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

T. 19º/ 25º Air Quality Bad FRIDAY “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” MOP 8.00

N.º 3741 26 Mar 2021 HKD 10.00

CHIEF EXECUTIVE HO IAT SENG ONE REPORT, FOUR THEORIES A TWO-SESSION FORUM ON LIFE SCIENCE PROMISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WAS HELD WILL CONTINUE ITS SUPPORT FOR SCIENTISTS MULL CLUES ON AT MUST AS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY’S THE KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS CORONAVIRUS’ ORIGIN 21ST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS P4 P11 P6 AP PHOTO

Philippines The military has ordered more navy ships to be deployed for “sovereignty patrols” in the South China Sea, where a Chinese flotilla SIZE MATTERS has swarmed around a disputed reef and A recently established ignored Manila’s demand to leave the area. It did communications association sees not say how close the Philippine navy ships would maneuver from high-potential in small Macau as the Chinese vessels, whose presence new technology testing ground, Lorenzana has been called an “incursion” and “provocative action of its founders told the Times in an militarizing the area.” exclusive interview P6-7 AP PHOTO

Japan Activists submitted a petition with over 106,000 signatures to Japan’s ruling party yesterday, calling for an LGBT equality law to be enacted before the Tokyo Games, saying Japan as host nation should live up to the Olympic charter banning gender and sexual discrimination. Their action came on the day the Olympic torch relay began in the northern prefecture of Fukushima counting down to the Games that start in July. AP PHOTO MACAU PHOTO AGENCY PHOTO MACAU

Australia Two men trapped in vehicles hundreds of kilometers GAMING apart have become the first fatalities of record flooding on Australia’s New social- east coast. A car got trapped in floodwater distancing northwest of Sydney and emergency services later recovered it with rule for a body inside, officials said. The body, believed standing bet to be that of a 25-year- MGTO extends promotion old Pakistani national, has yet to be formally beyond GBA to drive perplexes identified. length of stay P2 many More on backpage P3 page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

2.2 million red packets collected MGTO extends promotion beyond

Throughout their red package recycling GBA to drive length of stay campaign, the HONEY TSANG Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) collected HE Macao Government Tou- XINHUA nearly 2.2 million Chinese Trism Office (MGTO) is laun- New Year red packets, ching a new promotion to encou- weighing over 6.48 mainland tourists from non- tonnes. Of the packets -Guangdong cities to visit Macau collected, roughly using the High-Speed Rail network. 410,000 were selected MGTO director Maria Helena de to be repurposed in the Senna Fernandes announced the future. The campaign was concluded on March promotion in Hangzhou yesterday 6 and is estimated to to trade representatives at a semi- have saved around 86 nar focused on tourism in Macau. trees. It was a lead-off event for the “Ma- cao Week in Hangzhou” roadshow which commenced today. DSEDT “Our [promotional] strategy will inspected encourage visitation from [main- 5,320 shops land] cities with a [better] transpor- to monitor tation network [connecting to Ma- will instead showcase a range of Macau in February 2021 stood at presentation seminar in Hangzhou. commodity cau],” the director said. The tactic to tourism offerings and tourist des- 427,122, down 23.3% month-to- The presentation seminar was held focus on mainland tourists beyond tinations, including lesser-visited -month, yet, up 173.1% year-on- to promote Macau as a “healthy, prices the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is inten- tourist spots in Macau, to enable -year. safe and quality destination,” and The Economic ded to increase the average length visitors from mainland regions out- There were 380,649 visitors help industry partners in Hang- and Technological tourists stay in the city. side GBA to have a more immersive from China in February, 250, 912 of zhou keep tabs on tourism trends. Development Bureau “Although Macau has welco- travel experience. whom hailed from Guangdong Pro- Throughout the seminar, Fer- (DSEDT) and the Macao med a large number of tourists The mainland cities along the vince and accounted for roughly nandes encouraged tourism in- Consumer Council from Guangdong province, they High-Speed Rail line and within the 65.9% of the total share. They were dustry representatives from both carried out a joint effort have not tended to stay overnight GBA have been identified as regio- followed by 15, 507 visitors from Macau and Hangzhou to collabora- to review the prices of in Macau. Holidaymakers outside nal priorities for MGTO this year. Fujian Province (4.1%), and 12,641 te more closely within the tourism goods in local stores Guandong province are more likely The MGTO will focus on other visitors from Shanghai city (3.3%). and MICE sectors, to create new to monitor commodity to stay overnight for several days,” cities with higher air connectivity Yesterday, MGTO and the Macao tourism offerings that encourage prices. From May 1, 2020, she clarified. Fernandes stressed with Macau as well, she added. Trade and Investment Promotion visitation from new sources. The to March 24 of this year, the MGTO will not apply a cookie- According to the latest data from Institute (IPIM) hosted a Macao “Macao Week in Hangzhou” road- the DSEDT conducted -cutter approach to draw tourists the Statistics and Census Servi- tourism and Meetings, Incentives, show was organized by the MGTO a total of 5,320 random from non-Guangdong cities. They ce (DSEC), total visitor arrivals to Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) and commenced today. inspections, surveying 52,130 items. The effort was undertaken in response to recent social media reports by locals who claimed to have observed some abnormal Unpaid leave not against the law: DSAL confirmed prices on local goods. HONEY TSANG are on leave based on the fact that they do not carry More students HE Labour Affairs Bu- out any business of the firm. pursue local Treau (DSAL) has refuted “As a result, the handling tertiary speculation that the imple- of [cases of unpaid lea- mentation of forced unpaid education ve] will differ accordingly,” leave by local firms is a viola- DSAL clarified in the state- during tion of employment law. ment. Covid-19 The DSAL’s comments However, DSAL stres- were made in response to sed that it is not acceptable The Education and Youth an earlier written inquiry Development Bureau for an employer to dismiss by Lawmaker Sulu Sou, (DSEDJ) has announced staff due to a failure to rea- who questioned whether that over the course of ch a mutual agreement on the Covid-19 pandemic, no-paid leave might have no-paid leave. In such cir- Macau has seen an breached Article 10 (5) of cumstances, the employer increasing number of the Macau Labour Relations is required to pay the staff local students pursuing Law, which prohibits an em- member employment ter- tertiary education in ployer from lowering an em- mination compensation. the city. Authorities ployee’s base wages unless alters the work duties and challenged earlier. The decision to take According to official data, have affirmed that local both reach a mutual agree- conditions stated in the em- However, DSAL contra- unpaid leave is that reached DSAL registered 214 cases universities have enough ment, confirmed in writing ployment contract, which dicted Sou’s statement, ar- “mutually” between the em- related to salary reductions places to welcome around and notified to DSAL within in turn diminishes the ori- guing that the principle of ployer and staff. in 2020 involving 156 lo- 4,200 local high school 10 days. ginally promised pay [ter- unpaid leave differs from Moreover, employees are cal enterprises and 2,450 graduates this year. “Unpaid leave basically ms and conditions],” Sou that of a salary reduction. not paid on the days they workers.

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, Emilie Tran, Irene OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] REACHING OUT! Sam, Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. Comercial Rodrigues, 12 Floor C, 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 fri 26.03.2021 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER New social-distancing rule for standing bet perplexes many

HONEY TSANG from the period before “I don’t believe this mainland bettors. Jorge Silva Chinese New Year in Fe- standing-back betting will “The restriction is con- HE new social- bruary this year. improve the GGR as all it sidered too stringent at -distancing rule The DICJ sanctioned does is to encourage the the moment. It has inti- imposed on local the relaxation of the rule concentration of gambling midated and turned some TDM appoints Silva casinos for the after seeing the pandemic action on a fewer number mainland bettors off,” she Treinstated standing bet, risk in China had remained of tables,” he explained. as Portuguese TV said. which forces standing bet- low. The requirement for Arguments are circu- Chao also pointed out channel news tors to keep at least 1 meter maintaining a one-meter lating in the casino realm that the new rules make apart from each other, is distance between players that the relegation may it hard for local casinos department chief likely to encumber dealers is a strategy to minimize “have the opposite effect to accommodate the re- and wagerers alike, a local contagion risk. of increasing the volatility cently increased number ESTERDAY, the pu- his 35 years working at the expert said. Since its enforcement in of table revenue as players of punters. Yblic broadcaster Tele- local TV station, including “I can see how difficult February last year, the scra- flock to tables with player She added that it has difusão de Macau (TDM) the role of Portuguese it would be to enforce that. pping of the prohibition winning streaks,” he ad- been quite challenging for Executive Committee news editor. This rule puts the dealers on standing bets should ded. casino staff to implement appointed veteran jour- Silva confirmed the and floor staff in unenvia- have stimulated the city’s From a revenue stabi- the social-distancing ru- nalist Jorge Silva as the appointment to the Ti- ble positions of deciding demand for gambling, as lity perspective, the tactic les. The regulation even new news department mes, but declined to make when the one meter dis- DICJ stated, Asian players to distribute players over a caused quarrels between coordinator of the Portu- any further comments tance has been breached,” are usually more inclined greater number of tables is staff and patrons on some guese TV channel, the Ti- regarding the new post Ben Lee, managing partner to make bets at an occu- always more conducive to occasions. mes learned. saying only that “it is a of IGamiX Management & pied gaming table. driving gaming revenue, She urges the govern- The appointment, whi- challenge.” Consulting told the Times However, Lee said that Lee commented. ment to lift the social dis- ch is effective immediate- According to TDM’s yesterday. the new social distan- Cloee Chao, the presi- tancing requirement as ly, comes after last week’s Executive Committee or- According to a report cing regulation may be dent of the New Macau soon as possible, given the resignation from the pre- der, Marques will return published by GGRAsia, counterproductive when Gaming Staff Rights As- casino has already imple- vious department head, to his previous career the Gaming Inspection asked about whether the sociation, told the Times mented strict safety pro- João Pedro Marques. post within the public and Coordination Bureau relaxation may help drive that since its enforcement, tocols, such as mandatory Silva, a news anchor at broadcaster, with the ef- (DICJ) has confirmed that the city’s gross gaming re- the social distancing regu- mask-wearing for all gues- TDM since 1986, has per- fective date backdated to standing bets had resumed venue (GGR). lation has confused many ts, to combat Covid-19. formed several duties over March 17. RM ad page 4 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

