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A dramatic drop in testing for Covid-19 has left the world blind to the viruss continuing rampage and its potentially dangerous mutations, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.

The UN health agency said that reported Covid cases and deaths had been dropping dramatically.

Last week, just over 15 thousand deaths were reported to WHO the lowest weekly total since March 2020, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

While this is a very welcome trend, he warned that the declining numbers could also be a result of significant cuts in testing for the virus.

This makes us increasingly blind to patterns of transmission and evolution, Tedros said.

When it comes to a deadly virus, ignorance is not bliss.

William Rodriguez, who heads the global diagnostics alliance FIND, also decried that many governments in recent months simply stopped looking for Covid cases.

Speaking at the press conference hosted by WHO, he pointed out that in the past four months, amid surging Covid cases from the Omicron variant, testing rates have plummeted by 70 to 90 percent worldwide.

The plunging testing rates came despite the fact that there is now more access to accurate testing than ever before.

We have an unprecedented ability to know what is happening, Rodriguez pointed out.

And yet today because testing has been the first casualty of a global decision to let down our guard, were becoming blind to what is happening with this virus.

The Covid-19 pandemic has officially caused more than six million deaths since the virus first surfaced in China in late 2019, but the true toll is believed to be at least three times that high.

While many countries have been removing measures and trying to move back to a semblance of normality, the WHO stresses that the pandemic is still not over.

This virus wont go away just because countries stop looking for it, Tedros said, pointing out that it is still spreading, it is still changing, and it is still killing.

He cautioned that the threat of a dangerous new variant remains very real.

And although deaths are declining, we still dont understand the long-term consequences of infection in those who survive.

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Testing cuts leave world 'increasingly blind' to Covid spread: WHO - Macau Business

HONG KONG SAR Media OutReach 27 April 2022 Two years into the pandemic, owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in South and Southeast Asia are optimistic about their future economic and business growth prospects and plan to expand this year. But many highlight a gap between how well protected they are and the risks they currently face, according to the Sun Life Asia Business Growth and Resilience Index.

The index is based on a Sun Life survey of around 2,400 SME business owners in seven Asian markets: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam in late 2021, which found:

The pandemic has created tremendous challenges for businesses over the past two years, so we are glad that business owners now see a more positive outlook for 2022, said Jay Sala, Head of Strategy, Investment Management & Client Impact, Sun Life Asia. We produced the Sun Life Business Growth and Resilience Index to better understand how confident business owners feel about their growth prospects and how resilient their business is in this highly uncertain environment. It shows that SME business owners have a healthy level of optimism for improved growth prospects this year, but this is counterbalanced with the knowledge that they are still more vulnerable to some risks than they would like, particularly the impacts of the pandemic. Successfully navigating the turbulence requires equal measures of planning for growth and building resilience.

Growth Index shows optimism for the future

The Sun Life Business Growth Index analyzes the sentiment of business owners towards the general economic situation, their financial position and growth plans in 2022. It found Asian business owners are optimistic about growth prospects in 2022, with a score of 65 out of 100 for Asia overall.

Business owners in Indonesia (76) and India (74) are most optimistic about the outlook, while entrepreneurs in Singapore (62) and Hong Kong (51) are more cautious. Manufacturing industries including automotive (75), chemical & petroleum (74) and mining (72) are highlighted are particularly positive compared to others.

Resilience Index shows resilience is borderline

The Sun Life Resilience Index is based on business owners perceptions of the severity of 15 business risks and their preparedness for managing them. It shows Asian business owners feel they sit on the borderline of resilience with a score of 55 out of 100 for Asia overall.

Business owners in Indonesia (60), Philippines (56) and Malaysia (56) feel they are somewhat better prepared for business risks than those in other markets such as India (53) and Hong Kong (52).

According to the survey, pandemic and health-related risks are the most severe challenge for business owners, however less than half of respondents were using risk mitigation tools to build resilience to health risks. Only 46% of respondents have personal health and accident insurance, 34% had employee health and accident insurance, and just 20% had key man insurance in place.

Sala said, Many SME businesses still face a health risk protection gap. Proactively taking action to mitigate the impact of these health risks can build greater resilience in business operations and provide owners and employees with greater security and ultimately peace of mind. Sun Life can help business owners to build greater resilience so they can navigate the uncertain environment and achieve their growth ambitions. We partner with our Clients for impact, helping them to secure their financial future and build a legacy that will last for generations.

