Category Archives: Macau

A total of 861 Macau residents were granted residence in Taiwan in 2021, with 91 granted permanent residence, according to information from the islands Ministry of the Interior.

The number represented a 14 per cent decrease from the previous year, with the number of Macau SAR residents receiving a residence permit in Taiwan decreasing steadily since 2016.

An opposite trend was reported in the number of Hong Kong residents granted residence in Taiwan, which has more than doubled in the last two years and reached a record high of 11,173 in 2021.

Last year Taiwanese authorities announced that they planned to ease certain restrictions on residence permit extensions for people from Hong Kong and Macau, and make it easier for those with masters and doctoral degrees from the two territories to qualify for registered permanent residence.

One of the planned changes, which applies to people from Hong Kong and Macau who are studying or working in Taiwan, will allow them to apply to extend their residence permit and entry permit for necessary reasons, including finding a job.

According to information from the Macau Labour Affairs Bureau, as of the end of 2021 a total of 873 Taiwanese held non-resident work residence permits in the SAR, less 21 per cent than the previous year, with more than half engaged in the hotel and gaming sectors.

Meanwhile, trade value between Macau and Taiwan reached US$117 million, almost all exports to the SAR, and a 21 per cent rise from the previous year

Continue reading here:

About 860 Macau residents granted residence in Taiwan in 2021 - Macau Business

Once an international-level event, this years Dragon Boat Races might be exclusively a local event, without even the participation of mainland teams, the Sports Bureau (ID) president, Pun Weng Kun, hinted during a press conference held yesterday to launch the event.

Remarking on the participation of non-local teams from the event, Pun said that although the participation of six mainland teams in total is expected, the final number depends on the mainlands Covid-19 pandemic situation.

We hope that we will be able to invite [] six teams from the mainland [this year], but this will depend on the pandemic situation, Pun said, remarking that, at this point, it is not clear whether any of them can join the event or not.

There definitely wont be teams invited from any other countries or regions, except mainland China, Pun confirmed when questioned on the possibility of the participation of teams from Hong Kong or Taiwan.

The event will follow the same schedule and format as the previous iteration of the competition, a format in place since 2020 due to pandemic restrictions.

The competition will be held over two days: May 29 and June 3. The first day will include races dedicated to the smaller boats, while on the second day, the standard dragon boats will take to the waters of the Nam Van Lake to paddle for victory.

Additionally, as has become a tradition, a series of activities including parades, performances and booths for the sale of creative products will be held at the Nam Van Nautical Center area.

The ID president did not make it clear whether this years races will allow spectators on the stands. Questioned on the topic on the sidelines of the press conference, Pun said, We are currently evaluating the situation. It will ultimately depend on the pandemic situation [at the time].

Similar to requirements for other sporting events, participants in the Macao International Dragon Boat Races must be fully vaccinated with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, with the last dose to have been administered at least 14 days before the start of the practice sessions. Additionally, participants will also have to undergo a nucleic acid test valid for both the practice sessions and the race day.

As in previous years, team applications will be limited across the six categories including the Macao Small Boat Race (48 teams for the Open Category and 18 teams for the Womens Category), Macao Government Departments Small Boat Race (12 teams), Macao University Students Small Boat Race (10 teams) and Macao Standard Dragon Boat Race (36 teams for the Open Category and 10 teams for the Womens Category).

Registrations can be lodged online at http://www.cmdragonboat.org.mo from 11 a.m. on March 21 until 1 p.m. on March 26. Team registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and no supplementary slots will be added.

Teams must submit their team members information by 1 p.m. on April 30.

33 Basketball to return this year

Questioned by the media on the progress of other sports events being organized in Macau this year, the ID president said that the bureau has been in negotiations with interested parties so that the 33 basketball, launched for the first time in November last year, can also return this year.

We want that 33 basketball tournament to return this year. It was very well received last year and proven to be very popular among locals and tourists. But we need some time to negotiate the details, Pun said, adding that the bureau is keen to find sports events that allow the participation of local athletes or teams so Macau can be represented in the event.

Last year the 33 basketball tournament was initially expected to take place in early October, but was postponed to late November due to a Covid-19 outbreak.

Preparations are also ongoing for the Macau Grand Prix event, Pun added.

Follow this link:

Dragon Boat Races might be locals-only this year - Macau Daily Times

Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours of February 24, setting off the worst conflict in Europe in decades.

