Cotai-Hengqin Link by 2025

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

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SCHOLAR: THE GBA SHOULD HAVE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN INDICTED TAIWANESE OFFICIALS A SET OF UNIFIED RULES IN A BID TO REFLECTED ON ELECTRICITY AND RECEIVED CASH, GIFTS AND FREE BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND BETTER EXCURSIONS DURING MULTIPLE TRIPS CONNECT WITH THE WORLD WATER CONSUMPTION IN 2020 TO MAINLAND CHINA AND MACAU P4 P5 P3

AP PHOTO COTAI-HENGQIN LINK BY 2025 Thailand’s prime minister survived a no-confidence vote in parliament amid allegations that his The LRT extension line to Hengqin is expected to be government mismanaged the economy, bungled the provision of COVID-19 completed in four years with a budget of MOP3.5 billion vaccines, abused human P2 rights and fostered corruption. Nine other ministers also survived the vote. It marked the second no-confidence test that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government has faced since taking office in July 2019.

India A 22-year-old climate activist who is facing sedition charges for her alleged role in the creation of an online document intended to help amplify farmer protests did not get bail after a court said it will reserve its order for later this week. Judge Dharmender Rana said the court will pronounce the bail order on Disha Ravi’s bail plea on Tuesday, extending her judicial custody by two more days.

India Anti-India rebels in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed two police officers in an attack in the disputed region’s main city, officials said. Elsewhere in the Himalayan region, three suspected rebels and a policeman were killed in two gun battles. The violence came a day after diplomats from more than 20 countries stationed in India’s capital concluded a two-day visit to the region. AP PHOTO RENATO MARQUES RENATO

Afghanistan Three sticky bomb attacks in Kabul killed at least five people and wounded two others, MOP29.8 BILLION a police official said, amid a surge in violence LUNAR NEW YEAR in the war-torn country. Casino tax Kabul police spokesman occupancy Ferdaws Faramarz said two explosions caused by sticky generated in 2020 bombs attached to vehicles rate of 48.3% took place 15 minutes apart fared modestly and a third targeting a police outperforms vehicle exploded about two better than hours later. MGTO’s estimate gov’t’s forecast More on backpage P2 P3 page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 22.02.2021 mon

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

the CNY Golden Week in 2021, CNY down 65.3% from 261,454 in the same period last year. The decline was associated Occupancy rate of 48.3% with the travel advisories issued by China’s municipal governmen- ts advising their residents to avoid outperforms MGTO’s estimate travelling during the CNY period. Overall, the average daily ar- HONEY TSANG rival numbers during the Lunar New Year stood at 12,945, falling ACAU’S occupancy rate short of the Fernandes’ previous Maveraged at around 48.3% forecast of around 16,000 to 20,000 during the Chinese New Year arrivals.

(CNY) Golden Week from Fe- AGENCY PHOTO MACAU President of Sands China Ltd, bruary 11 to 17, demonstrating a Wilfred Wong, previously told the contraction of 4.6% points year- mediathat he had expected “a sli- -on-year, the official data released ght delay” in the hotel room peak last Friday showed. booking period for the group’s The latest figures were given newly opened hotel property The by the city’s accommodations, Londoner, after taking into ac- including both hotels and guest count the impact of the travel ad- houses, and compiled by the Ma- visory. cao Government Tourism Office “Some mainland tourists will (MGTO). avoid travelling during the Spring The actual figure of occupancy Festival. But they may set off rate turned out better than MG- trips following the festival, […] TO’s earlier forecast of around 30% we believe the occupancy data — an estimate, which was gauged will come to some highs after the based on the booking data provi- Chinese New Year,” he projected ded by local hotels pre-CNY, and earlier. announced by MGTO Director To some degree, the growing Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes trend of arrivals from the Main- on an annual media brief on Fe- land during the latter half days bruary 10. of the Golden Week bears down In terms of the demarcation of Wong’s forecast. accommodation rating, the city’s The seventh day of the Golden 5-star hotels outshined all other Week holiday on February 17 saw hotel classes, registering an avera- a double-digit growth of 22.8%, ge occupancy rate of 50.6%, down year-over-year in mainland tourist 4.7% points from the CNY Golden It was then followed by 46.1% significant 42.1% year-on-year. pectively. arrivals into Macau. The daily tally Week last year. for 3-star hotels, 27.3% for guest The daily room rate was The daily room rates for 2-star marks the second consecutive Meanwhile, 4-star hotels were houses and 24.6% for 2-star hotels. MOP1,444.8, MOP734.0 and hotels and guest houses showed day of growth — following a 5.3% narrowing the gap, with their oc- The average daily room rate MOP780.0 for the city’s 5-star, the sharpest contraction, down increase on February 16 — and cupancy rate averaged at 49.8%, for hotel establishments in Ma- 4-star and 3-star hotels during the 79.4% and 78.9% year-over-year. the highest annual growth rate in just 0.8% points behind the first- cau stood at around MOP1,175.3 week-long Spring Festival holiday, Overall, the city saw an aggre- Mainland visitor numbers during -place 5-star hotels. during the holiday week, down a down 38.7%, 51.5% and 47.0% res- gate of 90,615 tourist arrivals over the holiday.

LRT Hengqin extension expected to be completed in four years ANTHONY LAM is expected to be completed ding with the current one, will be built aboveground in four years. which is actually located at the Lotus Border Che- HE SAR government The consolidation of the at Hengqin, has been in- ckpoint Station. The gover- Tannounced that the idea of building the exten- cubating and discussed for nment did not announce, Light Rapid Transit (LRT) sion came after an extra a while, especially after the however, if they will be extension to Hengqin is ai- stop, the Island Hospital relocation of the border considered within one paid med to be operational in Station, was added to the control building. area or passengers need to four years. It will be about current Taipa Line of the An LRT station, the Lotus exit from one station and 2.2 km in total with 900 me- mass transit system. The Border Checkpoint Station, enter another to get the ters underground, authori- Island Hospital Station, located at the back of the train to Hengqin. ties announced last week. meanwhile, is located abo- Studio City, caters to users Similar to the tunnel Nam Kwong (Group) ve the roundabout diago- at the checkpoint. connecting to the Univer- Company Limited has been nally from the future hos- Starting at the Lotus Bor- sity of Macau, the train will appointed to construct pital. der Checkpoint Station, the go underground at the river the extension. The govern- Although the station has Hengqin Extension Line is a until the Hengqin Border ment’s justification for the been built, it is not yet ope- hybrid structure, consisting Checkpoint. The govern- decision is that the project rational. of flyovers, an underwater ment states that the new is a Zhuhai-Macau collabo- However, the idea of tunnel and two stations. terminal station will be lo- ration. The project is bud- linking the previous Lotus According to the current cated right below the che- geted at MOP3.5 billion and Border Checkpoint Buil- plan, a connected station ckpoint building.

