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CIVIL SERVANTS MAY BE ALLOWED COMMUNITY-SUPERMARKET JAPANESE DISCOUNT MEGA TO WORK AS TEMPORARY CHAIN STORE DONKI WILL OPEN LECTURERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTNERSHIP TO OFFER STRANDED ITS FIRST MACAU ESTABLISHMENT THE GOV’T PROPOSES WORKERS SUSTENANCE IN THE FAI CHI KEI DISTRICT P6 P4 P8

China Tan Weiwei’s forceful and shocking use of words is meant to draw attention to the issue of domestic violence and has struck a chord in China, where despite growing public awareness and anger, victims have a hard time getting justice. Across multiple social media GETS platforms, many are praising Tan for speaking out and calling attention MORE to something that many WONG do not discuss publicly. More on p14 P6 AP PHOTO POWER

South Korea has added more than 1,000 infections to its coronavirus caseload for the second straight day amid growing fears that the virus is spreading out of control in the greater capital area. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency yesterday said the COVID-19 death toll was now at 634 after 22 patients died in the past 24 hours, the deadliest day since the emergence of the pandemic. AP PHOTO

India’s Supreme Court yesterday suggested that the government consider delaying implementation of new agricultural reform laws to restore a dialogue with tens of thousands of protesting farmers SPACE who say the legislation will drive down crop World’s prices and devastate Celebrations their earnings. Chief achievements a Justice S.A. Bobde also bright spot in deferred a proposal week by the court to set stressful 2020 up a mediation panel P12,20 until justices receive Between the 21st MSAR Anniversary, the government’s Winter solstice and Christmas response and hear arguments from next week will definitely be in a lawyers representing the protesting farmers, celebratory mode – MDT presents its possibly next week. picks among what’s on

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STAFF REPORTER

HE pandemic has made life Thard for everyone in Macau and Here’s what you need to see abroad, but it cannot keep Christmas joy away from the city’s residents, and do this Christmas season who live in this haven free from Co- vid-19. The Times has rounded up Iao Hon and the Arrival Hall of Outer some festive events, performances, Harbour Ferry Terminal. markets, and shopping campaigns After dusk, Senado Square will be that can provide readers a much-nee- transformed into the perfect spot for ded dose of delight in these unprece- snacks and drinks nightly, and a live dented times of crisis. jazz show will jazz up the streets from 7-9 p.m. daily. Also, throughout De- SHOPPING: cember, MGM is organizing a series Grab one last chance to spoil you- of festive performances, including rself by snatching bargains through Children Ballet, orchestra perfor- these discount campaigns! The 10th mance by the Macao Orchestra, a Macau Shopping Festival, held from storytelling puppet show and more. December 1-31, features three acti- vities, including the “City-Wide Con- FUN: sumption Lucky Draw,” “Exclusive Macau’s first synthetic ice-ska- Warehouse Sales” and “Multiple Pay- ting rink for kids, the “Magic Rink” at ment Rewards,” with discounts and Broadway Macau, will allow you and lucky draws galore. your kids to skate on ice that is safe, dry and not cold. Professional skating CULTURE & ARTS: assistants will be there to help if you Don’t forget to make the most of want to up your game. Meanwhile, the holiday and broaden your cultu- locals can experience the outdoor ral and artistic horizons. snow park next to Macau Tower at The Travessa do Armazém Velho the “3rd Macao Winter Carnival” until Festival will turn Patio de Chon Sau December 27. There are also photo- into an Instagrammable spot every graphy areas, a kid’s world, and game weekend in December, where you will booths. see a red-white-blue recreation area with various ornaments. Meanwhile, MARKET: MGM is holding several Sino-Portu- Revel in the festive vibe at this guese experiences throughout De- year’s Christmas Market, to be held cember, including a daily free guided at Tap Seac Square from December tour and tile-painting workshops. On 19 to January 3. Highlights include December 25, the Macao Cultural stalls selling Christmas gifts and re- Centre Singing Club will perform fes- freshments, interactive shows, a mer- tive songs, and a street dance will be ry-go-round carnival and more. Also, performed by young dancers at the the 2020 Magnificent Carmo Market, Macao Cultural Centre. held from now until January 24 at Square of Feira do Carmo, features MUSIC & PERFORMANCES: a series of magic shows, music les- Until the end of December, piano sons, fancy rope skipping, kids street lovers can flex their muscles for free dances and more. It also has 13 boo- on the two pianos in public areas, the ths run by local SMEs selling snacks, Leisure Area in Rua Quatro do Bairro handicrafts and retro games.

Official events to be held in celebration of Handover Anniversary HE government will Due to this year’s Covid-19 sion, however. win prizes from the Palace near the Houses-Museums after most of the men were Thold several events on measures, the fireworks A large exhibition of Qing- Museum. in Taipa until January 3. killed in combat. and around December 20, display celebrating the 21st dynasty imperial costumes On December 17, locals Finally, today and tomor- The latter, which is con- in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the establish- has recently opened at the can celebrate the memorial row evening, the Macao sidered the highlight of the anniversary of the establish- ment of the Macau Special Macau Museum of Art. 90 event by attending the “Lis- Cultural Centre will stage pair of shows, plunges the ment of the Macau SAR. Administrative Region will sets of imperial Qing attire ten to the Voice of the Chi- two separate shows by the audience into a tale of in- The annual flag-raising be cancelled, authorities an- and accessories from the nese” Concert. The Macao China National Peking Ope- trigue and deception amid ceremony will be held at nounced last week. Palace Museum’s collection Chinese Orchestra will work ra Company, namely “Fe- a territorial power struggle. the Golden Lotus Plaza. The move was made to will be on display until Mar- with the choir of China’s Top male Generals of the Yang Inspired by a chapter of “Ro- Public participation will be avoid creating large crowds ch 14, 2021. National Orchestra Chorus Family” and “A Right Royal mance of the Three King- allowed, and an invite-only during the fireworks show During the exhibition pe- to present a Chinese folk Match.” doms,” the show depicts the reception will also be held. and to reduce the risk of ga- riod, a number of outreach music written during the The former is a story of moment Liu Bei, a historical Last year, President Xi thering. activities will also be held. Anti-Japanese War. feudal revenge set during character who rules the an- Jinping visited the SAR from The government is still Visitors who participate in The Municipal Affairs Bu- the Song dynasty, set in a cient city of Jingzhou, cros- December 18 to 20 to take organizing several other exhibition-related games reau will also display 30,000 time when military women ses the river only to fall into part in the ceremonies. events to celebrate the occa- will also have a chance to pots of chrysanthemum guarded their homeland a honey trap. AL

www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] Jackson, Anthony Lam, Daniel Beitler, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet Risdon, Linda ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, 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] +19,500 PokerStars, Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua For subscription and general issues: SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd Like us on facebook.com/mdtimes send newsworthy information and press releases to: [email protected] website: www.macaudailytimes.com.mo www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 3 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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Grand Lisboa cancels countdown Military Club art exhibition event highlights club’s 150-year history The Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (SJM) has announced that their ANTHONY LAM annual New Year’s Eve event and countdown HIS year’s Macau Artists’ Salon, to the year 2021 will Theld by the Macau Military Club be canceled this year. annually, will showcase the club’s In a statement to the a-century-and-a-half history, pre- press, SJM justified sented in photos and documents. the decision by using Five years into this annual art government guidelines exhibition, the organizing body, the for infection prevention Military Club, has decided to add a which include avoiding sub-exhibition to the overall event. large gatherings. In The sub-exhibition shows photos previous years, the before and after the renovation of annual event was held the club in 1994. The club is cele- at the Grand Lisboa brating its 150th anniversary this outdoor piazza. SJM said year. its aim was to “stand in There are several monochrome solidarity with the Macau photos showing balls that were held people in safeguarding in the club long ago. Participants the health and safety of at those balls were wearing white the community, and [to dresses and tuxedos, seated at long welcome] a bright new year.” tables surrounding a dance floor in the center. Quite a number of photos taken Chilly weather at the relaunching ceremony held to last until after the renovation of the club early next are also on display. These photos week at least captured the excitement at the a significant scale, with digging and art circles. For example, former pre- The curator of the exhibition, relaunching ceremony, with po- building occurring on the land plot. sident of the Cultural Affairs Bureau José Duarte, said at the opening ce- The Meteorological litical and business persons pre- Documents highlighting visits by and now professor at the Macau remony yesterday that it had been and Geophysics Bureau sent. For example, Vasco Joaquim iconic persons are also on display. University of Science and Techno- a hard year for many people, let recorded the lowest Rocha Vieira, the last governor of In the main exhibition, 50 artists logy, Ung Vai Meng, has provided a alone the curation team. On top of winter temperature of Macau; the late Mário Soares, the have been invited to show 50 works set of canvas paintings presented as the challenges brought by the pan- 2020 so far at 7 a.m. then Portuguese President; Macau – one by each – to forecast the ar- two hanging circles. demic, the curator added that the yesterday. The chilly SAR’s three Chief Executives so far, tistic future of the city. These works Meanwhile, artist Eric Fok, who team had spent several afternoons 10 degrees Celsius Edmund Ho, Chui Sai On and Ho are in various mediums, such as is known for drawing antique-style in the exhibition hall arranging the weather was caused by Iat Seng; as well as the late Stanley painting, photography and calligra- maps, has also provided a piece of artworks. an intense monsoon Ho. phy. work. Architect Lui Chak Keong and “We wanted to arrange them in from the north, which Other photos also showed the re- This part of the exhibition featu- calligrapher Aquino da Silva have such a way that they give you the will be complemented by novation of the club, which was of res several big names from the city’s also provided a work each. most enjoyment,” Duarte said. another tide of monsoon over the weekend. The weather will remain chilly, cloudy and dry until early next week at least, with STAFF REPORTER the temperature rising to 12 degrees Celsius at its HRISTMAS is arou- highest. Cnd the corner, but not Community-supermarket partnership everyone in Macau will be ‘Remastered’ blessed enough to rejoice to offer stranded workers sustenance basketball this festive season, espe- cially for hard-up non-re- cided to lend the commu- nos whose lives have been game officially sident workers who were nity a helping hand again. upended by Covid-19. released in dismissed and have been The couple has em- “This year is a challen- Korea, SARs, stranded in the city. barked on a partnership ging year. We wish to make and Taiwan According to a source with a local supermarket the end of this year a little of the Times who wishes group Supreme to run a less challenging for them,” Korean gaming producer to remain anonymous, donation campaign be- she added. Joycity announced the more than 100 non-resi- tween December 15 and The objective of the official release of the dent workers were let go 21 which calls on existing campaign is to raise pu- basketball game “3on3 by the city’s casino opera- Supreme customers to blic awareness about the Freestyle: Rebound” tors these last two weeks, give away the digital points suffering faced by stran- yesterday. The game meaning that more people earned from their previous ded Filipino workers who was available in South in Macau — most of them purchases and turn them have been laid off by local Korea, Taiwan, and both Filipinos — have been hit into vouchers. enterprises, hotels and ca- Macau and Hong Kong by the double whammy of through gaming platform “We reached out to Su- sinos, and to show them Steam. The game is a PC unemployment and being preme in November, and that “society does really remaster of the famous stranded in the city, as its owner came up with care about them,” explai- “3on3 FreeStyle” game, there are no direct flights this creative way to raise ned Cynthia De Haas. which won over millions from Macau to their home funds,” Cynthia De Haas For several months, the of fans and console countries. told the Times. couple have been giving players all over the globe. One philanthropic fa- The couple will use the alms to affected Filipino With the game now mily, couple Michael and donated vouchers to pur- workers who were forced released in South Korea, Cynthia De Haas, have chase food and essential to take leave without pay. Hong Kong, Taiwan and been providing a service items, which will be deli- The relief started with daily Macau, local players can for sacked Filipino migrant vered as hampers on De- meals before progressing Macau had 5,201 Filipi- down 15.2% year-on-year, join the worldwide craze workers since February cember 23 and 24 to a total to loan payments later. nos working in the ho- from the 6,133 recorded in surrounding the game. this year and they have de- of 50 unemployed Filipi- As of end-October, tel and restaurant sector, the same month last year. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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EDUCATION Non-teaching civil servants may be allowed to work as temporary teachers