trained generations of political personages under the guidance CE pledges to extend of patriotism. On the prospects of the co- ming year, Ho encouraged the support to residents’ union group to be prepared for “oppor- tunities and challenges.” He rei- T the reception celebra- terated that this year marks the Ating the 37th Anniversary beginning of the implementa- of the General Union of Nei- tion of the 14th Five-Year Plan of ghborhood Associations of Ma- the country, which is based on a cao (UGAMM), Chief Executive new pattern of development of Ho Iat Seng remarked that the “double cycles.” government “will continue its “The 14th Five-Year Plan support” for the group. includes several policies and “The Macau SAR Government measures to support the deve- will continue to support the lopment of Macau with a view UGAMM in the development of to integrating it into the con- its activities, namely with regard text of national development,” to the improvement of equip- he stressed. “In view of Macau’s ment and facilities necessary for situation, we will promote the the provision of community ser- appropriate and diversified vices and that of the quality and development of its economy, diversification of its services,” promote the construction of the CE pledged in his speech. a strong cooperation zone be- He also expressed his hope, tween Guangdong and Macau on behalf of the government, in Hengqin and participate in that the General Union will con- high-quality development of tinue to provide more specific Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau and multifaceted services with Greater Bay Area, with a view to an innovative and explorational our integration towards national spirit, in order to make new con- development.” tributions to the prosperity and The CE also expressed his stability of Macau. “great joy” for the celebration of Ho has also highlighted the land and Macau, as well as in the Motherland,” the CE remarked. for the sake of their well-being, the anniversary. “I wish the Ge- group’s commitment to patrio- support for ‘One Country, Two The UGAMM, he said, has playing a fundamental role in neral Union further progress in . “The UGAMM, founded Systems’ Principle, making his- united residents and has always the management and provision its development. I also wish you in 1983, has always persisted in torical contributions to the suc- been at the service of the popu- of services to the public. all health and happiness,” the the tradition of love for Mother- cessful return of Macau to the lation in a pragmatic way and He added that the group has government head remarked. AL

socialist country. during a Q&A session, They also shared their during which the speakers views on post-pande- held a more in-depth dis- Galaxy invites NPC and CPPCC mic economic recovery, cussion on the spirit of the opportunities for Macau Two Sessions and its signi- to integrate with the ove- ficance for Macau’s overall delegates ‘to share Two Sessions’ spirit’ rall development of the development. country, long-term be- At the occasion, Kou NSPIRED by the Four- Member of the CPPCC; of the Liaison Office of the Chief Financial Officer; nefits of practicing “One Hoi In revealed that the Ith Plenary Session of and Francis Lui, Member Central People’s Govern- Eileen Lui, Group Director country, two systems,” Macau delegation presen- the 13th National People’s of the CPPCC and Vice ment in the Macau SAR. of Human Resources and and insights on how Ma- ted many views and sug- Congress (NPC) and the Chairman of GEG were According to the GEG Administration; and Kevin cau can leverage its suc- gestions on various topics, 13th National Commit- invited to share with Ga- statement, “a total of 200 Kelley, Chief Operating Of- cessful implementation including the country’s tee of the Chinese Peo- laxy’s senior executives executives from different ficer in Macau. of this policy to integrate handling of the pandemic, ple’s Political Consultati- their insights on the Two regions from GEG’s offices During the sharing ses- with the developments the “new normal” econo- ve Conference (CPPCC), Sessions, which this year in Macau, Hong Kong and sion, Kou Hoi In, Ho Teng in the Guangdong-Hong mic development, and the known as the Two Ses- marks the 100th anniver- Mainland China, and its Iat and Francis Lui gave Kong-Macau Greater Bay in-depth cooperation be- sions that was held in sary of the founding of the subsidiary – K. Wah Cons- an overview on the Two Area amid the country’s tween the Mainland China Beijing earlier, Galaxy En- Communist Party of Chi- truction Materials, took Sessions, and detailed “dual circulation” econo- and Macau. tertainment Group (GEG) na and the release of the part in the event by joining many of the Central Go- mic strategy. Through different initia- hosted a sharing session 14th Five-Year Plan. The either the in-person or on- vernment’s work reports The note to the press tives, such as this one, GEG at the JW Marriott Hotel, sharing session was also line live broadcast event.” and priorities for the 14th said that the participa- “actively promotes natio- the company said in a attended and advised by These included Jorge Five-Year Plan, which is ting GEG executives were nal education and China’s press release last night. Zuo Xianghua, Deputy Di- N. Valente, Group Advi- considered as the starting also given the opportunity development to its team Kou Hoi In, Deputy rector General of the Eco- sor; Philip Cheng, Direc- point on a new journey to to ask the three keynote members,” the company of the NPC; Ho Teng Iat, nomic Affairs Department tor; Robert Drake, Group build China into a modern speakers some questions said in the statement. MDT www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 5 fri 26.03.2021 ADVERTORIAL

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

CKNOWLEDGING the importance of natio- SPLENDORS OF CHINA nal education, Melco Resorts & Entertain- mentA launched its Splendors of China learning program in 2016 to promote patriotism among Melco promotes patriotism among colleagues and the community. Earlier this week, Melco invited the Economic Affairs Depart- ment of the Liaison Office of the colleagues and the community Central People’s Government in and the Fourth Session of the Macau’s educational institutes, date its achievements in loving us to better understand and the Macao SAR as Adviser and 13th CPPCC, also known as the including professors, teaching the country and Macau; and seize opportunities to integrate invited delegates of the Natio- “Two Sessions” at its Splendors staff and students. The event how Macau can give full play to into the country’s overall deve- nal People’s Congress (NPC) and of China Leadership Forum. was also broadcast live to Melco its advantages to deepen coope- lopment and continue contri- Chinese People’s Political Con- Mr. Zuo Xianghua, Deputy colleagues in Hong Kong. ration with cities in the Greater buting to the city’s diversified sultative Conference (CPPCC) Director-General, Economic Af- Guest speakers discussed Bay Area such as Hengqin for di- development and economy.” Mr. Alexandre Ma Iao Lai, Mem- fairs Department of the Liaison topics including the strategic versified development. For colleagues, Splendors ber of the Standing Committee Office of the Central People’s significance of the 14th Five- During the event, Melco of China aims to create deeper of the CPPCC National Commit- Government in the Macao SAR -Year Plan for Macau’s integra- Chairman & CEO Mr. Lawrence insight into understanding the tee, President of the Board of the and Mr. Wong Ka Ho said, “National majority of Melco’s clientele, as Macao Chamber of Commerce; Kei, Head of De- Education is a core well as appreciating the achie- Ms. Tina Ho Teng Iat, Deputy partment of Non- ”Although Macau was seriou- segment of Melco’s vements of Macau’s mother Director of the Committee for -tertiary Education sly impacted by the pandemic Whole Person De- country. A total of 40 colleagues Liaison with Hong Kong, Macau, of the Education last year, the active response velopment strategy, from the Melco management Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of and Youth Develo- from the Macau SAR to control and the Company’s team also recently toured the the CPPCC National Committee, pment Bureau at- and contain the situation helped Splendors of Chi- ‘Loving the Country, Loving Member of the Standing Com- tended as Guests to promptly restore order to the na program was Macau Education Base for You- mittee of the All-China Women’s of Honor. Melco se- city’s economic and daily life. All launched in 2016 ng People’ located at the Han- Federation, and Chairwoman of nior executives in- of this is a testament to the successful prac- with the aim to su- dover Gifts Museum of Macau the Women’s General Associa- cluding Mr. Claren- tice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau pport the Macau to strengthen national knowle- tion of Macau; Ms. Ung Pui Kun, ce Chung, Board and the importance of ‘Loving the Motherland SAR government’s dge and identity and to gain a Member of the CPPCC National Director and Dr. and Loving the Country’ – as well as Macau’s furthering of the deeper understanding of Ma- Committee, Hospital Director of Kent Wong, Chief boundless potential for further development. spirit of ‘Loving the cau’s developments and achie- Kiang Wu Hospital Mr. Lok Po, Advisor welcomed LAWRENCE HO Motherland and Lo- vements. Looking ahead, each Member of the NPC, Director guests to the event. ving Macau’. We are Melco colleague in Macau will of Macau Daily News; Mr. Ke- Promoting an in-depth un- tion into the overall develop- honored to invite esteemed NPC have the vin Ho King Lun, Member of the derstanding of China’s cultural ment of the country; ways to sta- and CPPCC delegates to share opportunity NPC, President of the Industry heritage, economic policies, bilize the effectiveness of Macau the Spirits of the “Two Sessions” to visit the and Commerce Association of social systems and values, the against the epidemic in the new with us – enabling our collea- patriotic Macau; and Mr. Lawrence Ho, Leadership Forum was hosted stage of normalized epidemic gues to gain a better understan- education Member of the CPPCC National at Studio City with an audience prevention and control; how ding of the latest government base as the Committee, Chairman & CEO of comprising Melco management Macau can lead by example in policies and the significance of Company Melco to share the Spirits of the and non-management collea- the new practice of “One Coun- the practice of ‘One Country, rolls out re- Scan to follow Melco Fourth Session of the 13th NPC gues and representatives from try, Two Systems” and consoli- Two Systems’, which will allow gular tours. CSR Facebook Page page 6 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Communications Association sees high-potential in Macau as new technology testing ground RENATO MARQUES that Macau is small in scale, often seen as a disadvantage, can be tur- HE Macao Communica- ned into an important advantage tions Development Asso- as the Special Administrative Re- ciation (MCDA) believes gion functions at the scale of a me-

