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MACAU’S TOP COURT HAS UPHELD METROPOLE HOTEL BECOMES DELAYED BY RED TAPE, HK’S CASH HANDOUT AN APPEAL FILED BY A POLITICAL MIGHT ARRIVE TOO LATE TO UNDO THE SCIENTIST WHO SAYS HE WAS UNFAIRLY FIRST VENUE DISCHARGED ECONOMIC DAMAGE CAUSED FIRST BY DISMISSED BY A LOCAL UNIVERSITY FROM QUARANTINE DUTY PROTESTS AND THEN CORONAVIRUS P5 P3 P6
China Wang Quanzhang, a well-known Chinese rights lawyer, was released from prison yesterday after being held for more than four years, his wife said. It was unclear whether he would be allowed to THENOWHERE SUSPENSION OF GOLDEN BUS SERVICES ON THETO DELTA BRIDGE GO LEAVES NO return to Beijing, where he practiced and lived REMAINING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LINKS TO NEIGHBORING HONG KONG P4 with his wife and young son. AP PHOTO
OPEC Saudi Arabia sharply criticized Russia over what it described as Moscow blaming the kingdom for the collapse in global energy prices, showing the tensions ahead of an emergency meeting of OPEC and other oil producers. Oil prices sharply fell after the so-called OPEC+ group of countries including Russia failed to agree to production cuts in early March.
Sri Lanka Nearly 2,900 prisoners have been released from overcrowded prisons in Sri Lanka as the Indian ocean island nation has stepped up it’s efforts to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus. Sri Lanka has been under a countrywide curfew since March 20. AP PHOTO XINHUA
Africa The coronavirus pandemic could narrow one gaping inequality in Africa, where some heads of state and other elite jet off to Europe or Asia for health care unavailable in their nations. As countries across the continent impose dramatic travel restrictions, they might have to take their chances at home. More on p8 Non-serious Macau patients said to Macau answers nationwide call have low risk of lung damage for three-minute silence More on backpage P2 P2 page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 06.04.2020 mon
MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Macau mourns Covid-19 victims in national three-minute silence
ANTHONY LAM trol the outbreak. At the Women’s Federation, pre- ACAU joined the rest of the sident Ho Teng Iat, together with Mcountry on Saturday to ob- lawmaker and deputy director-ge- serve three minutes of silence in neral Wong Kit Cheng and other commemoration of the victims of management members, honored Covid-19. The city’s national and the moment of silence at the orga- regional flags flew at half-mast at nization’s headquarters on Rau do all public premises, and the gover- Barca. nment advised public recreational President Ho Sut Heng and Di- activities not to go ahead. rector-General Lei Chong Cheng The commemoration, which of the FAOM, led the three-minute was deemed by the central gover- moment of silence at the Federa- nment in Beijing to be the Natio- tion of Trade Unions headquar- nal Mourning Day, also comes on ters. In the meantime, the vigil was the traditional Qingming festival, also conducted at the Federation’s when Chinese people would nor- offices in Toi San, in Areia Preta, on mally visit the graves of their an- Rua do Campo and in Taipa. cestors. Mainland officials have The public in Macau also obser- banned such observances this year ved the three-minute silence, “in to avoid large gatherings that mi- order for the Macau community as ght contribute to a feared second a whole to express its condolences wave of infections. regarding those who lost their lives On Saturday morning, at 10 amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” ac- a.m., the national government Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, together with the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office and the five policy secretaries, cording to the government. declared a nationwide moment stand in silent tribute for a three minute to mourn those who died in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease outbreak Alongside the moment of silen- of silence, encouraging people to ce, public recreational activities, pay tribute to the Covid-19 victims According to the mainland di- nistry’s SAR office and the People’s Trade Unions (FAOM). and of any events intended to be of with three minutes of silence. This rective, the instruction was applied Liberation Army’s SAR Camps also The national and SAR flags either a celebratory or festive natu- was especially for medical staff to all government buildings, bui- held a moment of silence to com- flew at half-mast at the Cham- re scheduled on Saturday were due who succumbed to the disease as ldings of legislative and judicial memorate the victims. Flags at ber of Commerce’s headquarters to be suspended as suggested in they carried out their duties. bodies, and at representative offi- these offices were lowered to half- located at Porto Exterior. Ma Iao the State Council notice. During the moment of silence, ces abroad. School premises and -mast as part of the vigil. Lai, president of the Chamber of Though the moment was ob- Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, led public facilities also took part in Other non-government entities Commerce, led the moment of si- served across the entire country, government officials to stand for the vigil. also joined, including the Macau lence vigil. some media outlets reported it was the three-minute silence, in tribute Offices of mainland authorities Chamber of Commerce, the Nei- Besides, he also encouraged particularly poignant in Wuhan, to the Covid-19 victims in China, a in Macau, namely the Liaison Of- ghborhood Association, the Wo- members of the public to re- the central Chinese industrial city note from the Government Infor- fice of the Central People’s Gover- men’s Federation, Kiang Wu Hos- main vigilant and stay home as where the virus was first detected mation Bureau reads. nment in the SAR, the Foreign Mi- pital and the Macao Federation of much as possible to help con- in December.
RENATO MARQUES
OCTOR Lo Iek Long Dof the Conde de São Macau patients have low risk of permanent Januário Hospital said yes- terday that, for the time lung damage, says health official being, patients who are in- fected with Covid-19 and long way from knowing if the use of a ventilator. tions on the table. have been discharged or are they will have any after-e- The case refers to a The physician also no- XINHUA undergoing treatment have ffects.” 50-year-old woman who ted that according to the a low risk of developing per- “[However], analyzing returned to Macau from recommendations, more manent lung damage due in general terms, only in the U.S. with her son, who than two kinds of medici- to pneumonia. serious cases of pneumo- is also a patient (case 19). nes should not be used to Lo’s information came nia that lasted for a long Her health worsened be- treat each patient. For the in response to a question period can some secon- tween March 24 and 29. time being, Macau is con- from the media on the dary effects arise. If the Meanwhile, questio- sidering the health situa- topic during the daily press patients do not develop ned on whether Macau tion of each patient as well conference at the Novel pneumonia and only have would consider the re- as the experience gathered Coronavirus Response and symptoms of the virus in- commendation from the by other regions to decide. Coordination Center. fection, the probability of serious pneumonia which Macau, the large majori- central government to use The official stressed that Explaining in more de- developing secondary ef- require the use of venti- ty developed only light or traditional Chinese medi- Macau would prioritize tail, the physician said, fects is lower,” Lo said. lators is the probability of mild symptoms of the di- cine as a treatment for the using medicines “that have “At the moment, there is a “We are analyzing the after-effects higher.” sease and only one patient, disease, Lo said that such proven to be more effec- large number of patients data from other countries According to the statis- the 18th case of the infec- an option has not been tive and that have [recor- in Macau that are still in and what we have realized tics released, from the 44 tion, has been considered excluded, noting that the- ded] the best results worl- treatment, so we are still a is that only in the cases of Covid-19 cases reported in a serious case requiring re are several medical op- dwide.”