www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION ASSISTANT EDITOR_Lynzy Valles SENIOR WRITER_Honey Tsang 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, Daniel Beitler, Emilie Tran, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Irene Sam, Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, Zhu, Juliet Risdon, Linda Kennedy, 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] +20,000 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 22.02.2021 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Gaming tax contracted 73.6% YoY in 2020 HONEY TSANG casinos in Macau for 39% of GGR, Ben Lee, managing part- gaming revenue — which in- ner of IGamiX Management & ACAU’S go- cludes a direct tax of 35% and Consulting, regarded that “it vernment re- other types of taxes for social is probably due to short term ceived around and welfare purposes. volatility in luck,” and January

MOP29.8 billion According to the statistics GGR cannot offer a full picture AGENCY PHOTO MACAU Mfrom gaming tax in the whole provided by the Gaming Ins- to reason the prospect for an- of 2020, a drop of 73.6% year- pection and Coordination Bu- nual GGR for 2021. -on-year (YoY), the Financial reau (DICJ), the city’s annual “As can be expected, when Services Bureau (DSF) revea- gross gaming revenue (GGR) volume decreases, volatility led the yearly figures for 2020 generated MOP 60.4 in the luck factor increases, The actual receipts genera- billion, representing a sharp leading to large gyrations, and ted from the city’s casino in- fall of 79.3% from MOP292 we have seen that throughout dustry in the full-year of 2020 billion throughout 2019. the course of 2020, and which fared modestly better than the In October 2020, the ci- will undoubtedly continue for government’s previous fore- ty’s GGR picked up noticea- the rest of the year [2021],” Lee cast of MOP29.46 billion an- bly, month-to-month, to forecast. nounced in December 2020 — MOP7.27 billion, over three Earlier in January 2021, which was the second amend- times the MOP2.21 billion re- Secretary for Economy and ment to, as well as a 42.2% ceived in September 2020. Finance Lei Wai Nong reaffir- decline from, the original fo- The GGR turned out even med the government’s fore- recast of MOP45.5 billion anti- better in the year of 2021, recast that Macau would yield cipated by the government in gistering MOP 8.02 billion, up MOP130 billion in GGR in April last year. 2.6% month-to-month. 2021, or around 44.5% of 2019 The up-to-date figures by This January’s GGR is by far levels. the DSF revealed that the re- the highest monthly tally since Overall in 2020, the go- ceipts through the gaming ta- February 2020. Yet it still de- vernment’s aggregate expen- xes throughout 2020 took up monstrated a year-over-year diture was MOP91.3 billion around 64.8% of overall cur- drop of 63.7% — albeit the against the annual revenue of rent revenue, totaling around smallest year-to-year contrac- MOP94.7 billion, resulting in MOP46.0 billion. tion since February last year. a gain of MOP 3.4 billion, the The SAR government taxes Despite the recovery sign in DSF disclosed.

TAIWAN Quarantine measures lifted for visitors from two Macau became a meeting point for retired Chinese cities As of today, the quarantine measures previously enforced intelligence officials charged for spying to visitors arriving or staying in the village of Gaodong in LYNZY VALLES China after being enticed Shanghai’s Pudong new area and with money and travel. Tonghua City in Jilin Province

OUR retired Taiwane- AP PHOTO One of the indicted have been lifted, the local health Fse military intelligence surnamed Chou, was la- authorities announced. According to a statement from the Novel officials, including a ma- ter on recruited as well. Coronavirus Response and jor general, were indicted After Chang and Chou’s Coordination Center, the previously after being accused of retirement, the duo made announced mandatory 14 days of providing sensitive infor- numerous trips to China quarantine and an additional 14 mation to China – which since 2012 on the pretext days of self-managing observation includes making multiple that they were on perso- at home for these visitors has been trips to mainland China nal or family vacations. lifted. The residents or travelers in and Macau. However, this was the this area are able to enter Macau On Saturday, prose- time that they met with without any quarantine restrictions. cutors in Taiwan char- other Chinese intelligen- ged the four former em- ce officers. New ferry link ployees of the Military The duo then persua- Intelligence Bureau (MIB) ded Yueh to meet Wei in to Jiuzhou port for breaching the Natio- Macau after finding that starts March 1 nal Security Act and the Yueh had plans to visit his A new ferry link between the Taipa National Intelligence Ser- family in China. Ferry Terminal in Pac On and Jiuzhou vices Act. In 2012, the trio flew Port in Zhuhai will be operational The quartet were re- colonels were recruited by received cash, gifts and ts [...] but they coveted to Macau and met Wei from March 1, according to the ported to have provided a Chinese national securi- free excursions during illegal gains such as the to identify over 20 MIB Marine and Water Bureau. Lying 9 Beijing a list of bureau ty official in the southern multiple trips to mainland perks [offered by China] agents from photographs. km north of Macau, the route will personnel and other province of Guangdong, China and Macau, and to do business there, the Yueh was reported to initially run 10 round-trips a day. The classified materials whi- the government lawyers worked to recruit other financial rewards and free have received HKD6,000 bureau said that it would increase le attempting to recruit said, and had been intro- officers to “develop an trips.” and other gifts after depending on the actual situation, colleagues to develop a ducing several colleagues intelligence network” for It started in 1999, when agreeing to provide other adding that Yuet Tung Shipping Co. spy network to access and to the official since 2012. Beijing. Chang, currently also information from the bu- Ltd has recently ran a number of trial obtain sensitive materials The former major ge- Prosecutors also said indicted, befriended a reau’s operations. runs between the two ports. The first for the Chinese govern- neral surnamed Yueh was that the accused “were Chinese security official Chang in 2016 then Jiuzhou-bound ferry will depart Taipa ment, Taipei Times repor- among those introduced. aware of the standoff be- surnamed Wei based in recruited another former at 9:10 a.m. and the last at 2:40 p.m ted. In a statement, prose- tween our country and Guangzhou, who then retired employee from with each voyage taking about 30 Two Taiwanese former cutors noted that Yueh the Chinese communis- recruited him to spy for MIB to join the operation. minutes. page 4 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 22.02.2021 mon