As the fighting enters its 21st day we look back on the conflict that jolted the post-Cold War world order.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a special military operation to demilitariseand de-nazify the former Soviet state and support Moscow-backed separatists in the east. He warns the international community against intervening.

A full-scale invasion starts with air and missile strikes on several cities.

Ukrainian forces put up stronger-than-expected resistance, frustrating Russian plans for a lightning takeover.

President Volodymyr Zelensky gains instant hero status in Ukraine and abroad by vowing to stay put in Kyiv and lead the resistance.

The West weighs in with unprecedented sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine.

Air spaces are closed to Russian aircraft and Russia is kicked out of one sporting and cultural event after another, including the World Cup. Major companies start to shut up shop in Russia.

With his troops quickly getting bogged down, Putin puts Russias nuclear forces on high alert on February 27, citing aggressive statements by NATO members and the financial sanctions.

The dramatic move, which draws comparisons with the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, is seen as a warning to NATO not to intervene.

During the first talks between Kyiv and Moscow on February 28, Russia sets out its demands, including the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the demilitarisation and de-nazification of the Ukrainian state and the guarantee of its neutrality.

As the talks are ongoing Russian rockets pound civilian areas of Ukraines second city Kharkiv. Zelensky makes an impassioned appeal for immediate EU membership.

The shelling seen in Kharkiv spreads elsewhere. On March 1, satellite images show a massive Russian column bearing down on Kyiv. But it makes slow progress.

Russian troops have far more success in the south, where they lay siege to the strategic port of Mariupol, putting Moscow closer to linking up territory held by pro-Russian rebels with the peninsula of Crimea, which it seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014.

The southern city of Kherson falls and on March 4, Russian troops take over Europes biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg rejects Kyivs call for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it would lead to a wider war in Europe.

On March 4, Russia enacts a new law punishing fake news about what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine with jail terms of up to 15 years.

Many international media organisations suspend their coverage from Russia, where more than 13,500 anti-war protesters are arrested.

The first of several attempts to evacuate residents freezing and hungry in the besieged southern port of Mariupol falls apart in a flurry of mutual finger-pointing by Moscow and Kyiv.

Ukraine and the UN reject Moscows offer to create humanitarian corridors to Russia or its ally Belarus.

After days of stop-start progress, evacuations finally gather pace, with tens of thousands civilians escaping the northeastern city of Sumy and suburbs of Kyiv on March 8.

In a bid to starve Moscow of funds for the war US President Joe Biden announces a ban on US imports of Russian oil and gas. The EU says it will cut its imports of Russian gas by two-thirds and Britain says it will phase out its Russian oil imports.

An attack on a maternity hospital in Mariupol, which wounded 17 people, including a heavily pregnant woman, causes international outrage. Moscow says the attack was staged.

The war inches closer to the border with Poland, a NATO member, when 35 people are killed and more than 130 injured in air strikes on a military training ground outside the city of Lviv.

Mariupol finally gets some relief, with more than 160 cars driving out of the city in a convoy on March 14.

In a sign of cracks in domestic support for the war, a Russian journalist interrupts the countrys most-watched evening news broadcast to hold up a sign reading No War.

As central Kyiv comes under fire and the two sides engage in a fifth round of talks, both Russia and Ukraine begin to sound more positive about the chances of a peace deal.

Read more here:

Three weeks of war in Ukraine - Macau Business

The Macau Economic Association (MEA) has estimated that the Prosperity Indices will see rise in the period from February to May, according to a statement released by the association.

The MEA issues monthly statements alongside its estimates for the Prosperity Index. It also announces the figures for months the indices of which have been confirmed.

Its latest estimates for the citys Prosperity Indices range from 2.8 points in February to 3.0 points in May. Despite the estimated rise, the indices will still be within the unsatisfactory range.

The Prosperity Index for January has now been confirmed at 2.8 points.

The MEA noted several uncertainties surrounding the recovery of the citys economy. It noted that, despite a slight slowing in the rise of Covid-19 cases around the world, tourists remain wary of travel because of unstable pandemic conditions in nearby regions, keeping Macaus tourist arrival counts at a relatively low level.

In addition, the share prices of the six casino operators, which are significant in determining the citys Prosperity Index, recently plummeted, dampening the forecasts of the Prosperity Indices.

