Monthly Archives: August 2022

The 2015 Macau Grand Prix held for the Formula Three cars was a joy to watch, especially for Charles Leclerc, who impressed Ferrari bosses

Back in the karting and F3 era, Charles Leclerc was one of the talents to watch out for. This was mainly due to his quick speed with a sharp vehicle intelligence.

The Monegasque driver narrowly missed out on the Formula Renault world championship. to former rival Nyck de Vries. However, the $12 million worth of drivers won the Junior World Championship ahead of Matevos Isaakyan.

The 2015 Macau Grand Prix was one to look out for. Leclerc was driving for the Dutch Formula 3 team of Van Amersfoort Racing. He led the championship with over 40 points after the first round.

However, things did not go as planned. Prema Racing was far ahead of Van Amersfoort in terms of development. Leclerc could only finish fourth in the world championship.

The highlight of the year was the Macau Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver qualified third on the grid. In the qualifying race, he finished second.

The highlight was especially in the main race, where Leclerc had an amazing battle with the race winner Felix Rosenqvist. He was the star man of the race, with many experts linking him with Ferrari.

Also Read: Lando Norris laments removal of $22 million a year circuit from F1 calendar

Scuderia Ferrari officially signed Charles Leclerc in their Junior driver program right after the F3 season. He then signed with the ART racing team to compete in the GP3 season.

Signing with the Prancing horse was no easy job for Leclerc. There were plenty of times he had to travel to Maranello with his father for simulation tests.

Describing this experience, Leclerc explained that he felt nervous and shy because of his age and did not know if he was good enough for the program.

In conclusion, the current Ferrar driver stated: All the tests lasted two days, and in the end, the good news was brought, I was accepted to defend the red.

Also Read: 21 F1 Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen unsure of NASCAR Cup Series return after the rousing debut

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F3 Macau Grand Prix that made Ferrari to create $12 Million per year earning superstar Charles Leclerc - The Sportsrush

Two different studies, carried out one year apart, establish the existence of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Macau Business | August 2022 | Special Report | Hatosghost5yearson

One month after of one of the most serious natural disasters ever to strike southern China, 1,876 Chinese university students in Macau were recruited into a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating key exposure-related risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while examining the effect of media exposure on the prevalence of disaster-related PTSD.

The team led by Brian J. Hall (Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau) also included researchers from China and the USA, in addition to a majority from Macau.

According to these scientists, direct exposure to natural disasters and related losses are associated with PTSD. It is less clear whether indirect media exposure is associated with PTSD.

The results were clear: the prevalence of PTSD was 5.1 per cent.

The prevalence of PTSD was 6.5 per cent among local Macau (SAR)-born students, 5.6 per cent among Hong Kong (SAR)-born students and 2.3 per cent among students born in mainland China.

[This prevalence is lower than the 7.3 per cent reported among adolescents 6 months after Hurricane Andrew (Bahamas and USA), and it is also low compared with the reported prevalence of 9.4 per cent among disaster exposed volunteers 1.54 months after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Philippines0. This variation in prevalence may be due to many factors, including the difference in assessment methods, characteristics of the population, and the severity of disasters.]

Adjusted models demonstrated that being male (vs female), having endured home damage, witnessing people injured, and almost drowning during the storm were associated with PTSD.

After adjusting for direct exposure, indirect exposure to disaster related social media content, including information related to drowning victims and residents emotional reactions, was associated with PTSD.

By contrast, viewing more information about the storm itself and images of heroic acts were significantly associated with lower odds of PTSD.

While the work of Professor Hall and team was carried out in the aftermath of the Hato event, Connie Ip Hong Nei took a year to evaluate the Prosocial Behaviour in the Aftermath of Typhoon Hatoand to find the Relationship with Empathic Self-Efficacy, Emotional Distress, and Exposure to Social-Related Media Among Macau Citizens, with the help of 288 Macau adult residents.

Connie Ip presented her dissertation to the Faculty of the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University (Hong Kong Campus), in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology.

Despite the fact that only 10 per cent of participants experienced significant property damage or loss of incomeand most participants experienced only superficial damage to their homes, emotional distress a year after the typhoon was still significant Connie Ip

Ms Ip concluded that, in this sample, the most commonly reported sources of inconvenience and loss were loss of utilities and superficial damage to homes. Approximately 42 per cent of the participants had significant temporary loss of water and electricity services in their homes, around 10 per cent of the participants reported damage to their personal property outside of their home, and approximately 23 per cent reported superficial damage to where they lived. Fewer than 10 per cent of the participants had significant property damage or significant loss of income or business.

