Category Archives: Macau

Poland expressed confidence Thursday that it would soon receive the post-Covid recovery funds that the European Union had blocked because of its concerns over the rule of law there.

In the coming months already, this money will start to flow from the EU budget, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters.

The EU member announced last week that it had concluded negotiations with Brussels over the blocked funds of around 35 billion euros ($37 billion).

Brussels had refused to release them because of concerns that a controversial disciplinary mechanism for judges in Poland undermined judicial independence.

Morawiecki said that while the two sides have come to an agreement, the EUs economic and financial affairs council still needs to give its greenlight and Warsaw must make legislative changes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her part said in a letter Tuesday that Poland would have to prove that it had met the necessary conditions before any disbursement under the Recovery and Resilience Facility could take place.

Last week the Commission said that Poland would have to dismantle the contested Supreme Court disciplinary chamber, reform the disciplinary regime and allow judges affected by the disciplinary chambers decisions to be reinstated.

Morawiecki said Thursday that the disciplinary chamber as it stands will be abolished.

Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller explained that a presidential draft law on the matter was expected to be put up for a vote in parliament next week, adding that it contained all of the conditions set out by Brussels.

Theres the reform of the disciplinary system, the abolishment of the disciplinary chamber, and when it comes to the reinstatement of judges, were offering a procedure which would make that possible, he told Polish independent news channel TVN24.

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Warsaw expects to get blocked EU funds within 'months' - Macau Business

HONG KONG SAR Media OutReach 20 May 2022 HONMA Golf Limited (HONMA or the Company, together with its subsidiaries, the Group; HKEx stock code: 6858), one of the most prestigious golf brands worldwide, announced today that the Group has named the renowned artist Li Yifeng as its brand ambassador in China. The new collaboration marks a milestone for the 65-year-old brand to further promote the spirit of golf to a wider audience and to inspire new participation in the sport of golf across China.

Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador

Founded in 1959 in Japan, HONMA is one of the most prestigious and iconic brands in the golf industry, synonymous with intricate craftsmanship, dedication to performance excellence and distinguished product quality. Its beautifully hand-crafted golf equipment carries a distinct reputation in both premium performance and magnificent artistry and has been prized by golf aficionados for decades.

As one of the most popular singers and actors in mainland China, 35-year-old Li Yifeng is an idol to millions and garners great acclaim from the public for his sporty and stylish appearance, healthy and positive lifestyle and outstanding versatility in acting and music. He is known to be a pure perfectionist and always pushes the envelope of what is possible which perfectly aligns with HONMAs brand philosophy.

Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x BERES 5-Star golf club

On the occasion of celebrating HONMAs 65th anniversary, HONMA and Li Yifeng are delighted to present the 65th anniversary limited edition SAKURA DANCE club series that has been designed specifically for lady golfers in Asia. SAKURA DANCE blends the elegant design of fashion and art with state-of-the-art golf club manufacturing techniques. Together with the club set comes a luxurious gift bag that contains a full set of golf apparel, balls and other accessories from the same series, making it an all-inclusive set for even the most novice of golfer to confidently take to the course. The SAKURA DANCE series is expected to give rise to more outdoor-loving lady consumers taking to the fairways.

65th Anniversary Limited Edition Series of HONMA SAKURA DANCE

Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x SAKURA DANCE luxurious gift bag

While the public enthusiasm in wellness and outdoor sports continues to grow, the golf industry in China is also embracing unprecedented development and new participants. Consumer demand for professional and fashionable sports equipment and apparel has boomed significantly. As a well-established brand in golf, HONMA is boldly exploring and innovating to fulfill the constantly evolving consumer needs. The collaboration between HONMA and Li Yifeng is designed to breakdown the golf stereotype of being a business-oriented sport, aiming to broaden the brands reach to a wider spectrum of sports enthusiasts and the younger generation who aspire to an active and quality life, and to encourage them to pick up a club and experience the healthy, green, elegant and natural lifestyle of golf.