MACAU PHOTO AGENCY PHOTO MACAU that Macau’s geographic tropolis. The investment needed Tlocation and size could be an ad- to test new technologies linked to vantage for the implementation Smart Cities would be far less than and testing of new technologies, in any neighboring city. which could lead not only to the higher development of informa- THE LOST EDGE tion and communication tech- One of the areas the association nologies locally, but also to boost is focusing its work on is the re- economic diversification. gaining of Macau’s prior status as Such opinion was aired to the an advanced city in terms of tech- Times in an exclusive interview nology and communications. with several association mem- Before the handover, Macau bers. “Macau, given its geographic was regarded as one of the most size, would be the ideal place not advanced cities in the region, and only to implement some of those even the world, in terms of com- new innovative technologies [like munications, and was also on the the 5G network] that [find many vanguard of the internet, a status challenges being implemented in that quickly subsided due to a lack other regions], but we could be of tenacity in continuing to pursue used as a testing ground for several higher goals. [other] technologies that are being “Maybe 20-plus years ago we developed and that could help in used to be at the forefront of te- further developing the market,” chnology. Macau used to be a Carlos Rui Marcelo, the associa- very innovative city and in recent tion’s General Assembly Vice-Pre- years we lost that edge,” Marcelo sident told the Times, adding that told the Times, adding, “We didn’t this was one of the primary factors lose it because we didn’t have the that united the founders of the skillsets or the knowledge, we lost association, established in April it because the aggressiveness in 2019. terms of implementation of inno- For MCDA members, the fact vation and new technologies sub-

Hong Kong and Macau. Prior to the forum, MUST holds forum to discuss life science, AI MUST held an opening ceremony. Chair Profes- ANTHONY LAM sor Joseph Lee Hun-wei, President of the univer- two-session forum sity, stressed at the cere- A on life science and mony that the construc- artificial intelligence was tion of the Guangdong- held yesterday at the Ma- -Hong Kong-Macao Grea- cau University of Science ter Bay Area is a major and Technology (MUST) development strategy for as part of the institution’s the reform and opening 21st Anniversary celebra- up of the country in the tions. new era. It is of great sig- Senior experts and nificance to the country’s scholars in the fields of implementation of inno- biomedicine and artificial vation-driven develop- intelligence from Shen- ment. zhen, Hong Kong and Ma- The forum was held cau were invited to lecture under the guidance of the at the forum, with a focus Youth Work Department on cutting-edge fields of of the Liaison Office of the knowledge including life Central People’s Gover- and health, brain science nment in the Hong Kong and artificial intelligence. From the perspective The forum is also ex- implement the spirit of rum is toward construc- Special Administrative They also jointly discus- of life sciences and artifi- pected to bring more President Xi Jinping’s im- ting the Guangdong-Hong Region, the Department sed the new model of life cial intelligence, this fo- and improved operations portant instructions on Kong-Macao Greater Bay of Economic Affairs of the science and artificial inte- rum jointly discussed the and models to the deve- scientific and technolo- Area and Shenzhen Socia- Liaison Office of the Cen- lligence technology inno- prospects of scientific and lopment of life sciences gical work, while further lism Pilot Area – collecti- tral People’s Government vation and industrial col- technological coopera- and artificial intelligence realizing “Science and vely known as the “dual in the Macao Special laborative development tion between Shenzhen, industries in the Grea- Innovation in China” pro- zone” – and the com- Administrative Region, in the Guangdong-Hong Hong Kong and Macau, ter Bay Area, which is of posed by the China Asso- prehensive reform of the Shenzhen Science and Kong-Macau Greater Bay and played a positive role great significance for new ciation for Science and pilot demonstration zone, Technology Association, Area (GBA), which is one in promoting the cons- and high-quality develop- Technology, and promo- as well as continuously the Macau University of of the new tracks for the truction of an internatio- ment. ting the construction of a deepening exchanges and Science and Technology development of the inte- nal scientific and - The purpose of this “Science and Innovation cooperation in science and the Hong Kong Infor- gration of regional econo- logical innovation center forum, according to China” pilot city. and technology innova- mation Technology Joint mies and technology. in the GBA. MUST, is to thoroughly Another goal of the fo- tion between Shenzhen, Council. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 7 fri 26.03.2021 澳門 MACAU

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER Communications Association sees high-potential in Macau as new technology testing ground These factors point to another direction for the MCDA which elected as one of the goals to help drive incentives within the indus-

RENATO MARQUES RENATO try for professionals, trained in technology and telecommunica- tions, to continue to promote and implement innovation. “Some parts of this sector are not that interesting, but the inno- vative technologies are, and that is why 5G and subsequent tech- nologies play an important role in the future of the industry because they bring ways of use technolo- gies that not only communicate with other sectors but also bring a cohesiveness.” Marcelo said. For instance, he added, “the Internet of Things, which is an im- portant aspect of technology that can be supported by these new tools and applications is not pos- sible if we don’t bring together a convergence of technologies.”

TO CHANNEL KNOW-HOW TO KEEP COMPETENCE Founded by communication professionals with a vast knowled- ge of the industry and experience of over 30 years, the MCDA aims to channel this knowledge to the From left: Harun Hamja, Carlos Rui Marcelo, Windus Lam current and future generations to benefit the industry. They believe sided throughout these years and A free market is an important tool twork] and to encourage the sole- investment needed,” leading it has great potential to become that’s why we think it is extremely to facilitate competition and to fa- -operator to open up the facilities him to conclude that if the go- one of the sectors that can contri- important that we become much cilitate innovation.” to other competitors. That is what vernment does not take the lead bute to Macau’s economic diversi- more aggressive in the next few To this end, both decision- created the situation we have ri- to change the competitive envi- fication. years.” -makers and stakeholders can- ght now in which you don’t have a ronment, it will be impossible to “If we don’t channel this know- For the MCDA Vice-President, not continue to blame any of the choice,” explaining that such lack attract other players to invest in ledge into new professionals in one of the ways in which the Co- players, but instead “find ways to of action from the government li- this market as well as to attract the market, we will be extremely vid-19 pandemic contributed to collaborate and promote healthy mited possible investment in and talent in this field from other par- dependent on external compe- highlighting flaws within the sys- competition because that will consequent development of the ts of the world to Macau. tency and manpower, and com- tem is through “showing us that help the market. We know there products and services available in “Regulations are causing us to panies that might want to come collaboration tools have become are several important problems Macau for people and businesses. lag behind because the ‘door is to Macau and invest in Macau will extremely important for the live- with the current system but what Questioned by the Times if the not open at all’ and traditionally, be limited to a certain technology lihood of citizens and if we don’t is important to understand is that current telecommunication in- we have been pointing the finger that might be imposed upon the have an infrastructure that makes without the support or proper frastructure is enough to support to the potential players saying that market,” Marcelo said, adding to that possible it’s going to be extre- guidance in regards to how we the growing demand for data they are not working hard enou- the comments by MCDA Board of mely challenging.” can move from A to B, it is going and online services, Lam said, gh and that is not the case. It’s the Directors Vice-President, Xeque to be very challenging [to move “It depends if you are analyzing environment itself that is limiting Harun Hamja. A FREE MARKET WOULD BOOST past the current state] and to be at [from] today’s [point-of-view] or any new players from competing Hamja was discussing how the TECH ADVANCES, SERVICES the forefront of innovation. That if you are looking from today and as fair players,” Lam concluded. existing know-how is important For the MCDA, one of the most is what Macau could be good at,” forward. For most people (for in- not only to promote new advan- important aspects that could shift Marcelo reaffirmed, adding that dividual use) we can say that the HR IS A CHALLENGE cements, but to maintain some of technology back onto the right one of the important focuses for current speed and service are FOR THE MARKET the existing technology. track involves the establishing of the association is to provide help probably enough but people are Another big challenge as a hin- “If any company wants to hire a free market for communications and expertise in the field to en- using more applications that are dering factor in the development a Switch engineer that is impossi- in which all players could compe- courage collaboration between bandwidth-hungry such as video of the market in Macau is the lack ble. There is none locally,” he said, te fairly, presenting new services parties. streaming and others. With ad- of human resources (HR) in the adding “the old ones are all reti- and technological advancements The lack of competition and its ded demand, the natural conse- field. ring and the new generation has that would benefit everyone. consequences was also addressed quence is the degradation of the “I think there are a few challen- no training in this field. I believe “Everybody nowadays is paying in the same interview by another quality of the service,” adding ges in the market. One [of them] is that [unless we do something [for goods and services] using a MCDA board member, Board of “at the backend what drives the actually about how to create the about it now] within the next 5 mobile phone. We used to have a Directors President Windus Lam, bandwidth capacity is the infras- incentive for new people to find to 10 years there will be no local percentage of the online market who to the Times stated, “Offi- tructure and we are talking about the industry attractive after they people working in this sector in that was roughly [a few years ago] cially home broadband and busi- both the local network and the finish their [university] studies. Macau.” maybe around 15 to 18% but it has ness broadband has been liberali- overseas network and that is the Because [historically] it has been According to data from the as- jumped at least to 30% last year, or zed for over 20 years. But what this bigger problem for the imple- easy for people to go into tourism sociation, the market in Macau in the last couple of years, and that means [in reality] is that anyone mentation of the 5G network.” and find jobs where skillsets are for the telecom and information gives us a clear indication of what can apply to provide that servi- As Lam explained further, “In also scarce in Macau and are paid technology sectors already pre- is important to address,” Mar- ce. However, this is a very limited the past, we only needed one quite well. What we have assisted sents a deficit in manpower of celo said, adding, “Data is a very opportunity as our connection is network, but the infrastructure in the last 10 to 20 years, particu- about 40 to 50% of the demand in important part and so we need very limited and we need to rely needed to support 5G or 6G may larly with the liberalization of the the sector. to have an infrastructure that su- on international connectivity. At easily need to double or triple [at gaming industry, is that people Hamja also noted that nowa- pports that sort of behavior. I’m that time, the liberalization was the start], and increase to 6-fold tend to find jobs in areas for which days, telecom services are as im- pretty sure that all the operators in not followed by an encourage- or even 10-fold, and that is why they did not have specific [college] portant a commodity as water or Macau are willing to support that. ment to investment [in the ne- there is an issue regarding the training” Marcelo said. electricity. page 8 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo CHINA 中國 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

