Av. Praia Grande near S. Francisco Garden closed for roadworks from today: DSAT

The Transport Bureau (DSAT) announced in a statement yesterday that from today a part of Avenida da Praia Grande near S. Francisco Garden is closed for roadworks, but only in the direction for Avenida de D. João IV.During the roadworks, vehicles cannot enter Rua do Campo from Avenida da Praia Grande but must make a detour via Avenida de D. João IV, the statement noted.Considering Tuesday’s announcement by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) regarding the date non-tertiary schools

March 11, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt plans reopening of schools 'no later than April 20'

The Macau government said today it was planning for the city's schools to reopen "no later than April 20."Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) Deputy Director Kong Chi Meng made the announcement during the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre's daily press conference about the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the press conference, the government will announce the exact "back-to-school" date two weeks in advance. Officials at the press conference

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Jobless rate stays at 1.7 pct

Macau's general unemployment rate comprising local and non-resident workers, and the local residents' jobless rate remained unchanged at 1.7 percent and 2.3 percent respectively in the November 2019-January 2020 survey period, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. Both rates stayed the same compared with the October-December 2019 and November 2018-January 2019 survey periods. Macau's total labour force stood at 399,900, while its labour force participation rate

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Govt receives 160,000 facemasks from anonymous donor

The Macau government has received 160,000 facemasks from an anonymous donor. According to a statement by the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre on Monday, the donor requested anonymity. The statement merely referred to the donor as "an enterprise".The statement conveyed the government's gratitude for the donation, pointing out that it helps the government fight the COVID-19 epidemic.The government has received a large quantity of facemasks and other anti-epidemic

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Snapshots of daily life as city fights COVID-19

A man and a boy – not wearing facemasks – play football in an open area next to Macau Tower. Photos taken yesterday by Monica LeongPedestrians walk past the CTM shop in Nam Van to find out it was closed. The notice outside the shop states that as part of the telecom operator’s COVID-19 prevention measures, only three of its shops are open – in Fai Chi Kei, Nape and Taipa. A notice board is displayed outside a restaurant in Rua de Pedro Coutinho, promoting an “epidemic value

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Exhibition showcases cultural artefacts from Palace Museum

An exhibition entitled “The Long Journey: The Forbidden City and Maritime Silk Road” at the Macau Museum of Art (MAM) is showcasing nearly 150 cultural artefacts from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing.According to the exhibition’s leaflet, the cultural artefacts on display are mostly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including tributes presented by foreign envoys, gifts and items brought by Western missionaries, and pieces of calligraphy and paintings created in the court by

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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1,200 locals studying outside Macau sign up for facemasks: govt

Addressing yesterday’s daily press conference about the local government’s ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) threat, Chan Iok Wai, who heads the Higher Education Institutions Students Department of the Higher Education Bureau (DSES), said that up to 4 p.m. yesterday about 1,200 local residents enrolled in higher education institutions outside Macau had registered for the new measure that allows them to buy their facemasks via the local government’s facemask purchase

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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IAM finds ‘abandoned’ prairie dog in park

A prairie dog was found in the public Reservoir Park on Friday, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement on Sunday, adding that the rodent was possibly smuggled into the city and later abandoned by its owner.The statement said that the prairie dog has been taken to the Macau Municipal Kennel, pointing out that the animal is healthy and currently in quarantine after inspection by a vet.According to the IAM statement, prairie dogs belong to the squirrel genus. They are part of the

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Thailand announces 14-day quarantine for arrivals from Macau

The Hong Kong branch office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said in a statement yesterday that “the Thai government has now enhanced precaution and prevention measures for COVID-19” and all travellers arriving in the kingdom from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Italy and Iran are “asked” to fill in a health declaration form and “will undergo 14 days quarantine.” The statement said that “details of the quarantine procedure will be announced

March 10, 2020 | BY admin

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Macau's residential property price index dips 0.9 pct

Macau's overall residential property price index for November 2019-January 2020 dropped 0.9 percent over the previous survey period (October-December 2019), the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. The indices for the peninsula and Taipa/Coloane fell 1.0 percent and 0.6 percent respectively. The index for existing residential units declined 1.1 percent. The indices for residential units completed more than two decades ago and for those built five years or less ago

March 9, 2020 | BY admin

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Sino-US rivalry intensifies in the Arctic

Locals alarmed as the US seeks to exclude China from the ArcticCommentary by Donald Gasper*Recently, the United States has stepped up efforts to block any involvement of “Non-Arctic” nations into the region. “Simply put, we believe the affairs of the Arctic should be governed by the actual nations of the Arctic,” said US President Donald Trump in a joint press conference with Finland’s President Sauli Niisto on October 2, 2019. “And, as you know, there are other people coming into

March 9, 2020 | BY Donald Gasper

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MICE sector reports negative figures last year

Macau's meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector reported mostly negative figures last year, according to data released by the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) last week.The number of participants in meetings and conferences dropped 1.4 percent year-on-year to 292,000, "as a consequence of a notable decline in participants in the second quarter," a DSEC statement said. The total floor area used for the meetings and conferences decreased 29.8 percent to

March 9, 2020 | BY admin

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Croupiers' wages rise 3 pct to US$2,635 in December

Macau's 25,459 casino dealers' average earnings in December rose 3.1 percent year-on-year to 21,080 patacas (US$2,635), the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) announced today. According to the findings of the bureau's survey on the gaming sector's human resources needs and wages for the fourth quarter of last year, its number of full-time employees increased 1.7 percent year-on-year to 58,225. Dealers accounted for 43.7 percent of the total number of full-time staff. The survey did

March 9, 2020 | BY admin

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Gaming tax receipts drop 12 pct in Jan-Feb

The Macau government's income from gross gaming revenue (GGR) taxes fell 12.1 percent year-on-year to 17.23 billion patacas (US$2.15 billion) in the first two months of the year, the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) said today. According to the government's budget execution table released on the bureau's website today, gaming taxes accounted for 91.5 percent of the government total revenue (current plus capital receipts) of 18.82 billion patacas in the first two months. The

March 9, 2020 | BY admin

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