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

CPI falls 1.18% GBA in January

Macau’s consumer price index (CPI) fell Scholar says there is an urgency to 1.18% year-on-year in January, marking a continual decline set unified rules for competitiveness for five consecutive LYNZY VALLES th China, then access to global months. The fall was markets for a larger circulation to linked with lowered HE Guangdong-Hong Kong- the world.” prices of package tours, T-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) In the 2021 Policy Address by telecommunications should have a set of unified rules in Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, the services, gasoline, a bid to be more competitive and top official said that the 10th strand among others. Jack better connect with the world, ac- of public policy for 2021 was to Chang, vice president cording to Zheng Yongnian, presi- “proactively integrate into the ove- of the Macau Economic dential chair professor, director of rall national development plan.” Association told TDM the Advanced Institute of Global He pledged to facilitate the estab- that the decrease in CPI was caused by the and Contemporary China Studies lishment of the Guangdong-Ma- declined income among at the Chinese University of Hong cau Intensive Cooperation Zone locals and suggests Kong, Shenzhen. in Hengqin; expedite the estab- for the government In an interview with Newsgd. lishment of the MacaU New Nei- to launch promotions com, an online source for Guang- ghbourhood project in Hengqin; to boost domestic dong news and information, Zheng Yongnian, director of the Advanced Institute of Global and Contemporary China pragmatically promote the deve- spending. The CPI Zheng said that there is an urgency Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen lopment of the Guangdong-Hong will return to positive to realize this goal within the 14th- Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; growth by the end of -Five Year Plan period (2021-2025), hinders their inclination to settle The scholar called to further “go among others. 2021, he projects. otherwise it will hinder GBA’s deve- their business. global” and “bring in” more oppor- According to Ho, Macau would lopment. As a costal area of China, opening- tunities, then promote the “open- make use of the SAR’s functions as DSEDT boosts The scholar was referring to ru- up is crucial for the GBA. And, as ness of China,” noting that the sig- a Guangdong-Hong Kong-MacaU les in different aspects such as te- the GBA is a part of the world eco- ning of Regional Comprehensive Greater Bay Area tourism educa- partnership chnology, society and investments nomy, it should compete with other Economic Partnership agreement tion and training base, and as a to foster the – aside from industrial and techno- countries rather than provinces or with ASEAN countries is also a centre for cultivating talented indi- development logical upgrading. regions of China, said the professor. practice of “external circulation” viduals who are bilingual in Chine- of advanced Zheng noted that foreign enter- With this, it shows the importan- for the country. se and Portuguese. technologies prises are attracted to invest in di- ce of “external circulation,” which For Zheng, the GBA could be a According to Zheng, talent is a fferent mainland cities in the GBA, relates to China’s economic links platform to link the Hainan Free vital factor for GBA’s development The Economic however, the rules that are set in with the outside world, a compo- Trade Zone and Fujian-Taiwan and the local government should and Technological these cities may differ in two indus- nent of the country’s new develop- Cross Strait Economic Zone, pre- consider how to attract and retain Development Bureau trial parks at one district – which ment paradigm “dual circulation.” senting a “huge market in Sou- this workforce. (DSEDT) is accelerating the partnership between the University of Macau (UM) and a technological firm named the IAM changes booking system Covid-19 Boardward Information System Limited to set for barbecue facilities vaccination up laboratories to foster the development of for the public advanced technologies RENATO MARQUES like artificial intelligence. starts today UM believes that the new booking system for collaboration would Athe use of barbecue faci- HE Covid-19 vaccination for the general help cultivate local lities will be in operation from Tpublic kicks off today, as previously an- talents in the innovative today, the Municipal Affairs AGENCY PHOTO MACAU nounced by the health authorities. technology realm. Bureau (IAM) informed in a Residents who have scheduled their ino- statement. culation since February 9 will start to get the Majority of The new system, accessi- vaccination from 9 a.m. today at the Conde ble through the bureau’s we- de São Januário Hospital Center’s special or- opinions on bsite (https://app.iam.gov. ganized vaccination unit and at eleven heal- IAM platform mo/gfbooking) and mobile thcare centers located in several points of linked with application, aims to improve the city which provide adequate conditions street hygiene the previous system in place for the procedure, the Health Bureau (SSM) by providing a QR code to the previously announced. The Municipal Affairs applicants after the booking is According to the latest information made Bureau (IAM)’s successfully confirmed, facili- available by the SSM, the first phase of the “Connect” platform tating access to the location on vaccination plan, which has exclusively tar- received over 22,000 the chosen date and time. geted frontline workers and other priority opinions from the From 10 a.m. today, interes- groups, should have vaccinated over 4,000 community, with over ted parties may use the new address to receive a confirma- If applicants do not show up people. half of them related to system to book a time in one tion message. within this period, the timeslot The SSM also said that the daily vaccina- street hygiene issues. of the three barbecue areas On the scheduled date, will be automatically released. tion capacity is 5,000 inoculations, noting The IAM is exploring available – Hac Sá Beach Park, users just need to present the Additionally, the IAM in- that as of last Wednesday afternoon, more opportunities to expand the service coverage Taipa Grande Natural Park, and sent QR code as a form of proof formed that the same phone than 10,000 people had already registered to of the platform. Hac Sá Reservoir Natural Park. of booking to enter the venue. number or email can only be get the vaccine. Established on January As in the previous system, IAM also noted in the same used once every 15 days. In the first two phases, Covid-19 vac- 1, 2019, the platform bookings will be done for two statement that applicants will The three barbecue areas cines will be available for all residents for was designed to different session timeslots star- receive an SMS or email as a made available so far provide free. The health authorities expect to open garner the residents’ ting from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 reminder of their booking 24 a total of 80 sets of barbecue a third phase of the vaccination plan which opinions. The platform is p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to hours ahead of the booked facilities, while other facilities includes the non-resident workers (TNR) centered on four topics, 11:59 p.m. time. of this kind remain closed ac- as well as other people currently staying in including environmental Using the new app, the pu- The bureau also reminds cording to the regulations for Macau such as foreign students, resident’s hygiene, food safety, blic will need to choose their that bookings will be only se- disease prevention and control family members, and former TNRs currently equipment and facilities preferred time and enter a va- cured for a period of 30 mi- measures enforced due to the stranded in Macau waiting to return to their and leisure areas. lid phone number and email nutes after the booked time. Covid-19 pandemic. home countries. RM www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 mon 22.02.2021 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