fective,” said Agnes Wong, a sales executive in Hong Kong who also AP PHOTO had no immediate plans to get vaccinated. Unease over the vaccines, whi- ch were developed in under a year using varying levels of clinical trials, are not confined to Hong Kong. In Europe, reports of problems with blood clotting following the AstraZeneca shot raised concer- ns. So have questions over some of AstraZeneca’s clinical data. The number of people who have booked but failed to show up for their Sinovac vaccine appointments currently stands at around 20%, up from about 11% a week into the program. That com- pares with a 5% no-show rate for the Pfizer shot before those were halted. Martin Wong, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, co-authored a survey published in January that showed only 37% of Hong Kong residents were willing to get a COVID-19 vacci- ne. He says the technology used, a manufacturer’s track record and reports of side effects can all affect willingness to get the shots. The government has advised people with chronic illnesses to ask their doctors before getting Chief Executive Carrie Lam receives the second dose of the Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine the COVID-19 vaccines. That can be difficult for many underpri- ANALYSIS vileged Hong Kong seniors, said Ivan Lin from the rights advocacy group Society of Community Or- ganization. Hong Kong vaccination drive “The public health system should be more proactive in struggles to gain public trust providing advice,” said Lin. “For many of these elderly, their lon- ZEN SOO, HONG KONG enduring onerous quarantines. Slow progress on vaccina- “If we can’t control the epide- g-term illnesses are taken care But after seeing reports on te- tions could slow the city’s eco- mic, there’s nothing we can do of by public hospitals where ONG KONG’S sudden sus- levision that several people with nomic recovery. Hong Kong is about the economy,” she told appointments take place every Hpension of a COVID-19 vac- chronic illnesses had died days still grappling with coronavirus lawmakers last week. three months, so they are not able cine developed by Pfizer and after having the Sinovac vaccine, outbreaks and stringent social Hesitancy toward the vaccines to get (timely) medical advice.” BioNTech is another blow to a Chan decided against getting ino- distancing measures that are es- partly reflects growing mistrust Policies that would reward vaccination program already culated. pecially hard on bars, restauran- of the government, as Beijing people for getting vaccinated are struggling against a wall of public “I have high blood pressure, ts and the tourism industry. The has asserted growing influence essential, says Wong. distrust. high cholesterol and high blood jobless rate climbed to 7.2% in following months of anti-govern- “New incentives may be requi- Hong Kong on Wednesday sus- sugar. Right now with my health February, the highest level since ment protests in 2019. Authorities red such as exemptions from cer- pended use of the Pfizer vaccine, condition I don’t think I can get 2004. have arrested and jailed dozens of tain travel bans or issuance of a distributed by Chinese pharma- the shot, I will wait and see,” she Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam pro-democracy activists under a certificate of vaccination that can ceutical firm Fosun Pharma, after said, adding that she planned to and health officials are urging tough new national security law. be used for different purposes,” defective packaging such as loo- seek her doctor’s advice at her people to get vaccinated. They Some residents are worried by he said. se vial lids and cracks on bottles next appointment. the seven deaths that oc- Lam, the city’s leader, has said were found in one of two batches Since vaccinations curred after Sinovac shots. the government might conside- of the vaccine. began on Feb. 26, about Since vaccinations “According to the gover- ring such measures, such as re- For now, Hong Kong residents 5.7% of Hong Kong’s 7.2 nment, none of the deaths laxing certain social distancing can only get the Chinese-made million residents have began on Feb. 26, are related to the vaccine. restrictions. Hong Kong is also Sinovac vaccine, which is repor- gotten inoculated — a about 5.7% of HK’s Most of the patients had discussing with Chinese authori- ted to have an efficacy rate of far cry from a goal of cardiovascular conditions, ties on easing restrictions for tra- 62%, compared with Pfizer’s 97%. vaccinating 70%. The 7.2m residents have so there must be some as- velers who are vaccinated. Wariness toward the Sinovac shot slow uptake trails Sin- sociation, but the govern- That might work for some. has grown after seven people gapore’s. It started gi- gotten inoculated — a ment seems to be trying to Bilal Hussain, a doctoral stu- who were vaccinated with it died, ving COVID-19 shots far cry from a goal of dissociate it,” said Belinda dent at the Hong Kong Polyte- though authorities say the deaths just days before Hong Lin, a Hong Kong resident chnic University, signed up to re- were not linked to the vaccine. Kong and has adminis- vaccinating 70% in her 30s. ceive his first shot of the Sinovac When the government lau- tered vaccines to more “It’s an issue of respon- vaccine after learning that China nched the vaccination drive in than 13% of its population of 5.7 insist the shots, including the sibility, the willingness to take had eased its policy to allow fo- February, 66-year-old Chan Yuet million. Sinovac vaccine, are safe. Hong responsibility – I haven’t seen this reign workers and their families Lin was eager to get inoculated. The government has expan- Kong, a former British colony, yet,” said Lin, who does not plan to apply for visas into the country. A mainland Chinese immigrant ded the range of people who can relies heavily on tourism but has to get the vaccine as she says there Hussain’s wife and 5-year-old in the semi-autonomous city, get the shots, allowing those 30 been closed to foreign visitors sin- is a lack of studies showing long- son are in China. He hasn’t seen she hoped vaccination would and above after initially prioriti- ce March 2020 and Lam has said -term effects. them since January 2020. help her eventually visit her fa- zing those 60 and older, and em- social distancing precautions and “From what we’ve seen in the “I’m hoping that maybe in the mily in the Chinese mainland, ployees from essential industries. border controls can only be rela- news so far it seems like people near future, China will open up whom she had not seen since It is considering giving the shots xed after most people have gotten have more side effects from the their borders for students who the pandemic began, without to anyone older than 16. the shots. (Sinovac) vaccine that’s less ef- have been vaccinated,” he said. AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 9 fri 26.03.2021 中國 CHINA

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

AP PHOTO Facebook finds hacking operation targeting Uyghurs, no links to Chinese gov’t ACKERS in China used fake Facebook accoun- Hts and impostor websites to try to break into the computers and smartphones of Uyghur Muslims, the JOE McDONALD, BEIJING social network said yesterday [Macau time], adding that it found no direct links to the Chinese government. HINA’S ruling The company said the sophisticated, covert opera- Communist Party China attacks foreign tion targeted Uyghur activists, journalists and dissi- is lashing out at dents from China’s Xinjiang region, as well as indivi- H&M and other duals living in Turkey, Kazakhstan, the U.S., Syria, Aus- Cclothing and footwear tralia, Canada and other nations. brands as it retaliates for clothing, shoe brands The hackers attempted to gain access to the com- Western sanctions on Chi- puters and phones by creating fake Facebook accounts nese officials accused of for supposed journalists and activists, as well as fake human rights abuses in the websites and apps intended to appeal to a Uyghur au- Xinjiang region. over Xinjiang dience. In some cases, the hackers created lookalike The attacks began when websites almost identical to legitimate news sites po- the party’s Youth League More than 1 million imposed a ban on imports ducts were missing from pular with Uyghurs. on Wednesday called at- people in Xinjiang, most of of cotton from Xinjiang, a China’s two most popular The accounts and sites contained malicious links. tention on its social media them from predominantly major supplier to clothing online retailers, Alibaba If the target clicked on one, their computer or smar- account to an H&M state- Muslim ethnic groups, producers for Western Group’s TMall and JD.com. tphone would be infected with software allowing the ment in March 2020 that it have been confined to markets. News reports said they network to spy on the target’s device. would stop buying cotton work camps, according to China’s official outrage were removed due to pu- The software could obtain information including from Xinjiang in China’s foreign researchers and go- has focused on Europe, blic criticism over its Xin- the victim’s location, keystrokes and contacts, accor- northwest. The Swedish vernments. Beijing denies possibly because relations jiang statement. Spokes- ding to FireEye, a cybersecurity firm that worked on retailer, in words also used mistreating them and says with the EU were relatively people for Alibaba and JD the investigation. by some other brands, said it is trying to promote eco- amicable amid rancor with didn’t immediately res- In all, fewer than 500 people were targeted by the ha- it was “deeply concerned” nomic development and Washington over trade dis- pond to requests for com- ckers in 2019 and 2020, Facebook said. The company about reports of forced la- stamp out radicalism. putes and accusations of ment. said it uncovered the network during its routine securi- bor there. On Monday, the 27-na- Chinese spying and tech- Internet users pointed ty work, and has deactivated the fictitious accounts Yesterday, a party news- tion European Union, the nology theft. to clothing brands Uniqlo and notified individuals whose devices may have been paper, the Global Times, United States, Britain and Official criticism of of Japan and The Gap of compromised. Most of the hackers’ activities took pla- cited Burberry, Adidas, Nike Canada jointly announced H&M reflected that tone of the United States as other ce on non-Facebook sites and platforms. and New Balance as having travel and financial sanc- grievance at being hurt by possible offenders. It was “They tried to create these personas, build trust in made “cutting remarks” tions on four senior Chine- a friend. unclear how many of tho- the community, and use that as a way to trick people about Xinjiang cotton as se officials bla- se accounts were into clicking on these links to expose their devices,” early as two years ago. A se- med for abuses members of the pu- said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of security parate Global Times report in Xinjiang. blic and how many policy. cited what it said was a sta- Beijing re- ”How can H&M eat were operated by Facebook’s investigation found links between the tement by Zara that it had taliated by Chinese rice and then the ruling party’s hackers and two technology firms based in China but a “zero-tolerance approach saying it would vast propaganda no direct links to the Chinese government, which has towards forced labor.” impose unspe- smash China’s pot? apparatus. been criticized for its harsh treatment of Uyghurs in Celebrities including cified penalties Pop star Wang Yi- Xinjiang. FireEye, however, said in a statement that “we CCTV COMMENTARY Wang Yibo, a popular singer against Euro- bo’s announcement believe this operation was conducted in support” of and actor, announced they pean legisla- that he was quitting the Chinese government. MDT/AP were breaking endorse- tors and a German resear- “How can H&M eat Chi- as a Nike “brand ambassa- ment contracts with H&M cher who has publicized nese rice and then smash dor” didn’t mention Xin- and Nike. information about the de- China’s pot?” state televi- jiang. It said he “firmly re- AP PHOTO Beijing often attacks fo- tention camps. sion said in a commentary sists any words and actions reign clothing, auto, travel H&M’s statement last on Wednesday. that pollute China.” and other brands for ac- March cited a decision by On its social media ac- Others including singer tions by their governments the Better Cotton Initiative, count, H&M Group said and actress Song Qian, a or to pressure companies to an industry group that pro- the company “doesn’t re- former member of Korean conform to its official posi- motes environmental and present any political stan- pop group f(x) who also is tions on Taiwan, Tibet and labor standards, to stop dpoint” and “respects Chi- known as Song, other sensitive issues. licensing Xinjiang cotton nese consumers.” and actor Huang Xuan an- Companies usually apo- because it was “increasin- The company said it nounced they would end logize and change websites gly difficult” to trace how deals with 350 Chinese endorsement contracts or advertising to maintain it was produced. In Sep- manufacturers to make with H&M. Actress Tang access to China’s populous tember, H&M announced products that “comply with Songyun said she was market. But Xinjiang is an it would stop working with the principles of sustaina- breaking ties with Nike. unusually thorny issue. a Chinese manufacturer ble development.” H&M Chinese athletic shoe Western brands face pres- that was accused of using said it “is committed to brand ANTA announ- sure at home to distance forced labor in a unit unre- long-term investment and ced it was pulling out of themselves from possible lated to the Swedish brand. development in China.” BCI, the industry cotton abuses. In January, Washington Yesterday, H&M pro- group. MDT/AP page 10 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo ASIA PACIFIC 亞太 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

