FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho www.macaudailytimes.com.mo

T. 16º/ 21º Air Quality Good FRIDAY “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” MOP 8.00

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MACAU MUST REPORT ANY SECRETARY LEI URGES ONE DOWN: BRITISH AIRLINE OUTBREAK OF ANIMAL FLYBE COLLAPSED AMID DISEASES TO THE CENTRAL MACAU TO IMPLEMENT DROPS IN DEMAND CAUSED GOVERNMENT: LAWMAKER DIVERSIFICATION BY THE NEW CORONAVIRUS P4 P2 P12 AP PHOTO

China To keep his 40 employees indoors and P5 away from China’s virus FLIGHT60 RESIDENTS TO LAND COVID-19 TOMORROW AFTERNOON outbreak, the manager of an electronics factory in Dongguan, near Hong Kong, says he hired a cook and arranged dormitories for them. Cjtouch Electronic Co., is one of thousands of manufacturers trying to protect employees. More on p6 AP PHOTO

China says a visit by its president, Xi Jinping, to Japan in April has been called off because both countries are focusing on combating the virus outbreak. The two countries both agree that “President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Japan must take place under the most appropriate timing, environment and atmosphere, and must be a complete success,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan will impose a 14-day quarantine on all visitors from China and South Korea before they are allowed an entry permit. They will be sent to a government facility for the quarantine and will not be allowed to use public transportation, Abe said as officials stepped up their efforts against the spread of the virus.

Australia has banned travel from South Korea and will BLOOMBERG more thoroughly screen travellers from Italy in a bid to Recovery curb the spread of the new coronavirus. The travel ban from late yesterday follows timeline similar bans on travel from China and Iran. Australian uncertain citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the ban. Those returning without from Korea are asked to self-isolate for 14 days when China’s help they return home.

More on backpage P3 ANALYSIS, P12 EDITORIAL page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 06.03.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

it was just a schedule. “We need

XINHUA a direction to relieve the public,” referring to the fact that the com- munity is expected to hear details of the campaign. Thirty-two government public service points and 130 bank outle- ts will help with the distribution of cards, “in order to avoid people crowding,” the secretary explai- ned. People have raised concerns that Macau Pass will be able to obtain the personal data of indi- viduals. The secretary reassured the press that Macau Pass would obtain no personal data. “The re- gistration process is conducted by the Monetary Authority,” Lei said. When a registered resident col- lects the card, the ID number will be scanned. The secretary did not explain why this step would be required, nor did he explain who would provide the machine used to scan the ID card. The secretary also advised that a previously announced policy whereby the government would cover the water and electricity bills for the three-month period from March to May for all Macau private households would be extended to Financial Secretary urges cover companies, excluding casi- nos and 3- to 5-star hotels. In contrast to the unlimited Macau to study diversification coverage, companies will enjoy as much as MOP3,000 for water and a ANTHONY LAM the secretary emphasized. “I’ve new areas, such as e-sports deve- ongoing encouragement of local MOP10,000 monthly allowance for seen many intellectuals give their lopment. retailers to install the payment electricity use. The programs are HE Covid-19 outbreak in Ma- opinion. I encourage the public to The secretary was confident console. expected to cost the government Tcau is a lesson for the city to do so too, from which we can see that his team is doing enough A special Macau Pass card MOP1.8 million and MOP240 learn about the importance of more possibilities to diversify our work to support this group. “The will be issued for this cam- million respectively. economic diversification, Lei Wai economy.” scope of the self-employed can paign, after which the card will Another topic of great concern Nong, Secretary for Economy and Many small to medium si- be wide. They can be lawyers or remain functional. Registration in the community is the possibili- Finance, told the government’s zed enterprises have petitioned taxi drivers,” the secretary pointed will start this month, with cards ty of an extra cash handout, which daily press conference yesterday. the government for further relief out. being issued in April for use be- was considered unlikely by the fi- It has been about three weeks measures. The financial head said “Considering the difficulties tween May and July. nancial policymaker. Macau has a since the secretary last presented that the government must consi- now faced by the self-em- financial reserve of MOP570 himself at the daily press confe- der benefits to help people from ployed, I think the most ef- billion. Lei expects this year’s rence. all walks of life. People should be- fective way is by contacting financial deficit could go up “The current outbreak has gi- nefit from the measures fairly. the Labor Affairs Bureau, ”The current to MOP40 billion. However, ven us an important lesson: a nar- “We should see the whole pic- which offers job-matching outbreak has given he expressed his belief that row economy leads to a narrow ture when we make our policies,” services,” the secretary ela- the cash handout policy will employment market,” the secre- the secretary stressed. borated. “We hope they can us an important continue into next year. tary said. “Once the tide comes, it He was reminded that the relief have a job stability, so that Lei also referred to the gets extremely bumpy.” measures might have overlooked they can solve the current lesson: a narrow proposed financial relief The secretary believes that eco- an expanding group of self-em- challenges.” economy leads to a measures. Citizens will be nomic diversification is a must. ployed freelancers, which is an The main reason the se- able to enjoy as many as “Economic diversification must emerging profession in Macau. cretary appeared at yester- narrow employment nine types of allowances, be faced and must be faced now,” Many of these freelancers work in day’s press conference was while enterprises had access to disclose further details on market. to 11 types. The secretary the anticipated e-coupon LEI WAI NONG once again emphasized that measure. It was confirmed SECRETARY FOR ECONOMY AND FINANCE it was made possible due to First quarantined workers enter that the government had as- the foundation of Macau’s THE first batch of mainland non-res- land within the past 14 days were signed Macau Pass to manage the All Macau ID holders – perma- financial reserve. ident workers who were required to required to undergo quarantine. service. nent or non-permanent – will be The financial head is confident be quarantined at a designated hotel They were then given a no-infection For the time being, there are eligible for the relief measure. Each that when the situation improves, in Zhuhai entered Macau yester- certificate by the Zhuhai authority. about 13,000 points of sales instal- registered ID holder will enjoy a tourists will return to Macau. He day after completing their 14-day Afterwards, they were driven directly led with the Macau Pass payment MOP3,000 spending limit, with a also added that it would be un- quarantine period. The measure was to Macau by charter vehicles to avoid gateway in Macau. The number daily cap of MOP300. likely that gambling tax is cut, as enacted jointly by the Macau and any possible infection. As of 4 p.m. is expected to rise as the govern- When asked why he was confi- it is a legally stipulated policy and Zhuhai authorities on February 20. on March 4, some 1,114 people had Workers who have been in the main- been quarantined. ment rolls out the relief measure, dent that the campaign could roll any change will require it be pas- in addition to the government’s out in May, the secretary noted sed by the legislature.

www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Daniel Beitler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Risdon, Linda Kennedy, Lynzy Valles, Paulo Cordeiro de Sousa, Renato Marques, Richard Whitfield, Viviana Seguí MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 DESIGNERS_Eva Bucho, Miguel Bandeira | ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MdME Lawyers, Advertisement [email protected] +17,000 PokerStars, Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua For subscription and general issues: [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd Like us on facebook.com/mdtimes SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] send newsworthy information and press releases to: [email protected] website: www.macaudailytimes.com.mo www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 3 fri 06.03.2020 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

two months. He also said that no- body can be certain how long the crisis will last. “The majority of these com- panies are not prepared as there is not [enough] cashflow to survive for the next two or three months without [government] support,” he stressed. “This time it is really tough be- cause we can’t see whether in a short while we will have people vi- siting again from China,” added the economist. “We will have serious trouble if this situation persists. We may decrease this year as much as the decrease back in 2015.”