www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Daniel Beitler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Risdon, Linda Kennedy, Lynzy Valles, Paulo Cordeiro de Sousa, Renato Marques, Richard Whitfield, Viviana Seguí MACAU SAR Telephones: +853 287 160 81/2 Fax: +853 287 160 84 DESIGNERS_Eva Bucho, Miguel Bandeira | ASSOCIATE CONTRIBUTORS_JML Property, MdME Lawyers, Advertisement [email protected] +18,000 PokerStars, Ruan Du Toit Bester | NEWS AGENCIES_ Associated Press, Bloomberg, MacauHub, MacauNews, Xinhua For subscription and general issues: [email protected] | Printed at Welfare Printing Ltd Like us on facebook.com/mdtimes SECRETARY_Yang Dongxiao [email protected] send newsworthy information and press releases to: [email protected] website: www.macaudailytimes.com.mo www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 3 mon 06.04.2020 澳門 MACAU
MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER
RENATO MARQUES
HE health authorities announced yesterday the first reduction in the number of hotels desig- Tnated to be used as isolation and quarantine facilities. The Metro- pole Hotel in central Macau was the first to be discharged from such duties, the Macao Gover- nment Tourism Office (MGTO) representative, Inês Chan, an- nounced during the daily press conference at the Novel Corona- virus Response and Coordina- tion Center. With the announcement, the number of hotel units designa- ted as quarantine venues has been lowered from 12 to 11. “The Metropole Hotel was already vacated and today [yes- terday], the Health Bureau went to the hotel to proceed with the cleaning and disinfection work that is happening now,” Chan said. “After the cleaning work is finished, the Metropole Hotel will stop being a hotel unit desig- nated for quarantine.” The official noted that it is Gov’t discharges first quarantine likely that other hotels which have been in use as quarantine facilities will be also discharged from such duties in the upco- hotel, more expected to follow ming days, but such information rent number of people quaranti- they wish to,” to travel to other and to respect those measures, people stranded in Hong Kong will be provided as it happens, ned in local hotels, the same of- cities or even to return to Macau we recommend [these people] to to return to Macau via the Hong case by case. ficial said that there is currently by their own means. stay in the place so they don’t ac- Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge using “Regarding the hotels that will a total of 1,818 people, of which On the topic of Macau resi- count for a higher flux of people chartered vehicles that departed be vacated, the first condition is 1,605 are Macau residents. dents that are currently in Hong that can represent risks for them from Hong Kong’s airport. Such an that all the people in quarantine Chan also announced that Kong, the official noted that the and to others,” Chan said. arrangement is no longer offered get discharged [from the venue]. from today, the release of the fi- best advice is that they should However, “if there is an excep- by the Macau government. Then, we will analyze the need gures related to the number of remain where they are at the mo- tional case or a special need, we For those Macau residen- for the rooms and after everyone Macau residents in Hubei pro- ment, if they are not in a situation will consider it [separately], but ts now not able to return, Chan gets discharged, we will proceed vince will be suspended. This is that requires emergency action. we try to minimize the risks and said, “we urge these people to with a deep cleaning and disin- due to the halt in enforcement of “The restrictive measures im- not to turn all general cases into take good care of themselves and fection and only after that, the restrictive measures which had posed by all parties on the bor- exceptions,” added Chan. pay attention to all information. hotel can be released [from the the province under lockdown. ders have the purpose to reduce The same official also noted If they need any assistance they duties of quarantine],” Chan ex- Chan said that with the travel the traffic and circulation of peo- that during the 15 days from the can, through the MSAR passport, plained. restrictions now easing, Macau ple among different places, coun- middle to the end of March, the request assistance at China’s During an update on the cur- residents have the possibility, “if tries, and regions. In light of that local authorities assisted 2,160 consular missions.”
Rice wholesalers assure Macau couple tests positive government of ample supply
HE local government lesalers was held in res- also guaranteed the supply for Covid-19 in Guangzhou Thas said that rice who- ponse to the panic buying, of rice to Macau. Where HE Novel Coronavirus The two Macau resi- nistrative Region gover- lesalers in the city have but the Economic Services necessary, such supply will TResponse and Coordi- dents are both in their nment did not disclose guaranteed the supply of Bureau was assured about be expanded. nation Center confirmed 50’s. The wife is 57 years if they had developed rice after reports of shorta- the ample supply of the Looking at the city’s over the weekend that old and the husband is symptoms. ges began to surface online commodity at the mee- stock, there are about 1.1 a married couple from 56 years old. They depar- Their border crossing over the weekend. ting. million kilograms of rice Macau has recently been ted from New York, U.S., records showed that they The Economic Services The wholesalers told in Macau, with an extra diagnosed with Covid-19 on March 17 and arrived have not been in China for Bureau (DSE) assured the the bureau representatives 500,000 kilograms to be in Guangzhou, the provin- at Guangzhou’s Baiyun the past month, implying public of the availability that current supply of rice arriving in the next few cial capital of neighboring International Airport two a high possibility that they of rice stock, saying that in Macau is stable and am- weeks. Guangdong Province. days later, on March 19, contracted the virus while government representati- ple. They also assured the Wholesalers also have The news was annou- after transiting in Tokyo they were in North Ame- ves had met with local rice government that they will the option to source the nced by Leong Iek Hou, during their journey. They rica. wholesalers regarding the try other sources to further foodstuff from other ri- coordinator at the lo- were finally bound for the The SAR government supply situation. expand the supply. ce-producing countries, cal Center for Disease Macau SAR. has already offered the Pictures showing super- As noted in the sta- such as Cambodia. Control and Prevention However, at that time, hotline numbers for the market shelves emptied tement, the wholesalers Restocking at retailers (CDC), during the gover- the mainland health Coordination Center and by panic buyers went viral have information that may be delayed due to nment’s daily press con- measures required them the Tourism Crisis Mana- online over the weekend, there are sufficient stocks the lack of workers under ference. A notification to undergo mandatory gement Office to the cou- with several social media of rice in the mainland, the current situation. The was issued earlier by the quarantine, during which ple. It will remain in cons- users confirming they had which will be brought to price of rice, on the other National Health Commis- time they were diagnosed tant communication with seen the bare shelves. Macau as the situation de- hand, may fluctuate espe- sion (NHC) of the People’s with the disease. the NHC to keep track of It is unclear whether mands. cially in response to chan- Republic of China with re- A statement from the the patients’ health con- the meeting between the The Ministry of Com- ges in the exchange rate of gards to the patients. Macau Special Admi- ditions. AL government and the who- merce of the mainland has the U.S. dollar. AL page 4 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 06.04.2020 mon
MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER
Car crashes Last method of HK-Macau into Cultural public transportation halted Affairs HE shuttle bus service be- The operation hours of the Bureau HQ
Ttween Macau and Hong XINHUA Macau border control buil- Kong known as the ‘Golden ding connecting Zhuhai was car crashed into the sidewall of Bus’ service is halted from to- also shortened starting yes- Athe Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) day until further notice, the terday. It now operates from Headquarters Building, located in operator of the bus has an- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a total of Tap Seac Square, in the early hours nounced. The decision remo- 10 hours per day. At the same of Friday morning. The accident re- ves the last method of public time, the border control area sulted in some damage to one of the transportation between the for travelers between Macau decorative pillars of the historical two Special Administrative and Hong Kong now operates building, which the IC said it would Regions. between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. promptly repair. The authorities of the The East Car Park on the According to a statement from three places – the two SARs Macau border control island the bureau, the IC sent personnel to and Zhuhai – have decided of the HKZMB is also closed investigate the situation once it was to further tighten the alrea- from today. The car park was informed about the accident. dy strict immigration mea- built for Hong Kong vehicles After a preliminary inspection, the sures enacted on the Hong that do not have Macau li- IC staff concluded that the pillar, lo- Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge cense plates. cated on the sidewall facing Estrada (HKZMB). Ferry services between the do Cemitério, had suffered only slight Commonly known as the and Hong Kong, the shuttle quirements imposed by the two SARs, operated separa- damage. The building’s main structu- Golden Bus due to the color service was still in operation, Hong Kong side. tely by Sands China’s Cotai re was not affected by the accident. of the company vehicles, the despite public bus services However, the vehicle bor- Water Jet and Shun Tak’s Tur- The building is part of the classi- shuttle bus deployed its final being called off in Macau. der control lanes at the Ma- bo Jet, were suspended two fied real estate under the record for service before the suspen- Despite the suspension cau border control area of the months ago, following the su- “Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de sion at 8 p.m. last night. It is of buses, private means of HKZMB will see their opera- dden closure of Hong Kong’s Almeida, no. 89-95G.” unclear when the service will transportation, such as priva- tion hours tightened. Before ferry terminals. The bureau also noted that it is resume. te cars with dual license pla- the new measures, the lanes Also due to the closure, currently in discussion with the poli- Usually, the Golden Bus tes, are still allowed to cross were open 24 hours a day for Shun Tak’s Sky Shuttle, the ce authorities on the matter, and will runs 24 hours a day and se- the bridge to Hong Kong, not vehicles. From yesterday, the public helicopter service be- start the repair work as soon as pos- ven days a week. Last year, considering the quarantine lanes are only open from 6 tween the two SARs, was hal- sible to reinstate the building to its when a typhoon hit Macau and other immigration re- a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. ted simultaneously. AL original form. RM ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 mon 06.04.2020 澳門 MACAU
MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER
Non-permanent residents included in work subsidy Top court The SAR government is including non-
RENATO MARQUES RENATO permanent residents into this year’s work sides with income temporary subsidy. Applications for the subsidy remain the same. Qualified residents can get a maximum of 5,000 political patacas per month. The subsidies are applicable to the period starting from January this year. The applicants can submit the scientist application in April, July, and October and in January next year. The SAR government launched the subsidy 12 years ago, in 2008. DANIEL BEITLER to court. The local government believes that the “This is not only good for subsidy is helpful for low-income residents, ACAU’S top court has me, but good for the rule of including people with disabilities. Mruled in favor of an law in Macau,” Sautedé said appeal filed by a political in brief remarks to the Times scientist who says he was yesterday. “Until now, [my Radio taxi better able to unfairly dismissed from his case] was simply dismis- meet calls demand amid position at the University of sed in the first and second Covid-19 pandemic Saint Joseph (USJ) in 2014. instance [courts]. It gives Political scientist Eric Sau- a glimmer of hope that my Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Macao tedé says he was unfairly dis- case might finally be heard Radio Taxi has been able to meet a higher missed from the USJ for ex- after six years.” proportion of all calls received by the pressing his political views. Sautedé is seeking 1.3 company. When the company was first The university has said that million patacas in compen- established, back in November 2015, the the decision not to renew sation from the USJ, com- company completed approximately 6,000 Sautedé’s contract with the prised of 800,000 patacas for orders on a daily basis, but this number represented only 30% to 40% of the total university was an internal material damages and the calls received by the company. In 2019, the decision and that there were remainder for damage to his company put more vehicles on the roads, various reasons for his dis- reputation. and raised the percentage up to 60%. missal. Sautedé’s lawyer, Miguel Nevertheless, since the Covid-19 outbreak, The case was thrown out Quental, declined to com- an even better response rate of 80% to of the first and second cour- ment, saying that he wou- all orders has been recorded. On average, ts, hence the appeal filed by ld await the details of the the number of calls dropped by 50%, with Sautedé at the Court of Final court’s decision. Lawyer Fi- 2,000 orders being completed during this Instance (TUI) in February lipe Figueiredo, who repre- period. The company claimed it would not 2019. sents the University of Saint fire any drivers because of the reduction in On Friday, the TUI annou- Joseph, was not immediately its business. nced that it had sided with reachable yesterday. mentary was behind the The USJ announced last the appellant. The details In a 2014 interview with decision. “There is a princi- month the appointment of 3 in 4 internet households of the TUI decision had not Portuguese-language news- ple in the church, which is Stephen Morgan as its next now have fiber optic been released at the time paper Ponto Final, former of non-intervention in local rector. Morgan is expected to of print and so it is not yet USJ rector Peter Stilwell ad- political debates,” Stilwell officially take the helm at the broadband known if the case will return mitted that political com- told the paper. university in July. The number of households using the internet last year increased by 6,900 to a total of 182,300, according to data released by the Statistics and Census Service, widening the scope of internet coverage to 92.3% of all households. At the same Affordable housing scheme to retain age time, the number of households using fiber optic broadband connection continued to rise, up by 18.1% last year to 138,800, and requirement at 18 for family applicants accounting for more than three-quarters HE SAR govern- related to the most re- of the total households using the internet. Tment has decided cent affordable hou- The proportion