it completes its policy review on North Korea in coming weeks. North Korea test-fires ballistic The missile launches followed a trip by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary missiles in message to US Lloyd Austin to Japan and South ORTH Korea yesterday test- Korea last week as Washington N-fired its first ballistic missiles pushes to restore its alliances in since President Joe Biden took of- AP PHOTO Asia. fice as it expands its military capa- During the trip, Blinken sternly bilities and increases pressure on criticized North Korea’s nuclear Washington while nuclear nego- program and human rights re- tiations remain stalled. cord and pressed China to use its Japanese Prime Minister “tremendous influence” to con- Yoshihide Suga said North Ko- vince the North to denuclearize. rea’s resumption of ballistic tes- North Korean state media had ting threatens “peace and safety said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong in Japan and the region,” and that Un reaffirmed his country’s tradi- Tokyo will closely coordinate with tional alliance with China while Washington and Seoul on the exchanging messages with Chine- North’s military activities. se President Xi Jinping in an appa- South Korean Foreign Minis- rent response to Biden’s efforts to ter Chung Eui-yong, after mee- coordinate action on North Korea ting his Russian counterpart in with his allies. Seoul, expressed “deep concern” spoke on condition of anonymity said the North fired short-range the Trump administration in 2018. The negotiations over the Nor- and urged the North to uphold its to discuss military observations, weapons presumed to be cruise Analysts expect the North to th’s nuclear program faltered after commitments for peace. Russian matched the information from missiles into its western sea over gradually dial up its weapons dis- the collapse of Kim’s second sum- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Tokyo and Seoul, saying that ini- the weekend. plays to gain bargaining power as mit with President Donald Trump called for a swift resumption of tial assessments suggest the Nor- North Korea has a history of it angles to get back into stalled in February 2019, when the Ame- dialogue to resolve the standoff th fired two short-range ballistic testing new U.S. administrations talks aimed at leveraging nuclear ricans rejected North Korean de- with North Korea. missiles. with missile launches and other weapons for badly needed econo- mands for major sanctions relief South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of “This activity highlights the provocations aimed at forcing the mic benefits. in exchange for a partial surren- Staff said the two short-range threat that North Korea’s illicit Americans back to the negotiating North Korea has so far ignored der of its nuclear capabilities. missiles were fired at 7:06 a.m. weapons program poses to its table. the Biden administration’s efforts Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from and 7:25 a.m. on the North’s eas- neighbors and the international Still, yesterday’s launches were to reach out, saying it won’t en- South Korea’s Institute for Far Eas- tern coast and flew 450 kilometers community,” said U.S. Indo-Paci- a measured provocation compa- gage in meaningful talks unless tern Studies, said the flight data (279 miles) on an apogee of 60 ki- fic Command spokesperson Capt. red to the nuclear and intercon- Washington abandons its “hosti- suggests the North possibly tested lometers (37 miles) before landing Mike Kafka. tinental missile tests in 2017 that le” policies. a new solid-fuel system modeled in the sea. The launches came a day after inspired war fears before the Nor- It’s unclear how the Biden ad- after Russia’s 9K720 Iskander mo- A senior U.S. official, who U.S. and South Korean officials th shifted toward diplomacy with ministration will respond before bile ballistic missiles. MDT/AP ad www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 11 fri 26.03.2021 國際 WORLD

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

ONE REPORT, FOUR THEORIES Scientists mull clues on coronavirus’ origin

DARIA LITVINOVA & JAMEY KEATEN, GENEVA AP PHOTO team of international and Chinese scientists is poised to report on its joint search for the originsA of the coronavirus that sparked a pandemic after it was first detected in China over a year ago — with four theories being considered, and one the clear frontrunner, according to experts. The lengthy report is being published after months of wran- gling, notably between U.S. and Chinese governments, over how the outbreak emerged, while scientists try to keep their focus on a so-far fruitless search for the origin of a microbe that has killed over 2.7 million people and stifled economies worldwide. It wasn’t immediately clear when the report will be released after its publication was delayed earlier this month. By many ac- counts, the report could offer few concrete answers, and may raise further questions. It will offer a first glance in wri- ting from 10 international epide- miologists, data scientists, veteri- nary, lab and food safety experts who visited China and the city of Wuhan — where a market was seen as the initial epicenter — Wuhan Central Hospital earlier this year to work with Chi- nese counterparts who pulled up dkov, an epidemiologist and de- fection of people who were con- understanding that other studies tions it didn’t handle the initial the bulk of early data. puty director of research at the nected by location.” will be required.” outbreak properly. Shortly after Critics have raised questions St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute “At this point, there are no facts He said the U.S. was hopeful the outbreak, the Chinese gover- about the objectivity of the team, in Russia, summarized the four suggesting that there was a leak” the report would be a “real step nment detained some Chinese insisting that China’s government main leads first laid out at a ma- from a lab, Dedkov said. “If sud- forward for the world understan- doctors who sought to raise the had a pivotal say over its com- rathon news conference in China denly scientific facts appear from ding the origins of the virus, so alarm. position. Defenders of the Wor- last month about the suspected somewhere, then accordingly, the that we can better prepare for fu- The report, which Ben Emba- ld Health Organization, which origins of the first infection in hu- priority of the version will change. ture pandemics. That’s really what rek said last week took up about assembled the team, say it can’t mans. They were, in order of like- But, at this particular moment, this is about.” 280 pages, is set to lay out recom- simply parachute in experts to tell lihood: from a bat through an in- no.” The WHO leadership, inclu- mendations and lay the groun- a country what to do — let alone termediary animal; straight from Suspicions about political me- ding Director-General Tedros dwork for next steps — such as one as powerful as China. a bat; via contaminated frozen ddling have dogged the mission, Adhanom Ghebreyesus, repea- whether the team, or others, get “I expect that this report will food products; from a leak from a and the international team leader tedly praised the Chinese gover- new access to China for further only be a first step into investiga- laboratory like the Wuhan Institu- — the WHO’s Peter Ben Embarek nment’s early response to the analysis. Ultimately, the aim is to ting the origins of the virus and te of Virology. — acknowledged in interviews outbreak, though recordings of find clues to help prevent another that the WHO secretariat will pro- Officials in China, as well as last week that unspecified “pres- private meetings obtained by The such pandemic in the future. bably say this,” said Matthew Ka- Chinese team leader Liang Wan- sures” might weigh on its mem- Associated Press exposed how top Georgetown’s Kavanagh said vanagh, director of Georgetown nian, have promoted the third bers. Liang, in a Chinese news- WHO officials were frustrated at he hasn’t seen the report — but University’s Global Health Policy theory — the cold-chain one — paper interview, also bemoaned China’s lack of cooperation. has suspicions about what it will and Governance Initiative at the while the U.S. administration political pressure on the team. The international team was say. O’Neill Institute. “And I expect under President Donald Trump wholly reliant on data collected “Based on what we have heard some to criticize this as insuffi- played up the fourth one, of the POLITICS ON THE WAY by Chinese scientists after the ou- so far I expect that the report will cient.” lab leak. But Dedkov said those Delays in deploying the inter- tbreak surfaced, and Dedkov cal- likely lend some credence to a link two hypothesis were far down the national team to China, repeated led the visit to Wuhan an “analyti- between wildlife farming and CO- THE FOUR THEORIES list of likely sources. slippage in the timing of publi- cal trip, mainly for the purpose of VID-19, but without full evidence The Wuhan trip is billed as Pha- He suggested frozen produc- cation of the report, and rejigge- retrospective analysis in the sense about exactly how the move from se 1 in a vast undertaking to flesh ts on which the virus was found ring of the plans for it — an initial that we studied only those facts animals into humans might have out the origins of the virus. were most likely contaminated by summary of findings was jettiso- that were obtained earlier.” occurred,” he said. The WHO has bristled at de- infected people. An infected per- ned as an idea — have only fan- “We did not collect any sam- Dedkov said planning of “real- pictions of the mission as an “in- son also likely brought and spread ned speculation that the scientists ples ourselves, we didn’t carry out -time research” is next, but noted vestigation” — saying that smacks the virus at the Wuhan market as- have been steered by political au- any laboratory studies there, we there’s no guarantee future trips of an invasive forensic probe that sociated with the outbreak, where thorities or others. just analyzed what we were being will find all the answers. wasn’t called for under the resolu- some of the contaminated pro- “The last understanding we shown,” he said. If some data had “But one can try,” he added. tion adopted unanimously by the ducts were later found. had was that it is expected to not been collected, it wasn’t be- “Of course, if the source of the agency’s member states in May “In general, all the conditions come out this week — we’ll have cause the Chinese wanted to con- origin of the virus is found, it will that paved the way for the colla- for the spread of infection were to see if that actually happens,” ceal something, he added. help answer many questions and, boration. The WHO and China present at this market,” Dedkov the U.S. charge d’affaires in Gene- The team’s visit was politically in general, will dissipate this un- later ironed out the ground rules. said in an interview. “Therefore, va, Mark Cassayre, said yesterday sensitive for China — which is necessary political tension arou- Team member Vladimir De- most likely, there was a mass in- [Macau time]. “We have a clear concerned about any allega- nd the virus.” MDT/AP page 12 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo WORLD 國際 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