RECOVERY AS EARLY AS MID-2020 Following an 87.8% fall in gross gaming revenue in February, at least some gaming analysts ex- pect 2020 to post a double-di- An official inspects a gaming facility as casinos prepared for their February 20 resumption of service after an unprecedented 15-day shutdown last month git revenue drop. CitiGroup, for example, has decided to lower its 2020 growth forecast from -12% ANALYSIS year-on-year to -28% year-on- -year. But many analysts also expect a recovery to begin to take effect from as early as the second quarter. Macau facing worst recession Credit Suisse said this week that China would begin reissuing visas to Macau with a phased approa- ch starting from “late April/May”, because this time China can’t help while others believe restrictions DANIEL BEITLER, cannot come to the SAR’s rescue. trolled. Today is the 31st day of munity’s purchasing power. to the Individual Visit Scheme will LYNZY VALLES Although a 35% fall in gross having no recorded cases of Co- The economist suggested that be lifted at once. Visitation from gaming revenue led to a two-digit vid-19 in the SAR. But outside this the government needs to find the mainland could return to nor- ROM early 2014 to early contraction back in 2015, some small city, the virus’ spread is still more ways to acquire supplies mal levels by the fourth quarter, 2015, Macau went from economists believe it is worse this ongoing apace across Asia, and from the private sector, either in said Credit Suisse. being one of the fastest time as the Macau SAR entered notably in South Korea and Japan. goods or services, in a bid to en- JP Morgan Securities (Asia Pa- growing economies in the 2020 from a 3.4% contraction in For Sales Marques, the SAR will courage consumer confidence. cific) expects the year-on-year de- Fworld to one of the slowest. A cra- 2019. need to wait for the health crisis “We cannot expect the casino cline in casino revenues to narrow ckdown on corruption orchestra- “I think that overall, it’s worse to be brought under control in sector to invest this year. There’s to just 8% in the third quarter of ted by President Xi Jinping dam- [than previous recessions]. I think mainland China and Hong Kong no way. So, there is a lot of work 2020 and 5% in the fourth quarter, pened the appetite for gambling this is the most vigorous econo- before the city’s economy returns from the public sector as well implying a general recovery arou- in the Macau SAR and exposed mic challenge since the handover. to life. as the private sector. Overall, it’s nd the year’s mid-point. the city’s reliance on high-roller I think it is happening because “Economic recovery takes lon- important for the government According to a note seen by gamblers. there are several negative factors ger because we have the Chinese and the private sector to restore GGRAsia, JP Morgan Securities And yet, neither the 2015 reces- that are occurring at the same economy facing several issues,” consumer confidence,” said Sales (Asia Pacific) has described Fe- sion, nor the 2008 financial crash time,” economist José Luís de Sa- said the economist. “China has Marques. bruary’s staggering plunge as “not nor the 2003 SARs epidemic befo- les Marques told the Times. [quite severe] problems itself in Echoing the sentiments, eco- meaningful” given the disruption re it measure up to the impact of terms of its economic performan- nomist Albano Martins said the to the inbound tourism market. Covid-19. SECOND MONTH ce and recovery and how long it city’s recovery remains unclear. Gross gaming revenue fell 3.4% Right now, Macau faces pos- UNDER PRESSURE will take. We depend so much on Martins stressed that the relief last year as Macau casinos strug- sibly its toughest economic Macau is into its second mon- China as our main market.” measures announced by the go- gled to adjust to a perfect storm of challenge since the handover. th of experiencing the dramatic In the meantime, the gover- vernment for local small and me- economic headwinds, including Economists say this is partly be- effects of the epidemic outbreak nment will play a major role to dium-sized enterprises can only the fallout from the China-U.S. cause of the already weak econo- on its top visitor source market – stimulate the economy through serve as short-term relief. trade war, relentless protests in mic conditions in the SAR before mainland China. measures such as the handing out He believes that the situation neighboring Hong Kong and a the coronavirus outbreak, but also There are some indications of MOP3,000 coupon vouchers to will worsen for local companies crackdown on online gambling in because, this time, the mainland that the health crisis is being con- local residents to boost the com- if the crisis extends into the next both Macau and the mainland.

Arts Festival becomes latest event canceled due to coronavirus HE Covid-19 outbreak performed by foreign com- shows, ultimately forcing Asia will be postponed to with our exhibitors and the morning and one in the Tcontinues to disrupt panies or performers, the the festival to be postponed. July this year. Previous G2E Macau government, […] we afternoon – each accom- major events in the Macau Arts Festival would face ad- The IC noted that the Asia events were all held in are postponing G2E Asia modating 200 visitors at calendar, finding its latest ditional challenges in terms 31st Arts Festival would be June, with the first debuting 2020.” maximum capacity. Certain victim in the 31st Macao of logistics and rehearsal ar- rescheduled to 2021. in Macau in 2007. However, after about a exhibition halls will remain Arts Festival. rangements due to the ou- The Times previously “Our top priority is en- month’s closure, the Macao closed and all presentations The Macao Arts Festi- tbreak spreading globally. reported that the IC had suring a safe environment Science Center has annou- are canceled for the time val organizer, the Cultural Moreover, local perfor- canceled Art Macao this for employees, customers, nced that it will reopen with being. Affairs Bureau (IC), has mers were due to commen- year, a citywide integrated and exhibitors at Global limited capacity on March Its planetarium will this week announced the ce rehearsals in February art event that premiered in Gaming Expo Asia,” the 9. The venue’s convention screen only 2D movies to event’s postponement to this year. With these being 2019. organizer of the casino-re- center will remain closed. lower the risk of the spread next year. halted, there will be an Furthermore, the 13th lated event wrote in a sta- Visits will be split into of disease through sharing With half of the program impact on the quality of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) tement. “In consultation two sessions – one in the 3D goggles. page 4 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 06.03.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

