Gaming | Fitch Ratings lowers forecast for casino revenue

Fitch Ratings has lowered its 2015 forecast for Macau gaming revenues, citing credit availability and the recent smoking and visa restrictions as contributing factors, news website GMA News reported. “We believe

Entertainment | Venetian hosts star-studded film awards ceremony

Scores of stars and celebrities from more than six Asian countries descended on Macau as the city hosted the presentation ceremony for the ninth Asian film awards at the Venetian

Policy Address 2015 | Uneventful debate at the AL, diversification and cooperation top concerns

The session began with easy questions: Kou Hoi In was one of the lawmakers to note that the local economic structure is too dependent on gaming, saying that “now is

Cheong Kin Man | Local short film recognized at Canada International Film Festival

The Macau-born language enthusiast will receive his 2015 Rising Star Award for “A Useless Fiction” this coming April in the Canadian city of Vancouver. As part of his graduation project

Macau-born Isabella Leong triumphs in HK film festival premiere

“Murmurs” takes on the subject of dysfunctional families through the past and present lives of two generations. It sees lost soul Yu-mei (Leong) as an artist living in Taipei struggling

Murong Xuecun | Chinese dissident writer speaks at USJ

As one of the most vocal writers against censorship in China, Murong is known for his defense of freedom of expression. In recent years, he’s also gained notoriety for his

CE to attend annual Boao Forum in Hainan

O Lam, Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office; Chan Chi Ping, Director of the Government Information Bureau, and Fung Sio Weng, Director of Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs, will

MIECF | Environmental fair to focus on air quality

Themed “Green Economy – Solutions for Clean Air,” the fair will emphasize the solutions and business opportunities available in the pursuit of clean air. It will consist of an international

Gov’t to implement minimum wage for all sectors in 2019

A minimum wage will be fully implemented in all sectors during Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong’s term of office, emphasized Cheang Chi Keong, chairman of Legislative Assembly (AL)’s

All students poisoned with carbon monoxide released from hospital

All the schoolchildren from a local international school suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning during a field trip to a bread factory located at Rua da Praia do Manduco two days

POLICY ADDRESS 2015 | Gov’t ‘optimistic and cautious’ over region’s economic development

The government will be using part of its financial reserves to create an investment fund, the Chief Executive (CE) announced yesterday in his 2015 Policy Address. While announcing a series

No measures yet to curb property speculation

The Chief Executive has acknowledged that Macau’s government has not yet decided whether or not to launch measures to curb property speculation, or even to introduce domestic rental market legislation. At

Lawmakers react with mixed feelings

Lawmakers have reacted to the Policy Address with mixed feelings. As was to be expected, the New Macau Association lawmaker Ng Kuok Cheong was one of those most unconvinced, although

Heritage | Downtown revived with traditional festival

For decades Macau’s old neighborhoods have been celebrating every second day of the second lunar calendar month with feasts, worship rituals and Cantonese Opera, as the date is regarded as

Survey | Slight boost in local employees’ confidence

The latest survey released by the University of Science and Technology, gauging the confidence and satisfaction of local employees, has concluded that the city’s laborers have become slightly more confident

DSEJ pledges investment in special education

The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) has pledged that it will continue increasing the amount of resources invested into the special education sector, and will ensure it can better

Briefs | Inflation reaches 5.3 percent in February

Macau’s Composite Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February increased 5.3 percent over the same period as last year, according to figures released yesterday by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Irish minister suggests forward planning on environmental issues

The second visit from an Irish minister in just three months is a testament to the European country’s willingness to forge deeper relations with Macau. A new strategy of sharing

Education | Plan for students with special needs received with skepticism

The government’s consultation document on revising Macau’s Special Education System has drawn serious criticism from related groups and educators. Spokesperson for the city’s visually impaired citizens, Albert Cheong Chi Pong,

Traditional Okinawan dancing performance tomorrow

The day-long event, which seeks to deepen locals’ understanding of Japanese culture, will bring the Japanese dancing team “Ryukyu Kajimaya” – literally translated as “Okinawa’s windmills” – from Okinawa to

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