Mr. LIU Jianguo, Chairman of the Board, President and Executive Director of HONMA Golf Limited, said, HONMA has never ceased innovating and exploring, always maintaining its finger on the pulse of the latest generation of consumers. As the brand marches into its 65th anniversary, we are excited to collaborate with such an outstanding and talented artist as Mr. Li Yifeng. We believe that with HONMAs distinctive brand and products and Mr. Lis strong public influence, together we could inspire more of the public to participate in this healthy outdoor sport and contribute to the further development of the golfing community in China.

Moving forward, HONMA will continue to build its brand awareness around the growing number of sport-loving and sophisticated consumers in China as well as in other major golf markets and adhere to a multi-channel strategy across all product lines, creating a diversified 360-degree immersive brand experience for golfers around the world. We will strive to create long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders as we grow into the worlds leading golf lifestyle brand, LIU added.

HONMA is one of the most prestigious and iconic brands in the golf industry. Founded in 1959, the Group utilizes the latest innovative technologies and traditional Japanese craftsmanship to provide golfers around the world with premium, high-tech and the best performing golf clubs, balls, apparels and accessories. HONMAs products are sold in approximately 50 countries worldwide, primarily in Asia and across North America, Europe and other regions. The Group was successfully listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 6 October 2016 (SEHK stock code: 6858). As the only vertically integrated golf Group with in-house design, development and manufacturing capabilities, a strong retail footprint in Asia and a diverse range of golf clubs and golf-related products, HONMA is perfectly positioned to continually grow its business in Asia and beyond, benefitting from the return of golfers in mature golf markets such as the US and Japan and from increased participation in golfs new and under-penetrated markets such as Korea and China.

#HONMA

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HONMA Golf Names Li Yifeng as its Brand Ambassador in China - Macau Business

The construction of a rainwater pump station and related drainage system is expected to start during the fourth quarter of 2022, the Public Works Bureau (DSOP) recently announced.

The project is operated in the hopes of combating regular flooding in the area. Due to its low-lying geographical nature, the Inner Harbour District inevitably becomes a water collection site in the event of heavy rain.

To achieve this, the DSOP hopes that the construction of underground rainwater vaults, pumps and upgraded drainage pipes will help handle rainwater that cannot be discharged to the sea because of geographical challenges.

Officially known as the Inner Harbour Rainwater Pump Station and Drainage Project Phase 1, the tender for the development work is opening for bids.

Expecting construction to commence before the end of this year, the DSOP has set the maximum delivery period at 510 working days.

In the hopes of ending or easing regular flooding in the District, the government has compiled plans to build similar facilities along the western coast of the Macau Peninsula. The first, second and the third phases of the project will focus on Rua do Dr. Lourenco Pereira Marques, Rua das Lorchas and Rua do Almirante Sergio, in no particular order.

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Construction of Inner Harbour pump station and pipes expected in Q4 - Macau Daily Times

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was selected as a key development area of the biomedicine industry in Guangdong Province, officials announced at a recent press conference of the Medical Products Administration of Guangdong Province.

As stated in the General Plan for Building the Hengqin Cooperation Zone, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), one of Macaus signature businesses, will be a major industry in Hengqin.

The Hengqin-based TCM Science & Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation Between Guangdong & Macao has also become an important platform for the local TCM industry.

It is currently home to over 220 companies, of which 54 are Macau-funded enterprises involved in the fields of TCM, cosmetics, healthcare products, medical devices, and medical services.

In addition, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Summit on High-quality TCM Development, as well as the Biomedicine & Health Industrial Cluster Innovation Conference (Hengqin) will also be held in Cooperation Zone permanently.

Guangdong has also been increasing its opening-up level to Hong Kong and Macau in sectors like finance, law, architecture, and tourism. For instance, the quota for vehicles from Macau entering Hengqin has increased by 10,000. Guangdong has now become the first choice of entrepreneurship on the Chinese mainland for Hong Kong and Macau youths. Staff Reporter

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TCM to be a major industry in Hengqin: Zone Plan - Macau Daily Times

Japans core consumer prices posted their biggest jump in seven years in April, official data showed Friday, as global commodity prices soared and the yen slumped against the dollar.