JULIE ZHU

HE Macau SAR gover- Tnment has proposed allowing civil servants who are not teachers to work in public schools as lecturers, according to the Third Stan- ding Committee of Legisla- Additional tive Assembly (AL). Yesterday, a group of hi- Secretary of gh-ranking government Security powers officials from the cultural affairs and education sector approved informed the AL committee of the aforementioned pro- unanimously posal. The proposal is a new education level, or there Affairs and Culture said that Vong explained. without remarks prescription added to the are other situations which she has not heard about In addition to the afore- recently-passed amend- suddenly lead to a shor- giving any approval during mentioned topics, mem- RENATO MARQUES ment of law No.67/99/M, tage of teachers, these are her one-year tenure as the bers of the Third Standing which concerns teaching the exceptions,” Vong Hin Secretary,” said Vong. Committee of the AL also HE Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary has appro- professionals in public Fai said, citing the govern- The Secretary for Social raised questions regarding Tved, unanimously and without any remarks, schools under the admi- ment’s explanation. Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao teachers’ evaluation com- amendments to two laws which the government su- nistration of the Education “However, what is the Ieong U, and the Director of mittee, and teachers’ con- ggested improving to make them consistent with the and Youth Affairs Bureau recruitment procedure? DSEJ, Lou Pak Sang, were tinuing training. According new Civil Protection Law that was approved in early (DSEJ). Who chooses the teachers? present at the meeting yes- to the government, these August this year. The new article proposes How to choose the tea- terday. matters will be regulated by The newly-amended laws for Internal Security that non-teaching-related chers? Who makes the call During the meeting, the other administrative regu- and of the Unitary Police Service (SPU) grant addi- civil servants could be hi- to judge when there is such officials revealed that this lations, which are currently tional powers to the Secretary for Security, Wong Sio red as part-time teachers necessity [for exceptional law is also applicable to tea- still unavailable and being Chak, who will now oversee the overall operation and or could be hired to teach hiring]?” Vong asked, ci- chers serving the Correc- worked upon by the gover- command of the civil protection structure. in public schools for a fixed ting the opinions voiced tional Services Bureau, the nment. The bills were finally approved with all votes in favor time. However, the unique by other lawmakers of the Cultural Affairs Bureau and “The committee was yesterday afternoon, in a plenary session that lasted employment arrangement Third Standing Committee the Social Affairs Bureau. concerned about the less than 15 minutes. None of the lawmakers made any may only occur under one of the AL. Teachers of the Labour evaluation body. Is it going remarks, comments, or even vote declarations. condition – when teachers’ According to Vong, the Affairs Bureau are not regu- to be a committee or is it The two interlinked law amendments were sche- resources do not meet the judgement call will be lated by this law, it was ex- going to be formed by one duled to be approved together and will also enter into demands of the education made by the Secretary for plained. “The government person only?” asked Vong. force concurrently on February 1, 2021. institution. Social Affairs and Culture, uses other methods of em- Vong quoted the govern- The amendments were prompted by the new Civil “For instance, when hu- with the DSEJ director ha- ployment, such as ‘purcha- ment and said that the au- Protection Law, which entered into force on Septem- man resources show an ex- ving to first make a propo- se of labour’ or ‘purchase of thority would listen to the ber 15. It outlined that the role of joint commander will ceptional shortage in public sal. service’ to hire teachers for relevant stakeholders’ opi- be a facility of the Secretary for Security. They will be schools at the secondary “The Secretary for Social the Labour Affairs Bureau,” nions on these topics. assisted in the post by the Commissioner-General of the SPU, Leong Man Cheong, and will report directly to the Chief Executive. Among the additional competencies now assigned to Wong are the capacity to make decisions and to mobilize public resources in case of natural disasters, catastrophes, and other events that relate to public se- Lobo Vilela resigns from government curity. PAULO COUTINHO on Macau gaming law in The Internal Security Law also redefines the classifi- the English language. The cation of the security forces, abolishing the separation AWYER and legal ex- books aim to provide insi- between militarized and non-militarized divisions, Lpert on gaming, António ghts and facilitate access to specifically for the member departments of the inter- Lobo Vilela, 48, will leave a significant amount of un- nal security force. the government by the end compiled information for a Since the government decided on the removal of of the year of his own voli- wide range of readers, espe- the classification of militarized forces, all departmen- tion. cially those with a profes- ts within the internal security structure will be, from Vilela tendered his resig- sional or academic interest now on, collectively referred to as public institutions nation on September 26 be- in obtaining detailed know- making up the internal security system. cause he has “other projects ledge of the local gaming As mentioned in the presentation by the Chairmen in mind” which are not ne- industry’s regulations. of both AL Standing Committees that discussed the cessarily related to his law The sales are doing “very bills in detail, the number of articles amended is few practice, though he intends well, especially in the Hong and consensus was gained among the government to resume early next year, Kong market,” Vilela said. and the members of the First and Third Standing Com- he told the Times yesterday. Furthering his academic launched a monumental Vilela suspended his law mittees. “I have been presented career is on top of his list. annotated 4-volume collec- practice before he was hi- Other minor amendments made on this occasion with a number of oppor- Vilela is currently under- tion titled “Macau Gaming red as legal adviser to the included an update to the official names of the Civil tunities which are very in- taking a masters in gaming Law: Annotated with Com- Secretary of Economy and Aviation Authority, Port Authority of Macau, the Muni- teresting to me and which law with the University of ments” earlier this month. Finance on January 1, 2016. cipal Affairs Bureau, and Macau Prisons, as well as the I would like to pursue,” he Nevada Online. The series is the first His last day at the office will designation of all relevant departments, entities, and added. The veteran legal expert comprehensive publication be on December 31. their leading bodies. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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TUI dismisses CRIME final appeal for Nam Van land plots Police crack down on fake The Court of Final Appeal (TUI) has decided to employment arrangements dismiss all the appeals submitted from former JULIE ZHU concessionaires of nine land HE Judiciary Police (PJ) plots located at the “Closing of the Nam Van Bay” area, Thave cracked down a lar- the Office of the President ge fake employment operation, of the TUI informed. The apprehending a total of 17 sus- AGENCY PHOTO MACAU decisions were made pects, according to a report by between November 27 TDM. and December 4 and have In total, there are eight local now been made public, suspects, including four ringlea- confirming previous ders, and nine Vietnamese sus- decisions from the courts pects, all female domestic hel- that ruled in favor of the pers. decision of the Chief Police information shows that Executive, who ordered three employment agencies are the reclaiming of the land suspected of fake employment plots due to the expiration practices, two of which have al- The company is said to steal DSAL REITERATES authority combines the informa- of the concessions that ready suspended operations and its customers’ information in or- EMPLOYMENT POLICIES tion and supporting documents had a deadline of 25 years one of which has been cracked der to process the employment After the PJ reported the case submitted by the applicant with for the usage of the lands. down upon by the PJ. status. Some of the employers yesterday, the Labour Affairs Bu- past violation records and other The decision means all nine This particular agency is ac- were said to provide help volun- reau (DSAL) issued a statement re- factors. land plots, which have a cused of assisting over 100 Viet- tarily. The eight locals who were garding employment policies. According to law No.32/94/M total area of approximately namese nationals to stay in Ma- apprehended also used their own “DSAL expresses great concern regarding the operation and licen- 56,000 square meters, will cau under a fake employment identity for fake employment. regarding the case and is following sing of employment agencies, the return to the possession of arrangement. The company is For each rendered service, the up the case with the Judiciary Poli- government has the right to revoke the executive. suspected of engaging in appro- company charged each indivi- ce,” the statement reads. the license of an employment agen- ximately four years of illicit ope- dual 4,000 to 5,000 patacas. The “DSAL hereby reiterates that cy which carries out criminal ope- Law firm hires rations between 2016 and April police authority estimated a to- non-resident domestic workers rations. legal tech 2020. tal of over 500,000 patacas profit assist their employers with daily In June, a total of 10 Macau local to reinforce The police authority suspects from the four-year operation. household chores, and applicants residents became suspects in the digital economy the company of assisting these Over the past two days, the PJ [employers] must apply for hiring a case of an organized fake employ- apprehended these suspects, fin- domestic helper according to their ment business. capabilities Vietnamese nationals to stay in Macau when they have alrea- ding the 17 people in a total of 10 real conditions and actual needs.” The Public Security Police Force Local law firm MdME dy been fired from their jobs. In apartments. DSAL examines and approves accused one local man of assisting Lawyers has announced most situations, the individuals The PJ have already remanded an application based on various foreigners in becoming employed, that Victoria White has been work as cleaners or waiters and all 17 of them to the prosecution criteria, especially specific family presumably as domestic helpers, hired as Special Counsel and waitresses when they are only le- authority under the charge of circumstances. for over two years. In this case, the Technology Expert Lawyer. gally allowed to work as domes- document forgery and forming a When the bureau considers is- employee paid between 6,000 and The hiring was supported by tic helpers. criminal group. suing an approval, the labor affairs 17,500 patacas to the employers. the firm’s aim of enhancing its capabilities in the digital economy, emerging technologies, and data solutions. White has 10 years’ experience in law, having previously worked Club D2 to close doors at end of year in the Intellectual Property LUB D2 at Fisher- pandemic and border re financial damage this tourism will return next ship which will remain & Information Technology man’s Wharf will clo- group of Freshfields C control measures which year, after a shutdown year, we are forced to clo- open for now. Bruckhaus Deringer in Hong se its doors at the end of have barred tourists from period enforced by the se,” he explained. “The local workers Kong, Beijing, and London. this year, Portuguese lan- Macau. government and long The closure of the esta- will be relocated to The new Special Counsel guage newspaper Hoje “We decided to close months with almost no blishment will also mean D3, but non-resident and Technology Expert will Macau reported, citing after December 31,” Coe- clients. around 30 non-resident workers will be left wi- mostly focus on the use the owner of the venue, lho said to Hoje Macau, For Coelho, rents play workers of different na- thout a job. We have no and regulation of digital- Francisco Coelho. noting that the possibili- the most relevant role tionalities will be let go. other option as at the first technologies, data According to Coelho, ty of a reopening in futu- in the business and sin- Meanwhile, resident moment – it is not pos- optimization solutions, as the decision to finally re is very uncertain. ce “rents have not been workers will be relocated sible to transfer them well as e-/social commerce close the club’s doors is Coelho noted that the lowered and I can’t see to D3 club, another club from one to another and digital payments. the result of the Covid-19 club has suffered seve- any positive sign that under Coelho’s owner- workplace,” he said. RM

