — with proving everyone wrong. his seventh goal in his last se- "It's not a coincidence we're ven games — scored for United, top of the table," Leicester mid- which trimmed the gap to the fielder Danny Drinkwater said. Champions League qualifica- "This is team spirit at its hi- tion places to five points. ghest. We won't stop believing. Criticized for much of the sea- Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, left, and teammate Shinji Okazaki organise the defence during their English Premier League We're staying on the ground, son for its risk-averse attacking soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur but if we carry on the way we approach, United has scored six are, then why not have the be- goals in its last two games. even the manager," Lingard Sergio Aguero was the match game since announcing the hi- lief (to win the league)? "A result like that settles the said. "Hopefully now we can go winner for City in a 1-0 victory ring of Pep Guardiola as coach "It would go down in history, nerves of the fans, the players, on a run." at Sunderland in the team's first starting next season. Aguero surely." AP

Jackson Martinez to join Guangzhou Evergrande

UANGZHOU Ever- res, until then a record and Communist Party but was seen as under- grande of the Chi- for Chinese football. chief Xi Jinping to raise performing at Atletico,

G AP PHOTO nese Super League said Guangzhou Evergran- China's level of play. The to which he transferred yesterday it has signed de, for its part, picked up national team has been a last year for a 35 million Atletico Madrid striker Brazilian internationals persistent laggard, quali- euro fee. He scored just Jackson Martinez for a Paulinho and Robinho. fying for only one World three goals in 22 appea- new record sum in the In all, Super League Cup finals. rances for the 2014 Spa- Asian transfer market. teams spent 108 million That already seems to nish champions, leading The 29-year-old Co- euros ($118 million) on be paying off and under many to call the signing lombian has signed to a players and coaches in the stewardship of former a bust. four-year contract for a the 2014-2015 transfer Chelsea and Brazil boss In its statement, Guan- fee of USD45.8 million market, according to sta- Luiz Felipe Scolari, Super gzhou praised Martinez (42 million euros), the tistics from by Germany's League champion Guang- as "a team training mo- club said on its website. Transfer Market, placing zhou last year became the del, an extremely effec- It said Martinez will join the league second behind only Chinese team to win tive team leader trusted winter training in Dubai the English Premier Lea- the AFC Champions Lea- and relied upon by his on Feb. 9 after comple- gue. gue twice. teammates who main- ting his physical exam. The spending has been Martinez had impressed tains strict discipline off "We firmly believe that fueled both by big-name as a member of his natio- the pitch and steers well the additional of inter- sponsorships from the nal team and FC Porto, clear of distractions." AP national football star likes of Internet commer- Jackson Martinez will ce giant Alibaba and a strengthen our attack ... record $1.25 billion (1.15 providing more exciting million euros) broadcast gao hongbo returns as china performances for everyo- deal signed last year with national football team coach ne," the team said in a Beijing-based Ti'ao Don- statement. gli — double what state Atletico Madrid’s Jackson Martinez challenge for the ball with RC GAO HONGBO has re- site yesterday that Gao Despite a slowing eco- Celta’s Gustavo Cabral from Argentina during a Spanish La Liga broadcaster CCTV was turned as interim coach of would take the helm for nomy, Chinese clubs soccer match against Celta Vigo offering. the Chinese men’s national the next two World Cup have continued to splash That also jibes with football team following the qualifiers while the search competition. Ba, and Jiangsu Suning, out big sums for foreign a restructuring of the departure of Frenchman for a permanent coach talent, hoping for greater Among the biggest which paid a repor- government's football Alain Perrin last month. continues. glory in both the long-un- spenders is Shanghai ted transfer fee of $36 management structure The Chinese Football As- Gao led the team from derperforming domestic Shenhua, who signed million (33 million eu- following calls from offi- sociation said on its web- 2009 to 2011. league and international French striker Demba ros) for Chelsea's Rami- cials as high as president THE Kings cancel Year of Monkey Station04.02.2016Air quality thu th Anniversary BUZZ giveaway as possibly offensive Roadside 50-70 20 Moderate The Sacramento Kings