The study found the Covid 19 pandemic has had a disparate impact on SME businesses. While almost half (46%) report their business suffered a negative impact in the pandemic, one fifth reported a positive change in performance. Owners who experienced a positive impact were more likely to have innovated and adapted their strategies such as by adding new distribution methods, virtualizing the business and offering new products. By contrast, owners who experienced negative performance often used price and workforce reductions and delayed investments to overcome challenges.

In the Philippines, 33% of owners experiencing a positive impact from the pandemic had adopted new distribution methods, compared to 22% of owners suffering negative effects. In Singapore, 27% of owners who experienced a positive impact had virtualized aspects of their business, compared to 14% who experienced a negative impact. In Malaysia, 21% of owners with a positive performance had adapted and offered new products, compared to 11% of those whose businesses were negatively affected.

Sala said, The results show that adaptation and innovation have played a decisive role in helping businesses capture new opportunities in a rapidly changing environment, and digitalization is at the core of many successful SME strategies.

To know more about the index details, please click here.

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2021, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.44 trillion. For more information please visit http://www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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SME Businesses seek growth and greater resilience in 2022: Sun Life - Macau Business

The United States said Tuesday it remained committed to talks with North Korea despite its provocations even as it seeks through the United Nations to tighten sanctions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, overseeing a military parade following recent tests, vowed to accelerate his nuclear program rapidly as he watched tanks, rocket launchers and intercontinental ballistic missiles pass by late Monday.

We do remain open to engaging in diplomacy and dialogue with the DPRK on ending its nuclear program, State Department spokesman Ned Price said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

But we also have an obligation to address the recent provocations that weve seen from the DPRK including its two recent ICBM launches, he told reporters.

Price said that Kims statement confirms our assessment that the DPRK constitutes a threat to international peace and security and to the global non-proliferation regime.

President Joe Bidens administration has repeatedly offered dialogue with North Korea, which has shown little interest in working-level talks after Kims three high-profile meetings with Bidens predecessor Donald Trump.

But diplomats say that the United States has also looked at seeking a cost on North Korea for its actions including its test-fire last month of an ICBM, its first since 2017.

A draft Security Council resolution presented earlier this month by the United States and seen by AFP would tighten sanctions including by reducing from four million to two million barrels the amount of crude oil North Korea would be allowed to import each year for civilian purposes.

The resolution, presented to all 15 Security Council members, would also impose restrictions on new exports by North Korea including of mineral fuels and clocks.

But a diplomat said that China, North Koreas closest ally, and Russia, whose relations with the West have rapidly deteriorated over the Ukraine invasion, have so far refused any discussion on the draft resolution.

China and Russia both wield veto power on the Security Council although the two countries have agreed to some past UN sanctions after growing exasperated with North Korea.

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US says still open to N.Korea talks but eyes action - Macau Business

A Hello Kitty-themed amusement park and resort a project once proposed by Legislator and businesswoman Angela Leong On Kei for Macau will be built in the Haitang Bay area of Hainan island, Allin Media reported.

The project will be developed by Hong Kong group Keyestone Group and will spread over 52 acres and include a 250-room luxury hotel, for an estimated cost RMB4 billion (US$620 million) when completed.

Construction was already initiated started last month and the park is set to open in the second half of 2024.

If completed it will be the second in China after Anji in eastern Zhejiang province, which opened in 2015.

Legislator and businesswoman Angela Leong On Kei was the first to propose the development of a MOP10 billionHello Kitty Theme Parkin Macau, via its company Macau Theme Park and Resorts.

However, the project faced development snags after first applying for a license in 2014 due to changes in the local Land Law, and after being projected to be completed in 2018, the current Lisboeta resort ended up being developed on the land plot initially earmarked for the project instead.

Hos son and head of Macau Theme Park and Resorts, Arnaldo Ho Yau Heng, later revealed that the proposed Hello Kitty theme park project was repeatedly delayed due to a lack of government approvals.

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Hello Kitty-themed amusement park once touted for Macau to be built in Hainan - Macau Business

Macau has announced a pilot scheme to allow the entry of Filipino non-resident workers in order to refill domestic helper positions, a first step towards allowing foreigners back into the city.

The scheme is aimed at providing assistance in the care of those aged 65-years or above, children aged 3 or below or those with illness. Applications must be submitted to the Labour Affairs Bureau which will check the applicants needs and provide a list of eligible employers to the Public Security Force.

Eligible workers as well as those receiving care must have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and if the second dose was administered more than seven months ago, a third dose is required.

Health officials explained that the pilot scheme was approved due to the Philippines ability to provide clear vaccination records for its citizens.

Aside from Filipino non-resident workers, Macau is also easing restrictions on the entry of foreign teaching staff such as Portuguese teachers, management staff of educational institutions and foreign university students.