100,000 letters undelivered due to epidemic BLOOMBERG

Approximately 100,000 letters in Macau remain undelivered due to the Covid-19 epidemic, according to the government. The undelivered mail are mostly electricity bills, water bills, bank records, and notifications of lawsuits. The Macao Post and Telecommunication has planned have mailmen work weekends to dispatch the delayed mail. At present, the CTT delivers 100,000 items per day, most of which are official, commercial, and legal in nature. The bureau is considering adopting new technologies to assist in mail delivery services. The bureau has now over 60 mailmen, in addition to ten mailmen for express post. In a recent mail delivery exam, 25 applicants competed for a single job, which offers a salary of around 20,000 Macau patacas. Animal disease prevention law Health Bureau notes Macau’s low maternal requires Macau report to Beijing mortality rate JULIE ZHU government is obliged to inform wild animals, including the Con- the situation to the Health Bureau the central government. vention on International Trade in (SSM) if necessary. The IAM is The Health Bureau (SSM) has ACAU must report any ou- According to the lawmaker’s Engendered Species of Wild Fau- also responsible for ordinary epi- remarked on Macau’s low death Mtbreak of animal diseases interpretation, as Hong Kong has na and Flora, and the city’s food demic prevention measures. The rate for maternal mortality to the central government, accor- observer status at the World Heal- safety law. Both explicitly list ban- Chief Executive has the responsi- and perinatal mortality. In a ding to lawmaker Ho Ion Sang, th Organization (WHO), the city ned wild animals. bility to declare which part of the reply to lawmaker Agnes Lam’s but Hong Kong does not have the does not have mandatory repor- “From import to sale, there are city has become an area affected interpellation, the SSM said same obligation. ting requirements of animal di- laws ensuring that wild animals by animal disease. The Chief Exe- that since the establishment Yesterday, government repre- sease outbreaks to mainland Chi- are banned,” said Ho. cutive can also establish a tempo- of the Macau SAR, the city sentatives met with members of na. As Macau is not an observer, After the outbreak of Covid-19, rary animal epidemic prevention has only recorded one death the First Standing Committee of it must report the situation to the mainland China announced that work team. of a pregnant woman in 2016 the Legislative Assembly (AL) to central government. the country would amend its laws Parties which do not obey the and two deaths in 2018. In her discuss the animal disease pre- The animal disease prevention to expand the crackdown on wild IAM’s request for specific measu- interpellation, the lawmaker had vention law, formerly approved in law also recommends that, based animal consumption. However, res to prevent animal disease will claimed that both maternal and fetal deaths have been increasing general terms. on the principle of mutual bene- as of today, no further details have be charged with disobedience. in Macau. The SSM responded After the meeting, Ho explai- fit, the local government can vo- been revealed by the mainland For disobeying the Chief Execu- that Macau’s maternal mortality ned to the media that whenever luntarily report animal epidemic government authority. tive’s order, they will be charged rate has always been low and an animal disease outbreak is outbreaks to other countries and Ho said that once mainland with aggravated disobedience. that reporting an increase with identified in Macau, the local go- regions. China announces an amended This bill does not propose reference to one individual case vernment must report it to main- Amid the outbreak of Covid-19, version of the country’s wild ani- compensation for losses incurred is not scientific. In 2018, Macau land China’s national health and government representatives, in- mal protection law, the local go- by culling animals as part of epi- registered an infant mortality rate hygiene authority, whereas the cluding Secretary for Adminis- vernment will in turn review Ma- demic prevention measures. of 3.4 deaths per 1,000 babies Hong Kong SAR is not required to tration and Justice André Cheong cau’s animal disease prevention Currently, Macau does not and a stillbirth rate of 2.4 per report such an occurrence. This Weng Chon, assured lawmakers bill. have live poultry farms. The local 1,000 births. does not mean that Macau needs that Macau’s laws prevent the According to the bill, the Muni- government is managing a slau- the central government’s appro- consumption of wild animals. cipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) is res- ghterhouse with an average daily Airport says normal val to confirm or announce an Currently, Macau has several ponsible for assessing an animal throughput of over 100 pigs and epidemic outbreak and reporting nine cattle. flight schedule will epidemic outbreak, but the local regulations and laws related to take time to return

Flight schedule recovery may take longer than anticipated after the million, Kiang Wu Hos- others have reportedly epidemic has passed, the Macau pital Charitable Asso- lost their jobs. International Airport Company 501 million patacas ciation donated MOP6 From February 17 to Limited (CAM) said in a statement. million, members of the March 2, the DSAL as- The chairman of CAM, Deng Jun, National Committee of sisted residents in 1,066 said that the Epidemic Prevention donated to mainland the Chinese People’s Po- cases relating to employ- Contingency Working Group had litical Consultative Con- ment services. Some 171 proposed preferential policies amounting to appro- buted and used by Hu- ference donated HKD5.6 of these workers are oc- for airlines and tenants. He JULIE ZHU ximately MOP184.15 bei province’s Covid-19 million, and the Macao cupational drivers. pointed out that the civil aviation ARIOUS entities in million and HKD104.47 epidemic prevention Chamber of Commer- The Liaison Office said market will generally recover Macau have dona- million in cash. reserve. Various sectors that the department will starting with developed core V ce donated MOP5.48 markets and gradually extending ted a total of 501 million The Liaison Office has in Macau have also do- million. Employees of continue to play the role into secondary markets. Macau patacas to mainland Chi- transferred the donations nated medical supplies Banco Luso Internacio- of a bridge between Ma- tourism relies on the mainland na since the start of the to charities and depart- and money to mainland nal and Industrial and cau and the mainland and its surrounding short-haul Covid-19 coronavirus ments owned or overseen China. Commercial Bank of Chi- in fighting the epidemic markets, but some cities in the outbreak, according to by the Hubei provincial Alvin Chau, chief exe- na (Macau) donated a to- and will continue to su- mainland, Japan, and South Korea a report by Macao Daily government. cutive officer and direc- tal of MOP611,000. pport the local govern- have been severely affected News. Except for donations tor of Suncity Group, Locally, some mem- ment and to work toward by the epidemic, and these As of February 29, the made out to specific par- donated MOP30 million, bers of the public in Ma- the long-term prosperity markets have seen many flight Liaison Office in Macau ties, all money and medi- Polytec Asset Holdings cau have experienced and stability of the Ma- cancellations. has received donations cal supplies will be distri- Limited donated HKD20 income reductions while cau SAR. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 06.03.2020 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER LUKE LAI LUKE