Japanese retailer Don Quijote slated for 2021 Macau debut APANESE discount store will be located in Building, its subsidiaries operates nearly 200 outlets Merchandise sold by example, it built an ellip- Jmega chain store Don the newly-built residen- in Japan. The company is across Japan, as well as in the retailer varies between tical Ferris wheel on top of Quijote will open its first tial estate of Trust Leisure trying to expand its pre- Singapore, Bangkok, Hong locations, but ranges from one of its Osaka stores, as Macau establishment in Garden, which is being de- sence in East Asia, and Kong and California. ready-to-wear clothing, to well as a roller coaster abo- the Fai Chi Kei District, veloped by local company collaborations with Japa- Boasting a mega floor food, jewelry, household ve one of its Tokyo stores. Japanese newspaper The Trust Development Ltd. nese partners may be pos- area and a wide range of products, cosmetic goods, For its store in Central, Macau Shimbun recently The company also owns sible. goods, the brand has ear- tools, as well as sporting Hong Kong, the brand reported. the Holiday Inn Express in More popularly known ned its popularity since its gear, party supplies and used a treasure mining A source close to the Macau. as Don Don Donki or sim- premiere in March 1989. electronic products. The concept in its decorations. matter who asked to re- The developer has also ply Donki throughout its Its predecessor brand was brand is known for utili- It is still unknown whether main anonymous told just inaugurated Totsu various locations, the Ja- founded in September zing gimmicky elements the Macau store will have a the Times that the Macau Real Property and Totsu panese retailer currently 1980. to attract attention. For particular theme. AL www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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S a leader, pioneer and innovator in premium travel, leisure and enter- tainment, Melco Resor- tsA & Entertainment dynamically supports government policies promoting Responsible Gaming (RG). The Company contributes to the city’s sustainable develo- pment with its award-winning three-pronged system offering a comprehensive framework to im- plement initiatives developed for RG; including process and tech- nology, community engagement and employee education. To instill the culture that RG is inherent to everyone’s role, to date, the Company has had more than 100,000 colleague participants join its RG activities. Notably, due to this year’s COVI- D-19-related social distancing measures where RG activities at employee-only Heart-of-House areas had to be kept to a mini- mum, Melco has made even grea- ter efforts to proactively engage colleagues through various alter- native channels such as mobile participation – and in 2020, saw 100% increase in its colleague participant numbers over its 2019 figures. Melco introduced its advanced level RG training in September 2017 and this year launched an Melco instills responsible gaming online interactive version to in- crease accessibility and flexibility for colleagues. To date, more than 11,000 colleagues from across culture for colleagues and community Melco’s global operations have completed the training. Furthermore, with the Com- pany’s annual RG event suspen- ded due to the pandemic, an online quiz was rolled out for all colleagues, with a recorded at- tendance of over 24,000 partici- pants. Those with the best scores entered a prize draw, with the first prize winner receiving attractive rewards including hotel stays and a dining and spa experience at Morpheus. To further enhance colleagues’ Ms. Ian Fong, City of Dreams To promote the Government’s Gaming Employees Home to host the message of RG to members of knowledge and refresh their un- Gaming Machines Shift Manager, RG message “Lost Control, Lose RG board game activities in-hou- the community, Melco volunteers derstanding of RG, Melco also who recently participated in the Family”, the Company hosted its se to provide related knowledge also supported local NGOs to de- launched the annual RG refresher RGA Program, said, “I am thrilled RG awareness month with game to colleagues through interactive liver leaflets and explain the RG training for gaming employees to have learnt a lot of RG knowle- booths set up across Melco’s fun. Gaming Employees Home is concept to visitors and residents this year, going beyond the go- dge through the RGA course, such properties in November, inclu- also holding a quarterly RG road- in November. vernment-required biennial re- as the history of gaming in Macau, ding at City of Dreams, Studio show at Melco’s Heart-of-House With RG being a top priority for fresher. Melco has also been im- details on self-exclusion, and how City, Altira and Mocha, and saw areas to provide colleagues with Melco, the Company continues plementing its RG monthly focus to deal with anxious customers. over 4,000 participants join the- counseling services. Furthermo- to promote and raise awareness information for colleagues, with These all help to increase my con- se activities. re, Macau Youth Volunteer As- of RG both internally and exter- relevant details being posted fidence in my operational work. I With community partner colla- sociation were invited to run an nally through its best-in-class and on Heart-of-House area notice will continue to represent Melco borations being core to its approa- RG promotion roadshow in the pre-emptive strategies to benefit boards and shared through the and myself to promote RG to per- ch to corporate social respon- Company’s Heart-of House area a healthier and more sustainable internal Melco App. sons in need.” sibility, this year, Melco invited in September. To directly promote society. Additionally, the Melco RG Am- bassador (RGA) Program helps se- lect front line managers enhance their RG knowledge for providing support to patrons, including the provision of information on the availability of counseling servi- ces and referrals, and assisting patrons on self-exclusion appli- cations. Globally to date, Melco has more than 600 qualified RG Ambassadors who are available onsite 24/7, and who serve as de- partmental contact points for all RG related issues. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 11 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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Recovery crew members film the capsule of the Chang’e 5 probe after its successful landed in Siziwang district, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region yesterday