Economic New Macau Association slowdown reflected on electricity and ‘prudent’ on Sou’s re-election water consumption in 2020 ANTHONY LAM RENATO MARQUES gaming sectors. CY Kam Sut Leng, As the Times previous- the director-gene- HE local economic ly reported, since the be- ral of New Macau Tslowdown in 2020 had ginning of the pandemic, Association (NMA), an indirect impact on the many of the local hotels and Istressed that the group electricity and water con- restaurants have drastically is “prudent” when asked sumption in Macau, figures reduced their business per- in an exclusive interview released by the Statistics formance with some of the by the Times to comment and Census Bureau (DSEC) food and beverage venues on incumbent lawmaker show. closed for over one year, Sulu Sou’s possibility of According to the DSEC, particularly those located in getting re-elected. electricity consumption the integrated resorts. She stressed that has registered a drop in On the other hand, the the group is not reac- general by 6.7% last year. electricity consumption by tive; rather, it has been Accounting for this decline households rose by 9.6% working for nearly four are significant reductions last year, when compared years during this legisla- in commercial and public year-on-year with 2019. tive term. “We have not sector spending which fell The figure has also been stopped serving our peo- 11.4% and 9.6%, respecti- attributed to the impacts ple,” Kam said. vely, when compared with of the Covid-19 pandemic In the attempt to justi- the previous year. which have resulted in local fy her words, Kam poin- The drop in electricity residents spending more ted out that the group consumption is particularly time at home in the last has provided help to the vernment subsidy,” the gestion. asking similar questions significant as 2020 recorded year. community. “For exam- director-general stressed. Kam also said that she and making similar sug- the first year-on-year decli- Following a similar trend ple, when a help-seeker In the aspect of res- does not very much un- gestions. ne in almost three decades, was also the water con- needed to contact the ponding to help-seekers, derstand why the public Although the green li- DSEC noted. sumption, falling in general government, we helped the group has helped surveillance camera sys- ght was given to the pro- Such results have been by 8% in 2020 when com- with the liaison,” she ci- animal welfare groups tem had not been helpful ject, Kam said the group linked to the impacts of the pared to 2019. This is the ted as an example. to liaise with the gover- in solving animal abuse would keep an eye of its Covid-19 pandemic on the first annual decline of water News coverages nment. It has also linked and murder cases. progress and make cor- local economy, particularly consumption in over a de- are full of incumbent up animal welfare groups The group did not only responding moves. visible in the tourism and cade, official statistics show. lawmakers and interes- with the government to act when they got a re- ted individuals – also negotiate possible ani- quest. For example, they ad known as community mal safety measures, have been calling for the icons – during election such as the Trap-Neuter- preservation of cultural years. People are trying -Release strategy which heritages in Macau, with to “grab the limelight” so the government saw no the latest case being the that greater popularity room to implement in view from the Our Lady or fame can be enjoyed Macau. of Penha Chapel. when the election arrives. The NMA has orga- The government She may or may not nized a petition letter to has planned to build a identify herself with this be delivered on behalf of 50-meter courthouse strategy, but she hinted several animal welfare in Nam Van, which will that voters would un- groups to voice out their obstruct the view to the derstand or acknowled- opinions, for example, Nobre do Carvalho Brid- ge the group’s work. “We but the road has not been ge. The Urban Planning don’t see the possibility easy. Committee has received of further speeding up According to Kam, the more than 100 commen- on the racetrack because Secretary for Administra- ts against the proposal. we’ve been running with tion and Justice, André “I still don’t unders- all our efforts,” Kam said. Cheong, has previously tand why the government Despite the small size ordered the Municipal is so tough on this,” Kam and financial disadvan- Affairs Bureau to meet said. “Why can’t it lower tages of the group, Kam with the eight major the height slightly?” pledged that the group animal welfare groups. It is not only the pu- shall remain running at Some groups asked to blic’s opinion. Some ar- full speed in the election. invite Sou as well but the chitects and urban plan- “We don’t even take go- bureau declined the sug- ners have voiced out,

Sou hopes normalcy can be restored soon IN his opening speech at a Spring Lunch, “In the last mile of epidemic control, we lawmaker Sulu Sou mentioned his hopes should be as vigilant as always,” Sou added. for mask wearing to be unnecessary by the Deputy director-general of the group, next occasion. Rocky Chan Lok Kei, commenced the event The Spring Lunch was hosted by the New and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Macau Association (NMA), where the law- NMA to its supporters. “Because without maker is affiliated, and about 100 or so peo- their support, the association will not be ple were invited. The annual Spring Lunch able to do as much for the community as was cancelled last year due to the first wave now,” Chan said. The event was held at the of the Covid-19 outbreak in Macau. Dom Pedro V Theatre. page 6 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo CHINA 中國 22.02.2021 mon

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IAN WISHART, ALBERTO NARDELLI & ARNE DELFS G-7 skirts the China question, EADERS of the Group of Seven Lindustrialized nations tiptoed around the issue of China during yet need for answers grows their first, virtual, gathering of 2021 and failed to disguise a growing sense that it’s a problem they will need to confront soon. BLOOMBERG Joe Biden’s debut on the world stage as U.S. president showed further efforts to reset the transatlantic relationship and highlighted an increasing unease with Beijing’s behavior. European Union leaders didn’t always share those U.S. concerns during Donald Trump’s four years in the White House. Leaders discussed China at length during the call, according to an EU official with knowledge of the conversation, but mention of the topic in the statement that followed offered little detail. The members pledged to “engage” with Beijing and, without singling out any country in particular, “consult with each other” to address any “non-market oriented policies and practices.” The G-7 communique instead dwelt on a pledge to sustain government spending to help econo- se in the months ahead. key technologies that they depend undercut the foundations of the advisers earlier this month, the mies recover from the coronavirus German Chancellor Angela to sustain their growth. With their international economic system,” U.S. delegate outlined the need to pandemic, a promise to eliminate Merkel’s remarks were stronger economies struggling to recover Biden said. “The competition with act firmly and with determination net carbon emissions by 2050, and than has often been the case, as from the Covid-19 lockdowns, China is going to be stiff. That’s toward Beijing. their obvious relief at the return of she highlighted what she saw as their leverage is limited. what I expect. And that’s what I Leaders are set to meet in per- multilateralism after the Trump Beijing’s efforts to exploit the pan- Merkel’s stronger tone may in welcome.” son in Cornwall, southwest En- era. demic. part be because she sees in Biden Another G-7 official said discus- gland, in June, by which time life The rise of China and the in- “China has gained a global pun- a partner who is more reliable and sions around China shouldn’t be beyond Covid-19 may be coming creasingly authoritarian tilt of Pre- ch in the past few years,” Merkel, consistent than Trump, and one characterized as divided as a rift into view and they may be ready to sident Xi Jinping’s administration who is due to step down later this with whom she can build a com- between the U.S. and the U.K. on sketch out a common strategy for is the defining challenge for the year after 16 years in office, told mon approach. It was an open se- one side and the EU on the other. dealing with Beijing. But it’s still far industrialized, democratic nations the Munich Security Conference. cret in Berlin that Merkel had given from straightforward. who’ve seen no challenge to their “As a transatlantic union and as up on trying to work with Biden’s ‘WE’RE STILL REFLECTING’ “We talked about China, we hegemony since the decline of the democracies of this world, we will predecessor. In preparatory meetings be- talked about this issue. We talked Soviet Union a generation ago. have to counter that by concrete The new president’s own rheto- fore the call, differences between about the need to be coordinated In speeches after the G-7 phone actions.” ric indicated there will be little sof- the member countries over how in our way forward,” Canadian Pri- call, the leaders put flesh on the The dilemma for Merkel and tening in U.S policy on China. to deal with China were apparent, me Minister Justin Trudeau told a bones of their discussions, and the rest of the G-7 is that China has “We have to push back against with European members keen news conference. “We’re still re- here there was a sign that they may become a significant trading part- the Chinese government’s eco- to avoid the forum becoming an flecting very carefully on the best be able to forge a common respon- ner and a manufacturer of some nomic abuses and coercion that anti-China front. At a meeting of path.” BLOOMBERG