Another factor is that demand for labor is still running low, with the local unemployment rate rising for three months in a row. Combined with weak consumer confidence in mainland China, the indices for the first two months of the year were calculated to be 2.8 points.

External uncertainties, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, are also affecting the citys economic recovery. These affect energy, food and major resources, as both countries are large exporters of goods. After the outbreak of war, prices for food, metal and energy have gone up, the MEA noted, causing global concern about inflation.

The invasion has also caused fluctuations in the price of petroleum, which went up to USD139 per barrel for a period of time. The US Consumer Price Index for February, meanwhile, has increased 7.9% year-on-year and 0.4% month-on-month, a height not reached in four decades.

News about U.S. plans to increase interest rates to 0.5%, if realized, will certainly affect Macaus own interest rates and flow of funds.

With an economy heavily reliant on imports, the MEA expects that global instability will eventually impact Macaus economy.

Moreover, as Macau relies heavily on tourists from Guangdong and Hong Kong, the new outbreaks of Covid-19 in these places are certain to affect Macaus tourism industry.

The MEA therefore estimates that the citys Prosperity Indices will remain at an unsatisfactory level.

See the article here:

Prosperity Indices expected to rise from February to May - Macau Daily Times

A group of 128 Cubans who took part in unprecedented anti-government protests last July were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 30 years, the Supreme Court said Wednesday.

In trials held in mid-December, 129 Cubans were accused of committing and provoking serious disturbances and acts of vandalism while participating in the protests, the court said in a statement.

Of the defendants, 128 were found guilty of sedition and theft, according to the statement. Two were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The court did not give the ages of those convicted. It said the protesters overturned vehicles and threw stones, bottles and Molotov cocktails at police and Interior Ministry agents.

Thousands of Cubans demonstrated in numerous towns and cities across the island nation demanding freedom as the country reeled from its worst economic crisis for almost 30 years.

The response by security forces left one dead, dozens injured and more than 1,300 people detained.

In late January, authorities admitted that more than 700 people had been charged and 172 already convicted over the protests.

On March 10, 12 of the protesters were sentenced to between five and 16 years in prison, convicted of sabotage, public disorder and theft.

In addition to the pair jailed for 30 years according to the court statement, another 125 people were sentenced to between six and 26 years in prison, while one defendant received four years of correctional work without internment, and one was acquitted. They are allowed to appeal their sentences.

Miami-based NGO Cubalex has criticized the long sentences imposed on protesters and claims they have been denied their right to a fair trial.

Read the rest here:

128 Cuban protesters given sentences of 6 to 30 years - Macau Business

Bullet-riddled homes, buildings turned to rubble and countless pictures of martyrs: seven years into Yemens civil war, the interim capital Aden bears the scars of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.

While Aden is now relatively stable, economically the ancient port city has been left on its knees.

Water and electricity are intermittent, serving a population that officials say has tripled to more than three million, as people seek safety from fighting raging elsewhere.

Aden governor Ahmed Lamlas said the outbreak of war in 2015 was a disaster, leaving the citys infrastructure in ruins.

We are still suffering from the impacts of war, said Lamlas, who narrowly escaped a deadly car bomb attack in October.

Yemen has a long history of civil war, and was divided into North and South Yemen until 1990.

It descended into brutal conflict again when Iran-backed Huthi rebels launched a military campaign to seize power in 2014, taking large swathes of territory including the capital Sanaa in the north.

The following year, after a Saudi-led military coalition intervened to support the internationally recognised government, the insurgents were at the gates of Aden.

They held sway for a few months before being pushed out by loyalist forces.

Sporadic violence continues to blight the temporary seat of the government, whose troops clashed with southern separatists in 2018-19 before they reached a power-sharing agreement.

Flags of former South Yemen line the streets of Aden, where the separatist Southern Transitional Council has much influence, with checkpoints set up everywhere.

As if civil war and a struggle for the city were not enough, Aden has also been targeted by a number of bombings claimed by the Islamic State group.

Along the corniche in Aden stands a large portrait of the former governor, Jaafar Saad, who was killed in a car bomb claimed by the jihadist group in 2015.

Aden will not forget you, its message reads.

At the airport, a gaping hole torn into the arrivals terminal reminds visitors of a missile attack on cabinet members in 2020, a memorial of sorts to the at least 26 people killed.