of households using mobile to retain entry age po- sing application. The broadband to access the Internet (178,500) grew by 3.3 percentage points to 97.9%, licies concerning family application will end on indicating that only a small number of applications for affor- April 27, which is al- households never use mobile broadband at dable houses at a mini- ready one month later home. mum of 18 years old. than the original appli- This morning, the cation period. First Standing Commi- Rosário is aware UM to resume ttee had a discussion that the society has de- postgraduate oral regarding the latest af- mands for extending defenses on May 4 fordable housing bill the application period together with govern- and the local govern- In accordance with the guidelines issued by ment representatives, ment is still reviewing it. the Higher Education Bureau and considering including the Secretary After the committee the actual circumstances of the University of for Transport and Pu- discussion, lawmaker Macau (UM), the university said it will resume blic Works, Raimundo Sulu Sou expressed his PhD and master’s oral defenses on May 4. Arrais do Rosário. disappointment at the Students of PhD, master’s, and postgraduate certificate/diploma programs at coursework The chairman of the ts is also reduced from the need to buy a hou- consider the proposal. latest draft of the bill. stage will continue with distance learning committee, lawmaker the previously proposed se immediately after fi- Secretary Rosário He was particularly until the end of this semester, according to Ho Ion Sang, reported 25 years of age down to nishing school. said that in April or disappointed with the the UM. Master’s and PhD students who to the media that the Some of the May this year, the local part that said that you- 23 years. are at research stage and need to return to ng people between 18 government has ac- The local govern- lawmakers still think government will start a the campus for special reasons, such as for cepted the lawmakers’ ment adjusted the age that the minimum age public tender procedu- and 23 years old are not their laboratory work and research, should suggestion to keep the policies after consi- for individual appli- re for the foundation qualified to apply for af- seek approval from the university in advance. entry age at 18 years for dering that affordable cations should also go work of three land plo- fordable houses as indi- The UM stressed that students must not family applicants. housing is in high de- down to 18 years of age. ts for affordable houses vidual applicants in spi- return to the campus in general without The minimum age mand and not every The local govern- on New Urban Zone A. te of meeting all other first acquiring approval from the education for individual applican- university graduate has ment said that it would The land plots are requirements. JZ institution. page 6 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo PANDEMIC 疫病大流行 06.04.2020 mon
MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Hong Kong faces delay in giving cash away ERIC LAM, ENDA CURRAN & JINSHAN HONG AP PHOTO ONG Kong was ahead of Hmost of the world when in February it announced a handout of almost $1,300 to residents suf- fering from a recession worsened by the coronavirus. By the time the money arrives, it may be too late to undo the damage. While the U.S. plans to send checks to individuals as soon as this month as part of a $2 trillion relief package and other countries roll out payouts, Hong Kong’s cash drop isn’t expected until the end of the third quarter or even later. Virus control measures are shuttering more businesses and accelerating job losses in the Asian financial hub, with the la- test regulations involving a two- -week closure of bars intended to curb a second wave of the ou- tbreak locally. This comes after the economy slid into recession last year, battered by months of anti-government protests. While once there was talk of how the payment could support discretionary spending at Hong Kong’s restaurants and shops, now it’s looking more like a form of basic income support. billion, the Hong Kong govern- bers and the public, raised seve- to the public in a combination of 6 million people, the LegCo brief There had been “a lot of exci- ment says the direct payment ral concerns about the handout cash, subsidies and coupons. A said. tement around the Hong Kong needs technical and legal work, including the amount of time it decision on the handout format Now, “the cash handout is cash handout,” said Rory Green, and that is moving more slowly will take compared with other is complicated by concern over more a social insurance in the an economist at TS Lombard. “We than the epidemic. programs in Macau and Singapo- repeating the perceived failure of crisis rather than fiscal stimulus,” view it as more of a tax break, and “It takes time to carry out the re based on past experience, high direct payments made during the said Aries Wong, lecturer at Hong one that will come too late to su- required preparatory work,” the administrative costs and the non- global financial crisis. Kong Baptist University’s School pport the economy through virus- Financial Services and the Trea- -targeted nature of eligibility. Italy is preparing an emergen- of Business. “Its effect depends on -related disruption.” sury Bureau said in a March 24 “It is not clear whether the cash cy handout for workers in the the portion of cash that would be For Jason Lam, a 32-year- email. “Our current target is to can reach the needy soon enough country’s underground economy, re-spent by households.” -old chef in Tsim Sha Tsui who strive to commence registration to soothe their plight,” the report while Peru has begun distributing In an interview with Bloom- has been asked to take repeated in early July and start making said. cash to the country’s 2.7 million berg TV in early March, Financial unpaid leave over the past two payment during summer vaca- Aside from the U.S. program to poorest families. Singapore also is Secretary Chan said he hoped months, the cash can’t come soon tion.” send out checks, other countries moving slightly faster than Hong residents would support Hong enough. There are plenty of boxes that are planning or have discussed Kong, having announced a one- Kong by spending, and encoura- “That HKD10,000 will be very still need to be checked off, inclu- direct cash payments to citizens, -time payment in March that’s ged businesses to come up with helpful because I don’t have ding spending approval from the though many are running into due to land in August. incentives for them to do so. enough income to cover my spen- Legislative Council for the wider complications of their own. Hong Kong distributed checks Vivian Leung, a 33-year-old ding,” he said. Lam signed up for budget, which is not expected Thailand opened registration of HKD6,000 to the populace in teacher in Hong Kong, said her a savings plan last year and is now before the end of April. While offi- at the end of March for a handout 2011, though that occurred when family and friends are thinking struggling to make the monthly cials are waiting, they have begun program to cover about 9 million the economy was booming and about using the money to buy payments. “This has bothered me developing computer systems to people. However a third of Thai- the need for the money less ur- goods such as face masks, sani- to death. I don’t know what will handle the program, discussions land’s population, or some 22.9 gent. The plan was announced tizer and cleaning equipment to happen in April now with the new with partners such as banks on million people, have already sig- in March, with registration be- fight the coronavirus. social-distancing rules further details and formulating a publici- ned up, meaning many will be di- ginning at the end of August and “All those things, for the past dragging down our business.” ty plan, the department said. sappointed. payments by early November, two to three months, pretty much The escalating global pande- An April 3 brief from the Legis- Japan’s ruling party has propo- according to the government. makes up HKD10,000,” she said. mic is the latest blow to Hong lative Council Secretariat, which sed spending more than 10 trillion The plan ultimately took about “Are we excited? It’s better than Kong’s economy. It is forecast provides support to council mem- yen ($92.1 billion) on handouts 21 months to make payments to nothing.” BLOOMBERG to struggle in a range of -1.5% to +0.5% growth this year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan forecast in the budget released in late Fe- AP PHOTO bruary. On paper, Hong Kong has the right mix of circumstances to make such a cash drop work, whi- ch is a reason why the city was one of the first in the world to annou- nce a general payout in the cur- rent crisis. The government has plenty of cash on hand given a fiscal reserve of more than HKD1 trillion, and experience with past handouts. But amid a broader econo- mic support plan worth HKD120 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 mon 06.04.2020 疫病大流行 PANDEMIC