Gov’t considers new actions to lift flagging birthrate HINA is considering China, the country’s for- ples citing the high cost of Cadditional measures to mer industrial heartland raising children and other increase its flagging birthra- that has seen a major po- economic and social bar- AP PHOTO te, more than four years af- pulation decline as young riers in deciding not to ter ending its controversial people and families depart have more children. one-child policy. for better opportunities el- Experts have been For decades, China en- sewhere. The region com- calling for further reforms forced strict controls on ad- prising the three provin- because of economic con- ditional births in the name ces of Liaoning, Jilin and cerns and the problem of of preserving scarce re- Heilongjiang saw its total an aging population. sources for its burgeoning population decline for the China had a population economy. But its plunging seventh straight year by of 1.34 billion in 2010 with birthrate is now seen as a 427,300 in 2019 over 2018. an annual growth rate of major threat to economic Authorities said last 0.57%, down from 1.07% progress and social stabili- week that registered new a decade earlier, statistics ty. births fell 15.3% last year to bureau data show. The la- On Thursday, the Na- just 10 million. test census was conducted tional Health Commission China abandoned its in the second half of last issued a statement saying one-child-policy in 2016 year and the results have it will conduct research to to allow families to have not yet been released. “further stimulate birth po- an additional child. Howe- A U.N. report says India is tential.” ver, the move had only a projected to overtake China It said the initiative will temporary effect on the as the world’s most popu- focus first on northeastern birthrate, with many cou- lous country by 2027. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 mon 22.02.2021 中國 CHINA

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advertorial Regulator imposes further caps on online lending amid clampdown HINA’S banking regulator Cimposed new restrictions on banks and financial institutions working with online microlenders BLOOMBERG including those led by Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co., dealing further blows to one of the fastest-growing business segments for financial-technology behemoths. Banks must cap overall joint lending with internet platforms or other partners at no more than 50% of their outstanding loans, the Chi- na Banking and Insurance Regu- latory Commission said in a state- Jiebei and Huabei units had facilita- ment on Saturday. Co-lending with ted 1.7 trillion yuan ($263 billion) in one platform should not exceed consumer loans to 500 million peo- 25% of the bank’s tier-1 net capital, ple as of June 30, with only about 2% the CBRIC said. being kept on the parent’s balance The new restrictions add to draft sheet. Concerns that it will need to rules issued on the booming sector raise capital to plug the shortfall and late last year, which heralded a su- seek national licenses have promp- dden shift in the regulatory stance ted analysts at Morningstar Inc. and on fintech, scuttling Ant’s USD35 others firms to slash estimates on billion share sale just days before it Ant’s valuation by half from $280 was due to go public in Shanghai billion before its scrapped listing. and Hong Kong. The move upen- Ant and at least a dozen banks ded one of China’s biggest business have been paring back their year- success stories and was followed by s-long cooperation on consu- crackdowns on technology jugger- mer-lending platforms in recent nauts in everything from e-com- months, people familiar with the merce to credit-scoring and pay- matter said in February. That has ments. taken place in parallel with Ant’s dis- The CBIRC said on Saturday that cussions with Chinese authorities from Jan. 1, 2022, a platform will be on a restructuring plan. Bloomberg required to provide at least 30% of reported earlier that Ant has agreed the funding itself in any single joint to become a financial holding com- loan with a bank. pany, making it subject to capital The regulation is expected to fur- requirements similar to those for ther cripple growth at Ant, whose banks. BLOOMBERG

More charges against Chinese scientist in visa fraud case Chinese researcher visiting Song was one of four Chine- AStanford University who was se scientists living in the U.S. and charged with visa fraud after she doing research at universities who allegedly hid her military back- were arrested last July by the Justice ground is facing new charges, fe- Department, which accused them deral prosecutors said. of lying about their status as mem- A federal grand jury charged bers of the People’s Liberation Army. Chen Song, 39, with obstruction of All were charged with visa fraud. justice, destruction of documents “The FBI’s investigation revea- and making false statements to a led Song Chen took active steps to government agency, the U.S. Attor- destroy evidence of her official affi- ney’s Office said Thursday. liation with the Chinese military, in- “We allege that while Chen Song cluding her current PLA credentials worked as a researcher at Stan- depicting her in military dress uni- ford University, she was secretly form,” FBI Special Agent in Charge a member of China’s military, the Craig Fair said. People’s Liberation Army,” U.S. If convicted, Song faces up to Attorney David Anderson said in a 10 years in prison for the visa fraud statement. “When Song feared dis- charge; up to 20 years for each of the covery, she destroyed documents obstruction and alteration charges; in a failed attempt to conceal her and up to five years for the false sta- true identity. This prosecution will tements charge. Song is scheduled help to protect elite institutions to appear in court April 7 for a pre- like Stanford from illicit foreign in- trial conference, with a trial set to fluences.” begin April 12. MDT/AP page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo WORLD 國際 22.02.2021 mon

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this day in history AP PHOTO 1997 Dolly the sheep is cloned

Alexei Navalny stands in a cage in the Babuskinsky District Court in Moscow, Saturday