on conditions that could affect a SPACE future extended stay by humans on the moon. The moon has been a parti- Chinese capsule returns to cular focus of the Chinese space program, which says it plans to land humans there and possibly Earth carrying moon rocks construct a permanent base. No timeline or other details have KEN MORITSUGU, BEIJING “As our nation’s mostly com- Recovery crews had prepared about the history of the moon be- been announced. plex and technically grou- helicopters and off-road vehicles tween roughly 1 billion and three China also has joined the ef- Chinese lunar capsule retur- ndbreaking space mission, to home in on signals emitted by billion years ago, Brad Jolliff, di- fort to explore Mars. In July, it Aned to Earth yesterday with Chang’e 5 has achieved multiple the lunar spacecraft and loca- rector of the McDonnell Center launched the Tianwen 1 probe, the first fresh rock samples from technical breakthroughs [...] and te it in the darkness shrouding for the Space Sciences at Washin- which was carrying a lander and the moon in more than 40 years, represents a landmark achieve- the vast snow-covered region in gton University in the U.S. city of a robot rover to search for water. offering the possibility of new in- ment,” it said. China’s far north, long used as a St. Louis, wrote in an email. They In 2003, China became the sights into the history of the solar Two of the Chang’e 5’s four landing site for China’s Shenzhou may also yield clues as to the third country to send an astro- system and marking a new land- modules set down on the moon crewed spaceships. availability of economically use- naut into orbit on its own after mark for China’s rapidly advan- on Dec. 1 and collected about 2 The spacecraft’s return ful resources on the moon such the Soviet Union and the United cing space program. kilograms of samples by scoo- marked the first time scientists as concentrated hydrogen and States and its space program has The capsule of the Chang’e 5 ping them from the surface and have obtained fresh samples of oxygen, Jolliff said. proceeded more cautiously than probe landed just before 2 a.m. drilling 2 meters into the moon’s lunar rocks since the former So- “These samples will be a trea- the U.S.-Soviet space race of the (1800 GMT Wednesday) in the Si- crust. The samples were deposi- viet Union’s Luna 24 robot probe sure trove!” Jolliff wrote. “My hat 1960s, which was marked by fa- ziwang district of the Inner Mon- ted in a sealed container that was in 1976. is off to our Chinese colleagues talities and launch failures. By golia region, the China National carried back to the return modu- The newly collected rocks are for pulling off a very difficult mis- taking incremental steps, China Space Administration reported. le by an ascent vehicle. thought to be billions of years sion; the science that will flow appears on the path toward bui- The capsule had earlier sepa- Much to the amusement of younger than those obtained from analysis of the returned lding a program that can sustain rated from its orbiter module and viewers, footage run by state earlier by the U.S. and former samples will be a legacy that will steady progress. performed a bounce off Earth’s broadcaster CCTV showed a fur- Soviet Union, offering new in- last for many, many years, and The latest flight includes col- atmosphere to reduce its speed ry white animal, possibly a fox or sights into the history of the hopefully will involve the inter- laboration with the European before passing through and floa- rodent, running in front of the moon and other bodies in the national community of scientis- Space Agency, which is helping ting to the ground on parachutes. capsule as it lay on the ground, solar system. They come from a ts.” to monitor the mission. Amid Following recovery, the capsu- stopping briefly as if to inquire part of the moon known as the Chang’e 5 blasted off from a concerns over the Chinese space le and its cargo of samples were into the unfamiliar object. Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean launch base in China’s southern program’s secrecy and close mili- flown to the space program’s cam- Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in of Storms, near a site called the island province of Hainan on tary connections, the U.S. forbids pus in Beijing to begin the pro- a statement read out at the Bei- Mons Rumker that was believed Nov. 24 and appeared to have cooperation between NASA and cess of disassembly and analysis, jing Aerospace Control Center, to have been volcanic in ancient completed its highly technically the CNSA unless Congress gives the space administration said. called it a major achievement times. sophisticated mission without a its approval. That has prevented The mission achieved new that marked a great step forward As with the 382 kilograms of lu- hitch. China from taking part in the In- firsts for the lunar exploration for China’s space industry. Xi nar samples brought back by U.S. It marked China’s third suc- ternational Space Station, some- program in collecting samples, expressed hope that mission astronauts from 1969 to 1972, cessful lunar landing but the thing it has sought to compen- launching a vehicle from the participants would continue to they will be analyzed for age and only one to lift off again from the sate for with the launching of an moon’s surface and docking it contribute toward building Chi- composition and are expected to moon. Its predecessor, Chang’e 4, experimental space station and with the capsule to return the na into a major space power and be shared with other countries. became the first probe to land on plans to complete a permanent samples to Earth, the administra- national rejuvenation, state-run The age of the samples will the moon’s little-explored far side orbiting outpost within the next tion said. Xinhua News Agency said. help fill in a gap in knowledge and continues to send back data two years. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 13 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Luckin Coffee to pay $180 TAN WEIWEI million fine in fraud case Forceful lyrics HINA’S Luckin Coffee on domestic Chas agreed to pay a $180 million penalty to settle ac- AP PHOTO counting fraud charges, the violence strike Securities and Exchange Commission says. The SEC charged the com- chord in China pany with defrauding inves- UARREL, rape, adultery. Tricky, greedy, sy- tors by misstating its revenue, Qcophantic. Chinese singer Tan Weiwei chan- expenses, and net operating ts each word methodically in a two-line string of loss to appear to have been vulgarities and insults. more profitable and growing The 16 words in her new song share something faster than it actually was, in common: The character for woman, “nu,” is and to meet the company’s part of the Chinese character for each word. earnings estimates. Tan’s forceful and shocking use of these words Luckin Coffee outlet in a shopping mall in Beijing The Chinese rival to Star- — often used to disparage women — is meant to bucks fabricated more than draw attention to the issue of domestic violence $300 million in retail sales, fset by payments made to CEO said in a statement. dulent accounting was oc- and has struck a chord in China, where despi- the SEC said in a statement. its investors as a result of The SEC said some Luckin curring, the company raised te growing public awareness and anger, victims It said the misconduct con- bankruptcy and restructu- employees tried to hide the more than $864 million from have a hard time getting justice. tinued from April 2019 until ring proceedings under way fraud by logging inflated ex- debt and equity investors, the Across multiple social media platforms, many January 2020. in the Cayman Islands. penses and entering false in- SEC complaint alleged. are praising Tan for speaking out and calling at- Luckin’s shares traded Luckin said the settlement formation in the company’s Luckin opened its first sto- tention to something that many do not discuss on the NASDAQ until July would allow re in Beijing several publicly. 13, 2020. They now trade on the company years ago, challen- Her song, “Xiao Juan,” refers to some recent the OTC Pink board, or Pink to continue The SEC said the China ging Starbucks’ high-profile cases that have sparked national dis- Open Market, the most spe- with its busi- Securities Regulatory stronghold in the cussion and calls for better legal protection. culative tier for trading of ness strategy Chinese market by In September, a young Tibetan woman died af- over-the-counter stocks. In after coope- Commission and the delivering coffee ter her ex-husband came after her with gasoline early January, its share price rating with ordered using a and set her on fire while she was broadcasting a was about $50. That plunged the SEC and Swiss Financial Market mobile phone app. livestream from her kitchen. In October, a video to well below $10 per share making reme- Supervisory Authority The company was circulated of a man in Shanxi apparently bea- when it announced the ac- diation. founded in 2017 ting his wife to death while bystanders stood by counting scandal in April. “The Com- cooperated with the and is based in the looking on. The SEC and Luckin said pany’s board of southeastern city “With fists, with kerosene, with acid [...] the company had not ad- directors and investigation of Xiamen, accor- Flushed down the sewer, from the marriage hou- mitted to or denied the alle- management ding to its website. se to sinking in the riverbed,” Tan sings. “Impriso- gations but agreed to a se- are committed to a system of accounts. The fraud was dis- The SEC said the China Se- ned my body and cut my tongue, silently weaving ttlement, subject to court strong internal financial con- covered during an audit and curities Regulatory Commis- tears into the silk and brocade.” approval, that includes the trols, and adhering to best the company reported the si- sion and the Swiss Financial Victims of domestic violence in the country payment of a $180 million practices for compliance and tuation and cooperated with Market Supervisory Authority frequently have little recourse to finding justice penalty. corporate governance,” Jinyi the SEC, it said. also cooperated with the in- and reporting is low. China only passed a law spe- The amount could be of- Guo, Luckin’s chairman and During the time the frau- vestigation. MDT/AP cifically criminalizing domestic violence in 2015. The state-run All-China Women’s Federation estimates that about one in three married Chine- se women will experience domestic violence. Yet in 2018, the federation only logged 39,371 official HONG KONG reports from the nation’s estimated 270 million families. Financial authorities unveil plan for In recent years more women have been willing to speak up. With the spread of the global #Me- climate disclosures, stress tests Too movements, dozens of young Chinese wo- men brought public accusations of sexual haras- ONG Kong’s two main expected to be published in sment against high-profile men, with some even Hfinancial authorities mid-2021. bringing the accusations to court. That boldness, outlined a plan for increased HKMA is preparing a pilot however, has yet to transfer to cases of domestic BLOOMBERG climate disclosures and ste- climate risk stress test in 2021 violence. pped up management of risks to check the resilience of the On Weibo, a widely used microblogging plat- linked to climate change for banking sector while SFC pro- form, a hashtag called “Tan Weiwei’s song lyrics banks and fund managers in poses large fund managers are really brave” has been viewed more than 340 the city. will be required to assess the million times, far more than the 5.2 million views The city’s financial sector’s resilience of their investments for the song’s music video. Many observed that contribution to climate is to climate related risk. her song could be linked to real cases of deaths “much, much” bigger than its Hong Kong companies reported in news media. territorial size would suggest are “just getting started” on Tan’s latest album 3811, tells different women’s given its role in facilitating complying with climate-rela- stories through 11 songs, from a Tang-dynasty fe- flows to and from mainland ted financial disclosures, said male poet to a 12-year old girl named Aguo who China and internationally, ac- mainland China businesses” the Hong Kong Monetary Au- Alder. While some companies marries a tree in a ritual ceremony to transition cording to Ashley Alder, chief and asset managers investing thority (HKMA) and the SFC comply, it’s now a “question of to a woman. But it’s, “Xiao Juan,” the last song on executive officer at the Securi- across the region, he said. said in a joint statement. how to evolve them.” the album, with its tribute to victims of domestic ties and Futures Commission, The plan calls for aligning According to the autho- Michael Bloomberg, the violence that’s garnered the most attention. Hong Kong’s top regulator. Hong Kong with the Task rities, it will aim to adopt founder and majority sha- Tan demands that these victims be remem- “The footprint of Hong Force on Climate-Related Fi- standards through so-called reholder of Bloomberg LP, the bered not as “Xiao Juan,” which is similar to Jane Kong’s markets is enormous,” nancial Disclosures to make common ground taxonomy, parent company of Bloom- Doe, or other anonymous names that are often he said in a phone interview disclosures mandatory across which is being developed by berg News, is the chair of used in media or police reports. yesterday. “In particular, it’s relevant sectors no later than the International Sustaina- the disclosure task force. “Our names are not ‘Xiao Juan,’” she sings. the place with a heavy bias to 2025, a group co-chaired by ble Finance Platform and is MDT/BLOOMBERG “Know my name. Remember my name.” AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 15 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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AFGHANISTAN ground are now starting to do thin- gs that are not conducive to peace talks and reconstruction and sta- bility,” Miller said, adding, “Clearly, US Joint Chiefs chairman meets the Taliban use violence as leve- rage” against the Afghan govern- ment. with Taliban on peace talks Miller said he is executing HE top U.S. general held unan- Trump’s order to reduce U.S. forces Tnounced talks with Taliban from 4,500 to 2,500 by Jan. 15, just peace negotiators in the Persian AP PHOTO days before Joe Biden is sworn in Gulf to urge a reduction in violence as Trump’s successor. Miller said across Afghanistan, even as senior troop levels are now at about 4,000 American officials in Kabul warned and will reach the 2,500 target on that stepped-up Taliban attacks time. endanger the militant group’s nas- Biden has not said publicly cent peace negotiations with the whether he will continue the draw- Afghan government. down or how he will proceed with Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chair- the Doha agreement negotiated man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met by Trump’s peace envoy, Zalmay for about two hours with Taliban Khalilzad. negotiators in Doha, Qatar, on Biden has not laid out a detailed Tuesday and flew yesterday [Ma- plan for Afghanistan but has made cau time] to Kabul to discuss the clear he prefers a small U.S. mili- peace process with Afghan Presi- Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley (left) and Gen. Scott Miller, the commander of U.S. and coalition tary footprint and limited goals. dent Ashraf Ghani. forces in Afghanistan, Kabul He has acknowledged that he dis- Milley’s meetings came amid a sented from then-President Bara- new drawdown of U.S. troops, al- Doha, had not been reported until dahar, and against roadways and down to zero troops by May 2021 ck Obama’s decision in December though under current U.S. policy a now. other infrastructure. if the agreement’s conditions are 2009 to vastly increase troop levels complete pullout hinges on the Ta- Although Milley reported no “My assessment is, it puts the upheld. One condition is a reduc- in hope of forcing the Taliban to the liban reducing attacks nationwide. breakthrough, his Taliban meetin- peace process at risk — the higher tion in violence by the Taliban, lea- peace table. “The most important part of the gs represent a remarkable milesto- the violence, the higher the risk,” ding to a nationwide ceasefire. The “I think we should only have discussions that I had with both ne — America’s top general coming Miller said. Miller meets at least Taliban also agreed to begin peace troops there to make sure that it’s the Taliban and the government face-to-face with representatives of once a month with Taliban nego- negotiations with the Afghan go- impossible for... ISIS or al-Qaida of Afghanistan was the need for the group that ruled Afghanistan tiators as part of Washington’s effort vernment, which are in an early to re-establish a foothold there,” an immediate reduction in vio- until it was ousted 19 years ago this to advance a peace process. stage. Biden told CBS News in February. lence,” Milley told three reporters, month in the early stages of what Speaking in the same interview, The Taliban have demanded a Trump has argued for with- including one from The Associa- became America’s longest war. Ross Wilson, the ranking American halt to U.S. airstrikes, which have drawing entirely from Afghanistan ted Press, who accompanied him Milley served three tours of duty in diplomat in Kabul, said he also sees been conducted since February but was persuaded in November to Qatar and Afghanistan. “Every- Afghanistan, the first in 2003 and growing risk from Taliban violence. only in support of Afghan forces to reduce the force to 2,500 and thing else hinges on that.” the last in 2013-14. He said it has created “an unbeara- under Taliban attack. continue the current missions of Under ground rules set by Milley Army Gen. Scott Miller, the top ble burden” on the Afghan armed Miller said he was saddened by counterterrorism and training and for security reasons, the journalists commander of U.S. and coalition forces and the society as a whole. what he called the Taliban’s deli- advising Afghan forces. traveling with him agreed not to forces in Afghanistan, said in an In the so-called Doha agree- berate campaign to damage roa- Some believe that the further report on either set of talks until interview at his military headquar- ment signed last February by the dways, bridges and other infras- thinning of U.S. forces in coming he had departed the region. It was ters in Kabul that the Taliban have United States and the Taliban, the tructure as part of the militants’ weeks could lead to renewed Taliban Milley’s second unannounced stepped up attacks on Afghan for- administration of President Do- effort to limit the Afghan govern- gains on the battlefield and a weake- meeting with the Taliban’s negotia- ces, particularly in the southern nald Trump agreed to a phased ment’s ability to reinforce its troops. ning of the Afghan government’s po- ting team; the first, in June, also in provinces of Helmand and Kan- withdrawal of U.S. troops, going “Military commanders on the sition at the peace table. AP