WUHAN RESCUE MISSION Macau’s mission follows a high Japan, Spain, Canada, Russia, the number of other repatriation Netherlands, , Switzerland missions performed by several and Thailand are also among the countries and regions over the countries that have held repa- past few weeks to retrieve their triation missions. In some cases 60 Macau residents to nationals from the epicenter of involving European Union (EU) the disease outbreak. countries, these missions were On March 4, the first batch of conducted in partnership with Hong Kong residents arrived in several countries, bringing home land tomorrow afternoon the neighboring region from Hu- nationals from other EU member RENATO MARQUES ven government members will Alto. The repatriated residents bei. states such as Portugal. be two doctors and three nurses will remain in the facility under Malaysia has already brought Taiwan has also arranged for a OMORROW, a group from the Health Bureau (SSM) as observation for 14 days. Crew home two batches of its natio- repatriation mission for residents of about 60 Macau re- well as two representatives from members that have direct con- nals, starting from February 4 of the island stranded in Wuhan. sidents will be brought the Tourism Crisis Management tact with the passengers will also until February 24. So far, nine African countries back to the SAR from Office. undergo the same quarantine The U.S. also commenced have also evacuated students THubei province in a rescue ope- Air Macau will assign three measures. the repatriation of all Americans from Wuhan, including Algeria, ration organized by the local pilots and four cabin crew mem- According to the Macao Go- stranded in Wuhan from January Egypt, Libya, Mauritius, Mau- government with the support of bers to assist in the mission. vernment Tourism Office, among 30, when a first flight carried ritania, Morocco, Seychelles, local airline Air Macau. The mission is expected to the 60 qualified Macau residents about 200 people from the Chi- South Africa, and Tunisia. The operation was announ- bring back around 60 Macau are 19 minors, six of whom are nese city back to American soil. A According to several news sour- ced by the government earlier ID holders located in and arou- under 5 years old and who have second mission successfully held ces, a group of other African na- this week after a long period in nd Hubei’s capital city Wuhan. been temporarily deemed eligi- on February 4 brought home tions will jointly repatriate their which local authorities said they However, SSM Director Lei Chin ble to fly, as they will travel with another 178 American nationals. nationals from Wuhan. Ugan- were assessing the situation and Ion has previously announced their parents or guardians. Kazakhstan, Singapore, the da and Kenya are calling for the preparing for the repatriation. that the number of people to be Aside from the 60 being repa- Philippines, the United King- support of South African autho- According to the Novel Coro- repatriated might see last-minu- triated, there are around another dom, Brazil, Uzbekistan, New rities to return home some 720 navirus Response and Coordi- te changes depending on the ac- 120 Macau residents currently in Zealand, Australia, Italy, Saudi students who remain in the Chi- nation Center, the local health tual health of individuals. Hubei Province. Arabia, Indonesia, South Korea, nese city. authorities have shortlisted the To qualify for the flight, the first batch of around 60 Macau ID holders will need to arrange residents currently in the central their connecting transport to the Chinese province. The Macau airport in Wuhan. Final verifica- Stranded resident complains about residents expressed their wish tions such as body temperature to be brought into Macau due checks and assessment of physi- 7,000-yuan trip to Wuhan airport to several difficulties they are cal symptoms will be conducted currently facing in the mainland at Wuhan airport to ascertain the JULIE ZHU complained yesterday of the difficulties his rela- province, the epicenter of the capability of the passengers to fly tives are having in making it to the airport. Covid-19 outbreak and the place to Macau. Macau resident stranded in Hubei has asked Wong’s relatives, who are currently in Hubei, most affected by the virus. Protective kits, consisting of Athe Macau government to help arrange tra- have been offered a chartered vehicle for the A charter flight operated by a facemask, hand sanitizer, pro- vel to Wuhan airport, from where about 60 peo- price of 7,000 yuan (about 8,100 patacas) per local flag carrier, Air Macau, will tective wear, and a diaper, will ple are to be repatriated tomorrow. person. The vehicle will take approximately one depart for Wuhan tomorrow also be distributed to the passen- The Macau SAR will deploy a chartered flight hour from their current location to Wuhan air- morning, returning to Macau in gers as nobody will be allowed to to the capital city of Hubei province to pick up port. the afternoon. The mission has leave their seat during the return Macau residents tomorrow morning. Those who Wong claimed that his relatives want to drive been considered to be of “consi- flight. wish to take the flight must arrange their own to the airport but, in order to pass through several derable risk” by the local health Once the plane lands in Ma- travel to the airport. checkpoints, his relatives must have medical clea- authorities, and will take place cau, the passengers will be trans- So far, 60 Macau residents qualify to take the rance. At the same time, the mainland government with the participation of seven ferred to pre-prepared vehicles flight to Macau and 57 of them have already ad- has urged the public to avoid visiting hospitals. staff members from the govern- waiting by the aircraft that will vised the Macau government of arrangements Wong’s relatives hope that both the Macau go- ment and seven crew members transport the passengers to a for their own transportation to Wuhan airport. vernment and the Hubei government can help from Air Macau. Among the se- quarantine facility on Coloane However, one local resident, surnamed Wong, them find a solution. page 6 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo CHINA 中國 06.03.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

difficulty of finding employees, according to its owner, Cui Ting.

AP PHOTO Cui said his workforce of 12 China’s factories try went home to Shanxi province in western China and Guizhou in the southeast for the holiday and to shield workers as have yet to return. “We haven’t resumed pro- duction yet, because I still worry output revives about the infection risk due to asking my employees to travel,” said Cui. Cui said he expects to get new orders in a few weeks but is in no hurry. “Life matters more,” said Cui. Despite the renewed activity, forecasters say China’s economic growth will be flat to negative for the three months ending in Mar- ch, a marked decline from the previous quarter’s 6% growth. UBS estimates factory output expanded only 1.2% in January and February from a year earlier. UBS economists Ning Zhang and Tao Wang say exports probably fell 17%. Travel disruptions also are rai- sing costs for manufacturers that have to pay higher wages to get or keep scarce employees.

JOE MCDONALD, BEIJING that make the world’s smartpho- a lack of employees or raw mate- Shandong province resumed The government has promi- nes, toys and other consumer rials. work this week with 20 of its 30 sed tax breaks, low-interest loans O keep his 40 employees in- goods. Cjtouch is in Guangdong pro- employees, said a manager who and other aid, but it is unclear Tdoors and away from China’s They were idled when Beijing vince, home to thousands of ex- would give only her surname, how many companies might shut virus outbreak, the manager of an extended the Lunar New Year ho- port-driven factories. It is back to Liu. The company makes circuit down for good due to the burden electronics factory in Dongguan, liday to keep workplaces empty 90% of normal production, Zhang boards for U.S., European, South of paying rent and other expenses near Hong Kong, says he hired a in hopes of containing the virus said. In the three weeks since it Korean and Japanese customers. with no revenue. cook and arranged dormitories that emerged in central China in reopened employees have used “The rest cannot make it due Yinhong Protective Product for them. December. Offices, restaurants, more than 3,000 masks, he said. to restrictions on movement or- Co. in the city of Xiantao in Hubei, Cjtouch Electronic Co., whi- cinemas and shopping malls also “We hired someone to cook for dered by local authorities in the the province at the center of the ch makes smartphone touch were closed. employees so they don’t need to countryside,” said Liu. outbreak, is paying “super high” screens, is one of thousands of Officials have orders to prevent eat outside and persuaded them Those who are at work wear wages of up to 1,800 yuan ($250) manufacturers trying to protect a spike in infections as millions of to stay in dormitories and not go masks and are checked twice a a day to attract workers, said its employees while they gradually workers who returned to their ho- out,” Zhang said. day for fever, Liu said. sales manager, Chen Jihao. reopen after anti-virus controls metowns for the holiday flow back The government has told anyo- “We keep the place clean by di- Demand for masks, protective shut down much of the world’s se- to China’s southeastern factory ne who can work from home to sinfecting three times a day, mo- clothing and disinfectant is soa- cond-largest economy. belt and big eastern cities. stay there, but factories need em- pping the floor and wiping com- ring, but producers aren’t reaping “We have adopted strict pre- Following government instruc- ployees on their assembly lines. puter screens with disinfectant,” a windfall. Chen said Yinhong’s vention measures,” said its gene- tions, factory operators are buying Some still are stranded in their she said. “We ordered nearly 2,000 output has increased by 20% to ral manager, Zhang Feng. face masks by the thousands and hometowns by the suspension of masks for employees.” 1.2 million masks per day, but the Trying to curb the soaring cost jugs of disinfectant. Employees bus and train service or curbs on The Yayuan Toy Factory, whi- government pays below-market of anti-virus controls, the ruling are scrutinized for the virus’s tell- leaving areas deemed at high di- ch makes plastic cars in the sou- prices. Communist Party has told local tale fever. sease risk. theastern city of Yiwu, a hub for Cjtouch in Dongguan kept officials in areas deemed at low di- Some manufacturers bar outsi- Mingliang Electronics Co. in export manufacturers, still is shut paying employees during the shu- sease risk to help reopen factories ders. Others remain closed due to the eastern city of Weifang in down due to virus fears and the tdown, Zhang said. AP