The core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food, jumped 2.1 percent year-on-year, according to figures released by the internal affairs ministry.

It was the first time since March 2015 that the figure has breached the 2.0 percent set by the Bank of Japan as its long-term inflation target.

The reading, against market expectations of 2.0 percent, follows a 0.8 percent rise in March, which was already the fastest increase in more than two years as oil prices soared.

And excluding energy, prices were up 0.8 percent in April, against market expectations of a 0.7 percent rise.

That was the first positive figure since July 2020, underpinning the impact of skyrocketing energy costs which have been magnified by higher import prices.

After years of price stagnation, some manufacturers and stores in Japan who rely on imported resources have begun to raise prices.

Last month, the Bank of Japan hiked its full-year inflation forecast but cautioned that it sees rising prices, driven by a surge in commodity costs partly caused by the Ukraine war, as a temporary and volatile trend.

Despite climbing prices and a slump in the yen to a 20-year low against the dollar, the Bank left its ultra-loose monetary policy unchanged.

The bank argues that the price rises are not likely to last and therefore do not mean its inflation target has been achieved.

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Japan inflation hits seven-year high - Macau Business

A giant Donald Trump mural on the front lawn. An anti-Biden rap video. A TV ad featuring an assault rifle and a vow to do whatever it takes to restore America to its former glory.

It isnt campaigning as Lincoln or Kennedy knew it, but it worked for midwestern underdog candidate J.R. Majewski, and analysts worry it could be a glimpse of future US primary election seasons in a country that is losing its moderate political center.

Establishment Republicans in Majewskis northwest Ohio swing district where he is vying to win a US House seat in Novembers midterm elections spent six-figure sums trying to get more moderate rivals nominated.

But the Trump-backed air force veteran and conspiracy theorist won anyway, seeing off more favored state lawmakers after being endorsed by Paul Gosar, a far-right congressman.

In South Carolina, another Trump-endorsed hopeful, Katie Arrington, has called for disbanding the US Department of Education, President Joe Bidens impeachment and the arrest of government Covid-19 advisor Anthony Fauci.

She is challenging first-term Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace, who is out of favor with Trump after blaming him for the 2021 US Capitol assault.

The races are early fronts in a battle already playing out in Republican and Democratic primary contests across America, as establishment politicians find their hopes of representing their parties in the midterms threatened by more extreme challengers.

In Pennsylvania, state senator and election denier Doug Mastriano, who helped Trump try to overturn the states 2020 results that favored Biden, swatted away several less controversial Republicans Tuesday to win the partys nomination for governor.

But Trump, whose status as political kingmaker is being tested, also experienced setbacks Tuesday including in Idaho, where his favorite gubernatorial candidate Janice McGeachin, who reportedly said this month that Christ will reign in the state, lost to the incumbent.

In coming weeks Republican moderates, pragmatists and compromisers will face Trump-backed culture warriors in several races, in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina and Washington.

Across the aisle, Pennsylvania state congresswoman and community organizer Summer Lee, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist, was narrowly leading the field after Tuesdays primary to replace retiring moderate Mike Doyle.

She is backed by Justice Democrats, the group that sponsoredleftist New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezsfirst campaign and is sending a new generation of leftist legislators to Washington.

Ocasio-Cortez is the most prominent member of the so-called Squad a group of staunchly progressive Democrats poised for gains in seats and influence in November despite the partys likely loss of the House of Representatives.

As many as six Squad-aligned candidates have realistic chances of winning House seats this cycle, against more middle-of-the-road Democrats.

The numbers sound small, but lawmakers on the fringes tend to have outsized influence on political discourse because they make all the noise and attract attention.

The Common Ground Committee, which campaigns to reduce incivility in politics, says it observed a coarsening of public discourse following 2008s global financial meltdown.