PANDEMIC India seeks to mend Bangladesh ties with vaccine diplomacy NDIA reassured Bangla- minister Asaduzzaman tries signed seven agree- nalizing an interim deal in Idesh it will prioritize the Khan had both called ments relating to trade, September. supply of Covid-19 shots to off visits after nationwide energy and agriculture. An- The “long-drawn failu- its South Asian neighbor, BLOOMBERG protests erupted in India nual trade between India re to sign the Teesta river part of its vaccine outreach against its new citizen law. and Bangladesh stood at water agreement” and the to counter China’s rising in- The new law fast-tracks $10.25 billion in the fiscal new citizenship law have fluence in the region. Indian citizenship for non- year ended March 2019, together “unsettled public India’s Prime Minister -Muslims from three nei- Indian government data opinion in Bangladesh” Narendra Modi and Bangla- ghboring nations including shows. against New Delhi despi- desh’s Sheikh Hasina met in Bangladesh. A joint statement relea- te decades of close ties, a virtual summit yesterday New Delhi has since sed after the meetings said said Delwar Hossain, a pro- – the first high-level mee- been making overtures to that Hasina highlighted the fessor of international rela- ting of the leaders from the smoothen relations with need for the early signing tions at Dhaka University. two countries since rela- Dhaka, with whom it has a of an interim agreement “Now Covid-19 has brou- tions nosedived when India long history of cooperative on sharing the waters of ght the two nations toge- passed its controversial reli- ties. the Teesta river. Modi too ther once again.” gion-based citizenship law Indian foreign secretary reiterated India’s “sincere Bangladesh’s Beximco late last year. Harsh Vardhan Shringla commitment and conti- Pharmaceuticals Ltd. sig- “India and Bangladesh visited Bangladesh twice nued efforts” to reach an ned an agreement with are cooperating well on the Hasina said the two trans-border railway link this year. The second visit agreement on the dispute Serum Institute of India Pvt. Covid vaccine,” Modi said countries can move up between the countries that in August came amid rising that has lingered since the in November for 30 million at the summit’s inaugura- global value chains by had stopped functioning in border tensions with Chi- 80s. vaccine doses, shortly af- tion, adding that New Delhi further integrating their 1965. na, which has committed Indian foreign minister ter India’s Jaishankar com- “will pay special attention” economies. She also an- Last December Bangla- $40 billion in investments Subrahmanyam Jaishankar mitted supplies to Dhaka to Bangladesh’s immuniza- nounced the inauguration desh’s foreign minister AK in Bangladesh. and his counterpart Mo- during his meeting with tion requirements. of the Chilahati-Haldibari Abdul Momen and home Yesterday the two coun- men had committed to fi- Momen. BLOOMBERG www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 17 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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PANDEMIC Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 0.8% to 26,678.38. Austra- lia’s S&P/ASX 200 jumped 1.2% to 6,756.70 and the Shanghai World shares climb on hopes Composite index added 1.1% to 3,404.87. India’s Sensex was up US to finally get more stimulus 0.6%. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.1% to ORLD shares were mostly 2,770.43. Shares also fell in Singa- Whigher yesterday, buoyed pore and Taiwan but rose in other by hopes the U.S. Congress may AP PHOTO regional markets. finally deliver fresh aid to help The S&P 500 rose 0.2% to American businesses and families 3,701.17 on Wednesday, about 1 weather the pandemic. point off its record set last week. Benchmarks rose in Paris, Lon- The Dow Jones Industrial Average don, Tokyo and Shanghai fell in slipped 0.1% to 30,154.54 and the South Korea. Nasdaq composite rose 0.5% to Investors were encouraged by 12,658.19, setting a record for the the Federal Reserve’s pledge to second straight day. keep buying bonds until the eco- Massive efforts by the Fed have nomy is greatly improved from its helped underpin the market since current, virus-wracked state. the spring, and the central bank Congressional leaders also said that it will buy at least $80 appear to be on the brink of a billion in Treasurys each month COVID-19 economic aid package and $40 billion in agency mor- that would extend help to indi- tgage-backed securities until viduals and businesses and ship “substantial further progress” has coronavirus vaccines to millions. is seen as crucial for the global 0.6% while the future for the Dow tal and a sharp increase from its been made. It also said again that Negotiators were working on economy and the many world industrials added 0.5%. previous record the day before, as it would keep short-term interest a $900 billion package that wou- exporters that rely on American Optimism over a possible U.S. the country struggles with a latest rates at their record low of nearly ld revive subsidies for businesses demand to keep their own facto- stimulus deal after many false wave of resurgence nationwide. zero. hit hard by the pandemic, help ries running. starts has been tempered with Infections have been on the But the Fed’s tools alone can distribute new vaccines, fund Germany’s DAX advanced concern over a resurgence of co- steady climb nationwide for seve- help the economy only so much. schools and renew soon-to-ex- 1.1% to 13,709.17 and the FTSE ronavirus cases in many coun- ral weeks and experts raised cau- Lower interest rates can help goo- pire jobless benefits. They’re also 100 in Britain edged 0.2% hi- tries at a time when the rollout of tion levels for the city’s medical se home prices and stocks on Wall looking to include new direct gher, to 6,583.81. In Paris, the vaccinations has barely begun. systems to highest on their scale Street, for example, but they can’t payments of about $600 to most CAC 40 rose 0.5% to 5,577.28. In Japan, Tokyo reported 822 of four. replace paychecks lost by workers Americans. U.S. markets looked set for gains, new cases of the coronavirus, a Still, the Nikkei 225 index gai- whose businesses have shut be- Help for the U.S. economy with the future for the S&P 500 up new high for the Japanese capi- ned 0.2% to 26,806.67, while in cause of the pandemic. MDT/AP ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 19 fri 18.12.2020 廣告 ADVERTISEMENT

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SPACE this day in history

1967 Soviets glimpse beneath World’s achievements a clouds of Venus The Soviet Union has succes- sfully sent a space probe into the atmosphere of the planet bright spot in stressful 2020 Venus for the first time. After its four-month MARCIA DUNN, nch the first privately finan- journey from Earth, Vene- CAPE CANAVERAL ced Dragon flight in a deal ra 4 plunged through the