canceled a Lunar New week. The shirts sported the image of a purple Year promotional giveaway after DeMarcus monkey. High Cousins complained the Year of the Monkey But according to a Facebook post, Bucks Density 50-70 design was insensitive on the first day of Black analyst and former player Marques Johnson Residental History Month. said Cousins was discussing the matter with Moderate The Kings were set to give away T-shir- Kings employees before fans arrived for the Area opinion ts commemorating the Chinese Year of the game. Johnson agreed that the T-shirts could Monkey, which starts on Feb. 8, at the team’s be construed as offensive. Ambient 55-75 game against the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this The T-shirts were removed from the seats. Moderate HK Observer DSMG SOURCE: Robert Carroll CHEERS! WORLD BRIEFS Forget transparency; silence is golden Bourbon, Tennessee The Legislative Council Finance committee AP PHOTO looks set to approve the additional funding nee- ded for the world’s most expensive high-speed whiskey producers toast rail without waiting for the council’s public works subcommittee’s approval, required by the assem- bly’s rules. This is a rare departure from the norm more strong sales MACEDONIA has lifted and only the third time this has happened since restrictions on the entry of 1997. The circumvention cannot be dismissed as refugees from the Greek a matter of efficiency, or necessary expediting, be- RODUCERS of Kentu- the United Kingdom, Cana- cause it undermines the well-established principle cky bourbon and Ten- da, Germany, Australia and border after Macedonian P taxi drivers ended a of legislative oversight. nessee whiskey are toasting Japan, it said. five-day protest that had If the transport department and other officials another year of strong sales In the U.S., consumers had answered queries about the reasons for the closed a key railway line, extra costs - including the equally sensitive issue and revenue growth, led by increasingly are reaching slowing migrant flows to of mainland police control at the Tsim Sha Tsui consumers increasingly or- for high-end premium and Serbia. More than 55,000 terminus - it could be argued that legislators were dering high-priced, super- super-premium bourbons migrants have passed being unreasonable; however, that was not the premium brands. and Tennessee whiskeys. through Macedonia this case. Furthermore the Finance committee chair- Combined U.S. revenues Those super-premium vo- year. man, while admitting that the transport depart- for bourbon, Tennessee lumes rose 25.2 percent in ment was at fault for not offering explanations, whiskey and rye whiskey 2015 and revenues were up threw up his hands saying: “What can we do? UK The founder of More time cannot be lost!” Furthermore he then shot up 7.8 percent to 26.5 percent. Super-pre- budget airline EasyJet broke his supposed neutrality by telling committee USD2.9 billion in 2015, up mium brands include Woo- has stepped into Britain’s members to vote yes. $210 million from the prior dford Reserve, Knob Creek grocery aisles. Stelios So two core principles have been broken for the year, the Distilled Spirits and Jack Daniel’s Single Haji-Ioannou has opened sake of forcing through an issue that is yet to be Council said yesterday. Barrel. a discount grocery in properly vetted. What a slippery slope we may be Domestic volume rose 5.2 In the next category, volu- northwest London, called going down here. Given the project was based on EasyFood, offering dubious concepts and has sensitive, unresolved percent last year to 20.4 the whiskey category, with mes for high-end premium canned sardines, soups border control issues; it’s not surprising that full million cases, the distilled double-digit gains for su- products rose 6.8 percent disclosure has not been achieved. spirits trade group said. per-premium Scotch, Ca- and revenues were up 7.7 and pasta for a mere 25 We have an unnecessarily expensive railway “We’re living the dream,” nadian and Irish whiskeys percent. Products include pence — for a limited time foisted on us for political and symbolic reasons - Chris Morris, master dis- as well, the council said. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee only. Prices will go up on to show that we are joined to the mainland high-s- tiller at Brown-Forman The domestic numbers re- Whiskey, Maker’s Mark, the “limited and basic” peed rail network. Why did the government not do Corp., producer of Wood- flect sales from producers Wild Turkey and Jim Beam range after a month. a thorough assessment of the realities and costs of the project? ford Reserve and Old Fo- or suppliers to wholesalers. Black. It’s hard to ignore the fact that you cannot run rester bourbons, said in an Meanwhile, bourbon and “Consumer tastes have