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Spain virus cases pass Italy, where daily deaths are falling PAIN’S Covid-19 cases surpas- In Germany the number of co- Ssed Italy as Europe’s two main ronavirus deaths and confirmed epicenters continue to struggle to cases climbed further, a day after curtail the virus, with Prime Mi- Robert Koch Institute President nister Pedro Sanchez announcing Lothar Wieler warned the country plans to extend the country’s lo- might require further intensive- ckdown until April 25. -care space. Germany has boos- As of last night, confirmed ted capacity by more than 40% cases in Spain had risen to over since the outbreak began. 130,759, while deaths rose to The death rate in Europe’s lar- 12,418. Total cases are now higher gest economy has been well be- than Italy’s 128,948. In France, the low the levels seen in Italy and total number of fatalities rose to Spain, but government officials 7,560 and the U.K. reported one and healthcare experts insist it’s of its deadliest days yesterday as too early to ease social distancing fatalities climbed to 4,934. rules and transport restrictions. The virus has crippled Euro- pe at different times with most SWEDISH QUESTION countries now in some form of There are signs in turn that the lockdown, even as nations like death rate in Sweden is growing Sweden and the U.K. were more faster than elsewhere in Scan- reluctant to take drastic measures dinavia, raising pressure on the earlier. Governments and policy- government to abandon its con- -makers are scrambling to find troversial hands-off approach - ways to mitigate the damage with schools, restaurants and cafes re- entire economies headed into main open - in tackling Covid-19. deep recession and a common The number of Swedish dea- approach still elusive. ths from the virus rose to 373 on As attention shifts to Spain, Saturday, up 12% from Friday. Italy has signaled the situation, That brings the rate per million in while still grave, is improving. Scandinavia’s biggest economy to Angelo Borrelli, the head of the 36, compared with 29 in Denmark country’s civil protection agen- and 9 in Norway, where much cy, said the number of patients tougher lockdowns are in place. in intensive care has dropped by Prime Minister Stefan Lofven 74, the first fall since the country warned that Sweden may now be went into a state of emergency. facing “thousands” of deaths, and In Spain, a slower pace of fata- said the crisis is likely to drag on lities and new cases is also offe- for months rather than weeks. ring some hope that the outbreak may be moving toward a peak. EQUIPMENT TENSIONS Health Minister Salvador Illa said Meanwhile another dispute on Friday that the goal of slowing emerged over emergency medical the epidemic was “within reach.” equipment with Madrid accusing The government in Madrid Ankara of retaining a shipment of has imposed some of the most respirators bought by two regio- restrictive lockdown measures in nal Spanish governments from a Europe, shuttering most busines- Turkish company. ses and forcing people to stay in Turkey cited the risk of a shor- their homes except to buy groce- tage at home in holding onto the ries and seek healthcare. ventilators, Spain’s Foreign Mi- Containment measures across nistry said in a statement. Spain the continent have cut off border would insist on reimbursement if crossings and limited air travel, the equipment was not released, while countries have announced it added. There was no immediate trillions of euros in aid to support comment from the Turkish gover- businesses and individuals. nment. MDT/AP page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo PANDEMIC 疫病大流行 06.04.2020 mon
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Alexandra township with Sandton skyline, in Johannesburg, South Africa
1994 Rwanda presidents’ plane ‘shot down’
The presidents of the African states of Rwanda and Africa braces for ‘complete Burundi have been killed in a plane crash near the Rwan- dan capital, Kigali. Juvenal Habyarimana of Rwanda and Burundi’s Cyprian Ntayamira were among 10 people on the aircraft which collapse of economies’ some reports say was brought down by rocket fire. The two presidents were returning from a meeting of OME of Uganda’s for more than 50% of the ready stagnant growth nomic disruption. east and central African leaders in Tanzania at which they poorest people country’s gross domestic in many countries, with Further challenges discussed ways to end the ethnic violence in Burundi and used to work here, product. oil-exporting nations like exist. Rampant corrup- Rwanda. on the streets of The deserted streets Nigeria and Angola losing tion in many African Bloody feuding between the majority Hutu tribe and SKampala, as fruit sellers in downtown Kampa- up to $65 billion in reve- countries feeds inequa- the minority Tutsis has plagued both tiny central African sitting on the pavement la, Uganda’s capital, un- nue as prices fall. lity, and poor or non- states for centuries. or as peddlers of every- derscore the challenge Economies in sub- -existent public services It has been particularly bad in Burundi where up to thing from handkerchiefs facing authorities across -Saharan Africa are seen stoke public anger that 100,000 people have been killed since the assassination to roasted peanuts. the world’s poorest conti- as especially vulnerable sometimes escalates into of the country’s first democratically-elected president - a Hutu - last October. Now they’re gone and nent, home to 1.3 billion because many are heavily street protests and dea- In Rwanda, President Habyarimana’s Hutu coalition no one knows when they people: how to look after indebted and some stru- dly violence. Measures to reached a peace accord last August with Rwandan Pa- will return, victims of a millions of people stuck ggle just to implement control the spread of CO- triotic Front (RPF) rebels, made up mainly of Tutsis, but global economic crisis at home for weeks or even their budgets under less VID-19 could make that they have failed to agree on a transitional government. linked to the coronavirus stressful circumstances. worse as people trapped months of lockdown. The deaths of the presidents, both Hutus, looks likely that could wipe out jobs With some governmen- Now the continent at home go hungry. to make the situation in both states worse. for millions across the ts saying they’re unable to might need up to $10.6 UNECA has called for Heavy fighting has already been reported around the African continent, many offer direct support, the billion in unanticipated emergency actions to pro- presidential palace in Rwanda after news of the deaths who live hand-to-mouth fate of Africa’s large in- increases in health spen- tect 30 million jobs imme- spread. with zero savings. formal sector could be a ding, and revenue losses