The Buzz | Spain, Portugal face heat wave

Spain and Portugal both issued weather alerts yesterday, advising residents to take extra care as temperatures soared above 40 C in some southern areas. The Iberian Peninsula was sweltering in

Las Vegas jails strained by billions in property tax giveaways

Even as Nevada’s real estate values climb back from their record plunge during the recession, a decade- old property tax cap that let casinos save billions of dollars has strained municipal

World Briefs

AFGHANISTAN An Afghan official says 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush by Taliban insurgents in a western province that borders Iran. SYRIA  Fewer than 100 Syrian rebels are currently being

Analysis | Doctor-patient relationship has seen better days

In light of current social debates that were inflamed by a recent court conviction for medical malpractice, the monthly “Civic Roundtable” event led by scholar and civic group leader Agnes

Heritage | 10 years after UNESCO listing | Living close to St Paul’s

It’s been a long time since the people who live near St Paul’s Ruins learned to deal with the flood of tourists. Residents adopt alternative routes and even accept the

Letter to the Editor | ‘Under the current arrangements being a driver is pretty bleak financially’

Dear Editor, I refer to the article in last Wednesday’s Macau Daily Times entitled “Candidates offer over MOP1 Million for Taxi Licenses”. Some readers may be aware of the 33 page submission

Projected capacity of reclaimed areas rises to 162,000

A sand supply shortage has held up the reclamation works for the region’s new Zone A, which is unlikely to meet its mid- November deadline, confirmed the Secretary for Transport and

UNESCO | says ‘Positive things’ resulted from world heritage listing

A report on the measures taken to safeguard Macau’s historic center is being evaluated by UNESCO, as positive things have resulted since the world heritage listing ten years ago, according

Guia Lighthouse marks 150th anniversary

It has been 150 years since the Guia Lighthouse was built in 1864 and began its operation the following year. Whilst silently witnessing the city’s enormous changes from up on

DSPA with new directors, ‘insufficiencies’ admited

Unemployment rate slightly up for March-May

Macau’s unemployment rate for March-May 2015 went up to 1.8 percent, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from February-April 2015, according to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). Meanwhile,

Macau consumers’ satisfaction hits record high

Macau consumers’ satisfaction has hit a record high over the past nine years in regards to shopping and dining in the territory, according to an annual survey conducted by the

Greece imposes capital controls as risk of euro exit climbs

Greece shut its banks and imposed capital controls in an announcement designed to avert the collapse of its financial system, heightening the risk it will be forced out of the

Asian stocks fall as Greece fears spur flight to safer assets

Asian stocks tumbled as investors sought shelter in haven assets while they weighed a possible Greek exit from the euro zone. Shares in Shanghai sank even after the central bank

Corporate Bits | GEG holds ‘stars of the year’ award presentation ceremony

GEG Chief Operating Officer Mr. Michael Mecca, Group Director of Human Resources & Administration Ms. Eileen Lui and senior executives attended the ceremony and witnessed the 17 candidates crowned as

Mozambique to launch wave of privatizations

More than 50 percent of companies in which the Mozambican state has a stake are not considered strategic and may be privatized. The president of the state stake-holding company, Igepe

Brazil and China create cooperation fund

Brazil and China decided to create the Brazil/China Cooperation Fund for Expansion of Production Capacity with a budget of USD20 billion, according to an official announcement made last Friday, 26

One driver explains how he’s helping rip off Uber

James Li was unhappy with his pay as a security guard in Shanghai, so he started driving on weekends for Uber Technologies Inc. He’s almost tripled his pay - in

Taiwan | Cigarettes or spark suspected in fire that burned 500

Investigators in Taiwan were focusing yesterday on the possibility that a cigarette butt or spark caused the blaze that burned more than 500 people at a weekend water park party

Governments sign pact to create Beijing-led Asian bank 

Envoys of governments that plan to join a Chinese-led Asian bank endorsed a structure yesterday that gives Beijing the biggest voting stake at the start but no veto power. Each member

South Korea | No MERS infections reported for 2 days

No new cases of MERS were reported in South Korea for two straight days, with no deaths being added, the health ministry said yesterday. The number of MERS cases totaled

Afghanistan | President orders probe into NATO-led operation

Afghanistan has ordered an investigation into an operation yesterday involving U.S. forces that destroyed a weapons cache in a volatile region close to the capital, sparking demonstrations that briefly closed

Thailand | Ice cream company apologizes for Facebook gay slur

A Thai ice cream company owned by Unilever has apologized for using a derogatory term for gay men in a Facebook posting marking the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex

Aviation | Solar Impulse plane en route to Hawaii from Japan

A solar-powered plane took off from Japan early yesterday to attempt a five-day flight over open water to Hawaii, the eighth leg of its bid to fly around the world

Afghanistan | 11 soldiers killed in Taliban ambush

A total of 18 people including 11 Afghan soldiers lost their lives as a military convoy came under attack by militants in the western province of Herat on Sunday, the

Pakistan | Heatwave leaves 1,000 dead in Karachi

  The death toll from a heatwave in Pakistan’s commercial center of Karachi and parts of southern Sindh province has passed 1,000 over the past ten days, health officials said yesterday. Nearly

Tunisia | attack UK’s Cameron promises wide, long-term response to terror

Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday pledged a wide response to extremism, describing Britain as being united in grief over the beach massacre in Tunisia. Fifteen Britons are confirmed dead, but officials have

Kuwait | Mosque bomber raised no red flags, transited Bahrain

The Saudi man who blew himself up inside a Shiite mosque in Kuwait last week flew into the country after transiting through nearby Bahrain and had no background suggesting he

Iran | Inspections focus of talks amid reports of new Obama letter

Envoys negotiating a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program began a third day of talks in Vienna focused on the role of international monitors, as reports emerged of a new

USA | Police shoot, capture 2nd escaped murderer

A three-week manhunt that began when two convicted murderers staged a brazen prison break involving stolen power tools and hacksaw blades hidden in frozen beef ended when a single police

This Day in History | 1985 Beirut ordeal ends for US hostages

Their freedom was secured after intervention by the Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad. The White House said no deal had been done with the captors. The hostages were driven in a Red

Offbeat | Deformed mutt is crowned World’s Ugliest Dog

The pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix and her owner took the USD1,500 prize Friday night, besting 25 other dogs competing in the contest that applauds imperfection, organizers said. Quasi Modo was abandoned

Discovery secures European Olympic TV rights through 2024

U.S.-based media giant Discovery Communications Inc. secured the European broadcast rights for four Olympics through 2024 yesterday in a landmark deal worth 1.3 billion euros (USD1.45 billion). The parent company of

Midfielder Paulinho joins Guangzhou from Spurs

Brazil midfielder Paulinho has left Tottenham to join Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande for 14 million euros (USD15.5 million), ending a frustrating two-year spell at the Premier League team. Guangzhou said yesterday

Former Coach recalls first Chinese NHL draft Song Andong

Song Andong made sports history last week as the first Chinese player selected in the NHL draft. To his old coach, though, he’s just a nice kid who keeps his

MACAU DAILY TIMES