“Initial investigations rule out any mechanical or this day in history AP PHOTO engine failure as a cause of the grounding,” the com- tock xchange admits pany said. 1973 S E In Japan, Chief Cabinet women Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters yesterday that the Suez Canal is part of a crucial international sea lane, and that the Ja- panese government was gathering information and working with local autho- rities. Tuesday marked the se- cond major crash involving the Ever Given in recent years. In 2019, the cargo Women have been admitted to the London Stock ship ran into a small ferry Exchange for the first time in the institution’s 200 moored on the Elbe River year history. in the German port city Ten newly elected lady members entered the A boat navigates in front of cargo ship Ever Given of Hamburg. Authorities Stock Exchange today on the first working day since at the time blamed strong their election took place. wind for the collision, whi- The decision to break a time-honoured tradition EGYPT ch severely damaged the and introduce equality was announced on 1 Fe- ferry. bruary and ended years of campaigning by women The closure could affect in the financial sector. oil and gas shipments to Muriel Wood, a dedicated campaigner and newly Europe from the Mideast, elected member, arrived with her husband Walton, Stuck ship in Suez which rely on the canal to both of Sternberg, Flower. avoid sailing around Africa. Mrs Wood said: “There is a great deal of activity The price of international and bustle but it seems it is going on at a rather benchmark Brent crude leisurely pace.” Susan Shaw said it was a breakthrough for women Canal imperils stood at over $63 a barrel in finance which allowed them to forge contacts in yesterday. the industry. Overall, famed shipping Although today’s admission is a major victory for journal Lloyd’s List estima- the debate on sexual equality the next hurdle will be shipping worldwide tes each day the Suez Canal allowing women dealers on to the floor. JON GAMBRELL & again to free the vessel yes- 150 ships were waiting for is closed disrupts over $9 Bookies have placed long odds - 10 to one - SAMY MAGDY, ISMAILIA terday after halting for the the Ever Given to be clea- billion worth of goods that against this taking place in the foreseeable future. night, an Egyptian canal red, including vessels near should be passing throu- Mr Wood said he thought it would take “a little skyscraper-sized authority official said. The Port Said on the Mediterra- gh the waterway. A quarter time” before that decision was taken. cargo ship wed- official, who spoke on con- nean Sea, Port Suez on the of all Suez Canal traffic a The admission of women today is the latest deve- ged across Egypt’s dition of anonymity as he Red Sea and those already day comes from container lopment in the Stock Exchange’s history which has Suez Canal fur- wasn’t authorized to speak stuck in the canal system ships like the Ever Given, been at times a bumpy ride. therA imperiled global shi- to journalists, said workers on Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake. the journal said. The original concept of the London Stock Ex- pping yesterday as at least hoped to avoid offloading Cargo ships already The Ever Given, built in change was first bandied around in 1760 when 150 150 other vessels needing containers from the vessel behind the Ever Given in 2018 with a length of near- brokers, fired from the Royal Exchange for miscon- to pass through the crucial as it would be a dayslong the canal will be reversed ly 400 meters and a width duct and rowdiness, set up a club to buy and sell waterway idled waiting for effort to do so that could south back to Port Suez of 59 meters, is among the shares. the obstruction to clear, au- extend the closure. to free the channel, Leth largest cargo ships in the Thirteen years later members voted to change thorities said. So far, dredgers have Agencies said. Authorities world. It can carry some the name and the Stock Exchange was born. The Ever Given, a Pana- tried to clear silt around the hope to do the same to the 20,000 containers at a time. It was not until 1801 that the exchange was regu- ma-flagged ship that carries massive ship. Tug boats nu- Ever Given when they can It previously had been at lated and it remained in action until The Great War cargo between Asia and Eu- dged the vessel alongside it, free it. ports in China before hea- forced the closure of the Exchange market at the end of July until the new year. rope, ran aground Tuesday trying to gain momentum. Evergreen Marine Corp., ding toward Rotterdam in The Stock Exchange Battalion of Royal Fusiliers in the narrow, man-made From the shore, at least one a major Taiwan-based shi- the Netherlands. was formed - 1,600 volunteered, 400 never retur- canal dividing continental backhoe dug into the ca- pping company that ope- Opened in 1869, the Suez ned. Africa from the Sinai Pe- nal’s sandy banks, sugges- rates the ship, said in a Canal provides a crucial Last year the Stock Exchange moved to a new ting the bow of the ship had statement that the Ever Gi- link for oil, natural gas and ninsula. In the time since, 26-storey office block with a 23,000 square foot plowed into it. However, efforts to free the ship using ven had been overcome by cargo. It also remains one trading floor. dredgers, digging and the satellite photos taken by strong winds as it entered of Egypt’s top foreign cur- aid of high tides have yet to Planet Labs Inc. and analy- the canal from the Red Sea rency earners. In 2015, the Courtesy BBC News push the container vessel zed by The Associated Press but none of its containers government of President aside — affecting billions of showed the vessel still stuck had sunk. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi com- dollars’ worth of cargo. in the same location. An Egyptian official, pleted a major expansion In a sign of the global Bernhard Schulte Shi- who spoke to the AP on of the canal, allowing it to In context turmoil the blockage has pmanagement, the com- condition of anonymity accommodate the world’s The media at the time described the London Stock caused, the ship’s Japanese pany that manages the because he wasn’t autho- largest vessels. However, Exchange as the “last bastion of misogyny” and the owner even offered a writ- Ever Given, said the ship’s rized to brief journalists, the Ever Given ran aground admission of women was a major step forward in ten apology for the incident 25-member crew are safe similarly blamed a strong south of that new portion modernising it. as well. and accounted for. Shoei wind. Egyptian forecas- of the canal. But it was another 28 years before a woman landed “We are determined to Kisen Kaisha said all the ters said high winds and The stranding Tuesday one of the most senior posts at the London Stock Exchange. keep on working hard to re- crew came from India. a sandstorm plagued the marks just the latest to In 2001, Clara Furse took over as chief executive, a solve this situation as soon The ship had two pilots area Tuesday, with winds affect mariners amid the post created 27 years earlier. as possible,” Shoei Kisen from Egypt’s canal authori- gusting as much as 50 kilo- pandemic. Hundreds of But modernity came in other guises for the LSE and Kaisha Ltd. said. “We wou- ty aboard the vessel to gui- meters per hour. thousands have been stu- one of the significant advances came in 1986 when ld like to apologize to all de it when the grounding An initial report sug- ck aboard vessels due to trading was no longer carried out face-to-face on a market floor but via computer and telephone from parties affected by this in- happened around 7:45 a.m. gested the ship suffered a the pandemic. Meanwhi- separate dealing rooms. cident, including the ships Tuesday, Bernhard Schulte power blackout before the le, demands on shipping It was enabled by two computer systems displaying travelling and planning to Shipmanagement said. incident, something Ber- have increased, adding to share price information in brokers’ offices around travel through Suez Canal.” Canal service provider nhard Schulte Shipmana- the pressure on tired sailo- the UK. Authorities began work Leth Agencies said at least gement denied yesterday. rs. MDT/AP www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 13 fri 26.03.2021 資訊/娛樂 INFOTAINMENT

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

YOUR STARS The Born Loser by Chip Sansom

Aries Taurus

Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Apr. 20-May. 20 Some important people could pay You can finally reach a compromise attention to you today. Are you in an ongoing power struggle with ready? Whenever the spotlight is a friend if you choose the path of aimed right at you, it’s important least resistance. So what if you to take your time. Plan your have to give in to what you think actions ahead. are their unreasonable demands?