All foreigners must still undergo 14-days of quarantine in a designated hotel plus another 7 days self-health management.

The policy comes as mainland China revealed it is reducing the quarantine period for international arrivals into eight cities Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Suzhou, Ningbo, Xiamen and Qingdao from 14 days to 10 in an encouraging sign that its strict border restrictions could gradually be eased in the coming months.

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Macau to allow entry of Filipino non-resident workers in first easing of international border restrictions - IAG - Inside Asian Gaming

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is planning to resume its promotional campaigns for Macau as a tourism destination, known as Macao weeks, in several mainland cities and provinces, the MGTO director said yesterday in reply to a media question on the sidelines of the press conference of the Light Up Macao Drone Gala 2022.

We hope that in the second half (H2) of this year we can resume our promotion with the Macao Weeks in different provinces. We have been forced to push the promotion events back a little due to the Covid-19 situation in several provinces on the mainland but we hope to get back on track soon, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said.

Also questioned on the cooperation between Macau and the mainland in regards to some of the events being hosted in Macau, she added that Macau has been in constant communication with mainland companies.

The Drone Gala is a case in point, since the drone team running all the performances comes from the neighboring city of Shenzhen. Senna Fernandes added that more cooperation is expected for the Macao Light Festival at the end of the year.

For the Light Festival, we are planning to partner with some Hengqin companies. We believe there is more room for cooperation with mainland companies, she concluded.

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Gov't to resume 'Macao weeks' on the mainland in H2 - Macau Daily Times

JOHOR BARU: Johor police recorded a spike in Macau scam cases with losses amounting to almost RM10mil within the first four months of this year.

State commercial crime chief Asst Comm Amran Md Jusin said from Jan 1 this year until Monday (April 18), there have already been 209 cases recorded compared to 90 cases in 2021, which is an increase of 119 cases.

The value of losses involved within the first four months of this year is RM9.5mil compared to RM2.8mil in 2021, which shows a spike of RM6.6mil, he said in a statement here Tuesday (April 19).

ACP Amran urged the public to always be vigilant and wary of receiving phone calls from an unknown number that would request personal information.

Usually, Macau scam syndicate members will disguise themselves as policemen, Inland Revenue Board officers or insurance agents.

"In this regard, the public is asked to be vigilant with the modus operandi used by the syndicate, which is to call the victim directly using an unknown telephone number or through an operator, he added.

ACP Amran said the victim would then be told to have tax arrears, before being instructed to call another number allegedly to speak to an enforcement officer before being asked to provide details regarding the victims account and the TAC number the transfer was made to the victim.

"All the money transferred by the victim will then be withdrawn through internet banking without the victim's knowledge," he said.

He advised the community to follow some tips provided to avoid becoming a victim of this Macau Scam syndicate.

Among the things that can be done is to ignore and not entertain anonymous individual phone calls, dont disclose banking information to any party and do not panic.

"This is because the police do not conduct investigations through phone calls. Apart from that, the public can also get relevant information by contacting any police channel provided," he said.

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Nearly RM10mil lost to Macau scams in Johor this year so far - The Star Online

Finlands parliament Wednesday starts debating whether to seek NATO membership, after Russias invasion of Ukraine sparked a surge in political and public support for joining the bloc.

Despite Russia warning of a nuclear build-up in the Baltic should Finland and neighbouring Sweden join the military alliance, Finlands prime minister said that her country would now decide quickly on whether to apply for membership.

I think it will happen quite fast. Within weeks, not within months, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said last week.

Sweden is also discussing whether to submit a membership bid following Russias February 24 invasion.

The 200 MPs in Finlands Eduskunta last week received a government-commissioned white paper that assessed the implications of NATO membership alongside other security options, such as increased bilateral defence agreements.

The report did not make recommendations but stressed that without NATO membership Finland enjoys no security guarantees, despite currently being a partner to the alliance.

It said the deterrent effect on Finlands defence would be considerably greater inside the bloc, while noting that membership also carried obligations for Finland to assist other NATO states.

After two decades of public support for NATO membership remaining steady at 20-30 percent, the war caused a surge in those in favour to over 60 percent, according to opinion polls.

Public statements gathered by Finnish media suggest half of Finlands 200 MPs now support membership while only around 12 oppose.

Others say they will announce a position after detailed discussions.

The Finnish government said it hopes to build a parliamentary consensus over the coming weeks, with MPs due to hear from a number of security experts.

On Saturday, Finlands European Affairs Minister Tytti Tuppurainen said she believed a Finnish application was highly likely.