diately at risk across Afri- News agencies in Kigali said explosions have been ro- “We’ve been through powerful example of what could lead to debt be- ca, particularly in the tou- cking the city but it was not immediately clear who was a lot on the continent. experts predict will be coming unsustainable, rism and airline sectors, involved in the fighting. Ebola, yes, African gover- unprecedented damage UNECA chief Vera Songwe saying the continent will Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations, Jean Da- nments took a hit, but we to economies in the de- said in March. be hit harder than others mascene Bizimana, said the presidents’ deaths had been have not seen anything veloping world. Among Urgent calls for an eco- with an economic toll that an “assassination”. like this before,” Ahunna the millions made jobless nomic stimulus package will exacerbate “current Members of the UN Security Council held a minute’s Eziakonwa, the United are casual laborers, petty have followed. Ethiopian fragilities.” silence for the presidents and later appealed for calm Nations Development traders, street vendors, Prime Minister Abiy Ah- After Ugandan Pre- while the crash was investigated. Program regional director mechanics, taxi opera- med has spoken of an sident Yoweri Museve- From 1890 until 1962 Rwanda and Burundi were one for Africa, told The Asso- tors and conductors, hou- “existential threat” to ni announced that food nation, Ruanda-Urundi. ciated Press. “The African sekeepers and waitresses, Africa’s economies while markets could remain It was under the control of first Germany and later Bel- labor market is driven and dealers in everything seeking up to $150 billion open under orders to de- gium. by imports and exports from used clothes to from G20 nations. A mee- congest crowded areas, The Belgians supported Tutsi kings’ rule over the Hutu and with the lockdown construction hardware. ting of African finance some fruit vendors were majority - worsening the bad feeling between the tribes. everywhere in the world, Unless the virus’ ministers agreed that the assaulted by armed men Courtesy BBC News it means basically that the spread can be controlled, continent needs a stimu- and had goods confisca- economy is frozen in pla- up to 50% of all projec- lus package of up to $100 ted, drawing an apology ce. ted job growth in Africa billion, including a waiver from the army comman- “And with that, of cou- will be lost as aviation, of up to $44 billion in in- der. Museveni later an- In context rse, all the jobs are gone.” services, exports, mining, terest payments. nounced an effective lo- The deaths of the presidents led to more ethnic conflict in More than half of Afri- agriculture and the infor- The International Mo- ckdown, closing public both states but it was especially savage in Rwanda. ca’s 54 countries have mal sector all take a hit, netary Fund on March 25 transport and all but es- By June 1994 the Rwandan military - helped by Hutu civil- imposed lockdowns, cur- Eziakonwa said. said it had received re- sential businesses. ians - had massacred at least 800,000 Tutsis and moder- fews, travel bans or other “We will see a comple- quests for emergency fi- “What am I going to ate Hutus. measures in a bid to pre- te collapse of economies nancing from close to 20 eat if he stops us from After the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front victory captured Kigali in July, two million Hutus fled into neighbouring Zaire vent local transmission and livelihoods. Live- African countries, with re- working? Museveni can- (later the Democratic Republic of Congo) of the virus. They range lihoods will be wiped out quests from another 10 or not do that,” said Marius Many were too afraid of retribution to return in spite of the from South Africa, where in a way we have never more likely to follow. The Kamusiime, who opera- formation of a multi-ethnic government with a Hutu as inequality and crime pla- seen before,” she warned. IMF has since approved tes a passenger motor- president. gue Africa’s most deve- The U.N. Economic credit facilities for at least cycle. “We may have to In 1995 a UN-appointed international tribunal began trying some of the people behind the atrocities in Rwanda. loped country, to places Commission for Africa two West African nations go back to the village if But by the end of 2001 the tribunal had judged just nine like Uganda, where the has said the pandemic — Guinea and Senegal — this corona becomes se- cases, handing down eight convictions and one acquittal. informal sector accounts could seriously dent al- facing virus-related eco- rious.” MDT/AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 mon 06.04.2020 資訊／娛樂 INFOTAINMENT
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YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom
Aries Taurus
Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 Today’s going to start off as a very Why pressure yourself into taking calm day, with nary a ripple on it all in when grabbing one small the proverbial water’s surface. But detail can be so rewarding? Right as the day goes on, there will be now, you need to focus on one lots of activity right under that aspect of your life. How can you surface. improve it?
Gemini Cancer
May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 It’s tough not to blame them for You don’t want to end up with judging you, but they’re just doing your foot in your mouth. It’s a very their best to understand you. Talk unappetizing snack. Even if you’re to them and explain that you’re tactful, your thoughts might be not doing what you’re doing to misinterpreted by someone who is hurt them. eager to react emotionally. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA The best lesson you learn today won’t Getting sidetracked or lured away Beijing 23 cloudy be found in the same old place. You’re by promises of more time or 6 going to have to move as far outside more money is not a good option, Harbin -3 12 cloudy your comfort zone as you can stand to so avoid veering off in any new go in order to get the nutritious input direction. Your extra efforts will Tianjin 11 22 cloudy that your brain is hungry for. pay off handsomely today. Urumqi 8 22 clear Xi’an 21 cloudy Libra Scorpio 10 Lhasa 1 12 cloudy Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 11 17 overcast You can feel free to turn a deaf ear to If a blur of social obligations is Chongqing 12 18 overcast anyone who is telling you to introduce working on your last nerve, get some more discipline and structure into alone time today. Treat yourself Kunming 11 21 shower your life. They’re projecting their to a quiet dinner out, or rent your Nanjing 14 cloudy own life choices onto you, and they favorite movie and just chill. It’s not 7 really don’t have any right to do so. selfish to want to be by yourself. Shanghai 10 16 overcast Wuhan 11 22 clear Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 9 17 overcast Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 16 19 drizzle Ask a few questions and get to Get ready to be invited into the inner Guangzhou 14 16 heavy rain the bottom of their newfound circle, either through a social or generosity. You’ll soon see that work-related invitation. The nature Hong Kong 17 19 shower the responsibilities laid out in of your time with these people isn’t front of you are ones you could as important as the length of time really sink your teeth into. you will have with them. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow 2 4 drizzle Frankfurt 6 16 moderate rain Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 5 14 drizzle Try to organize an informal Put social obligations and activity (a pizza dinner at your romantic endeavors on hold for London 5 13 drizzle place, maybe?) where you can a little while. They aren’t going check in with your fan club anywhere any time soon! Today, New York 0 4 cloudy and send some love back their your brain is wired for wheeling way. and dealing!