AP PHOTO arranged by Houston-based planet’s dense cloud cover STRONAUTS Axiom Space. and down towards the sur- blasted into orbit Axiom’s Michael Lo- face. from the U.S. for pez-Alegria, an ex-NASA Almost immediately it began the first time in astronaut and former pre- sending back coded bleeps car- nearlyA a decade, three coun- rying details of the gases that make up sident of the Commercial the air around Venus, as well as readings for tem- peratu- tries sent spacecraft hurtling Spaceflight Federation, will res and pressure. toward Mars, and robotic accompany Israeli busines- It is the first time any measurements have been taken from explorers grabbed rocks sman Eytan Stibbe and two inside the planet’s atmosphere. from the moon and gravel other paying customers to The Soviet Union had hoped to attempt a “soft” landing on from an asteroid for return the space station. Stibbe, a the surface of Venus, and Venera 4 carried equipment desig- to Earth. former fighter pilot, was a ned to allow communications even while submerged benea- Space provided momen- close friend of Israel’s first th any oceans which it was suspected there might be on the ts of hope and glory in an astronaut, Ilan Ramon, who surface. otherwise difficult, stressful died aboard space shuttle But contact was lost 94 minutes after the probe entered the year. Columbia in 2003. atmosphere, when it would still have been about 15 miles (25 It promises to do the same Will Tom Cruise be km) above the planet itself. in 2021, with February’s joining them? The actor was The signals sent back from Venera 4 were picked up by the landings at Mars and next in talks with NASA this year radio telescope at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire. fall’s planned launch of the about filming a movie at the The observatory was invited to take part in the mission to Hubble Space Telescope’s space station. Venus by the Soviet Academy of Scientists. successor — the next-ge- Two other space-travel The director of Jodrell Bank, Professor Sir Bernard Lovell, said neration James Webb Space companies — Jeff Bezos’ the radio signals sent back from Venera 4 confirmed that it was Telescope. Blue Origin and Richard unlikely and almost impossible that there was life on the planet. Boeing hopes to catch up Branson’s Virgin Galactic — At a news conference, Professor Lovell said Jodrell Bank was with SpaceX in the astronaut- are still conducting test fli- delighted to help the Soviet Union in tracking the spacecraft. launching department, whi- ghts and have yet to set firm “This appears ... as a rational common-sense attitude, the le space tourism may finally dates for launching custo- sort of thing one always hopes will emerge in these colossal, expensive space enterprises,” he said. get off the ground. mers on short flights to the Venera 4 is the first successful attempt to reach Venus after “2021 promises to be as edge of space and back. three failed Soviet missions. much of a space exploration NASA is still targeting United Arab Emirates’ Mars orbiter Hope lifts off from Tanegashima Venera 3 came closest, and successfully reached the planet, bright spot, perhaps even a November debut of its Space Center in Kagoshima, southern Japan but communications had already failed, making the mission a more,” said Scott Hubbard, new moon rocket, the Spa- failure. NASA’s former “Mars Czar” ce Launch System, with Within the next few days, the American spacecraft Mariner 5 now teaching at Stanford ricans should be proud of,” the lunar surface in Decem- an Orion capsule that will is also expected to arrive at Venus. University. ber with the first moon rocks astronaut-turned-senator launch without a crew. The It is not, however, planning to attempt a landing, but will fly Although the coronavi- collected for return to Earth Mark Kelly said of the Dra- Trump administration had past at about 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from the planet while ins- rus pandemic complicated since the 1970s. gon capsule double-header. set a 2024 deadline for the truments on board measure the atmosphere and magnetic space operations around Japan brought back pie- Until the SpaceX flights, first moon landing by astro- fields. the globe in 2020, most hi- ces of asteroid Ryugu — its Russia’s three-person Soyuz nauts since NASA’s Apollo A previous American mission, Mariner 2, was the first to fly by gh-priority missions remai- second asteroid batch in a capsules were the only way program a half-century ago. Venus and scan its features in December 1962. ned on track, led by the U.S., decade. More asteroid sam- to get astronauts to the spa- Just this month, NASA in- Data sent back from that mission suggested that Venus has China and the United Arab ples are on the way: NASA’s ce station once NASA’s shu- troduced the 18 astronauts hot surface temperatures and an atmosphere dominated by Emirates in a stampede to Osiris-Rex spacecraft vacuu- ttles shut down. who will train for the moon carbon dioxide. Mars in July. med up handfuls of gravel NASA’s other hired crew program named for Artemis, The UAE’s first interpla- from asteroid Bennu in Oc- transporter, Boeing, is the mythological twin sister Courtesy BBC News netary spacecraft, an orbiter, tober for return in 2023. scrambling to get its Starli- of Apollo. will scrutinize the Martian Elon Musk’s SpaceX, ner capsule back in action It remains to be seen how atmosphere. NASA’s Perse- meanwhile, was buzzing in after a software-spoiled test President-elect Joe Biden In context verance rover is set to land 2020. In May, it became the flight in December 2019. might alter the lunar-lan- Feb. 18 at an ancient river first private company to put The do-over — again with ding program. The American spacecraft, Mariner 5, performed its fly-by delta and lakebed where people into orbit, an achie- no one on board — is targe- “Whatever else can be of Venus successfully the following day. microscopic life may have vement previously claimed ted for spring. If the repairs said about the four years of Its measurements revealed why Venera 4 had come to once flourished. The rover by just three global super- work and the capsule finally the Trump administration, such a sudden end. Pressures under the continuous cloud cover around Ve- will drill into the dry crust, powers. The two test pilots reaches the space station, they have been positive for nus were measured at about 90 times that of Earth - the collecting samples for even- were the first NASA astro- the first Starliner astronauts the U.S. civilian space pro- equivalent of those about 3,000 feet (900 metres) below tual return to Earth. nauts to fly a new brand of could be flying by summer. gram,” noted John Logsdon, the oceans on Earth. China’s orbiter-rover duo spaceship in almost 40 years Musk capped the year professor emeritus at Geor- It is likely that Venera 4 was crushed before it reached the Tianwen-1 — quest for hea- and the first to blast off from with a stratospheric test fli- ge Washington University’s surface. Even had it arrived, it would have been destroyed by sur- venly truth — also will hunt Florida since the shuttle ght of Starship, the rocke- Space Policy Institute. “No face temperatures measured at 480 degrees C - hot for signs of bygone life. program ended in 2011. tship he’s building to carry prior major programs were enough to melt lead. The European and Rus- In November, four more people to the moon and cancelled, the human explo- There were another 12 Soviet Venera missions. Venera 7 sian space agencies skipped astronauts rode a SpaceX Mars. The Dec. 9 demo went ration program was given became the first space probe to land successfully on Ve- the 2020 Mars launch win- Dragon capsule to the In- better than anyone imagi- clear direction, and funding nus in August 1970. In 1989, Nasa launched the Magellan spacecraft from the dow, their life-sniffing Mars ternational Space Station. ned until a fiery explosion at for existing programs was space shuttle. rover grounded until 2022 Three weeks later, SpaceX touchdown. Even so, Musk increased.” Between 1990 and 1994 it orbited the planet, successfully because of technical issues launched its biggest cargo was ecstatic. “This is a legacy that the mapping the majority of the surface in unprecedented de- and COVID-19 restrictions. shipment yet to the space At the same time, SpaceX Biden administration can tail before plunging into the atmosphere and disintegrating China also set its sights station for NASA. is expanding its Dragon- build on, so that in future under the massive pressures. The European Space Agency is planning to launch a further on the moon in 2020, lan- “This is an impressive -riding clientele. Late next years there can be a conti- mission, known as the Venus Express, in October 2005. ding and then launching off achievement which Ame- year, SpaceX expects to lau- nued string of successes.” AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 21 fri 18.12.2020 資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom

Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 The journey you have been on From far away, things look bright has been quite a challenging one, and beautiful—it’s when you so you’ll breathe a sigh of relief get close up and personal that today when you come across a you start to see the blemishes, person who offers you a chance the wrinkles and the cracks in to rest your weary feet for a while. someone’s armor.

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Are you waiting for other people A friend or family member to follow through on their has been walking on the promises? You could be waiting a wild side a bit too long, and long time—and you can’t afford today you might hear about to. So skip waiting on everyone something that causes you else and get to work. some concern. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Following the latest trends might A minor infraction in rules at Beijing 1 clear make you feel like you’ve got work or school could leave you -6 your finger on the pulse of what’s feeling like you’re being unfairly Harbin -19 -13 clear hot, but if all you care about is singled out today. But before you going along with the crowd, what fire back defensively, stop. Take a Tianjin -4 2 clear is that going to achieve? deep breath. Urumqi -17 -8 clear Xi’an 5 overcast Libra Scorpio -2 Lhasa -6 11 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 3 8 overcast Truth is not the same thing as Try to be very meticulous if you Chongqing 7 10 overcast honesty. Today, you need to say are dealing with any contracts or what you know because it is other types of legal documents Kunming 8 18 cloudy the truth. In so doing, you will today. Read the small print very Nanjing 7 overcast show the world what an honest carefully, because that’s where 1 person looks like. the big catches lie. Shanghai 5 7 drizzle Wuhan 2 9 clear Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 3 6 drizzle Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 17 20 drizzle Not every encounter has to be Today, your brain is operating like Guangzhou 9 13 cloudy super-meaningful in your life— a well-oiled machine, and your you are as entitled to a little intellectual skills have reached a Hong Kong 14 18 cloudy goofing-off as anyone. So don’t perfect balance point. You can feel bust your hump trying to be the free to offer your suggestions in a most philosophical person. group. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow -1 2 sleet Frankfurt 3 6 cloudy Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 6 8 cloudy You’ll see things in an usual Today is not such a good day way today because your to move forward—too much is London 9 11 drizzle creativity is on fire! It will help uncertain about your near future, you see new uses for old tools. including your energy level. Some New York -5 -1 cloudy A pencil is more than a writing non-serious health issues could pop implement. up that put a wrinkle in your plans.