MOSCOW Court rejects opposition leader Navalny’s appeal Scientists in Scotland have announced the birth of Moscow court on Tishina prison, but Russian thorities in line with his pro- his life and well-being in the world’s first successfully cloned mammal, Dolly Saturday rejected news reports said that after bation requirements while custody following the nerve the sheep. Russian opposi- losing his appeal, he would he was convalescing in Ger- agent attack. Dolly, who was created at the Roslin Institute in tion leader Ale- likely be sent to a prison in many after his poisoning, The Russian government Edinburgh, was actually born on 5 July 1996 althou- xeiA Navalny’s appeal of his the western part of Russia emphasizing that he retur- has rebuffed the European gh her arrival has only just been revealed. prison sentence, even as within the next few days to ned to Russia immediately court’s demand, describing Dolly is the first mammal to have been successfully the country faced an order serve out his sentence. after his health allowed. the ruling as unlawful and cloned from an adult cell. Previous clonings have from a top European rights His arrest and imprison- “I wasn’t hiding,” he said. “inadmissible” meddling in been from embryo cells. court to free the Kremlin’s ment have fueled a huge “The entire world knew Russia’s affairs. Russian sta- The sheep’s birth has been heralded as one of the most prominent foe. wave of protests across where I was.” te news agency RIA Novosti most significant scientific breakthroughs of the de- A few hours later, a judge Russia. Authorities respon- Navalny said he was an reported that the Russian cade although it is likely to spark ethical controversy. in a separate case ordered ded with a sweeping cra- atheist before but has come Justice Ministry on Satur- Scientists in Scotland cloned a ewe by inserting Navalny to pay a fine for ckdown, detaining about to believe in God, adding day sent a letter to the court DNA from a single sheep cell into an egg and implan- ted it in a surrogate mother. defaming a World War II ve- 11,000 people, many of that his faith helped him asking it to revise its order. They now have a healthy seven-month-old sheep teran. whom were fined or given face his challenges. He said In the past, Moscow has - Dolly - who is an exact genetic duplicate of the ani- During the first court jail terms ranging from se- he believed the Bible phrase abided by European Court of mal from which the single cell was taken. hearing, Navalny urged ven to 15 days. that those who hunger and Human Rights rulings awar- DNA tests have revealed that Dolly is identical to In his speech at the hea- thirst for righteousness are ding compensations to Rus- Russians to stand up to the the ewe who donated the udder cell and is unrelated ring, Navalny referenced sian citizens who have con- Kremlin in a fiery speech blessed, and that he felt no to the surrogate mother. tested verdicts in Russian mixing references to the Bi- the Bible as well as “Harry regret about deciding to re- Embryologist Dr Ian Wilmut, from the Roslin Insti- ble and “Harry Potter.” Potter” and the animated turn home to Russia. courts, but it never faced a tute, said: “It will enable us to study genetic diseases Navalny, 44, an anti-cor- sitcom “Rick and Morty” as “Even though our coun- demand by the European for which there is presently no cure and track down ruption crusader and Presi- he urged Russians to resist try is built on injustice and court to set a convict free. the mechanisms that are involved.” dent Vladimir Putin’s most pressure from authorities we all constantly face in- In a sign of its long- The research, published in Nature magazine, vocal critic, was arrested on and challenge the Kremlin justice [...] we also see that -held annoyance with the follows the Edinburgh team’s success in cloning Jan. 17 upon returning from to build a fairer and more millions of people, tens of Strasbourg court’s verdicts, sheep embryos. Last year they produced two iden- Germany, where he spent prosperous country. millions of people, want ri- Russia last year adopted a tical sheep, which were clones of an original embryo. five months recovering “The government’s task ghteousness,” Navalny told constitutional amendment The company which has bought the rights to the from a nerve-agent poiso- is to scare you and then the court. “They want the declaring the priority of research, PPL Therapeutics, said Dolly would help to ning that he blames on the persuade you that you are righteousness and sooner national legislation over improve understanding of ageing and genetics and Kremlin. Russian authori- alone,” he said. “Our Volde- or later they will have it.” international law. Russian lead to the production of cheaper medicines. ties have rejected the accu- mort in his palace also wan- Asked about the impact authorities might now use US President Bill Clinton has set up a special task sation. ts me to feel cut off,” he ad- of Navalny’s prison sen- that provision to reject the force to investigate cloning in order to examine the Earlier this month, Na- ded, in a reference to Putin. tence on Russia’s politics, ECHR’s ruling. legal and ethical implications. valny was sentenced to two “To live is to risk it all,” he Kremlin spokesman Dmitry After losing his appeal, years and eight months said, citing “Rick and Mor- Peskov told reporters that Navalny had a second Courtesy BBC News in prison for violating ter- ty.” “Otherwise, you’re just the country’s “rich and mul- court hearing on charges ms of his probation while an inert chunk of randomly tifaceted” political scene of slandering a World War convalescing in Germany. assembled molecules drif- will develop regardless of II veteran and was ordered He appealed the sentence ting wherever the universe the verdict. to pay a fine of 850,000 ru- and asked to be released. A blows you.” Russia has rejected Wes- bles (about USD11,500). Moscow City Court judge Navalny also addressed tern criticism of Navalny’s Prosecutors asked for a In context instead reduced the prison the judge and the prosecu- arrest and the crackdown 950,000-rubles ($13,000) sentence to just over 2 1/2 tor, arguing that they could on demonstrations as me- fine. The cloning of Dolly the sheep raised moral dilemmas amid years, deducting a month- have a much better life in a ddling in its internal affairs. Navalny called the fears that the technique could be used to clone humans. Dr Ian Wilmut, who led the team of Scottish scientists who -and-a-half that Navalny new Russia. In a ruling Tuesday, the 94-year-old veteran and were behind the birth of Dolly, described human cloning as spent under house arrest in “Just imagine how won- European Court of Human other people featured in a both “repugnant” and illegal. early 2015. derful life would be without Rights ordered the Russian pro-Kremlin video last year The news about Dolly’s birth enraged animal rights activists The sentence stems from constant lying,” he said. government to release Na- as “corrupt stooges,” “peo- and the Church of Scotland said while it was “fascinating” a 2014 embezzlement con- “Imagine how great it wou- valny, citing “the nature and ple without conscience” research work, it had reservations. Dr Wilmut also revealed the thinking behind the sheep’s viction that Navalny has ld be to work as a judge [...] extent of risk to the appli- and “traitors.” He rejected name: “Dolly is derived from a mammary gland cell and we rejected as fabricated and when no one would be able cant’s life.” The Strasbour- the slander charges, descri- couldn’t think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly the European Сourt of Hu- to call you and give you di- g-based court noted that bing them as part of official Parton’s.” man Rights has ruled to be rections what verdicts to Navalny has contested Rus- efforts to disparage him. A decision was taken in 2003 to put down Dolly after a unlawful. issue.” sian authorities’ argument Navalny said at the hea- veterinary examination showed she had a progressive lung disease. Her preserved body went on display at the Na- Navalny has been held He insisted that he was that they had taken suffi- ring that his accusers “will tional Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. in Moscow’s Matrosskaya unable to report to the au- cient measures to safeguard burn in hell.” AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 mon 22.02.2021 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 Don’t rely on others to do your You can make wonderful work. You may find that you’re contributions to any organization being used. Listen to the complaints that you join. Keep an open mind of others. You can make excellent when dealing with youngsters. You career moves if you are open to the will have the stamina and the know opportunities that exist. how to raise your earning power.