a high-speed rail at high speed over the few ki- interview. “We’re hitting Tennessee whiskey expor- changed significantly,” said AP PHOTO lometers between here and the border; or until our numbers as we had ts topped $1 billion for the Distilled Spirits Council the next stop in Guangdong. Why choose a high- predicted.” third straight year, des- spokesman Frank Cole- speed train when it can’t run at high speed? Se- Bourbon and Tennessee pite challenges caused by man. “Whiskey in parti- condly, the link currently under consideration in whiskey revenues and vo- cular, the highest-priced Guangdong is not a direct link at all but would a strong dollar, the trade mean changing stations and trains some kilome- lumes outpaced the overall group said. A strong dollar products are flying off the ters apart. So let’s spell that out: we have a high- distilled spirits sector, the makes U.S. goods less com- shelves the fastest.” SOMALIA An explosion speed rail to link to the mainland bullet trains whi- council said in its annual re- petitive. Meanwhile, demand was and fire blew a gaping ch will neither be high speed nor a direct link, and port. Rye whiskey amounts Overall U.S. spirits expor- slower among lower and hole in a commercial again, will be the most expensive in the world (per to a sliver of those overall ts have more than doubled moderately priced brands. airliner, forcing it to make kilometer). revenue and volume figu- in the past decade, from Volumes for value products an emergency landing at Infrastructure projects regularly exceed original Mogadishu’s international budgets, but it’s common knowledge that cons- res, but it’s a fast-growing $743 million in 2005 to a rose 4.8 percent and were truction is the most corrupt industry worldwide. part of the segment. projected $1.56 billion last down 2.6 percent for pre- airport at night, officials Surely there must be very close scrutiny to ensure The popularity of top-tier year, the council said. mium brands, the council and witnesses said. The money is well spent and sufficient transparency products spread across Top export markets are said. AP pilot said he thought it to probe kickbacks. Despite these red flags, the was a bomb. An aviation government, the MTR and Finance Committee expert who looked at chairman see no reason to give the legislators the photographs of the hole answers they are asking for and insist on a LegCo in the fuselage said the green light for funding. THE damage was consistent Given obstructionism in the chamber - a result of with an explosive device. being designed to be toothless except in funding AP Photo/Kin Cheung matters and major constitutional changes; a poor DECISIVE MOMENT relationship with the chief executive who does NIGERIA’s separatists not consult them; as well as populist politics - the hijacked a merchant government understandably feels frustrated and ship with foreign crew, cynical about the opposition lawmakers’ good will. threatening to blow it up Hence the strong-arm tactics. But wouldn’t it be if officials don’t free a better to allow the subcommittee to exercise its detained leader agitating proper function? Subsequently if seen to obstruct for a breakaway of the for obstruction’s sake, then at least stakeholders, state of Biafra. including the public, can better judge whether a highly unique action is needed or not. Microsoft is recalling A hot issue is whether mainland police will be USA stationed at Tsim Sha Tsui terminus to control im- about 2.44 million AC migration. Many lawmakers on the pan-democrat power cords for its Surface side say the move would infringe on the SAR’s Pro, Surface Pro 2, and legal autonomy. Surface Pro 3 computers The long term bottom line here, I suspect, is sold before March 15, that those involved in the initial agreement were 2015, because of a unwilling to risk upsetting mainland leaders by not potential fire hazard. Users giving an unequivocal and emphatic yes to the have reported 56 incidents project despite its obvious weaknesses. MTR of the cords overheating and transport department officials are equally re- and emitting flames, luctant to have their decisions and actions looked at closely in case they are found to be at fault. and five incidents where It is therefore in the best interests of all invol- the cords gave users an electric shock. Microsoft is ved to receive less scrutiny over the issue. Forget Monkey business. A vendor (left), shows the monkey decorations to a customer at an annual CNY market in Hong transparency; silence is golden. Kong, yesterday. offering free replacements for the cords.