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You are listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing.
Macao's gross gaming revenues slumped 38 percent year-on-year to 19 billion patacas, roughly 2 billion U. S. dollars, in April.
The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said it is the 11th consecutive monthly fall that the local gambling industry has suffered since high rollers steered clear of the casino hub.
The total gaming revenues stand at an equivalent of 10 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months this year; that's down by 37 percent from a year earlier.
Macao has seen a sharp drop in gaming revenues since last June, with its gross domestic product shrinking by half a percentage point.
However, according to Macao's Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac, Macao's economy remained sound as a whole. The city will accelerate the strategic adjustment of the economic structure and promote diversified development.
More than 4,500 people from 38 countries and regions have challenged themselves in a tower running competition in Taipei 101, the landmark skyscraper of Taipei city.
Poland's Piotr Lobodzinsky won the men's group with 11 minutes and 8 seconds, while Australian Suzy Walsham led woman runners with 13 minutes and 16 seconds.
The annual event's sponsors offered a special award of 38,000 New Taiwan Dollars, roughly 1,200 U.S. dollars, for each of Taiwan's male and female champions this year to encourage local runners.
The awards finally went to Kuo Chun Ku and Chiu Li-Ching, who clocked 12 minutes 53 seconds and 19 minutes 39 seconds respectively.
Participants in Sunday's event were required to climb up 2,046 steps, around 390 meters in height, to the building's 91st floor.
56-year-old Kuo Jin Hor has participated in the competition every year since it was initiated in 2005. He said he was happy with his time of 24 minutes, commenting that as long as he's physically capable, he will continue to take part in the event.
The 510-meter-high Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world until 2010.