Gemini Cancer

May. 21-Jun. 21 Jun. 22-Jul. 22 They could be coming from a There could be an exciting surprise very emotional perspective and coming your way, so get ready to not using logic to their advantage. have your daily routine knocked You’re confident enough in your on its ear! You’ve been waiting for point of view to not have to an excuse to ditch your plans for a browbeat or be dogmatic. day, and now you’ve got it. SUDOKU WEATHER Leo Virgo MIN MAX CONDITION Jul. 23-Aug. 22 Aug. 23-Sep. 22 Easy Easy+ CHINA Just make the choices and Your daily routine could be slightly Beijing 16 drizzle actions that will make you proud disrupted by someone who doesn’t 11 of yourself, and don’t worry know the first thing about how Harbin -3 12 shower about anyone else. If people to be flexible. They can’t bring want to compete, don’t play themselves to see things from any Tianjin 11 17 drizzle along. other perspective but their own. Urumqi 4 15 clear Xi’an 19 drizzle Libra Scorpio 12 Lhasa 2 14 clear Sep.23-Oct. 22 Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Chengdu 13 18 overcast You have more curiosity than Travel is on your mind now, so Chongqing 15 20 drizzle the average cat right now, and if much so that it might be causing you follow it, you could end up some real problems with your Kunming 12 26 clear having a very good time! Is there family. They want you to stick Nanjing 25 cloudy a person you’ve always wanted to around in one place a little longer, 13 talk to? but you need to stretch your legs! Shanghai 12 20 overcast Wuhan 13 19 drizzle Sagittarius Capricorn Medium Hard Hangzhou 10 24 cloudy Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Taipei 17 23 cloudy You have nothing to worry about! Doing something just because Guangzhou 17 28 cloudy Keep an open mind about this it could earn you more money new relationship of theirs. It could is way too shortsighted. And Hong Kong 20 25 clear bring some good things to your you don’t want to be stuck in a life in ways you don’t understand trap later and unable to break just yet. free. WORLD Aquarius Pisces Moscow -2 6 cloudy Frankfurt 3 11 drizzle Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Feb.19-Mar. 20 Paris 5 10 clear Odd and unusual things could be When was the last time you had an very attractive to you today. You’re honest-to-goodness daydream? You London 8 12 drizzle more interested in what sticks out know, the kind you used to have as like a sore thumb than in what fits a kid that were so engrossing and New York 11 15 drizzle right in, and this mood is especially distracting that you didn’t hear it strong in terms of people. when the teacher called on you?

CROSSWORDS USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

ACROSS 1- Gum; 6- Painter Rousseau; 11- Sailor; 14- Make amends; 15- Pungent bulb; 16- Feel bad about; 17- ___ de Leon; 18- Thaws; 19- Adj. modifier; 20- Antlered animal; 22- Beast of Borden; 24- Light-producing beetle; 28- Intoxicating liquor; 30- Ill will; 31- Playwright Clifford; 32- Fauvist painter Dufy; 33- Crescent-shaped pastry Emergency calls 999 Taxi 28 939 939 / 2828 3283 roll; 37- Hill dweller; 38- Swedish imports; 39- Armed conflict; 40- Penniless; 43- “The Family Circus” cartoonist Bil; 45- Busy; 46- Lure; 47- Having three unequal sides; 50- Fire department 28 572 222 Water Supply – Report 2822 0088 Voted into a seat; 51- Stopwatch-holder; 52- Nile wader; 53- ___ Maria; 54- Big brass; 57- Oozes; 62- Tease; 63- Icon; 64- Partner of each; 65- Nipper’s co.; 66- Biblical PJ (Open line) 993 Telephone – Report 1000 brother; 67- Occupied; PJ (Picket) 28 557 775 Electricity – Report 28 339 922 DOWN: 1- Knock vigorously; 2- DDE’s command; 3- Male offspring; 4- Business abbr.; 5- Necessary; 6- Cozy; 7- Cabinet dept.; 8- Goose egg; 9- Decay, waste away; 10- Six PSP 28 573 333 Macau Daily Times 28 716 081 legged creatures; 11- Refuse; 12- Recording of acoustic signals; 13- Have a ball; 21- Overhead trains; 23- A pitcher may take Customs 28 559 944 one; 24- Capacitance unit; 25- Mindlessly Yesterday’s solution stupid; 26- Mob scenes; 27- Large flightless S. J. Hospital 28 313 731 bird; 28- Sun-dried brick; 29- Hula hoops?;

31- To talk, usually in a pompous manner; Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com Kiang Wu Hospital 28 371 333 33- Bring about; 34- Expect; 35- John ____ Garner; 36- Cornered; 38- Astound; Commission Against 41- One with a glazed look, perhaps; 42- Sluggishness; 43- Parliament of Israel; 44- Corruption (CCAC) 28326 300 And so on; 46- Ivy Leaguer; 47- Fab Four name; 48- Honda model; 49- Low life?; IAM 28 387 333 50- Clampett player; 52- Othello villain; 55- Actress Thurman; 56- Ingot; 58- Sister Tourism 28 333 000 of Zsa Zsa; 59- A mouse!; 60- Historic beginning; 61- Equivalent wd.; Airport 59 888 88

ad page 14 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EXTRA 特刊 26.03.2021 fri

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER

TASTE OF EDESIA Comfort food à la française

IRENE SAM, MDT ness from the sea straight to the table, and pairs nicely HE wait for the reopening with a glass of champagne or Tof one of the most tradi- white wine. tional French restaurants in “Vol-au-Vent”, a traditional town is over. Aux Beaux Arts, French delicacy once served the French brasserie of MGM only to the royalty, is now a MACAU, has returned. Remi- classic of cuisine bourgeoise. niscent of of an old-world es- Inside the rounded fluffy case tablishment, the dining room of puff pastry are foie gras, is full of guests savouring fresh lobster meat and sea- French classics from the North sonal greens, all soaked in a of the country to the South, a rich lobster sauce to bring out gastronomic experience that umami flavours from the land comprises of fresh products, and the sea. The time-honou- high quality ingredients, and red classic Parisian “Steak the finest techniques. Frites” with Bearnaise Sau- Bringing back the tradi- ce is recreated by combining tions and heritage of French perfectly grilled skirt steak, cooking complimented by in- chosen for its lean cut with novative and contemporary bursting flavours suitable for savoir-faire, the menu begins a French butchery standard, with Aux Beaux Arts’ rendition with homemade Bearnaise of the staple Southern Fren- and French fries. ch dish “Salade Niçoise” with At the end of the meal, di- confit fatty tuna belly and ners discover a sweet, buttery crisp greens, presenting fla- aroma from the showstopper vours of the Mediterranean. “Crêpes Suzette”, flambé ta- The signature “Seafood Plat- ble-side. These classic crêpes ter” features lobsters, oysters, are coated in a warm, velvety king crabs, shrimps and other caramel sauce and finished fresh seafood, delivers fresh- with a shower of citrus zesting.

Macau Racing Tips By Davy Chiu, MDT

The Anshan 1200 Metres Turf 2021-03-27 | Sat | 15:10

T is a big day for racing this Saturday, with the Dubai World Cup on the agenda I wish my Ifavourite horse Midnight Sand would run a big race on the night for our connection in there. Back to racing in MJC I would hope the same happens to KS Wong›s horse Gon Sai Baau. He is very impressive in his morning works, as well as he is in consistent form in his last few races, there is no reason to doubt that he could not run well this Saturday. With the booking of L. Corrales; albeit the barrier draw in eight is not ideal but with a senior jockey’s handling after the jump out from the gate, the outcome would be a better pay out on your investment. Gon Sai Baau is on the up and I believe he still has a few merit rating points edge in his class. Let’s support him on Saturday.

Race 3 | Horse no.7 Gon Sai Baau Win & Place bets www.macaudailytimes.com.mo page 15 fri 26.03.2021 特刊 EXTRA

MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER AP PHOTO

Merab Ninidze (left) and Benedict Cumberbatch in a scene from “The Courier,” a Lionsgate release

DRIVE IN In ‘The Courier,’ Cumberbatch is an everyman spy LINDSEY BAHR, MDT/AP seen play suave, cruel and FILM WRITER egotistical many times over the years, plays Wynne as an HE new Cold War film ordinary middle class schlub T“The Courier “ about a So- just trying to keep his family viet whistleblower and the Bri- afloat and club memberships tish businessman who helped intact. He doesn’t suspect he’s transport information to Wes- dining with spies when his go- tern intelligence agencies is vernment friend Dickie (Angus both based on real events and Wright) and an American CIA people and also is very much agent, Emily (Rachel Bros- the product of a screenwriter’s nahan), sit down with him to imagination. That’s not to cri- recruit him into service. He ticize the film written by Tom reacts with a boyish giddiness O’Connor (“The Hitman’s Bo- as though it was Ian Fleming dyguard”) and directed by Do- himself sitting across the table. minic Cooke (“On Chesil Bea- Emily is one of the inven- ch”). It’s simply to say that it is tions of the film. O’Connor has more historical fiction than it is said he just decided to make history. The whole truth of this the CIA agent a woman. It cer- extraordinary chapter has likely tainly breaks up the monotony died with the principal charac- of such a male cast and it’s ters and/or been obscured and always a delight to see Bros- distorted by the people who nahan in 60s garb. But it also write these things down. feels a little insincere to just in- What we know is that the- sert women in specific histori- re was indeed a Soviet official cal settings where they weren’t. named Oleg Penkovsky, played It was also done with the Felici- in the film by Georgian actor ty Jones character in “The Ae- Merab Ninidze, who was an ronauts” and the effect is often essential source for the Ameri- the opposite of empowering. cans during the Cold War and Since “The Courier” is so fictio- the leadup to the Cuban Mis- nalized, however, it’s easier to sile Crisis. One of Penkovsky’s accept here. Plus, she gets to be contacts was a British civilian the more persuasive agent. named Greville Wynne, who “The Courier” is a story we wrote an autobiography about haven’t seen on film but it still his experiences. Even the relia- feels very familiar most of the bility of that account has been time, with espionage film tro- questioned. Still, it provided an pes and cliches to spare. Whi- intriguing jumping off point le it might not be on the same for O’Connor to write a classic level as “Bridge of Spies,” it’s espionage thriller that opens in solid, well-acted and enjoyable select theaters Friday. nonetheless. Just don’t use it as In “The Courier,” after the text for any history reports. Penkovsky makes an initial outreach to the West, MI6 and “The Courier,” a Lionsgate/ the CIA are at a loss for how to Roadside Attractions release in se- cultivate him as a source. They lect theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 decide a civilian who might do by the Motion Picture Association business in the Soviet Union is of America for “violence, partial the best bet and somewhat ca- nudity, brief strong language, and sually land on Wynne. smoking throughout.” Running Cumberbatch, who we’ve time: 111 minutes. Philippine leader orders mayors the investigated BUZZ The Philippine president has ordered at least nine city and town “We were told by the WHO country representative, `if you do not mayors investigated for possible charges after they reportedly jum- follow the list of priority, you might lose the assistance of the WHO,’’’ ped ahead of a priority list led by 1.7 million health workers and got Duterte said. “It wasn’t followed because I heard even the son of an injected with COVID-19 vaccine amid a shortage in supply. actress got it. It’s always the favored few.” President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised meeting with key Ca- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported to Duterte that just binet members that aside from the mayors, the son of an actress also slightly more than 508,000 of a total 1.7 million doctors, nurses and got immunized. He expressed fears that the Philippines may lose the other health workers have been immunized and added that only 1.5 OPINION chance to get more donated vaccines arranged by the World Health million vaccine doses, all donated by China and the WHO, have arri- World Views Organization if its conditions would continue to be violated. ved in the country so far. Andy Mukherjee, MDT/Bloomberg