There seems to be an increasing level of vitriol generated by a winner-take-all attitude in Congress that actively discourages working with those across the aisle and is exacerbated by the highly polarized cable news media, co-founder Bruce Bond told AFP.

Many things have come together to encourage polarization and people need to stop supporting it.

A Pew Research Center analysis found Democrats and Republicans are further apart today than at any time in the past 50 years.

In 1972, 144 House Republicans were less conservative than the most conservative Democrat, and 52 House Democrats were less liberal than the most liberal Republican, according to the analysis.

But that common ground began to shrink, and since 2002, there has beennooverlap at all. In the Senate, that overlap ended in 2004.

The polarization has changed American public opinion from a bell-shaped curve where most voters and the parties were in the center to a bimodal curve with the center of the two parties drifting apart and ideologically purifying, political scientist David Schultz told AFP.

The professor, who teaches at Minnesota liberal arts college Hamline University, believes economic restructuring, race, social issues and technology are driving the diversification with Trump merely the personification of trends already occurring.

Progressive political consultant Zee Cohen-Sanchez blames the cash that has flooded politics in recent years, incentivizing candidates to carve out controversial positions that gain attention and funding.

Because our elections have become astronomically expensive, people seek to make fast money rather than raising money from everyday Americans, Cohen-Sanchez said.

Thats where things get dangerous.

by Frankie TAGGART

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US midterms and the strange demise of the political center - Macau Business

The UK government said on Thursday it is slapping further sanctions on Russias main airlines by barring them from selling landing slots they are already banned from using.

State-owned Aeroflot, Russias largest airline, Ural Airlines and Rossiya Airlines will now be unable to sell their unused, lucrative landing slots at UK airports, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The move will prevent Russia from cashing in on anestimated 50 million (59 million euros, $62 million), it added.

The UK has already banned Russian aircraft and vessels, and sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and 100 entities, since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in late February.

As long as Putin continues his barbarous assault on Ukraine, we will continue to target the Russian economy, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said.

International sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine mean that Russia is heading for the deepest recession since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the statement said.

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UK hits Russian airlines with fresh sanctions - Macau Business

The WHO said Tuesday that epidemic overweight and obesity rates are linked to over 1.2 million deaths annually across Europe, calling for swift policy changes to reverse the dangerous trend.

Obesity rates in the region have ballooned by 138 percent in the past five decades, the World Health Organization said in a new report, and are linked to a series of cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Nearly a quarter of adults are now obese in Europe, higher than in any other region except the Americas, the WHO said.

Overweight and obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions across the region and are still escalating, the health bodys European office said.

Raised body mass index is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, WHO regional director Hans Kluge was quoted saying in the report.

Obesity causes at least 13 different types of cancer and is likely responsible for at least 200,000 new cases of cancer per year, it said.

This figure set to rise further in the coming years, the organisation said in the new report.

Excess weight and obesity are estimated to cause more than 1.2 million deaths per year, accounting for more than 13 percent of deaths in the region, it added.

The latest comprehensive data available, from 2016, shows that 59 percent of adults and nearly one in three children 29 percent of boys and 27 percent of girls are overweight in Europe.

In 1975, 40 percent of European adults were overweight.

The prevalence of obesity among adults has risen by 138 percent since then, with a 21-percent increase between 2006 and 2016.

The Covid-19 pandemic is also linked to growing waistlines, especially as lockdowns promoted an unhealthy diet or sedentary lifestyle, the report found.

It also revealed further health risks associated with excess weight.

People living with obesity were more likely to experience severe outcomes of the Covid-19 disease spectrum, including intensive care unit admissions and death, Kluge said.

The authors also noted that the causes of obesity are much more complex than the mere combination of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.

Environmental factors unique to modern Europes highly digitalised societies are also drivers of obesity, it said, including the marketing of unhealthy foods and online gaming especially among children.

The WHO called for policy changes to prevent obesity and promote healthy lifestyles, such as taxing sugary drinks and subsidising healthy foods while limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

Policy interventions that target environmental and commercial determinants of poor diet at the entire population level are likely to be most effective at reversing the obesity epidemic, it stated.