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 Be prepared to step into the You can convince others to follow limelight if you wish to promote suit. Your ability to organize your ambitions. You need to do and get everyone together will more research before you make enhance your popularity and your final decision. Don’t be too bring interest from potential quick to judge. mates. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Put your efforts into making Don’t involve yourself in the Beijing 11 clear changes to your domestic scene. emotional problems of those you 4 You can make new friends work with. Conflicts over joint Harbin -16 -8 snow shower who could turn into intimate finances are likely. You may want connections if you join clubs or to tell someone how you really Tianjin 4 11 clear take creative courses. feel. Urumqi -4 0 cloudy Xi’an 20 overcast Libra Scorpio 6 Lhasa -3 11 clear Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 13 20 cloudy Check into art objects or You will have problems with Chongqing 13 24 cloudy precious stones. You can do well coworkers if you are too in group endeavors. You will extreme about doing things Kunming 9 19 cloudy reap the rewards for your kind perfectly. You will be in the Nanjing 25 cloudy actions. Your partner may push mood to socialize. Financial 12 buttons that infuriate you. gains can be made. Shanghai 11 25 cloudy Wuhan 11 26 clear Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 11 26 cloudy Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 15 23 clear Groups and organizations that You may find that someone you Guangzhou 16 28 clear indulge in social events to raise live with is not too happy, but you money will be conducive to meeting can’t really do anything about Hong Kong 18 25 clear new and exciting lovers. You can that right now. Difficulties with be sure that any dealing with large females you live with could cause institutions should go well. emotional stress. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow -11 -7 flurry Frankfurt 1 10 clear Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 9 13 cloudy Romance appears. Visit friends Your childlike quality may get or relatives you rarely see. Do not you into big trouble today if you London 8 12 overcast jump to conclusions concerning neglect your responsibilities. Be your romantic partner. You can aware of deception when it comes New York -4 0 overcast make major gains if you talk to to your position, and be sure not your boss about your findings. to jump to conclusions.

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TENNIS After 170 years, the America’s Djokovic beats Medvedev for Cup still eludes Britain

RITAIN’S attempt to recover the 9th Australian Open, 18th Slam BAmerica’s Cup sailing trophy after OVAK Djokovic’s troyed it with a full-on spike. 170 years has again ended in failure, this Australian Open do- By the third, he kept looking up time on the opposite side of the world

minance is intact AP PHOTO at his coach with palms up as if from where the Cup first slipped its grasp. — nine finals, nine to ask, “What can I possibly do Ineos Team UK, skippered by Britain’s Nchampionships. here?” most celebrated competitive sailor, fou- And he keeps gaining on Ro- It is a familiar sentiment r-time Olympic gold-medalist Ben Ains- ger Federer and Rafael Nadal in in this stadium, on this court, lie, was beaten 7-1 by Italy’s Luna Rossa the Grand Slam standings, now at this tournament. Federer, Prada Pirelli in the final of the Prada Cup up to 18 overall, two away from Nadal, Andy Murray, Stan challengers series that ended off Au- the men’s record shared by his Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem — ckland, New Zealand yesterday. two rivals. all Grand Slam champions, all Luna Rossa will go on to race defender Djokovic used superb ser- defeated by Djokovic in semifi- Emirates Team New Zealand in the 36th ving and his usual relentless re- nals or finals in Melbourne. Cup match next month while Team UK turning and baseline suprema- So place the nine triumphs will head home, eventually to reflect on cy to grab 11 of 13 games in one in Australia alongside five at the failure of a well-funded, talented but stretch and beat a visibly frus- is assured of remaining at No. 1 Djokovic ended the 25-year- Wimbledon, three at the U.S. troubled campaign. trated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, in the rankings at least through -old Russian’s 20-match Open and one at the French Britain first lost the famous “Auld 6-2 on Sunday for a third trophy March 8. That will give him 311 winning streak. Medvedev also Open for Djokovic. Mug” in a race around the Isle of Wight in a row at Melbourne Park. weeks in the top spot, breaking had won his previous 12 mat- The math looks good for in 1851 against the New York Yacht Club The 33-year-old from Serbia a mark held by Federer. ches against Top 10 opponents. Djokovic. He is about a year schooner America, which gave the orna- improved to 18-0 combined The No. 4-ranked Medvedev But going up against Djoko- younger than Nadal and 6 1/2 te silver ewer its name. Vast fortunes have in semifinals and finals on the was appearing in his second vic in Australia is a much diffe- younger than Federer, who tur- been expended since in Britain’s pursuit hard courts of the Australian Grand Slam final — he was rent challenge. ns 40 in August. Federer hasn’t of the trophy but all have been fruitless. Open. the runner-up to Nadal at the By the second set, as things competed in more than a year “Everyone knows Britain’s never won Looking at the bigger pictu- 2019 U.S. Open — but is still slipped away, Medvedev boun- after having two knee opera- the America’s Cup,” Ainslie said. “It star- re, Djokovic has won six of the left trying collect his first such ced his white racket off the blue tions but is expected to turn to ted off around the Isle of Wight and it’s last 10 major tournaments and championship. court, then absolutely des- the tour next month. AP one event we’ve never won in sport. AP

ad Oil spill stains Israeli shoreline; the investigations underway BUZZ Hundreds of volunteers took part in a cleanup operation of the Israeli touch with leaders of affected local communities. shoreline as investigations are underway to determine the cause of an From as north as Haifa and down south to Ashkelon near Gaza, oil spill that threatens the beach and wildlife. black strips could be seen along the Mediterranean coastline. At Ga- Israeli media reported that several volunteers were hospitalized after dor Nature Reserve near the northern city of Hadera, the tar smea- inhaling fumes. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority urged people to stay red fish, turtles, and other sea creatures. away from the beach at 16 of the communities that are most polluted. The reason and timing of the spill are yet to be determined, but At a news conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stormy weather earlier this week is believed to have pushed the OPINION said the incident was being investigated and he was preparing a re- pollutants ashore. Last week, a baby whale washed up dead on a port for the Israeli Cabinet. “The circumstances that led to this inci- beach near Tel Aviv, and authorities are investigating whether the World Views dent are still unknown,” he said, adding that the government was in two incidents are linked. Tim Culpan, MDT/Bloomberg

