National lawmakers back unlimited presidential terms

BEIJING – The nation’s lawmakers yesterday passed a historic constitutional amendment abolishing a presidential two-term limit that will enable President Xi Jinping and his successors to rule indefinitely.The amendment upends a system enacted by Deng Xiaoping in 1982.Voting among the National People’s Congress’ (NPC) nearly 3,000 deputies began in the mid-afternoon, with Xi leading members of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) seven-member Politburo Standing Committee in casting

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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New book focuses on Macau’s BRI role

A book launched last month by the private Macau International Institute (IIM) focuses on the role of Macau and the world’s eight Portuguese-speaking countries in the nation’s Belt und Road Initiative (BRI).According to the 129-page book’s preface by veteran local Portuguese journalist Gonçalo César de Sá, “We hope that this book will give readers a clear understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative and help them in their investment decision as they position themselves to be part of

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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Speaker ‘doesn’t know yet’ whether to run for CE

Legislative Assembly (AL) President Ho Iat Seng says he “doesn’t know yet” whether he will run in next year’s chief executive election.The current five-year term of Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, who was re-elected in 2014, will end on December 19, 2019. According to Article 48 of the Macau Basic Law, the chief executive “may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.”Ho, who is attending the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress in Beijing, made the

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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Forum questions govt’s determination for anti-flood projects

Guest speakers and members of the audience at yesterday’s Macau Forum urged the government to come up with a timetable as to when its long-term flood-prevention projects will finally get off the ground.They also wondered whether the government can push ahead with its flood prevention projects as previously promised.The weekly open-air debate is hosted by government-owned broadcaster TDM in Areia Preta Park every Sunday.Guest speakers and audience members attend TDM’s Macau Forum in Areia

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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Birthing fee hike should target tourists, not workers: group

The Health Bureau’s (SSM) proposal to raise the fees for its childbirth services at the public Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre should target tourists, not non-resident workers, George Yeong Chun Tak, director of the local Peduli Indonesian Migrant Workers Concern Group, said yesterday.Yeong made the remarks during an interview on the sidelines of one of the activities celebrating International Women’s Day in Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida. Dozens of Indonesian and

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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2 snakeheads & 4 IIs busted by Customs

The Macau Customs Service said in a statement that its officers busted an illegal immigration case yesterday.In the small hours of yesterday, the Customs Service was notified by its mainland counterpart about a suspicious blue boat moving towards the Gate of Understanding – near Barra – off the coast of the peninsula. A Customs Service speedboat was deployed to intercept the vessel, according to the statement.The statement said that customs officers caught a female and three male illegal

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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Police to use 100 body cams from Wednesday: Wong

Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said yesterday that 100 body-worn cameras will come into use for Public Security Police (PSP) officers on Wednesday.Wong made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community day hosted by the Public Security Police in Praça do Tap Seac.The event marked the 327th anniversary of the establishment of the police force on March 14, 1691.Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak (centre) speaks to reporters in Praça do Tap Seac yesterday as

March 12, 2018 | BY admin

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Councillor urges govt to ensure window cleaners’ safety

Northern District Community Service Consultative Council member Cheong Kin San said yesterday the government should protect workers who need to clean windows by ensuring that there are enough safety precautions.Cheong made the comments during a regular meeting of the council in Areia Preta.On Tuesday a 62-year-old local woman, who worked as a part-time domestic helper was believed to have fallen to her death from a flat on the 12th floor in Rua do Almirante Sérgio while cleaning a window. She

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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Floating body found: police

A male body was found yesterday morning in the sea near Fisherman’s Wharf, according to a statement by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday.The statement said that after receiving a report that there was a body floating off the shore at Fisherman’s Wharf, officers from the Customs Service arrived to pull the person out of the water who showed no signs of life at the scene.After checking the body, it was found out that the deceased had no suspicious injuries.PLEASE READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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Macau to launch flights to Europe this year: CAM

Macau will launch scheduled flights to Europe this year, the Macau International Airport Company (CAM) said in a statement yesterday.The statement about a recent visit by CAM Chairman Deng Jun to Zhuhai Airport did not elaborate on the scheduled flights to Europe, such as when they would start and what their destination or destinations would be.The statement also said that the local airport would try to boost its air cargo business after the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.PLEASE

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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Residential property price index rises 3.3 pct

Macau’s overall residential property price index for November 2017-January 2018 grew 3.3 percent over the previous survey period (October-December 2017), the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced yesterday.A DSEC statement attributed the increase mainly to the 14.0 percent rise in the index for pre-sale residential units, while the index for existing residents units dropped 0.4 percent.The bureau said it recently started compiling the overall residential property price index with data

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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Macao Orchestra to hold ‘Baby’s First Musical Experience’

Macao Orchestra (OM) will be holding a prenatal music concert for all parents-to-be with “Baby’s First Musical Experience” next Saturday.The concert’s information says it is widely known that music plays an important role in prenatal education, as it can stimulate foetal auditory nerves (hearing), laying a foundation for developing the baby’s interest in music and cultivating its imagination.But with a wide range of classical music, what genre and style are considered as a good

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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Govt opens winter shelter

The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) said in a statement yesterday that it has opened its winter shelter in Ilha Verde due to the current cold snapAccording to the bureau’s website, the winter shelter in Rua do Asilo opens when the mercury hits 12 degrees Celsius.This winter, the shelter has opened its doors five times due to the cold weather, the first in early December, the second in early January, the third in late January, the fourth late last month, and the fifth yesterday.PLEASE READ THE

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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AirAsia’s ‘Big Sale’ on until Sunday

Low-cost carrier AirAsia, which has just won the annual “SkytraxWorld Airline Award for the ninth consecutive year, has just launched its first “Big Sale” promotion this year which will run until Sunday.According to AirAsia’s statement, up to five million seats are on offer during the latest “Big Sale” for travel between September 3 and May 28 next year.AirAsia operates 13 direct routes from Macau and Hong Kong to Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines with 159 weekly flights. Flying

March 9, 2018 | BY admin

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