Despite the fact that only 10 per cent of participants experienced significant property damage or loss of incomeand most participants experienced only superficial damage to their homes, emotional distress a year after the typhoon was still significant, she wrote.

The author estimated the level of traumatic stress of the current sample due to Typhoon Hato and concluded that nearly 20 per cent of the participants experienced clinical symptoms of traumatic stress a year after Typhoon Hato.

Results also showed 59 per cent of the participants showed increases in psychological distress in the immediate aftermath of the flood, and 55 per cent of those participants showed significant elevations of distress a year later, although overall distress had declined compared to the period shortly after the flooding.

Participants described a variety of common helping behaviours after the typhoon, including distributing water to those in need, participating in volunteer services, and sharing important information with others on the Internet. The most common form of helping both immediately after Typhoon Hato and a year later was checking in with family and friends, the dissertation reads.

The radio

The team led by Brian J. Hall quotes several studies saying that in the aftermath of disaster, people tend to seek information about the potential threat to reduce anxiety but instead they are exposed to distressing content on the media which may increase their stress.

Consistent with the relative risk appraisal model, we might expect that the magnitude and rarity of a typhoon such as Hato may have signalled a high level of threat, which would be worsened by media exposure, they add.

Among various forms of media, only listening to radio programmes was significantly associated with PTSD in multivariable analyses. This is counterintuitive, as youth do not mainly use the radio.

However, according to the Macao Government report, there were 250,000 households left without power, and with no access to the internet. The radio was the only source of information during the disaster, and in some districts, the electricity supply and internet service only resumed 1 week after the typhoon.

Therefore, people most affected by the typhoon relied on radio to obtain access to media reports about the storm and recovery efforts since other forms of media were not available.

Conclusion: these findings add to the literature demonstrating that some types of media use and certain media content following a natural disaster are associated with PTSD.

But the authors highlight another notable finding: viewing more information related to the storm itself (i.e. objective information) and viewing images of people being heroic were protective factors for PTSD.

Previous | The future frequency and magnitude of storms that influence the GBA region will be increasing

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Special Report - PTSD in the aftermath - Macau Business

Chan Chak Mo, president of Macau's Second Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL), announced Friday that the revised version of the city's bill that regulates casino operations part of a larger package of new gaming laws provides that concessionaires may take deposits from patrons in cash, chips, or other cash transfer methods.

Additionally, casino concessionaires may also keep casino earnings in accounts established at the casino cashiers. However, concessionaires would be banned from "providing the gamblers any monetary interest" for the accounts established.

The clarification was included in the new version of the bill that was sent by the government to the AL, where the bill is now undergoing detailed analysis at the second standing committee. However, the creation and maintenance of these accounts are restricted to the operators that are subject to anti-moneylaundering, counterterrorism financing, and other regulations. This would confirm that the source of themoneydeposited by the patrons is legitimate, Chan said, as reported by Macau Daily Times.

Additionally, it was explained that no transfers of funds between accounts will be permitted and no other entities such as gaming promoters (junkets) can participate in this model.The casino concessionaires must not offer any interest or compensation to patrons in exchange for keeping money in these accounts.

Chan explained that the intention of these accounts is to remove the need for patrons to carry money and other valuables with them while traveling, and the accounts may only be provided by the casino as a service.

Concessionaires found offering capital interest or other monetary rewards to players in return for holding their money or gambling chips would be considered as being involved in an act of "illegal taking of deposits." According to the bill, this is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

The purpose of the bill is to prevent unlawful operations that have occurred in the past, mostly from the so-called VIP rooms operated by junkets that offered high interests in exchange for deposits of gamblers and other people. In the past, several issues occurred with these kinds of deposits that resulted in accusations of fraud and scams. The issues also led to the loss of millions of patacas from depositors.

Regarded as a bill that mostly regulates the operation of junkets, this bill is currently under evaluation by the second standing committee. It is hoped that the bills final reading and approval will occur this legislative year, in October or mid-November, further reports the cited source.

The news comes after an announcement last week stating that the city's casino industry is showing early signs of recovery after the gaming hub experienced its worst Covid-19 outbreak yet. The latest data showsaverage daily gaming increased to MOP36 million (US$4.5 million) last week, according to channel checks carried out by brokerageSanford C. Bernstein.

During the period between August 1 and August 7, local casinos generated a total of MOP250 million ($30.9 million).The latest numbers show recovery, after the citys gross gaming revenue fell 95% to 398 million patacas ($49 million) in July, 98% lowerthan pre-pandemic levels, representing the worst month eversince records began in 2009.

