China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Friday hosted a variety of events across the city to mark the 100-day countdown to the opening of the 15th National Games of China.
At the iconic Ruins of St. Paul's, the "100-day countdown fitness walk" started with enthusiasm.
Hundreds of participants set off in high spirits, walking through Macao's historic streets all the way to Senado Square, where vibrant performances followed to liven up the celebration.
At Macao's Iao Hon Market Park Square, a lively evening gala was held to mark the countdown.
Lion dances, sports demonstrations, and singing performances brought the celebration to a climax.
"It's incredibly exciting that the National Games will be co-held in Macao for the first time. As a local, I feel so proud to be volunteering for this event. I wish all athletes great success in Macao, and I warmly welcome everyone to visit our city for the competitions and tourism!" said a resident of Macao.
"We're thrilled that the country has given Macao this opportunity to co-host such a major event. We welcome all national athletes and visitors to experience Macao's vitality. Together, let's make this a 'Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area'!" said another resident of Macao.
Earlier in the day, the licensed merchandise retail store for the Macao competition zone of the 15th National Games officially opened at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, offering a range of official merchandise, including plush toys, commemorative badges, daily necessities, and handicrafts.
"We want to bring the National Games atmosphere into every neighborhood, ensuring that every Macao resident feels connected to this event. This isn't just a government initiative, it's an event for all citizens to participate in," said Pun Weng Kun, director of the preparatory office for Organizing the Macao Competition Zone.
Co-hosted by Guangdong, the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, the grand games will take place from Nov 9 to 21.
Macao marks 100-day countdown to National Games with citywide events
Iran has started reviewing a plan on establishing new arrangements and a legal framework for the Strait of Hormuz, said a spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Monday.
At the meeting, a partially reviewed and approved action plan on ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf was placed on the agenda.
Once the committee completes a full review, the plan will be submitted to the Iranian Parliament's plenary session for deliberation.
On Monday, Britain-based maritime analysis firm Wenward said that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has shifted to a dual-channel system, consisting of the northern channel controlled by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a new southern channel along the coast of Oman.
The company's analysis report showed that on April 5, a total of 11 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, including three entering the strait and eight exiting the strait.
All incoming vessels were oil tankers and outgoing vessels included both oil tankers and cargo ships. Outbound traffic was distributed across the two routes: five vessels passed through the northern channel, and three chose the southern channel, the report said. The report said that the northern channel remains under the control of the IRGC near Larak Island. Meanwhile, the southern channel has formed along the Omani coast, allowing vessels to pass outside the original control zone.
The report suggests that recent changes in strait transit patterns indicate that military control is proceeding in parallel with emerging diplomatic coordination mechanisms.
It said that on April 2, following the opening of the southern channel, three vessels passed through, including two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and one liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier -- the first time an LNG carrier has transited the strait since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on Feb 28.
From April 3 to 5, the number of vessels passing through the southern route was two, four, and three, respectively.
The report said that the pace of development of the shipping route indicates that it has rapidly evolved from limited initial use to a standardized and coordinated navigation route.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, prompting Iran to retaliate against Israel and U.S. military bases and assets in the Middle East.
As a result of the conflict, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route, has dropped significantly.
Iranian parliament starts reviewing plan on Strait of Hormuz management