Bitcoin stocks MYANMAR Iran The head of the are possibly United Nations’ nuclear watchdog met with the dumbest Iranian officials in a bid to Bitcoin play More protests and preserve his inspectors’ ability to monitor If you believe in Bitcoin, you buy Bitcoin. Tehran’s atomic program, And if you’re wary, you stay away. That’s funeral follow even as authorities said about the simplest way of calculating your they planned to cut off investment options when it comes to the surveillance cameras world’s most infamous speculative bet. deadly shootings at those sites. Rafael Grossi’s arrival in Tehran Of course, you can join the hoards of Te- ROTESTERS gathered legram and Reddit groups claiming to un- comes as Iran tries to again yesterday all over pressure Europe and the derstand and predict the twists and turns P AP PHOTO in the cryptocurrency’s price, making you Myanmar, a day after securi- new Biden administration just that much smarter than everyone else. ty forces shot dead two peo- into returning to the Well done. ple at a demonstration in the 2015 nuclear deal. But there is another option: invest in sto- country’s second biggest city. Russia A Moscow cks of Bitcoin-related companies, inclu- A funeral was also held for a court rejected Russian ding those that supply the “miners” — the young woman killed earlier opposition leader Alexei computers that solve the complex algori- by police. Navalny’s appeal of his thms which underpin the cryptocurren- Mya Thwet Thwet Khine prison sentence, even cy network. That is, buy shovels in a gold was the first confirmed death as the country faced rush. an order from a top That could be the dumbest bet of all, among the many thousands who have taken to the stree- te to a hospital. son to spread panic and fear European rights court to though. free the Kremlin’s most ts to protest the Feb. 1 coup Several other serious inju- by setting fires and commit- Take Canaan Inc. the largest member prominent foe. During of the Elwood Blockchain Global Equi- that toppled the elected go- ries were also reported. Wit- ting violent acts. the first court hearing, ty Index. The Hangzhou-based company vernment of Aung San Suu ness accounts and photos of Another live broadcast Navalny urged Russians makes chips and equipment used in mi- Kyi. The woman was shot on bullet casings indicated that on Facebook showed the to stand up to the ners. You’d think that since Bitcoin price, Feb. 9, two days before her the security forces used live wife of actor Lu Min descri- Kremlin in a fiery speech and ergo demand, keeps rising then peo- 20th birthday, at a protest in ammunition, in addition to bing to neighbors how her mixing references to the ple would be clamoring to buy more rigs. the capital Nayptitaw, and rubber bullets, water can- husband was arrested and Bible and “Harry Potter.” The major incentive to do so is that if you died Friday. nons and slingshots. taken away from their home run such a machine you can yourself get Italy’s coast guard Bitcoin as a reward, and as the price rises About 1,000 people in The new deaths drew shortly after midnight. He and border police the value of such a prize also climbs. cars and bikes gathered yes- quick and strong reaction was one of six high-profile motorboats rescued 47 It’s not working out that way. Canaan’s terday morning at the hos- from the international people in the entertainment migrants whose small sales in the June and September quarters pital where her body was community. industry charged last week wooden boat capsized in dropped and it posted four straight quar- held amid tight security, with “The shooting of peaceful with inciting civil servants the Mediterranean Sea ters of losses. That’s over a period in which even the victim’s grandpa- protesters in is beyond the to stop work and join the south of a tiny Italian island. The coast guard Bitcoin’s price rose a sedate 30%. Accor- rents who had traveled from pale,” said British Foreign protest movement, which he ding to Bloomberg data, there’s no sell-si- said in a statement Yangon, five hours away, de- Secretary Dominic Raab on and the others have publicly de analysts left to even guess at its revenue that migrants were Twitter. “We will consider championed. outlook or share price target. nied entry. When her body being transferred to Such equity investments are not about was released, a long motori- further action, with our in- Yesterday, Facebook an- the Italian vessels when the bottom line, though, they’re about sha- zed procession began a drive ternational partners, against nounced it took down the the boat overturned re returns. In that regard, Canaan has done to the cemetery. those crushing democracy & page run by the Myanmar some 15 miles south of well by rising 200% over the past year. Tes- In Yangon, Myanmar’s choking dissent.” military information unit Lampedusa island. la Inc.’s announcement earlier this month biggest city, about 1,000 de- Britain last week froze as- “for repeated violations of that it had got into Bitcoin, followed by Germany A 66-year-old monstrators honored the sets of and imposed travel our community standards man has been taken into Canaan telling investors it had secured woman under an elevated bans on three top Myanmar prohibiting incitement of long-term orders, accounted for almost all custody on suspicion roadway. generals, adding to already violence and coordinating he was behind three of that gain. existing targeted sanctions. harm.” It had already taken package bombs sent to This huge return over the past year is mi- “I want to say through the food manufacturers and nuscule compared to the rise in Bitcoin media to the dictator and his Singapore, which toge- down other accounts linked retailers, authorities said. itself — which is five times higher than a associates, we are peaceful ther with Myanmar is part of to the military. News agency dpa said year ago. In fact, on aggregate, betting on demonstrators,” said protes- the 10-member Association The junta took power af- police identified the man related equites — as tracked by the Elwood ter Min Htet Naing. “Stop the of Southeast Asian Nations, ter detaining Suu Kyi and as a retiree living in the Blockchain index — would make you a la- genocide! Stop using lethal issued a statement condem- preventing Parliament from Ulm area of southwest ggard. weapons!” ning the use of lethal force as convening, saying elections Germany’s Baden- There are a few exceptions. MicroStrate- Another large protest took “inexcusable.” last November were tainted Wuerttemberg state. gy Inc. is a provider of business-analytics place in Mandalay, where Urging “utmost restraint” by voting irregularities. The software. But now it’s gone all-in on Bit- on the part of security forces, election outcome, in which coin and this past week raised around $1 police shot dead two people

billion through a convertible-bond sale for on Saturday near a dockyard it warned that “if the situa- Suu Kyi’s National League AP PHOTO the sole purpose of buying more. That big as security forces were trying tion continues to escalate, for Democracy party won by bet drove the stock to outperform even the to force workers to load a there will be serious adverse a landslide, was affirmed by cryptocurrency itself in the past few weeks. boat. The workers, like rai- consequences for Myanmar an election commission that Unfortunately, as my Bloomberg News lway workers and truckers and the region.” has since been replaced by US Residents, some colleagues Crystal Kim and Tom Contilia- and many civil servants, Another shooting death the military. The junta says of whom lack heat or no pointed out, its shares trade at about have been taking part in a took place Saturday night in it will hold new elections in a basic amenities in their a 50% premium to the price of Bitcoin own homes due to the civil disobedience campaign Yangon in unclear circums- year’s time. — and that was after a 25% plunge in the unusually chilly weather, tances. According to several The coup was a major stock from its Feb. 9 high. It would be akin against the junta. have been rescuing to buying Bitcoin at $75,019 apiece when it Shooting broke out af- accounts on social media, setback to Myanmar’s tran- cold-stunned sea turtles was trading at $49,000, they wrote. Clearly, ter neighborhood residents including a live broadcast sition to democracy after 50 and taking them to a that’s not the smartest of investments. rushed to the Yadanabon that showed the body, the years of army rule that began convention center in a And that’s the problem. Without a doubt dock to try to assist the victim was a man who was with a 1962 coup. Suu Kyi South Texas resort town. there’ll be times when individual stocks, or workers in their resistance. acting as a volunteer guard came to power after her party “Every 15 minutes or less there’s another truck or even a collection of them, will be a solid in- One of the victims, described for a neighborhood watch won a 2015 election, but the SUV that pulls up,” Ed vestment strategy. But over the long term, as a teenage boy, was shot in group. Such groups were generals retained substantial if you truly think Bitcoin is a winner, then Caum, executive director the head and died immedia- established because of fears power under the constitu- there’s really just one clear way to bet on it. of the South Padre Island tely, while another was shot that authorities were using tion, which was adopted un- Convention and Visitors in the chest and died en rou- criminals released from pri- der a military regime. AP Bureau said.