HONG KONG Dogs, cats can’t pass on coronavirus, but can test positive ET cats and dogs can- lease as saying. “There is Kong and the World Orga- In general, pet owners Pnot pass the new coro- currently no evidence that nisation for Animal Health should maintain good hy- navirus on to humans, but pet animals can be a source (OIE) have unanimously giene, including washing AP PHOTO they can test positive for of infection of COVID-19 or agreed that the dog has a hands before and after han- low levels of the pathogen that they become sick.” low-level of infection and it dling animals, their food if they catch it from their Scientists suspect the vi- is “likely to be a case of hu- and supplies and no kissing owners. rus known as SARS-CoV-2 man-to-animal transmis- them. People who are sick That’s the conclusion of that causes the disease sion.” should avoid contact with Hong Kong’s Agriculture, originated in bats before The dog, and another pets and a veterinarian’s Fisheries and Conservation passing it on to another also in quarantine which advice should be sought if Department after a dog in species, possibly a small has tested negative for the changes in a pet’s health quarantine tested weakly wild mammal, that passed virus, will be tested again conditions are detected. positive for the virus Feb. it on to humans. However, before being released. The “Apart from maintaining 27, Feb. 28 and March 2, experts from the School of department suggested any good hygiene practices, pet using the canine’s nasal and Public Health of The Uni- pets, including dogs and owners need not be overly oral cavity samples. versity of Hong Kong, the cats, from households whe- concerned and under no A unidentified spokes- College of Veterinary Me- re someone has tested posi- circumstances should they man for the department dicine and Life Sciences of tive for the virus should be abandon their pets,” the was quoted in a news re- the City University of Hong put into quarantine. spokesman said. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 06.03.2020 亞太 ASIA PACIFIC

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

AARON FAVILA PHILIPPINES power in her village was cut due & JIM GOMEZ, SAN PEDRO to the crash. No one on the ground were helicopter carrying hurt by the crash. Part of a ro- the Philippine natio- tor blade hit the roof of a house, nal police chief and Police chief, seven others Garcia and police officials said. seven other people TV video showed the white crashedA after hitting a power Bell 429 helicopter resting on cable on takeoff yesterday, cri- its left its side, with men scram- tically injuring two other gene- injured in chopper crash bling to put out a small fire in rals on board. one part of the wreckage and Gen. Archie Francisco Gam- pull out the passengers and fli- boa and the others were pulled AP PHOTO ght crew. Gamboa sat on the ri- from the wreckage by police ght side of the chopper, police officers on a village road in San said. Pedro city in Laguna province, The group had flown to the south of Manila. Gamboa was area to inspect vehicles seized injured in the shoulder and ri- by highway patrol officers for ght arm but flashed a thumbs- various violations. They were -up and said, “I’m OK” while heading to a police camp for being wheeled to an ambulan- meetings when the helicopter ce. crashed, police said. In a video shown by the Other police helicopters were DZMM network, Gamboa la- grounded temporarily for ins- ter said from his hospital bed pections after the crash, police that he would report back to said. work on Monday and asked for Gamboa took over the na- prayers for those who remained tional police force in October hospitalized. when his predecessor retired Two passengers — Maj. Gen. early after being linked to illegal Mariel Magaway and Maj. Gen. drugs. Jose Ma. Victor Ramos — were The 200,000-strong police in critical condition, while force has enforced President Ro- the rest, including the police drigo Duterte’s anti-drug crack- The site of a helicopter crash is cordoned off in San Pedro, Laguna province, south of Manila, yesterday spokesman and the police flight down, which has left thousands crew, were in stable condition, of mostly petty drug suspects police Maj. Gen. Benigno Dura- police compound in Laguna ses, witness Glenda Garcia said. ght the helicopter would move dead in a campaign that has na Jr. told reporters. and hit a power cable before “It was really loud and we ran out of control in a circle and alarmed Western governments The aircraft took off from a crashing onto a road near hou- away in fear because we thou- hit us,” Garcia said, adding that and human rights groups. AP

Kim also expressed his “candid thoughts and opi- India restores

AP PHOTO nions” about the current situation on the Korean Pe- full internet ninsula, Yoon said, without providing details. access in Kashmir Moon sent Kim back a letter yesterday conveying for two weeks his gratitude to him, Yoon said. NDIAN authorities yes- Sanchar Nigam Ltd., the Moon and Kim built Iterday temporarily re- leading broadband service personal ties in 2018 when voked a ban on social provider in Kashmir, said they met three times and media sites and restored it has begun implemen- reached a series of agree- full internet access in dis- ting the new government People line up to buy face masks to protect themselves from the new coronavirus outside Nonghyup ments aimed at boosting puted Kashmir for two order. Hanaro Mart in Seoul exchanges and lowering weeks, seven months after When it imposed the military animosity. Moon, they stripped the restive internet ban in August, KOREAS a liberal who espouses a region of its statehood and the government said it was negotiated settlement of semi-autonomy and en- necessary to head off anti- the North Korean nuclear forced a total communica- -India protests and attacks crisis, also facilitated Kim’s tions blackout. by rebels who have fought Kim expresses condolences first summit with U.S. Pre- Internet access over for decades for Muslim- sident Donald Trump in mobile devices, however, -majority Kashmir’s inde- Singapore in 2018. will remain restricted to pendence or unification over virus in the South But relations between slow speed. with Pakistan, which ad- the Koreas suffered a setba- The restoration of the ministers the other part of ORTH Korean leader Moon’s presidential office in ned by many outside ex- ck after a second summit internet will remain in ef- Kashmir. Both countries NKim Jong Un sent a her first official statement. perts. between Kim and Trump fect till March 17, a gover- claim the Himalayan re- personal letter to South Ko- In his letter to Moon on Kim said he was worried in Vietnam in early 2019 nment order said. It gave gion in its entirety. rean President Moon Jae-in Wednesday, Kim conveyed about Moon’s health and ended without any deal on no explanation of the time Digital rights activis- to express his condolen- a message of comfort to the expressed frustration that North Korea’s nuclear pro- limit. A recent Supreme ts denounced the tight ces over a soaring viral ou- South Korean people over there wasn’t much he could gram. Court order had said the internet restrictions and tbreak, Seoul officials said the cornonavirus outbreak do to help South Korea at Some experts say Nor- internet ban could not be said they represented a yesterday. that has infected more than this moment, Yoon said. th Korea is likely to reach indefinite. new level of government It wasn’t immediately 6,000 people and killed 37 Kim “underlined his out again to South Korea The order issued by the control over information clear if Kim’s letter was an others in the South, senior unwavering friendship to receive help in reviving region’s home secretary, allowing it to further res- attempt to improve strai- presidential official Yoon and trust toward President its troubled economy, sin- Shaleen Kabra, said inter- trict freedoms in Kashmir. ned ties with South Korea Do-han told reporters. Moon and said that he will ce the U.S. has said it won’t net access over fixed lines They were also criticized amid a deadlock in broader North Korea has repea- continue to quietly send his ease sanctions on the Nor- will be restricted to regis- by lawmakers in Europe nuclear diplomacy with the tedly said there have been best wishes for President th unless it takes significant tered customers. and the U.S., who called U.S. Earlier this week, Kim’s no cases of the virus on its Moon to overcome” the ou- steps toward denucleariza- A.K. Srivastava, an of- on the government to end sister issued insults against soil, a claim that is questio- tbreak, Yoon said. tion. AP ficial at state-run Bharat the curbs. AP page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo WORLD 國際 06.03.2020 fri

