Briefs | Chinese team wins int’l fireworks display contest

The 29th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest wrapped up on Monday, with the Chinese fireworks team winning the championship, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced. Liuyang New Year Fireworks Trading Co. Ltd from mainland China won first place. The fireworks team from Japan won second place, followed by the team from Germany. The local authorities aim to continue to enrich and upgrade the contest to a new level, director of MGTO Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said at the awards ceremony. The contest was held above the sea area in front of the Macau Tower one night every week throughout September, as well as on the night of October 1. The other teams contesting came from the Philippines, South Korea, Belgium, France, Portugal, Austria and Italy.

Exhibition of Macau Visual Arts opens

The “Collective Exhibition of Macao Visual Arts 2018” was inaugurated last week at the Tap Seac Gallery. Winning artists were announced and awarded prizes at the opening ceremony which was attended by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, the president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Mok Ian Ian, and other top officials.  According to the IC, the event is “a platform for Macau artists to showcase their talent and creativity.” A total of 291 works from 182 participants were submitted since the call for submissions last June. Eighty artworks have been selected by a jury composed by five art professionals. The work “The Fourth of the Wall Series” by Lam Un Mei won the Grand Prize of the Jury Award and the Young Artist Award. Ten other artworks were selected to receive the Excellent Artwork Award.

Taxi drivers beaten up for allegedly competing for patrons 

Two taxi drivers were beaten up by another group of taxi drivers over a dispute regarding the taking of some passengers.  The incident took place on Tuesday night at a taxi stand nearby a hotel located in Cotai. According to the Public Security Police Force, the two groups of taxi drivers got involved in a brawl because each group thought the other one was waiting for the same group of passengers. Two drivers, both in their 30s, sustained injuries, having ended up in the hospital. Three drivers were charged with assault and have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office.

Bad air quality expected to last until weekend 

The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) predicts that bad air quality will last until the weekend.  According to the SMG, Macau continues to be affected by the continental airstream. In addition, the weather is fine, and the sun is abundant during the day. The ozone concentration levels in Macau will remain high, which deem the air quality level to be bad. The bureau urges people with respiratory or heart diseases to reduce their physical exertion and avoid outdoor activities. The bad air quality has been lingering over the city since last Friday. SMG has predicted that it will last during the Chinese National Day holiday, which will end this weekend.