Let’s cut capitalism some slack AP PHOTO AP PHOTO In the annals of 21st century capitalism, Covid-19 will go down as a pressure cooker. The pandemic has put enormous strains on livelihoods, individual well-being, healthcare systems, the viability of fir- EU leaders were set ms and the stability of public finances. But a bypro- yesterday to provide new duct of this stress is that when it’s finally behind us, incentives to Turkey to we might decompress a little — and choose to be improve cooperation on less devoted to the notion of peak efficiency. migration and trade despite We aren’t there yet, but a greater tolerance of in- democratic backsliding in tentional slack is being built into everything from the country and lingering how Toyota Motor Corp. manages its inventory and concern about its energy Amazon.com Inc. organizes its deliveries to how exploration ambitions in Singapore puts a price on nursing talent. the Mediterranean Sea. As the former Morgan Stanley strategist Gerard Diplomats said before the Minack noted last year, our pre-pandemic world videoconference summit was primed to maximize financial returns on the that the leaders will offer assumption that nothing would go wrong. But Turkey a “positive agenda” everything went topsy-turvy when the coronavirus rather than brandish threats entered offices, factories, subways, malls, airports UK court rejects Depp or sanctions. and schools, the hubs and spokes of modern pro- duction, distribution and consumption. A year later, governments and companies have bid to appeal ‘wife learned some lessons, and unlearned others. After AP PHOTO Toyota pioneered Just-In-Time inventory manage- ment in the 1950s, Detroit eventually copied it. The beater’ ruling same Japanese carmaker, as my colleague Anjani British court yesterday it was “pure speculation, by no means surprised” by Trivedi has noted, is beating the global auto indus- Poland’s government try’s chip shortage with stockpiles of one to four Arefused Johnny Depp and in our view very un- the Court of Appeal deci- ordered stricter pandemic months in critical components. permission to appeal a ju- likely” that the fate of the sion. measures for the two- This is deliberate decompression, whose value dge’s ruling that he assaul- divorce money influenced “Mr. Depp’s claim of new week period surrounding will only increase as extreme weather events show ted ex-wife Amber Heard, judge Nicol’s decision. and important evidence Easter, describing the up as disruptions, such as the water shortage in saying his attempt to over- “It is clear from a reading was nothing more than a new rules yesterday as an Taiwan afflicting semiconductor foundries. Be- attempt to limit human turn the decision had “no of the judgment as a who- press strategy, and has been contacts amid a deadly sides, Covid-19 hasn’t gone away yet. Amazon is real prospect of success.” le that the judge based his soundly rejected by the surge in the coronavirus making delivery partners out of tiny groceries and Two Court of Appeal jud- conclusions on each of the court,” the statement said. pandemic. Details of the new tailoring shops in India. It’s not perhaps the most ges said the Hollywood star incidents on his extremely Jeffrey Smele of law firm restrictions — which include efficient distribution strategy. But with a second the closure of nursery wave of infections hitting the country, enlisting lo- cannot challenge the High detailed review of the evi- Simons Muirhead and Bur- schools, furniture stores and cals to cover their neighborhoods may be the most Court’s rejection of his libel dence specific to each inci- ton, which represented The lawsuit against publisher of dent,” they said. Sun’s publisher News Group beauty salons — come as effective way to beat lockdowns. Poland registered a record It isn’t just the private sector that’s changing. Eco- The Sun newspaper for la- “In an approach of that Newspapers, said yester- for daily coronavirus cases for nomic compression supercharged affluent mega- beling him a “wife beater” kind there was little need or day’s ruling was “a victory a second consecutive day. polises into ever-powerful talent magnets, but also in an article. room for the judge to give for the freedom of the press polarized the workforce. The wages of those who The justices, James Din- weight to any general asses- and for victims of domestic do non-routine, manual work requiring in-person gemans and Nicholas Un- sment of Ms. Heard’s credi- violence everywhere.” interaction don’t reflect their value to society, espe- AP PHOTO derhill, said the earlier court bility.” Depp’s lawyers have said cially in bad times. Take nurses. Eight years ago, a Singapore government white paper on population hearing was “full and fair” Depp and Heard met on that the allegations in The described nursing as a low-skilled job. Today the and the trial judge’s conclu- the set of the 2011 come- Sun caused “serious harm” Asian city-state with a reputation for fiscal pruden- sions “have not been shown dy “The Rum Diary” and to the actor’s reputation Greece’s celebrations for ce is raising healthcare workers’ salaries in public even arguably to be vitiated married in Los Angeles in and “significant distress the bicentenary of the hospitals by as much as 14%. This bump is happe- by any error of approach or February 2015. Heard, a and embarrassment.” In start of the nation’s war of ning even as 30% of employers in the financial cen- mistake of law.” model and actress, filed for the wake of the November independence culminated ter aren’t planning to increase pay at all. They concluded that “the divorce the following year court ruling, Depp said he in a military parade and A test of how far governments want to push the appeal has no real prospect and obtained a restraining was leaving the “Fantastic warplane flyby in Athens idea of depressurization will be the future tax de- yesterday, the country’s of success and that there is order against Depp on the Beasts” film franchise after ductibility of interest payment. Abolishing this cen- Independence Day. The tury-old bias in favor of firms that take on more debt no other compelling reason grounds of domestic abuse. studio Warner Bros. reques- parade featured tanks rolling — and hence have more interest payments to set off for it to be heard.” The divorce was finalized in ted his resignation. down the avenue in front against taxable profit — will reduce financial leve- High Court Justice An- 2017. Depp is also suing Heard of Parliament in the Greek rage in the global economy, attacking the source of drew Nicol ruled in Novem- The High Court ruling for $50 million in Virginia capital and military aircraft our single-minded pursuit of efficiency. ber that allegations against came after a headline-grab- over a Washington Post flying past the ancient The biggest champion of tightness, of allowing for Depp, made in a April 2018 bing three-week trial in July, op-ed essay that she wrote Acropolis. It also includes a mounted cavalry section no margin of error even in complex, geographically article, were “substantially in which Depp and Heard about domestic violence. and marching troops from dispersed supply chains, is the investment com- true.” The judge ruled that gave conflicting accounts The trial in that case was munity. Tensions in the U.S.-China economic rela- the army, air force and navy Depp, 57, assaulted Heard, of their brief, tempestuous recently delayed until April tionship, and the rise of protectionism globally be- as well as members of the cause of high unemployment, are already throwing 34, on a dozen occasions marriage, with each accu- 2022. police, fire department and coast guard. sand in the wheels of capitalism. Should financiers and put her in fear for her sing the other of being con- Depp’s British lawyer, be forced to permanently lower their expectations life three times. trolling, violent and deceit- Joelle Rich of Schillings Colombia Thousands of of returns? Perhaps not. Lawyers for Depp argued ful. Partners, said “there are Venezuelans are seeking Rapid digitization, especially in emerging marke- at a court hearing last week During the trial Depp clear and objective reasons shelter in Colombia this ts, will compensate for decompression. When as- that Depp hadn’t recei- acknowledged wide-ran- to seriously question the week following clashes sets can be juiced more with artificial intelligence ved a fair hearing and that ging drug problems, but decision reached in the U.K. between Venezuela’s and the internet of things, shareholders earn the Heard was an unreliable accused Heard of making court.” military and a Colombian same returns with less debt. witness. As evidence of her up abuse allegations and “Mr. Depp looks forward armed group in a Since algorithms and connected robots won’t community along the pay taxes, it’s only fair that private industry doesn’t unreliability, they claimed insisted he was “not a vio- to presenting the complete, that Heard hadn’t kept her lent person, especially with irrefutable evidence of the nations’ shared border. The come to governments with a begging bowl after Colombian government promise to donate her $7 every new manmade or natural crisis. Capitalism women.” truth in the U.S. libel case said 3,100 people have in the 21st-century will self-insure by cutting itself million divorce settlement Heard’s public relations against Ms. Heard where moved from Venezuela some slack. to charity. firm said in a statement she will have to provide full to Colombia in search of The appeals judges said that she was “pleased - but disclosure,” Rich said. AP protection from the conflict.