CROSSWORDS USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

ACROSS 1-Poultry enclosure; 5- Sudden outpouring; 10- Catchall abbr.; 14- Soprano Gluck; 15- Aquarium buildup; 16- Where to wallow; 17- Escaping fluid; 18- Danger; 19- Russian pancake; 20- Province in central Canada; 22- Regions; 23- Ticked; 24- Be dependent; 26- Muse with a lyre; 29- Lucid; 33- Of the kidneys; 34- Emergency calls 999 Taxi 28 939 939 / 2828 3283 Desert bloomers; 35- John Lennon’s middle name; 36- Portent; 37- Decaf brand; 38- Takes a load off; 39- Loud noise; 40- Tadpole milieus; 41- “Damn Yankees” Fire department 28 572 222 Water Supply – Report 2822 0088 choreographer; 42- Outside; 44- Follows orders; 45- Quote; 46- Lab culture; 48- Royal domain; 51- Pledged; 55- It’s a thought; 56- 1836 siege site; 58- Vogue rival; PJ (Open line) 993 Telephone – Report 1000 59- Dress often worn by Hindu women; 60- Caffeinated, slangily; 61- Big brass; 62- Chieftain, usually in Africa; 63- Guides; 64- Age unit; PJ (Picket) 28 557 775 Electricity – Report 28 339 922

DOWN: 1- Composed; 2- Olive genus; 3- Yemen neighbor; 4- Republic in S Asia; PSP 28 573 333 Macau Daily Times 28 716 081 5- Flavor; 6- Common person of ancient Rome; 7- Pearl Mosque city; 8- Mai ___; 9- Long fish; 10- Early stage; 11- Scrabble Customs 28 559 944 piece; 12- Horne solo; 13- Optical device; Yesterday’s solution 21- Kit item; 22- Et ____ (and other men); S. J. Hospital 28 313 731 24- Prepares for billiards; 25- Blues singer

James; 26- Eat away; 27- Change a song; Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com Kiang Wu Hospital 28 371 333 28- Concerning; 29- Time off; 30- Racket; 31- Fidgety; 32- Misplaces; 34- Boat often Commission Against made of birchbark, canvas, or fiberglass; 37- And ___ goes; 38- Temperance; 40- Corruption (CCAC) 28326 300 Schoolmarmish; 41- Froth; 43- Cream cake; 46- Equipped; 47- Merchandise; IAM 28 387 333 48- Ascend; 49- Dutch cheese, wrapped in red wax; 50- Ethereal: Prefix; 51- Graph Tourism 28 333 000 prefix; 52- Swing around; 53- Exile isle; 54- Sugar substitute?; 56- Hole-boring tool; Airport 59 888 88 57- Falsehood;

ad page 22 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EXTRA 特刊 18.12.2020 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Treats for the holidays DUE TO COVID 19, MANY OF US ARE STUCK IN MACAU AND COULD NOT TRAVEL ANYWHERE. NEVERTHELESS, MANY INTEGRATED RESORTS HAVE PREPARED INTERESTING OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TREAT THEMSELVES DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR. MDT’S LIFESTYLE WRITER IRENE SAM HAS PICKED A FEW FESTIVE DELIGHTS FOR BON VIVANTS

Alain Ducasse at Morpheus Il Teatro at Wynn Macau WO-MICHELIN-STARRED Champagne Dom Pérignon Mag- TAlain Ducasse at Morpheus is num, 2017 Sonoma County Char- L TEATRO provides the perfect set- Jus. For dessert, guests will be treated the pick for a French haute cuisine donnay from Les Noisetiers Kistler, Iting for a truly theatrical dining ex- to a very special “Christmas Orna- journey this festive season. The res- 2015 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru perience where guests can watch water ment” of Clementine, Chocolate and taurant has two six-course celebra- from Domaine Méo-Camuzet, and dance in perfect unison with music at Gingerbread Ice Cream. For New Year’s tion menus respectively for Christ- 2014 Vin de Constance from Klein the Performance Lake. On Christmas Eve, il Teatro will prepare a very special mas and New Year’s Eve. Constantia. Eve and Christmas Day, the chefs at il 5-course dinner featuring the finest The Christmas menu is a mix of For December 31 evening, the Teatro will present a 5-course Festive seafood and meat such as Hokkaido signature and limited-time dishes special menu starts with a splendid Dinner including Foie Gras Terrine, Scallop, Dungeness Crab Bisque, Ran- of the establishment, including the gold caviar trolley, followed by the Roasted Maitake Mushrooms with Bla- gers Valley Infinite M7 Wagyu Tender- Mediterranean gamberoni with de- hand-dived sea scallops, line-cau- ck Truffle and Huntsham Farm Crispy loin and much more to welcome the licate gelée and gold caviar, home- ght sea bass, free-range chicken Skin Suckling Pig with Mustard Pork arrival of a brand new year. made truffled pasta, line-caught sea from Bresse, Comté “Garde excep- bass, free-range chicken from Bres- tionelle” 36 months, and the Cho- se, Comté “Garde exceptionelle” 36 colate from Ducasse’s Manufacture months, as well as the chocolate, in Paris, pear and black truffle des- coconut and lime Yule log. Each sert. A half bottle of Dom Pérignon dish will be paired with an exquisite 2008 comes along to ring in the new champagne and wine, such as 2009 year.

North by The Manor at St. Regis Macao Square Eight ITH an emphasis on the finest, sus- ty to order from The Manor, where fresh Wtainably-sourced ingredients from ingredients from the land and sea are at MGM Macau around the world, The Manor at St. Regis, handled by the most capable hands and AKE your taste buds on a culi- Cotai is the perfect venue for every occa- chemistry of Chef Michele. Tnary tour of the tastiest dishes sion where one may gather, celebrate and Roasted butterball turkey with side from northern and central China at create memories. It is perfect for a festive dishes and sauce, and pomegranate gla- North, a new dining concept under season where family gatherings are tradi- zed boneless gammon ham with side Square Eight at MGM Macau, brin- tionally at the top of the list. This year, St. dishes and sauce are available, along with ging you quality, choice, creativity, Zhejiang and more. Along with po- Regis presents yet another extraordinary additional selected wines and Christmas authenticity and outstanding value pular meat dishes, the restaurant option: celebrate from home, The Manor- desserts. for money under one roof. offers live seafood “cooked the way -style. An order must be made 48-hours in ad- Feast on your favorites, inclu- you like it” and a noodle station Titled “Christmas Celebrations at vance for “The Takeaway Menu” and pick ding hard-to-find cold appetizers, where you will be wowed by the Home,” patrons are given the opportuni- up is available at the restaurant. congees, noodles, pancakes, dum- noodle-pulling and cutting skills plings and signature dishes from on display. Beijing, Dongbei, Hunan, Shan- North will have you coming back dong, Shanghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, to again and again.

The Kitchen at Grand Lisboa OUSED at the Grand Lisboa Hotel Special homemade bread and most Hwith spectacular views of the city, of the entrées are prepared in flaming Rejuvenating Treatments at The Kitchen offers a grand atmosphere ovens in a contemporary show-kitchen for this season’s family gatherings. setting. The steakhouse also offers a The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau Based on a new concept for the mo- premium selection of sashimi from the O melt away any stress and tension xation with rejuvenating herbal pou- dern steakhouse, the Michelin-starred sushi bar and features an extensive sa- Tfrom the year, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, ltices and a warm bamboo massage. restaurant features the best steak from lad buffet as well as specialty homemade Macau came up with the Jade Reviver Last but not the least, discerning guests around the world – Wagyu from Ka- desserts. treatment, which awakens the senses will appreciate the Caviar and Pearl Ex- goshima and Australia, US prime beef There is no danger of running out of with jade and essential oils. A Restora- perience, a decadent ritual that uses and Dutch veal – and also offers a wide options for drinks to pair with your meal tive Bamboo Massage allows guests to caviar, pearl and chilled jade rollers to selection of non-meat dishes such as live either, as The Kitchen has an extensive sink into well-deserved rest and rela- turn back the wheels of time. fish and lobsters from the tank. wine collection of over 17,000 labels. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 23 fri 18.12.2020 特刊 EXTRA

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

IRENE SAM, MDT chuan dishes crafted by Chinese TASTE OF EDESIA master chef Lan Minglu. Chef ATELY, the talk of the Lan is a leading chef of his ge- town has been the ope- neration and an authority on ning of The Grand Sui- Sichuan cuisine who combines tes at Four Seasons. Elegance for all seasons innovative cooking techniques LAt 40 storeys tall, it is the new to skillfully integrate his con- all-suite tower of Four Seasons with an array of bespoke services tea to warm and soothe the soul groceries and ingredients will be cept of “Sichuan flavours, global Hotel Macao, the first of its kind and rituals. Upon arrival, guests during winter time. ready upon check-in. ingredients, contemporary pre- within the Four Seasons global will be greeted with an elegant tea To make the hotel feel like Other amenities include a sentation.” portfolio of 119 properties. ceremony, an inherited tradition a home, each suite is equi- full walk-in closet, steam room, Spa lovers will be delighted The luxurious tower offers of the Chinese quintessence. Tea pped with a walk-in kitchenette and a high-end Hansgrohe with a signature ritual titled five suite categories: one-be- house Fook Ming Tong, a part- that features home appliances AXOR shower solution in the “Blissful Sensation” at the ho- droom Dynasty Suites, two- ner of the Michelin-starred Zi Yat such as a conventional oven, bathrooms. A private fitness tel’s spa. With the Portuguese -bedroom Imperial Suites, Heen Cantonese Restaurant at dishwasher, and wine cellar by room, steam and sauna room, heritage of Macau as an inspi- three-bedroom Taipan Suites, the hotel, has curated five types renowned brands Miele and and spacious closets are all part ration, a foot and back scrub is Skyview Suites and the Skyview of premium tea for the tea cere- Gaggenau. As every suite featu- of the suite experience. Privacy first applied with a unique blend Villa. The smallest suite configu- mony. Premium Pu’er and Jasmi- res a versatile kitchenette, Four and quietness are essential for of scrub salt mixed from the es- ration begins at 160 square me- ne are among the choices. Seasons master chefs, including ultimate indulgences. With this sence of the Port Wine. After, a ters, and the largest two-storey A collection of six luxury bath members of the Michelin-star- in mind, each floor is designed body massage is performed with Skyview Villas each span over rituals has been curated to pro- red Zi Yat Heen team, are availa- to house up to a maximum of a fermented herb massage oil 455 square meters, featuring vide guests with the utmost ble to create a meal in the suite. just five suites. exclusively developed for Four plunge pools overlooking the relaxation during their stay, in- For guests opting to prepare a For adventurous diners who Seasons Macao particularly for vibrant Cotai Strip from level 40. cluding Aromatic Bliss which feast themselves, the butler can prefer not to eat inside the ho- the ritual. With each stroke, the An experience at The Grand showcases bath oil from Aroma- help to prepare a kitchenette sto- tel room, the elegant Vista 38 mind, skin and body feel lighter Suites at Four Seasons is paired therapy Associates and ginger ck up service, where the desired offers a seasonal menu of Si- and more refreshed.