Across Yemen, hundreds of thousands have been killed, directly or indirectly, and millions displaced by the war, which has left 80 percent of people on food aid.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that Yemen risked catastrophe, speaking at a donor conference that raised less than a third of the money needed.

The number of people starving in famine conditions is projected to increase five-fold this year to 161,000.

Lamlas said the pressure was exacting a toll on Adens citizens.

Living conditions have affected the people psychologically, said Lamlas, but insisted: Aden remains steadfast and will return to life.

Adens residents are struggling to afford basic goods amid soaring inflation.

Fish vendor Ammar Mohammed, 52, struggles to make a living, as few in the city can afford his product.

Only those who have money can buy fish, he said.

Everything was cheaper before the war.

On a quiet Friday evening, some Yemeni families headed to a seaside resort, one of the citys few recreational areas.

I have work experience in hotels, makeup and accounting, Abeer, 31, told AFP as she sat with her two friends smoking shisha andelectronic cigarettes.

The salaries are low, the situation is difficult, and I am fighting to lead a dignified life, she said, adding that friends and jokes are what keep her going.

There is no internet, phone network, theres nothing. Were looking for water, gas and petrol, but we at least still have some laughs.

Many in Aden blame the government for the citys deterioration, and some of them make no secret of their desire to become an independent southern state.

South Yemen was an independent country from 1967 when British colonial forces withdrew, paving the way for the creation of a Soviet-backed communist one-party state until 1990.

An attempt to break away again in 1994 sparked a brief civil war. That ended with northern troops and their militia allies occupying the south.

But calls for secession are growing louder, as people recall better times and more opportunities for women.

Its all bad, whether separated or not, said Abeer.

We dont want to unite with the Huthis in the north but in (rebel-held) Sanaa there is more security and safety and there is electricity.Here there is nothing.

by Shatha Yaish

Link:

'Here there is nothing': Yemen's Aden scarred by grinding war - Macau Business

The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm on Wednesday over a global spike in COVID-19 cases, despite reduced testing and several weeks of declining infections.

WHO said cases are especially on the rise in parts of Asia, urging for vaccination coverage to be extended and caution to be exercised in lifting pandemic response measures.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press briefing that globally increasing cases despite reduced testing means the cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg. He added: Continued local outbreaks and surges are to be expected, particularly in areas where measures to prevent transmission have been lifted.

According to Maria van Kerkhove, WHOs COVID-19 technical lead, more than 11 million cases have been reported to WHO in the last week. This is an eight-percent increase on the previous week.

One factor contributing to rising cases, she said, is the Omicron variant, the most transmissible coronavirus variant so far. Another contributing factor is the lifting of health measures such as masks, physical distancing, and restrictions on movement in certain countries. Furthermore, Kerkhove said: We also have incomplete vaccination coverage in many parts of the world and in particular, among people who are at risk of developing severe disease.

The third factor driving up the number of cases has been misinformation, she added, such as that Omicron is mild and the pandemic is over.

We need a very strong surveillance system around the world for COVID-19. Despite all of the challenges that we are facing, we still need to maintain testing, she emphasized.

As each country is facing a different situation, WHO has kept cautioning that the pandemic is not over yet, calling on all countries to remain vigilant.

The virus will wax and wane, as it has not settled down into a purely, seasonal or predictable pattern yet, according to Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program.

We need to be very cautious. We need to watch this very carefully and we need to focus on getting the most vulnerable appropriately vaccinated. And we need to do that as quickly as possible in every country, he said.

Follow this link:

Global COVID-19 cases on rise again despite reduced testing: WHO - Macau Business

Britain said Wednesday it will hold a series of talks with the United States, as it seeks to pin down a long-awaited trade deal with the worlds biggest economy after Brexit.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Britains International TradeSecretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will hold discussions in Baltimore on March 21-22 and in the UK in the coming weeks, the government said in a statement.

The dialogues will explore how the United States and United Kingdom can collaborate to advance mutual international trade priorities rooted in our shared values, it added.

London has negotiated a host of international trade deals since formally leaving the European Union on January 1, 2021, but a deal with Washington has so far proved elusive.

The talks come after US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year adopted a newAtlantic Charter.

Trade betweenthe close allies stands at approximately 200 billion ($261 billion, 238 billion euros) a year.