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this day in history AP PHOTO

Commuters walk through the World Trade Center transportation hub, in Manhattan 1970 Rabies ban on British GENE JOHNSON, RACHEL USA LA CORTE & MARTHA pet imports BELLISLE, SEATTLE The British Government has announced an indefinite ban on the importation of domestic pets. EDERAL authori- It follows the death from rabies of a dog called Sessan ties announced an in Newmarket a week ago. The animal had been imported investigation of the Virus death toll hits from Pakistan and released from quarantine on Novem- Seattle-area nursing ber 30. Fhome at the center of an British officials have become alarmed at the spread of outbreak of the new coro- the disease in Europe and because dogs like Sessan have navirus as the U.S. death toll 11; feds investigate begun showing signs of rabies after the existing eight climbed to 11, including the month quarantine period. first fatality outside Washin- Until recently scientists believed rabies had an incuba- gton state. tion period of no more than three months. Officials in California’s Pla- nursing home From next week, all dogs and cats already in quarantine, cer County, near Sacramento, and staff. An unannounced King County. “We don’t have “Yesterday at least three will have to stay in captivity an extra four months. said yesterday [Macau time] follow-up inspection in June strong evidence about how kids were coughing,” Unni There is to be an indefinite ban on the importation of an elderly person who tested determined that Life Care important school closures said. “We don’t know if they any cats and dogs. positive after returning from had corrected the problems, are.” were sick with the virus, but The new measures were announced by the Minister of a San Francisco-to-Mexico Verma said. Jennifer Hayles, 41, of if they do become sick, the Agriculture, Cledwyn Hughes. cruise had died. The victim Meanwhile, public offi- Kirkland, said she was appal- chances of spreading are He said a committee of inquiry would be set up to exa- had underlying health pro- cials in Washington came led that Inslee and health of- very, very high.” mine Britain’s policy on rabies. The ban and extended quarantine will apply until the committee has reported. blems, authorities said. Ca- under pressure to take more ficials haven’t canceled next Some schools, businesses He said: “I know we are a nation of dog lovers, so I lifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom aggressive steps against the week’s Emerald City Comic and other employers aren’t greatly regret the hardship that will be caused to some, larter declared a statewide outbreak, including closing Con. The four-day cosplay waiting. but our primary duty is to protect the public. emergency due to coronavi- schools and canceling large and pop-culture event draws Seattle and King County “I could not forgive myself if a child was bitten or any life rus. Washington and Florida events. While the state and close to 100,000 people each public health officials ur- put in danger through any neglect on our part. We are had already declared emer- Seattle have declared emer- year, and some participants, ged businesses to allow em- dealing with a killer disease.” gencies, and Hawaii also joi- gencies, giving leaders broad including D.C. Comics and ployees to work remotely if At present, there are about 2,200 dogs and 600 cats ned them. powers to suspend activities, Penguin Random House, possible, and the county said in quarantine in Britain. Imports of dogs and cats are Washington also announ- they have not issued any or- have pulled out over the vi- it will allow telecommuting running at between 3,000 and 5,000 a year. ced another death, bringing ders to do so. rus. for some of its workers for the Last year, the Government raised the quarantine pe- its total to 10. Most of those “We have encouraged Hayles said she spent next three weeks. riod from six to eight months after the case of a rabid who died were residents of people who are responsible hundreds of dollars on ticke- The Fred Hutchinson dog in Surrey. Life Care Center, a nursing for large gatherings to give ts and other items related to Cancer Research Center in Scientists fear the rabies virus has developed a longer home in Kirkland, a suburb consideration whether it the event but will have to skip Seattle announced it is can- incubation period - and is also being spread by wild ani- east of Seattle. At least 39 ca- really makes sense to carry it because she has a compro- celing events at the complex mals, such as foxes on the Continent. ses have been reported in the those on right now,” Gov. Jay mised immune system. and requiring nonessential Seattle area, where resear- Inslee said. “Right now, we “There’s a lot of people staff to work remotely at Courtesy BBC News chers say the virus may have are deferring to the judgment who are talking about the least through the end of the been circulating undetected ... of these organizations.” economic cost of people for- month to lessen the chance for weeks. Vice President While some individual ced to pull out of Comic Con, of infection among patien- Mike Pence was expected to schools and businesses have but if we have an explosion ts with weakened immune meet with Washington Gov. shut down, the governor said of cases of coronavirus, the systems. Jay Inslee near Olympia on large-scale school closings economic cost is going to be School officials in Renton, Thursday. have not been ordered be- much higher,” Hayles said. south of Seattle, announced Seema Verma, head of the cause “there are so many ra- Comic Con’s organizer, that Hazen High School will federal Centers for Medica- mifications for families and Reedpop, announced that close for the rest of the week In context re and Medicaid Services, businesses,” especially for it would make an exception after a student tested positive said the agency is sending health care workers who mi- to its no-refunds policy for for the coronavirus. Online British quarantine laws were among the toughest in the world - although the 12 month quarantine period was later inspectors to Life Care along ght not be able to go to work those who want their money petitions urged officials to cut back to six. with experts from the Cen- because of child care respon- back, but said it remained close other schools on Seatt- Pressure for a change in the law mounted, as scientific ters for Disease Control and sibilities. committed to holding the le’s east side. advances made it possible to prove an animal was ra- Prevention to figure out what Local and state health offi- event unless local, state or The F5 technology com- bies-free. happened and determine cials have not recommended federal officials change their pany closed its 44-story The Pet Travel Scheme introduced in 2000 allowed do- mestic pets vaccinated against rabies and then fitted with whether the nursing home school closings unless the guidance. tower in downtown Seattle a microchip, and blood-tested six months before travel- followed guidelines for pre- schools have had a confir- Lakshmi Unni said that after learning an employee ling, to go abroad and return to Britain without going into venting infections. med case of the disease. she was keeping her son, an had been in contact with so- quarantine. Last April, the state fined “School closures have eighth-grader at Redmond meone who tested positive The scheme initially applied to Europe, Australia and Ja- Life Care $67,000 over in- been part of the pande- Middle School in Seattle’s for the virus. Outdoor recrea- pan. It is due to be extended to include pets entering the UK from the United States and Canada in 2003. fection-control deficiencies mic response kit for a long eastern suburbs, home and tion giant REI shut down its Animals not qualifying for the pet travel scheme still need following two flu outbreaks time,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, that she had urged the school Seattle-area operations for to be quarantined for six months. that affected 17 patients health officer for Seattle and board and principal to close. two days as a precaution. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 fri 06.03.2020 資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT

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YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom

Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 Mixing finances with friendship is Why are you trying to be everyone’s seldom a good idea, and that goes friend? It’s admirable that you want double for today! One of your most all people to like you, but it’s simply beloved people needs some money, impractical. Sometimes people get but, unfortunately, they don’t always on your nerves, and sometimes know how to handle it responsibly. (believe it or not) you get on theirs. Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 If someone tries to win you over When everyone contributes to their side by playing on your something to the event, then emotions today, ask them for facts everyone feels like they’re a part and figures to back it up. Get a of something special. Get ready little bit more skeptical and you’ll for some good laughs and a few start going a lot further. surprises. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Your feelings are definitely important They don’t think like you, they Beijing 11 clear to get a handle on, but you can’t don’t look like you, and they most -2 spend all your time in introspection. certainly don’t act like you. That’s Harbin -16 0 clear There are things you need to do, and why you can learn so much from you can’t waste time figuring out them. Expect at least one of your Tianjin 0 12 cloudy what’s in your heart right now. long-held beliefs to change. Urumqi -2 7 clear Libra Scorpio Xi’an 2 16 cloudy Lhasa -2 11 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 10 15 overcast Stepping outside your normal You may have just won an amazing Chongqing 11 16 overcast routine is a powerful way to victory, but try not to celebrate too remind yourself that your life is loudly or too long about it. You Kunming 8 20 cloudy a path you choose to take. You’re have to be careful not to irritate Nanjing 12 clear in control. You can change things people whose help you may need 2 up whenever you want. in the very near future. Shanghai 5 10 clear Wuhan 16 clear Sagittarius Capricorn 5 Medium Hard Hangzhou 4 12 cloudy Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 15 16 drizzle Let your emotions, alliances, and And don’t just complain about Guangzhou 13 18 overcast fears take a back seat right now. it to your friends or co-workers. Just let your brain look at things Make an appointment with the Hong Kong 16 19 cloudy more analytically. Once you do, person who can really make the you’ll see that not everything changes that you need. Stand up someone told you was the truth. for yourself. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow 2 6 cloudy Frankfurt 2 10 moderate rain Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 6 9 moderate rain If you hang out with unenthusiastic What you saw as visual noise now people today, you’re definitely becomes a beautiful symphony. London 2 10 drizzle going to be bored. Too much of Don’t take this special kind of today’s energy relies on the people insight for granted. Tune in to it. New York 0 9 drizzle you surround yourself with, so try It will lead you to a wonderful and to find the peppiest people possible! exciting new idea.

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SAMUEL PETREQUIN, BRUSSELS CYCLING FTER the team of champion withdrew from all races over the Tour champ Bernal’s team stops nextA three weeks, Astana became the latest outfit to stop racing on Thursday because of the virus ou- tbreak. racing amid virus outbreak The team managed by Alexan- dre Vinokourov said it decided to and Dutch team Jumbo-Visma withdraw from races for 15 days. announced it would skip Satur- “With this measurement, we AP PHOTO day’s Strade Bianche. have chosen to protect the health On Wednesday, the Ministry of of our riders and staff and to take Health in the United Arab Emira- our responsibility for the society tes announced that six more peo- in not further spreading the vi- ple with links to the UAE Tour that rus,” Vinokourov said. “Of course, was cut short last week have been we would have preferred to parti- infected with the virus that star- cipate in all upcoming races, but ted in China and has spread to 70 for now, it’s safety first.” countries. They were all linked to Team Ineos earlier said it noti- two previous cases involving Ita- fied cycling governing body UCI lians, the ministry said. of its decision to “withdraw tem- The last two stages of the UAE porarily from all racing” until the Tour were canceled on Feb. 28 af- Volta a Catalunya on March 23. ter two virus cases among team Ineos, the team of former Tour staff members. de France winners Ineos said it has a duty to pre- and , said it took serve the health of its staff and ri- the decision in the wake of sports ders “in what is a very fast moving director Nicolas Portal’s death this Ineos riders were scheduled to today because of this unique set Thursday they still plan to go and challenging situation. We week, and because of the “very compete at six races before Mar- of circumstances we are facing,” ahead with Paris-Nice. have taken the best medical ad- uncertain situation with corona- ch 23, including the prestigious Ineos manager In a sport involving constant vice and recognize that these are virus.” Strade Bianche, the week-long Pa- said. “It is right for the team gi- traveling across the world with exceptional times for everyone -- Portal, a former rider who tur- ris-Nice, and the famed one-day ven what has happened but I also cyclists very close to spectators beyond just cycling.” ned into a team official and hel- classic Milan-San Remo. Bernal believe it is in the best interests on open roads, the impact of the The UCI has so far stopped ped guide four-time Tour cham- was set to defend his Paris-Nice of both cycling and the wider pu- virus outbreak has been escala- short of canceling this month’s pion Froome and Bernal to vic- title from March 8. blic.” ting. This week, Australian outfit planned events, leaving authori- tory at the race, died suddenly at “We are taking this decision to Race organizers ASO, who also Mitchelton-Scott decided to with- ties in the concerned countries his home in Andorra on Tuesday. put a temporary pause on racing own the Tour de France, said on draw from racing until March 22, with the decision.AP

ad Anima co-leads petition for Portuguese the gov’t to ban greyhound racing BUZZ Animal rights groups – including Anima Macau – are calling on the Albano Martins, president and CEO of Anima Macau, told the Ti- Portuguese government to ban greyhound racing in Portugal. mes, “we are trying to have four organizations as leaders of the pro- In an online petition with Italy’s Pet Levrieri Onlus and GREY2K ject. [These organizations] were involved in saving the greyhounds USA, the groups remarked that there has been an increase in the pro- after the Macau Canidrome closed.” blems commonly associated with dog racing in jurisdictions where “There is only one formal track in Portugal. The others are informal the practice is tolerated. races and greyhounds are being used for illegal gambling. They are They noted that there was a greater number of abandoned dogs, an then just dumped when these [people] are not interested in them OPINION increase in the use of coercive and cruel training methods, and the anymore,” he added. spread of drugs. There are twenty Portuguese racing kennels currently in existence. Editorial According to the groups, greyhounds are now being treated as ‘ob- Macau’s only greyhound racing track was closed in July 2018 Paulo Coutinho jects’ for betting – used and abused, and then discarded. The groups following pressure from a sustained international campaign led by say racing is a activity with purely economic interests at its core. Anima Macau. LV Small ain’t pretty

