Holi in Macau:Connecting people with colours

The traditional Hindu festival Holi, where Indians celebrate to welcome spring by throwing colourful powder over each other, has grown to be a popular cultural event around the world, and it’s taking place in Macau on Sunday.Holi, which means “offering prayers to gods for a good harvest”, is observed over two consecutive days every year starting on the day of “Purnima” – the full moon – in the month of “Phalguna”, which is the 11th month of the Hindu calendar. This year, Holi

March 2, 2018 | BY admin

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New Starbucks store takes coffee experience to another level

The newly-opened Starbucks in Cotai is making that daily cup of joe a little more special with a coffee experience bar where customers can enjoy handcrafted coffee prepared with the highest quality Arabica beans in the world.This experience bar, only available at Starbucks at MGM Cotai, is the US coffeehouse chain’s latest concept using premium beans which comes under the “Starbucks Reserve” label.The experience begins when customers sit at the long wooden-top bar and the baristas will

March 2, 2018 | BY admin

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Govt raises non-locals’ childbirth fees by 800 pct

The Health Bureau (SSM) announced yesterday that it will raise the fees by 800 percent, or ninefold, for its childbirth services at the public Conde de S. Januario Hospital Centre for non-local women whose husbands are also non-locals.The bureau said that the drastic fee hike aimed to reduce the number of non-local women using the public hospital’s childbirth services, in order to ensure a better service for their local counterparts.The bureau made the announcement during a press conference

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Over 300 spaces at new ‘Water Market’ to alleviate parking problem: IACM

More than 300 parking spaces for cars and scooters will be available to the public when the new Patane Market Municipal Complex comes into service next Tuesday,Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) Administrative Committee member Ung Sau Hong said yesterday.Ung made the remarks during a media visit to the wet market building.Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) Administrative Committee member Ung Sau Hong speaks to reporters during a media

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Govt clamps down on illegal reclamation in Hac Sa

The Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) said in a statement yesterday that it is clamping down on an illegal land reclamation project in Hac Sa Village in Coloane.According to recent local media reports, a lake in the village has been illegally reclaimed by someone.According to the reports, historical satellite images between 2003 and 2015 show that the area was a lake at that time. The reports said that a satellite image retrieved in December last year showed that the lake had

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Lawmakers pass bill raising public servants’ birth allowance

The Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday passed a government-drafted bill on increasing public servants’ birth allowance.According to the bill, the one-off allowance will be increased from 45 salary points (3,735 patacas based on 83 patacas per salary point) to 60 salary points (5,100 patacas based on 85 patacas per salary point).The amount of one salary point for public servants’ salaries increased to 85 patacas – from 83 patacas last year – starting from January this year.Accompanied

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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SJM profit drops 15.6 pct in 2017

SJM said yesterday that its profit dropped 15.6 percent to HK$1.96 billion patacas last year, even though its gaming revenue rose 0.1 percent to HK$41.29 billion.According to a statement by SJM Holdings Limited, hotel, catering, retail and other income fell 4.5 percent to HK$731 million.Adjusted EBITDA decreased 10.0 percent to HK$3.07 billion. PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN OUR PRINT EDITION.

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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32 colon cancer cases found by screening programme: SSM

A total of 32 colorectal cancer (CRC) cases have been identified during a screening programme by the Health Bureau (SSM).According to an SSM statement yesterday, screening programme was launched in November 2016 with Macau residents born between 1947 and 1956 eligible. The statement said that until yesterday over 4,400 people had participated in the scheme.Over 700 tested positive in a free faecal immunochemical test (FIT), a screening test for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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GDP grows 9.1 pct last year

Macau’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.1 percent in real terms year on year in 2017, after three consecutive years of negative growth, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced yesterday.According to a DSEC statement, the economy rose 11.1 percent in the first half of last year, followed by a 7.2 percent rise in the second half. GDP grew 8.0 percent in the fourth quarter.“Although the whole economy resumed positive growth, domestic demand remained weak and retreated by 2.7

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Galaxy posts 67 pct rise in 2017 profit

Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) said yesterday that it posted a 67 percent rise in full-year net profit last year.According to a GEG statement, net profit attributable to shareholders (NPAS) reached HK$10.5 billion in 2017.Full-year adjusted NPAS reached HK$11.0 billion, up 61 percent after adjusting for non-recurring charges.PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN OUR PRINT EDITION.

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Leong to ink new horse-racing concession

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac has been authorised by Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On to sign a 24-year-6-month concession extension agreement with the Macau Horse Racing Company Limited (informally known as Macau Jockey Club).Chui’s executive order on delegating the authority to Leong was published in the Official Gazette (BO) yesterday. The order takes effect today.According to the order, the concession will be valid until August 31, 2042. PLEASE READ THE FULL

March 1, 2018 | BY admin

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Horse-racing concession extended for 24.5 years: Leong

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac said yesterday that the government will extend the Macau Jockey Club’s (MJC) horse-racing concession, which was slated to expire today, for 24 years and six months to August 31, 2042.Leong made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Bank of China (BOC) Building in Nam Van on the sidelines of a Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Macau Association of Banks (ABM).When the company’s horse-racing concession expired in late

February 28, 2018 | BY admin

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Cotai Water Jet, Cathay Pacific ink codeshare deal

Ferry operator Cotai Water Jet and Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific have signed a codeshare agreement that will make it easier and faster to book ferry tickets to Macau for passengers flying to Hong Kong, gaming resort company Sands China, which owns Cotai Water Jet, said in a statement yesterday.According to the statement, “this arrangement simplifies the purchasing process, provides greater passengers assurance, boosts journey connectivity and enhances accessibility to

February 28, 2018 | BY admin

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Stable hand arrested over horse’s death: police

The police arrested a man on Friday over alleged cruelty to a horse, which eventually led to the thoroughbred’s death last August, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Choi Ian Fai said during a regular press conference yesterday.Choi said the Judiciary Police received the case from the Public Prosecution Office (MP) about the unusual death of a horse, and was asked to investigate it.According to Choi, the suspect is a male staff member from Hong Kong who worked at the stable. The surname of the

February 28, 2018 | BY admin

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