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NGLISH Premier League FOOTBALL players failed to reach an agreement on Saturday with clubs to take 30% Epay cuts during the coronavirus pandemic, escalating a bitter pu- Union: 30% pay cut for EPL players blic row as their union claimed the government would lose out on more than 200 million pou- nds (around $245 million) in tax. would harm health service “This would be detrimental to our NHS [National Health Servi- the pressures its lower paid staff, tion to funding essential public ce] and other government-fun- communities and fans face.” services — which are especially ded services,” the Professional Liverpool, which leads the AP PHOTO critical at this time,” the PFA said Footballers’ Association said in a league by 25 points, followed in a statement. “Taking a 30% statement. fellow 2019 Champions League salary deduction will cost the Taking on the Premier League finalist Tottenham, Bournemou- Exchequer [treasury] substantial as a whole, the PFA said the 20 th, Newcastle and Norwich in sums.” million pounds being given to furloughing staff. “What effect does this loss the NHS by the world’s richest Under a job retention scheme of earning to the government soccer competition was “welco- implemented to help businesses mean for the NHS?” the PFA me, but we believe it could be far survive the national lockdown, statement continued. “Was this bigger.” staff can be put on furlough and considered in the Premier Lea- The union’s strident stance receive 80% of their salaries from gue proposal and did the health came after further talks Saturday the government, up to a maxi- secretary, Matt Hancock, factor involving clubs and the league as mum of 2,500 pounds ($3,000) a this in when asking players to Liverpool became the latest Pre- month. take a salary cut?” mier League side defying politi- Liverpool said it would top up The PFA said players would cal anger by using a government salaries to ensure staff still re- still like “precise details of our bailout scheme to furlough some ceived the full amount but that commitment” settled, recogni- non-playing staff. still means using public funds to Liverpool’s goalkeeper Adrian reacts during a Champions League match at Anfield zing a need to help their clubs, The government said it was pay some staff. Former Liverpool stadium in Liverpool non-playing staff, lower-league “concerned” by the standoff be- defender Jamie Carragher called sides and the health service. tween players and their clubs. that a “poor” move, saying “res- a pre-tax profit of 42 million agreement on the need to ask “However, to achieve a col- “People do not want to see in- pect and goodwill is lost” by the pounds on a turnover of 533 players to see 30% of their pay lective position for all Premier fighting in our national sport at club. million pounds last year and it cut or deferred. But the standoff League players — of which a time of crisis,” tweeted Culture The European champions said “complex” talks continue between the players’ union and there are many different fi- Secretary Oliver Dowden, who- have been owned for a decade with players about savings on clubs continues. nancial and contractual cir- se cabinet brief covers sports. by John Henry’s Fenway Sports salaries. “The players are mindful that cumstances from club-to-club “Football must play its part to Group, which also features the A meeting of Premier League [...] the combined tax on their — will take a bit more time,” show that the sport understands Boston Red Sox. Liverpool made clubs on Friday had ended with salaries is a significant contribu- the union said. MDT/AP
ad Mexican author calls on writers the to ‘document’ pandemic BUZZ Cooped up at her Bronx home with her daughter and a niece be- with the stories of migrant children along the Mexico-U.S. border. cause of the coronavirus pandemic, Mexican writer Valeria Luiselli Luiselli accepted the prize at a ceremony held online because of the says she has lowered the “volume and speed” of her life. She is ar- global coronavirus outbreak. “The fact that the literary community is ranging books in alphabetical order, planting legumes on her bal- still in full swing, even from their homes, and behind their screens, is cony and listening to old recordings from Argentinian author Julio moving and encouraging,” she said, speaking in Spanish. Cortázar. “I think it is my duty, and the duty of every writer, whether is a scien- Her rhythm has slowed but not the accolades and awards for her ce-fiction writer, a journalist, a poet, each at their own pace and wi- OPINION latest novel, “Lost Children Archive,” which last week was honored thin their own capacities, to document this moment,” she said. with the British Rathbone Folio Prize. The book, Luiselli’s third novel, “We are going to need this narrative fabric, some sort of fabric for us World Views is part fiction part documentary: A family’s American road trip mixed to lay down once we overcome this.” Chris Bryant, Bloomberg
What I learned from South Africa says trying to cut my own part of a hospital in Asian Americans the city of Durban hair has been shut down after 11 coronavirus Writing to shareholders this week, BlackRock In- mobilize on social media cases were confirmed c.s chief executive officer Larry Fink ruminated on among patients and how business and society will be reshaped by the staffers. Those include searing experience of the new coronavirus: “People to face off attacks three patients at St. Augustine’s Hospital who worldwide are fundamentally rethinking the way we died. More on p8 work, shop, travel and gather. When we exit this cri- YLE Navarro was knee- ling down to unlock his sis, the world will be different. Investors’ psychology K Ukraine A forest fire is AP PHOTO will change. Business will change. Consumption will bicycle when he noticed an burning in the evacuated change. And we will be more deeply reliant on our older white man staring at area around the families and each other to stay safe.” him. Navarro, who is Filipi- Chernobyl nuclear power I had a similar epiphany this week while trying to no, tried to ignore him, but plant and is causing cut my own hair — it turns out my regular $30 hair- that soon became impossi- elevated radiation levels, cut isn’t as essential as I’d thought. Preparing a meal ble. authorities said yesterday. for my family later that evening made me think that The man walked by, The emergency services eating out or getting dinner delivered isn’t as rewar- ministry said 130 looked back and called Na- firefighters and two ding as home cooking. Right now the do-it-yourself varro a racial slur. He “spat version also feels a whole lot safer, and probably will planes were laboring in my direction, and kept to put out the fire. It do for a while. walking,” Navarro said. said radiation levels had Compared to the courage shown by medical Navarro, a school nurse increased at the fire’s workers and those in other essential functions, and center. the devastation wrought by coronavirus on already in San Francisco, already vulnerable communities, many of us in the western had anxiety about racism world have it easy. We’re asked to do no more than related to the coronavirus,