The concept of the SME (Small and Me- dium Enterprises) in Macau should be used cautiously because over 80 percent of our UK airline Flybe AP PHOTO incorporations are actually small or micro, and most of them depend of one sector: collapses as virus hits tourism. I mean, it is too large a category to mix medium and small companies to- gether here because it leads to inaccurate weakened company OPEC The oil-producing assessment, and inappropriate and inade- countries of the OPEC quate public policies. cartel are proposing a deep production cut of In a crisis as deep as the financial debacle AP PHOTO 1.5 million barrels per day caused by the coronavirus epidemic, the- to support prices that se “small and micro enterprises” (sme) fall are sagging due to the like a castle of cards and their survival de- spread of the coronavirus. pends on vital emergency support. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan The so-called “emergency” measures an- Zangeneh (pictured) said nounced by the government to help SMEs at yesterday’s meeting so far, as exposed in a sequence of arti- in Vienna that the cut would be for the second cles by the Times, are simply inefficient to quarter of this year, and really support our weak economy beyond would be “subject to the gaming. acceptance” of non-OPEC The interest-free or subsidized loans are allies. Non-OPEC countries not the answer to solve the problems of join the meeting today. entrepreneurs that collapsed when China started sneezing. They need urgent support

if they are to survive. Most of these small AP PHOTO and micro ventures are dependent on the gaming sector - over 50% of GDP directly and 80% indirectly - or on the broader sec- DANICA KIRKA, LONDON ted in Italy, South Korea U.K. were a strong selling tor of tourism and entertainment. and Iran, spooking holi- point for the government. Several voices have already come out HE struggling British daymakers and sparking But the government’s ef- in public to assert that the measures are Mideast Iran says the Tairline Flybe collap- the cancellation of busi- forts were dogged by alle- new coronavirus has killed “sands to our eyes” and in no way help en- sed yesterday amid drops ness trips. gations from competitors 107 people amid 3,513 trepreneurs or companies in the harsh si- in demand caused by the The International Air that it had provided state confirmed cases across tuation we are in. new coronavirus, leaving Transport Association said aid to Flybe. the Islamic Republic. Lawmaker Pereira Coutinho and econo- passengers stranded and January saw the slowest “This is a sad day for Health Ministry spokesman mist Albano Martins are among those voi- threatening the viability monthly year-over-year U.K. aviation and we Kianoush Jahanpour made the announcement ces, and they both agree that exceptional of regional airports across growth since April 2010 know that Flybe’s deci- times require exceptional measures. They yesterday. There are now the country. - and that was before the sion to stop trading will over 3,150 cases of the both proposed, namely, a non-refundable Flybe’s fall highlights main impact of the virus be very distressing for all virus across the Mideast. one-off subsidy to help companies to pay the damage that the virus outbreak. United Airlines of its employees and cus- Of those outside Iran in the salaries for two to three months. And they outbreak has had on the said it will freeze hiring tomers,” said the chief region, most link back to are right. airline industry, which has and ask employees to vo- executive of the U.K. Ci- the Islamic Republic. Macau is probably the first economy in cut back on flights around lunteer for unpaid leave vil Aviation Authority, Ri- USA Facebook says it’s the world to fall victim to the coronavirus the world as people avoid as it struggles with weak chard Moriarty. outbreak. temporarily closing an flying out of precaution. demand. Finnair is enfor- A consortium of Virgin office in Seattle after a Precisely because beyond gaming we The British regional cing temporary layoffs for Atlantic, Stobart Group worker was diagnosed with have no sustainable businesses, and when airline narrowly avoided some 6,000 staff. and Cyrus Capital bou- the new virus. “A contractor revenue of the big-six fall 90% overnight, bankruptcy in January The disruption is ha- ght Flybe in February based in our Stadium East we are doomed. but had continued to lose ving the biggest effect on 2019. Known as Connect office has been diagnosed Thousands of small and micro companies money. Unions and oppo- companies that were per- Airways, it paid just 2.2 with the COVID-19,” the company said. “We’ve are collapsing – some have already filed for sition politicians attacked ceived as already weak fi- million pounds for Flybe’s bankruptcy, others may be on the verge of notified our employees and both the airline’s owners nancially. Norwegian Air assets but pledged to inject are following the advice it. and Prime Minister Boris Shuttle, which has strug- cash into the airline to turn of public health officials to In this group of sme, we should include Johnson’s government for gled to maintain the costs it around. prioritize everyone’s health our trade, the newspapers. From Chinese failing to act to save it. of operating a low-budget Flybe has struggled with and safety.” to Portuguese and English-language news “We’re all a bit gut- business model on long- a series of issues, inclu- outlets, most of the publishing companies ted - Flybe is a household -haul transatlantic flights, ding the weakening of the are small and short staffed.

name, we’ve been flying has seen its shares slide pound in light of Britain’s AP PHOTO And while we were one of the few groups of with them for 40 years and 55% since the start of the pending departure from professionals to keep working throughout we really tried to do every- virus outbreak, including the European Union. The the health crisis along with the frontline thing we could back at the a 12% drop Thursday. weaker pound hurts airli- workers, as is our duty, for seven weeks – turn of the year,’’ Transport Flybe’s network inclu- nes like Flybe that have sig- seven long weeks – we basically saw no in- Secretary Grant Shapps ded more than half of nificant costs in dollars but come, no ad money - which still pays the told Sky News. British domestic flights take in revenue in pounds. Hollywood The release of the James Bond film bills in our business model, and were put in Shapps said that for “an outside of London. Euro- The airline also was dire financial straits in the process. “No Time To Die” has already weak company,’’ pe’s largest regional car- struggling to pay its airline been pushed back several People’s health – I couldn’t agree more – the virus made survival rier, Flybe had a major passenger duty, a tax on months because of comes first and, to be fair, the government impossible. presence at airports such flights that many airline global concerns about has been doing a fairly good job in con- The U.K. Civil Aviation as Aberdeen, Belfast City, groups have long complai- coronavirus. MGM, taining the contagion and treating the sick. Authority urged customers Manchester and Sou- ned restricts growth. Universal and producers And lately, just this week, we are seeing to make “their own alterna- thampton, and flew some It is the second U.K.- Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli signs of tenuous support from the govern- tive travel arrangements. 9 million passengers a -based airline in six mon- ment and the gaming concessionaires. announced on Twitter that Airlines have struggled year. ths to fail after Thomas the film would be pushed But it’s too little. Let’s hope it isn’t too late. after a spike in new coro- Its links to some diffi- Cook went bust in Sep- back from its April release navirus cases were repor- cult-to-reach spots in the tember. AP to November 2020.