The WHOs European region comprises 53 countries, including several in central Asia.

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WHO warns of obesity 'epidemic' in Europe - Macau Business

Lea had no problems breastfeeding her newborn son when she took him to see an osteopath in Paris, who nonetheless recommended surgery to cuta too thick strip of tissue under his tongue.

She said the osteopath indicated that we dont really know why, but its always better to have it cut.

The procedure, which is used to treat a condition called tongue tie that can make breastfeeding painful, has exploded in popularity in recent years but doctors warn it is often unnecessary, backed by little research and being pushed by for-profit consultants without medical training.

Called a frenotomy, the simple procedure involves snipping the thin band of tissue that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.

Frances National Academy of Medicine warned last month that this aggressive and potentially dangerous procedure for newborns and infants has seen a spectacular increase throughout the world.

A 2018 study found that the diagnosis of tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, had increased more than 10-fold in numerous countries in just a decade.

The increased awareness of the condition propelled a surge in procedures to fix it a report in Australia found that the number of frenotomies increased by 420 percent from 2006 to 2016.

Lyndsay Fraser, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon in Scotland, told AFP that there were potentially significant risks from the procedure and that in her opinion it has no evidence base and should not be routinely offered.

Fraser said she believed its rising popularity has been driven by mothers finding information on the internet often factually incorrect and driven by private industry as well as extreme pressure on mums to breastfeed and our inclination as a society to medicalise every difficult aspect of childcare rather than just providing support.

The procedure can be useful when tongue tie directly causes problems during breastfeeding. However breastfeeding pain can be due to a range of issues.

Many mothers are disappointed to be told there is no tongue tie and therefore no quick fix to the feeding issue, Fraser said.

Many will see private practitioners who will then divide a tongue tie for a sum of money.

Virginie Rigourd, a paediatrician at a Paris hospital, said that osteopaths and breastfeeding counsellors had contributed to the rise in frenotomies.

The website of one French breastfeeding counsellor claims that not having a frenotomy jeopardises breastfeeding and the health of both babies and mothers, offering a 100-euro ($105) training course on the subject.

Its not something new, its been going on several years now, Rigourd said.It probably started in the United States and Canada and spread.

There is a return to breastfeeding but there is also a lack of well-trained staff to inform mothers, so there are also increasing problems like mothers finding breastfeeding painful, Rigourd added.

Cochrane, a British organisation that reviews medical research, found that existing research on the procedure had serious methodological shortcomings.

No study was able to report whether frenotomy led to longterm successful breastfeeding, Cochrane said.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, a global organisation of doctors, last year lamented the lack of high-quality evidence-based studies.

It said that frenotomy can be an effective way to increase maternal comfort and breast milk transfer by the infant, but the decision to undertake the procedure requires a high level of clinical skill, judgement and discernment.

However the procedure is still being offered to mothers without breastfeeding issues.

Lea turned down her osteopaths suggestion of a preventative frenotomy in 2018, but said she understood how other new parents might give in to the pressure.

You want whats best for your child if someone tells you that having part of your childs tongue cut is best, even for no obvious reason, you go for it, she told AFP.

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Experts sound alarm over baby tongue surgery - Macau Business

The Russian army said Tuesday its forces and pro-Moscow separatists were using artillery and planes to target Azovstal, the steel plant in the city of Mariupol where Ukrainian fighters are making their last stand.

The Russian defence ministry accused members of the Azov battalion and other Ukrainian troops of using a pause in fighting to once again take up their combat positions at the plant.

Using artillery and aircraft, units of the Russian army and the Donetsk Peoples Republic are beginning to destroy the firing positions of the Ukrainian troops, the defence ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

Mariupol is among the most battered cities in Ukraine.

Kyiv said more than 100 civilians were evacuated over the weekend from the sprawling Azovstal plant, the last holdout of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol, where soldiers and civilians have been sheltering in a maze of underground tunnels.

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Russia says targeting Azovstal plant with 'artillery and planes' - Macau Business