stay home. But in between worrying about our jobs, which emerged in China AP PHOTO our parents and how to entertain or home-school and has Asian people facing children, we’re reevaluating priorities. What will we unfounded blame and atta- do differently when this is over? What will we prize cks as it’s spread worldwide. more and what will we give up? Now, he was outraged. Once the immediate battle to protect employees “My first instinct was to and remain solvent has passed, the business world Kyle Navarro poses in San Francisco Italy’s virus-ravaged yell back at him in anger. Lombardy region is now will have to confront these questions too. But, after taking a breath, requiring residents to Two themes stand out: Instead of visiting far-flung I realized that would have month. New York’s attor- has not fared well for Asian wear a protective mask places and seeking out mass entertainment, I’m put me in danger,” Navarro ney general also launched a Americans,” Choi said. “We when they go outside sure there will be a bias toward more modest, local said. hotline. don’t have to prove our wor- in a bid to further trim activities. And where the coronavirus has exposed Instead, he took to Twit- “We kind of just knew th and that we belong, that infections. The ordinance dependency or vulnerability, as with the business ter last week to turn the ugly from history this was going we’re exceptional. And we from Lombardy Gov. world’s complex cross-border supply chains, we’ll Attilio Fontana went into to snowball,” said Cynthia certainly don’t have to be- seek more security and resilience. moment into an opportuni- effect yesterday and lasts Looming above all of this is the damage that the lo- ty for a conversation about Choi, co-executive director lieve that this is something through April 13. ckdowns are inflicting on people’s incomes. The lon- racism, generating thou- of Chinese for Affirmati- that we should ignore.” ger the economic shutdown lasts, the more reluctant sands of sympathetic com- ve Action. “With the rising Meanwhile, Trump has the world’s consumers will be to spend, period. With ments. stress and anxiety, we knew walked back on calling Co- more than 10 million Americans filing new unem- Asian Americans are we’d see a rise in hate inci- vid-19 the Chinese virus, AP PHOTO ployment claims in the past fortnight, the omens using social media to orga- dents.” saying at a media briefing aren’t good. nize and fight back against The center has fielded and on Twitter last week In the worst-affected sectors such as travel, hos- racially motivated atta- more than 1,000 reports that Asian Americans shou- pitality and leisure, businesses are already facing cks during the pandemic, from across the U.S., ran- ld not be blamed “in any a bleaker future. Increased consumer awareness which the FBI predicts ging from people spitting to way, shape or form.” France A man wielding a about the negative environmental and social impact will increase as infections throwing bottles from cars. Democrats in the U.S. knife attacked residents of mass tourism has now been compounded by the grow. A string of racist run- An FBI report distributed Senate and House worry of a French town while realization that people on planes and pleasure boats -ins in the last two weeks to local law enforcement the damage has been done they ventured out to carried the virus around the globe. Lufthansa AG’s shop amid a nationwide has given rise to hashtags predicts the attacks will sur- and have introduced reso- boss, Carsten Spohr, thinks the German airline will coronavirus lockdown — #WashTheHate, #Ra- ge and pointed to the stab- lutions to condemn anti-A- have to shrink because the economy will be smaller Saturday, killing two bing of an Asian American sian racism. than before. Easyjet Plc’s founder, Stelios Haji-Ioan- cismIsAVirus, #IAmNot- people and wounding nou, said similar this week when calling on the car- COVID19 — and online man and his two children Some of the reports re- five others in an act rier to cancel a big order from Airbus SE. forums to report incidents. at a Sam’s Club in Texas last ceived by the advocacy that led authorities to open a terrorism inquiry. Until coronavirus came along, the tech world see- Critics say President Do- month, ABC News repor- groups describe harass- France’s counter- med hell-bent on taking agency away from indivi- nald Trump made things ted. According to the report, ment that appears to parrot terrorism prosecutor’s the 19-year-old suspect said Trump, Choi said. duals and consigning ownership to the dustbin. Why worse by calling Covid-19 office said the assailant learn to cook when you can have food delivered in 30 the “Chinese virus.” he thought they were “in- The president’s words was arrested near the minutes? Why own a car when you can take an Uber? For a group with a history fecting people.” The victims also drew some Asian Ame- scene of the attack in Why look after your gadgets, when those nice people of being scapegoated — have recovered. ricans in entertainment the town of Romans- at Apple will fix them for you. But as my colleague from Japanese Americans Amid the explosive cli- and fashion to the #Wash- sur-Isere, south of Lyon, Adam Minter pointed out this week, it’s only in a cri- detained during World War mate, former Democratic TheHate social media cam- as he was kneeling on sis that you discover the drawbacks of not being able II to a Chinese American presidential candidate An- paign last month. Celia Au, the sidewalk praying in Arabic. to repair your own phone. man killed by autoworkers drew Yang drew backlash star of the Netflix show “Wu Coronavirus has exposed our vulnerability and it angry about Japanese com- for urging fellow Asian Assassins,” and others pos- won’t be the last crisis. Our planet-warming emis- US Americans braced petition in the ‘80s — there’s Americans to display more ted videos showing them sions mean more pain is preordained. Faced with for what the nation’s top urgency to drown out both “American-ness.” In a washing their hands and doctor warned yesterday uncertainty or disaster, humans respond by trying to Washington Post editorial talking about the effect of would be “the hardest and strengthen their communities. We’ll also seek more bigotry and apathy. saddest week” of their control over our lives. For societies, that means equi- To that end, the Califor- Wednesday, he called on racism. “It comes from the nia-based groups Chinese them to avoid confronta- top down at the end of the lives. “This is going to be pping our health services, paying key workers pro- our Pearl Harbor moment, for Affirmative Action and tion and do acts of goodwill day,” Au said. “Our top lea- perly and securing supplies. As individuals, it means our 9/11 moment,’’ U.S. out-sourcing fewer decisions and mastering things the Asian Pacific Planning like volunteering and hel- der is not doing the job, so Surgeon General Jerome for ourselves. [Abridged] and Policy Council set up ping neighbors. it’s time for us to step up.” Adams told Fox News a hate reporting center last “Being ‘the good Asian’ MDT/AP Sunday.