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Macau casinos to be allowed to take deposits from patrons as long as no monetary interest is offered - Yogonet International

Adidas will get a new CEO during the course of 2023 as it seeks to emerge from the turbulence of Covid-19 lockdowns and other challenges, the German sportswear giant said on Monday.

Current CEO Kasper Rorsted will remain in post until a successor has been appointed to help ensure a smooth transition at the helm of the company, Adidas said in a statement.

After three challenging years that were marked by the economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, it is now the right time to initiate a CEO transition and pave the way for a restart, said Thomas Rabe, chairman of the Adidas supervisory board.

The transition was mutually agreed upon, according to the companys statement.

Rorsted, who has helmed the iconic German company since 2016, said the past years have been marked by several external factors that disrupted our business significantly.

It required huge efforts to master these challenges. This is why enabling a restart in 2023 is the right thing to do both for the company and me personally, he said.

Adidas in July cut its 2022 outlook, partly due to an expected double-digit drop in Chinese sales for the rest of the year as Covid-19 lockdowns keep consumers out of shops.

The firm said its adjusted guidance also accounts for a potential slowdown of consumer spending in (other) markets during the second half of the year as a result of the more challenging macroeconomic conditions.

The Nike rival now sees net profit for the year coming in at 1.3 billion euros ($1.3 billion) compared to its earlier forecast of between 1.8 and 1.9 billion euros.

Continued here:

Adidas CEO Rorsted to stand down in 2023 - Macau Business

A high-speed electric passenger train and an inspection train, customized for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in Indonesia, left the port of Qingdao in east Chinas Shandong Province on Sunday.

The trains were designed and manufactured by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. for the landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The first trains will arrive in Jakarta by the end of August, and the delivery of the remainder will be completed in batches by the beginning of 2023, according to the company.

Relying on the advanced technology of the Fuxing bullet train, the trains have a maximum operating speed of 350 kilometers per hour and were designed and manufactured according to Chinese standards, and adapted to the local operational environment and line conditions in Indonesia, as well as to the local culture.

With a total length of 142 kilometers, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway connects Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, and Bandung, a famous tourist city in Indonesia.

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China begins shipment of high-speed trains to Indonesia - Macau Business

Portugal, hit by a third heatwave after weeks of wildfires, was on a 24-hour national alert Monday to counter the threat posed by more blazes, authorities said.

Under its measures, the authorities have restricted access forests and banned fireworks displays, as well as stepping up the state of readiness of the emergency services.

Having only just brought under control a fire that destroyed more than 28,000 hectares (69,000 acres) in the Serra da Estrela national park, civil protection authorities said firefighters were tackling another blaze in the central northern Vila Real region.

According to provisional estimates, this fire has burnt 4,500 hectares, emergency and civil protection services headAndre Fernandes said of the blaze in a hard-to-access mountainous area.

Two Canadair water bomber planes sent by Greece under the terms of an EU-wide civil protection support mechanism were aiding firefighters efforts.

The government issued the alert Sunday after identifying a heightened risk of rural fires as temperatures look set to hit 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) Monday and Tuesday amid an ongoing severe drought.

The latest heatwave comes with Portugal having experienced its hottest July in almost a century.

Since January, the countrys Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests says more than 94,000 hectares of land have been laid waste to in Portugals worst forest fires since 2017, when a series of blazes cost dozens of lives.

Portugal last Wednesday finally extinguished a fire which had burnt more than 25,000 hectares of land in the UNESCO-listed central mountainous area of Serra da Estrela, home to diverse wildlife species including wildcats and lizards.

Minister of the Presidency Marina Vieira da Silva said after meeting mayors of affected municipalities that Lisbon was declaring a state of natural disaster to allow the release of rapid aid.

The government is also drawing up a revitalisation plan for the Serra da Estrela park.

The consensus among scientists is that climate change has increased the probability of heatwaves, leading to drought and more forest fires.

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Portugal on alert over fears of fresh wildfire threat - Macau Business

The Macau SAR has pledged that it will continue efforts to protect the rights of people with disabilities, according to a statement issued by the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ).

From August 17 to 19, representatives of the Macau SAR Government, as members of the Chinese Government delegation, were part of the online consideration of the combined second and third reports on Chinas implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (including the Macau SAR and Hong Kong SAR) by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Opening the consideration meeting, DSAJ director, Liu Dexue, briefed the committee on the development of the rights of people with disabilities in the Macau SAR since the first consideration meeting in 2012.