But the decision is not yet made, she told Britains Sky News.

However, the Finns seem to have already made up their mind and there is a huge majority for the NATO membership.

Many analysts predict Finland could submit a bid in time for a NATO summit in June.

Any membership bid must be accepted by all 30 NATO states, a process that could take four months to a year.

Finland has so far received public assurances from Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that NATOs door remains open, and support from several members.

President Sauli Niinisto saidRussias response could include airspace, territorial violations and hybrid attacks, which Finnish NATO proponents believe the country is well prepared to withstand.

Finland declared independence in 1917 after 150 years of Russian rule.

During World War II, its vastly outnumbered army fought off a Soviet invasion, before a peace deal saw it cede several border areas to Moscow.

The Nordic nation remained neutral during the Cold War in exchange for Soviet guarantees not to invade.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Finland firmly aligned itself with the West, by joining the EU and becoming a close partner of NATO.

Successive Finnish leaders shied away from full membership believing that military non-alignment was the best way to maintain working relations with the Kremlin.

by Sam KINGSLEY

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Finnish MPs begin deciding whether to join NATO - Macau Business

Ukraine said Tuesday it had got back 60 soldiers and 16 civilians in a prisoner swap with Moscow, without giving details on how many Russians went home in the exchange.

Today we exchanged 60 servicemen, including ten officers. Sixteen civilians are also returning home, Kyivs deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram.

She said it was the fifth prisoner exchange between the two countries since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24th.

As in previous prisoner swaps, she gave no details on how many Russians were exchanged.

The prisoner swap came as Ukraine says Russia has launched a major fresh offensive in the east of the country.

Last week Kyiv said it had returned 30 prisoners of war by an order of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky has offered to swap pro-Kremlin tycoon Viktor Medvedchuk, arrested by Kyiv after escaping house arrest, for Ukrainians captured in Russia.

On Monday Kyivs security services aired a video of Medvedchuk asking his ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelensky to exchange him in return for an evacuation of civilians and troops from the besieged port city of Mariupol.

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Ukraine says received 76 prisoners of war in swap with Russia - Macau Business

Director of the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the SAR, Fu Ziying, has said that Macau has seen progress and effective measures put in place to ensure its part in safeguarding national security.

Fu, also the National Security Affairs Adviser of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security, called on the Macau public to adhere to bottom-line thinking, [and to] fully implement the holistic view of national security, consistently carry out national security education, and diligently fulfil its constitutional responsibility in relation to safeguarding national security.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Exhibition last week, Fu said that Macau residents should fully grasp the significance of safeguarding national security; strengthen the citys legal and implementation mechanisms for safeguarding national security; and pass on the core value of loyalty to the country and to Macau.

The Liaison Office would spare no effort in supporting the MSARs work in safeguarding national security and in promotion of national security, he said.

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, pledging that the government would spare no effort in adhering to the holistic view of national security; and safeguarding the countrys sovereignty, security and development interests, with a view to continuing the successful implementation of the One country, two systems principle with Macau characteristics.

He also remarked that Macau had been able to attain progress in safeguarding national security, while keeping in place regular Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control measures. Such progress included ensuring the fundamental principle of patriots governing Macau; strengthening the basis in society and the political system of the One Country, Two Systems principle; optimising the work-, legal-, and implementation-related systems for safeguarding national security; and stepping up promotion and education effort.

This years National Security Education Exhibition features more than 420 images and a number of videos. It has six sections, each with its own theme. They include: great achievements in the countrys development; adherence to the holistic view of national security and continuous optimisation of the national security system; and remarkable achievements of national security in the new era, with a focus on preventing and solving major risks.

Other themes include the promotion of steady progress in the implementation of the One country, two systems principle with a spirit of strengthening the foundation for consolidation thereof, and of tackling challenges head on; and the work of forging ahead diligently for further contribution to overall national development. The work of passing on to new generations the torch of patriotism for the country and for Macau and the advancement of a unified effort to safeguard national security are also included.

The exhibition at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, until May 15.

Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak has said that stipulations regarding criminal procedures should be expected in the review of the National Security Law, for which the public consultation should be expected by the end of this year. Wong added that the current version promulgated in year 2009 is quite simple due to the social conditions of the time. Procedural stipulations are crucial in the perspective of law-enforcement, Wong remarked. The government has repeatedly warned of national security risks to the city. When asked for an explanation, Wong reiterated that risks do exist, but that no disclosure of them can be made due to confidentiality factors.

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Liaison Office: Macau has effective measures to ensure safeguarding national security - Macau Daily Times