I am pleased to welcome Secretary Trevelyan to Baltimore later this month as we begin an open-minded and deep discussion on how we can advance smarter and more strategic trade between our two countries, said Tai in the statement.

The United Kingdom is one of our oldest and most trusted allies, and our partnership is rooted in shared values and priorities.

Trevelyan added that the pair would focus on how the UK and US can use trade intelligently in the modern global economy while deepening trade links.

I look forward to welcoming Ambassador Tai to the UK later this spring, she said.

A free trade deal between London and Washington has long been regarded as a key prize of Brexit.

However, it has yet to be realised more than five years after Britons voted to leave the European Union, not least because of wrangling over post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Washington, and notably Irish-American US President Joe Biden, has warned London that a trade deal would be unlikely if its opposition to the so-called protocol threatened a US-brokered peace deal in the province.

Last June, Britain and the US agreed to suspend retaliatory tariffs levied during a lengthy dispute over state aid for European plane-maker Airbus and US rival Boeing.

They also agreed to suspend retaliatory tariffs on products including Scotch whisky.

The two nations are also in negotiations to resolve their differences over tariffs on steel and aluminium.

Read the original:

UK and US to hold trade talks after Brexit - Macau Business

NATO allies refused Wednesday to back a Polish call for the alliance to send an armed peace mission to Ukraine, but vowed to keep supplying arms despite threats from Moscow.

Polands Vice Premier, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, suggested a peacekeeping deployment in Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid during a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday.

But NATO defence ministers were wary over the idea as they arrived in Brussels for urgent talks on Russias war against its neighbour.

Im afraid were still in too early stages to talk about that, said Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

First we have to have a ceasefire. We have to see a withdrawal from Russia. There has to be some kind of agreement between Ukraine and Russia, and I think the talks are still going on.

She added: Its always good to think about what comes after that, but first, we need to achieve that.

Estonian Defence Minister Kalle Laanet said that a proposed peacekeeping mission was one of the possibilities and, of course, we have to look to all the possibilities which can help Ukraine.

But he said a deployment would need the backing of the United Nations Security Council where Russia holds a veto.

Britains defence minister Ben Wallace said he would need to look at the details first before making any decisions about what happens.

NATO has rebuffed pleas from Ukraine to intervene in the conflict, including imposing a no-fly zone to help halt Russian bombings.

The US-led alliance says its direct involvement in non-member state Ukraine could spark a confrontation with Russia that may spill over into nuclear war.

NATO allies have instead been sending weapons to help Ukrainian forces to defend their country, especially vitally needed portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems.

Moscow has warned that any deliveries are legitimate targets for its military to strike.

But NATO defence ministers insisted they would keep arms flowing to Ukraine.

We support their ability to defend themselves and well continue to support them going forward, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.

View post:

NATO allies wary on call for Ukraine 'peace mission' - Macau Business

SIBU: Two women here have lost a total of RM17,000 to Macau scams.

Acting Sibu district police chief Supt Dr Collin Babat said the victims were a 21-year-old college student and a factory worker, 26.

According to Supt Collin, the student received a call at 1.30pm on Wednesday (March 9) from a man who introduced himself as an Inland Revenue Board (IRB) officer.

The "officer" claimed that her identity card had been used to register a company in Indera Mahkota, Kuantan.

After that, she was contacted by a person claiming to be from Pahang police headquarters, claiming that she was involved in money laundering and drug tafficking.

"The frightened victim simply followed the suspect's instructions, handing over her account details, and was asked to transfer her savings of RM7,830 to the account number provided.

"She was promised that her money would be returned within 45 minutes," Supt Collin said.

However, when she tried to contact the suspect to find out the status of her money, she could not get through.

In the second case, the factory worker was contacted by a "Telekom Malaysia officer" who claimed that a line had been registered in her name in Seremban.

She was told that the line was involved in a cybercrime.

Supt Collin said she denied the claim but the call was then transferred to a "police office" from Seremban.

"She was told that she had been involved with a fraudster known as 'Chao Tian Fu' who purportedly deposited (ill-gotten) money into her account," he added.

Supt Collin added that the victim then panicked and complied with the suspect's instructions by providing her bank details as well as her mother's.

"When she checked, she found that RM6,000 in her account and RM4,000 from her mother's account had been transferred out," he said.

The cases are being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Follow this link:

Student and factory worker lose RM17,000 to Macau scams - The Star Online