According to the DSAJ, the government believes that the consideration helps the committee better understand the development of the rights of people with disabilities, relevant legal systems and specific measures in the city.

The Macau SAR government will continue to implement various measures to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, strive to implement the provisions of the convention and create a harmonious society that is equal, inclusive and barrier-free, the bureau pledged.

Staff reporter

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Gov't pledges to boost rights protection efforts for people with disabilities - Macau Daily Times

Singapore Media OutReach 23 August 2022 iZeno, a Logicalis Company, has become the first official Atlassian Specialized Partner in ITSM in the Asia Pacific. A validation of the Atlassian Platinum Solution Partners deep knowledge, extensive experience, and delivery of consistent, high-quality services to optimize customer satisfaction and outcomes.

iZeno is always adding value for our clients and accelerating their digital transformation journey. Our strategic partnership with Atlassian across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and our industry-leading capabilities has enabled us to become a leader in the ITSM space. This milestone aligns with our strategy to empower our customers to migrate to the cloud and integrates with our DevSecOps and App Modernisation capabilities, said Jason Lin, Managing Director, iZeno.

Atlassian would like to recognize iZeno for their specialized delivery practice, as they have proven successful at implementing service management principles based on ITIL methodology for improved satisfaction and cost-efficiencies, said Ko Mistry, Atlassians Head of Global Channel.

The level of commitment in the ITSM Specialization Program recognizes these Atlassian Partners effort and dedication to delivering consistent, high-quality services to optimize a customers experience and success.

iZeno is the first company in APAC to achieve the Atlassian ITSM Specialization since the program was launched on April 5, 2022.

Read about how iZeno works with SpaceDC to streamline their processes https://www.izeno.com/case-study/spacedc-enhances-business-processes/ Hashtag: #iZeno

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iZeno becomes the first APAC Partner to achieve Atlassian ITSM specialisation - Macau Business

Han Myint Mo kicks up a gold-coloured metal ball, pirouettes and catches it on the blade of a knife held in her teeth keeping up a Myanmar juggling tradition on the edge of extinction.

Her grandfather and trainer Ohn Myint watches on in their living room in the commercial hub of Yangon, throwing words of encouragement at her and, later in the routine, juggling bats.

At the dizzying peak of the performance, Han Myint Mo juggles as she balances on a mini see-saw, while a hula-hoop spins around her waist and the golden ball stays perched atop her head.

It makes me happy and strong, the 12-year-old says after the routine, for which she trains three hours a day.

The art form is thought to have begun in the early 19th century when performers at the royal court began juggling balls made of blown, coloured glass known as Ywal.

But unlike conventional juggling, performersmove the grapefruit-sized globes around their bodies using only their feet, knees, shoulders and elbows.

Ohn Myint started practising with Ywal in his 40s, immersing himself in the intense meditation it requires, as a way to restore movement to his limbs after he suffered a stroke.

We cant play when we are afraid, nervous or angry,says the spry 71-year-old after giving his own demonstration.

Our mind has to be clear like glass.

The discipline required to master tricks puts many off studying the art, including his three children, he says.

He despaired of passing on his knowledge until his granddaughter Han Myint Mo asked him to teach her after she watched him practise.

For previous generations, skill with the Ywal could be a ticket to travel and fame, with jugglers wowing crowds in Europe and North America.

He starts to juggle two glass balls, such as we would hang on a Christmas tree in a way that would put to shame the most expert juggler, one San Francisco newspaper reported of a show in 1899.

But all his work in throwing, catching and tossing is done with those eloquent feet.

For their shows in malls and schools around Yangon, Ohn Myint and Han Myint Mo add more conventional juggling tricks involving bats and hula hoops to draw in small crowds.

Their performances reach a far bigger audience online: one video of the duo training has been viewed more than 3 million times.

When I see my practising videos are popular, Im very happy, says Han Myint Mo.

Sometimes when Im practising some difficult tricks I fail many times. Then I feel depressed and have arguments with grandpa, he says.

But he reassures me, we try again together and we manage.

Ohn Myint is also training a friends granddaughter, who was inspired after watching him practise.

Im very glad to see my next generation playing Ywal, he says as the two girls practise in the living room.

Han Myint Mo says she is happy to carry his hopes.

I want to be an outstanding Ywal master like my grandpa in the future, she says.

I want to try to be better than him.

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Myanmar grandfather on mission to revive juggling art - Macau Business