Macau Racing Tips By Davy Chiu, MDT

The Mansfield 1350 Metres Sand 2020-12-18 | Sat | 21:05

chance is given to Crown Gold in race 5 in this Friday›s evening meeting. With a A good draw in gate 5, the light weight and the booking of jockey L. Corrales also enhance his chance to score. He has done well in all his morning works. In his last outing he leaded all the way and weakened in the last few strides and grabbed the third placing. After a short break his trainer J. Lau freshen him up in his works and put him back into the the same race again, he should oblige and gets into a better placing in the race. This race on Friday evening offers him a winning chance, he is solid here.

Race 5 | Horse no. 7 Crown of Gold Win & Place bets China to provide financial support the to key foreign companies BUZZ China’s government said it will provide fi- and insurance regulator. nancial support to some foreign companies The businesses will have access to funds to help them offset the impact of the pande- including 1.5 trillion yuan ($230 billion) in mic and resolve funding difficulties, part of special re-lending and re-discounting quotas its efforts to improve the business environ- provided by the central bank, and 570 billion ment for overseas investors. yuan in a new loan quota from Export-Im- Companies operating in key areas, inclu- port Bank of China. OPINION ding special and general equipment, medi- China should enhance the role financial su- cal equipment, and auto manufacturing, will pport plays in stabilizing foreign investment Editorial be eligible to receive the financial support, and further improve the “targetedness” and Paulo Coutinho the Commerce Ministry said yesterday in a “directness” of financial policies, the Com- joint statement with the country’s banking merce Ministry said in its statement. The year of living dangerously DRIVE IN It was the worst of times. It was the best of times. Who will want to remember 2020? AP PHOTO Not you, not us, not anyone who has lived it. A shocking, Virtually every family on the planet has been affected by the disease. I had relatives and I had friends who were sick or infected, and a dear fascinating true Pakistan A pair of sick friend who died of Covid-19 in his early sixties. and badly neglected This year the world was subjugated by a “thing” dancing Himalayan which scientists don’t even classify as a living story in ‘Assassins’ brown bears will leave being: The SARS-CoV-2 can’t survive hours wi- Islamabad’s notorious zoo for a sanctuary in Jordan, thout finding a host and spread its malign natu-

AP PHOTO closing down a zoo that re in humans. once housed 960 animals. Yet, this non-being has entered our lives dee- The Marghazar Zoo’s per than the most intrusive neighbor, threate- horrific conditions gained ning the human community and forcing us to international notoriety change our way of living - and possibly thinking. when Kaavan, dubbed “the Masks, sanitizers, social distancing, self-health world’s loneliest elephant,” care, quarantine, isolation, working from home, grabbed headlines and studying from home, shopping from home, the attention of iconic singing from home, debating from home; even American entertainer traveling from home! - entered our day-to-day Cher. Kaavan was affairs. As did millions of deaths and infected transferred to his new people that everyone observed in real time mo- home in Cambodia last ving as spinning wheels in a slot machine. month. While we mourn the victims of this quasi- -apocalyptic disease created by the virus, we are forced to sustain the economic blow to our

A scene from the documentary “Assassins” AP PHOTO survival, as individuals, as corporations, and as a society. The epidemic spread quickly over the world LINDSEY BAHR, shirt with the letters LOL. A unsolved murder of a nun, even before it was deemed a pandemic. MDT/AP FILM WRITER local journalist marvels at and “Ask Dr. Ruth,” gets ex- The contagion was uneven but widespread. Russian President how suspect it looks as both traordinary access to the Vladimir Putin yesterday Macau SAR in its 21st year was no exception. HE assassination of Nor- hold their hands away from defense lawyers in the case rejected allegations that Although we have so far escaped the virus’ dea- th Korean leader Kim themselves on their way to who help walk us through the Kremlin was behind dly promise, the city’s economy was among the T Jong Un’s estranged half- a sink. the poisoning of his top countries and regions that suffered the heaviest the appeals process and -brother Kim Jong Nam at The actions of 29-year- the trial. A Washington Post political foe, opposition fall along with some heavily tourist-dependent, leader Alexei Navalny, and Kuala Lumpur’s airport in -old Doan Thi Huong of journalist is also on hand to remote paradise islands. The root of the pro- accused U.S. intelligence February of 2017, I’m em- blem had long been there, and nobody listened Vietnam and 25-year-old help explain the dynamics agencies of fomenting to the calls for diversification. Are we listening barrassed to say, was a blip Siti Aisyah of Indonesia kil- of the North Korean dynasty. the claims. Speaking now? on my radar. There was a va- led Kim Jong Nam. But the Through no fault of the via video call during an In the year of desolation, a more sombre im- gue recollection of two you- central question of the film, filmmakers, the North Ko- annual marathon news pact was the rise of emotional stress, angst and ng women who were caught and the trial, is whether rean element remains, lar- conference, the Russian sadness amongst us, which was reflected in the on CCTV smearing the dea- these women were in fact gely, a mystery. The four leader countered the rise of psychological and psychiatric calls for accusations by saying that dly VX nerve agent on his trained killers, unwitting identified parties quickly left professional help and of the number of apparent if the Kremlin wanted to face and running away. Kim pawns, or somewhere in be- Malaysia and were not even suicides, and in particular among our teens. The poison Navalny it would Jong Nam died within the tween. The stakes could not root of the illness was also – probably – latent in specifically named in the have pressed the attack hour. the community. Will we listen now? be higher: If found guilty in trial. The suggestion is that home. There was also degradation in the human ri- It seemed right out of a Malaysia they would be kil- the two women were being ghts domain – here and elsewhere due to the spy movie and apparently led. used as scapegoats. Alaska Health officials implementation of restriction of movement and one I wrongly assumed I The seed of doubt about The tricky geopolitical have reported that a second health care worker freedom, invasion of privacy, and abuse of force already knew the end to. the women starts to evapo- elements here have made had an adverse reaction by the state. Most of the means were justified for And although the event rate early when you begin the film’s distribution a bit to a COVID-19 vaccine. the greater good of public health, but the debate and aftermath were widely, to learn about their lives of a headache. Since it pre- Bartlett Regional Hospital was there and it is here; the hanging threat of the exhaustively covered, I don’t and understand why they miered at Sundance last in Juneau says the two emergence of police-states even in traditionally think I’m the only one who say they thought they were year, domestic rights have workers showed adverse liberal countries is also a sign of the times. lost the thread early. merely participating in a hi- bounced from company to reactions about 10 Air travel, for leisure or pleasure, was sudden- This not knowing is part dden camera prank show. company in the effort to get minutes after receiving the ly grounded, emptying the skies, and imposed vaccine and were treated. of what makes Ryan White’s It is a revealing and heart- it to audiences. White has borders long extinct. Is this a shift to stay? One received the vaccine extraordinary documentary Animals – from mammals to insects – showed -wrenching portrait of what said that some have been Tuesday and will remain up unexpectedly in places that centuries ago “Assassins,” about the trial life is like for young women nervous to take on the film in the hospital another were probably their natural habitats. Will they of the two young women, so in Vietnam and Indonesia because of the Sony hack. night under observation come back? compulsively compelling. where exploitation is ram- It’s all the more reason to while the other, vaccinated Countries, regions, cities, villages and nei- I imagine even those who pant and options are few. seek out “Assassins,” whi- yesterday [Macau time], ghborhoods concluded that we were too de- kept up with this strange Huong wanted to be an ch through Greenwich En- has fully recovered. pendent on a trade-oriented economy, and su- saga will find their own jaws actress. Aisyah wanted to tertainment is currently in ddenly everyone, from the common citizen to on the floor more than a few send money home to her select theaters, including presidents and prime ministers are rethinking HOLIDAY TIMES times as well. impoverished family. When virtual cinemas, and will be policies to go back to some level of self-suffi- Macau Daily Times The film plays out chro- they’re approached, sepa- ciency in essential goods. available for rental on de- will not be published nologically, first letting us In the year of living dangerously, scientists of rately, about participating mand in January. It will sho- during the holidays. The discover the women through in a YouTube prank show ck, enrage and enlighten. Times will be back on all disciplines, from health to maths came to- the stands on Monday gether to produce the unimaginable cure or the CCTV footage appearing for a regular paycheck, you December 28. However prevention. In record time, vaccines are being to ambush Kim Jong Nam, understand why they don’t “Assassins,” a Greenwich the MDT website will be approved and people are being inoculated as we rub something on his face seem to ask many questions Entertainment release, has updated with breaking news during the recess speak, all over the world. and then run away to the ba- of their mysterious bosses. not been rated by the Mo- period. We wish our Some say it’s the end of the war. To what peace throom to presumably wash White, who was also tion Picture Association of readers, advertisers and are we headed? their hands of the poison. behind the Netflix series America. Running time: 104 friends the best of times. One is wearing a long sleeve “The Keepers,” about the minutes.