2022 CTBC Invitational Golf Tournament to kick off in Kaohsiung

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- CTBC Bank will host the 2022 CTBC Invitational, an annual women’s golf tournament at the Kaohsiung Golf and Country Club from Dec 29, with total prize money of NT$5 million up for grabs. (NT$100=RM14.37)

In a statement, the bank said the three-day tournament is open to the public for free and it can also be watched online or on television via Facebook and YouTube.

The CTBC lady golf stars namely, Teresa Lu, Cheng Ssu-chia, Hou Yu-sang, Vivian Hou, An Ho-yu, Jessica Peng, June Ting and Heather Lin are among the 64 players from Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand to vie for the championship and the top prize of NT$1 million.

Addressing the pre-tournament news conference on Dec 26, CTBC Holding vice chairman, Thomas Chen said that CTBC has been working on five areas of welfare focus namely charity, anti-drug, sports, education, and arts and culture.

“Through sponsorship of various sports such as golf, baseball, basketball, and e-sports as well as a long-term investment in charity, anti-drug, arts, and education, CTBC encourages and supports disadvantaged young people and students in Taiwan for them to have more opportunities to achieve their dreams in life,” said Chen.

CTBC has hosted the women's golf tournament since 2012, and this year is the first time it will take place in Kaohsiung, where a star-studded lineup of players is set to compete.

-- BERNAMA

FOR INSTAGRAM CHECK-IN: THE MOST HEARTWARMING FESTIVE LANDMARKS IN HONG KONG

 

Brought to you by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the city’s tallest outdoor Christmas tree sits centrestage at the romantic Christmas town in West Kowloon Cultural District harbourfront. 

HONG KONG, Nov 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The winters may be gentle in Hong Kong, but the festive spirit here shines bright in the region. Heartstring-tugging, romance-inviting Christmas décor is just part and parcel of the whole holiday experience — and here are five dazzlingly Instagrammable spots that you and your beloved friends and family should not miss in the coming weeks:
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221125005081/en/ 

Hong Kong WinterFest – The Tallest Outdoor Christmas Tree in Town

This holiday season, an over-20-metre, gloriously lit Christmas tree sits centrestage at the romantic Christmas town in West Kowloon Cultural District harbourfront — the heartland of Hong Kong WinterFest — brought to you by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Featuring music and special twinkling lighting effects, the city’s tallest outdoor Christmas tree, paired with gorgeous panoramic views of the world-famous Victoria Harbour, will be tempting your smartphone camera. Don’t forget to visit Christmas Wonderland during the Christmas period, where Christmas-themed lodges await you to embark on a fantastic Christmas journey.

Date: 25 November 2022 – 1 January 2023

Venue: Harbourside Lawn West, West Kowloon Cultural District

Harbour City – A Shimmering Fantasy Fairyland

One of the largest shopping malls in town has turned into a “Unicorn Merry-Go-Round Paradise” this year, leading visitors to the land of fairytales. Walking through the Ocean Terminal Forecourt, visitors will be surrounded by a myriad of sparkling Christmas trees, both earth-bound and sky-high. Also not to be missed: the Unicorn Merry-Go-Round Palace, featuring hundreds of glamourous star-like lights hanging from the ceiling: the best photo spots for your Instagram post!

Date: 17 November 2022 – 2 January 2023

Venue: 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Lee Tung Avenue – Asia’s Largest Disco Ball Decoration

It’s all about the glitz and glam this festive season at Lee Tung Avenue. Asia’s biggest disco ball — at 7 metres tall, and covered in over 2000 mirror pieces — hovers over the Avenue’s tree-lined walkway, while golden hits from the 70s and 80s blast through the air.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=44857

Chiping Black Pottery, a magic art spanning thousands of years

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Over the last three decades, Chinese archaeologists have undertaken four excavations at the Longshan Culture Site in Jiaochangpu, Chiping, where a variety of almost 1,000 pieces of pottery, stone and bone relics have been unearthed.

Among them, the three pottery kilns excavated in 2001 remain the most complete cluster of Longshan Culture in China, constituting a valuable source of cultural relics for research into the socio-economic patterns of that period.

Research by archaeologists has found that the abundant black potteries treasured in the Chiping District Museum in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, were produced some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago during the Longshan Culture Period.

“They are elegant in shape, simple in pattern and mysterious in origin,” according to the Information Office of the Chiping County People's Government in a statement.

The raw material of Chiping Black Pottery is the pure and delicate red clay soil beneath the unique riverbed of the Yellow River. 

Chiping Black Pottery is fired in an age-old Sealing-Smoking-Carburizing process after first undergoing numerous steps including manual washing, jiggering, drying, trimming, calendering, engraving and polishing. 

To inherit and develop such a Chinese treasure as black pottery, Chiping Black Pottery makers have, since the mid-1990s, dedicated themselves to examining the techniques of the black pottery craft, enabling the establishment of the Liaocheng Black Pottery Academy, followed by the Chiping Taoyuan Black Pottery Art Co Ltd.

-- BERNAMA

Intercultural Innovation Hub calls for projects promoting inclusive, diverse society

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The Intercultural Innovation Hub, a joint initiative between the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group, is calling for projects that promote an inclusive and diverse society.

In a statement, UNAOC said organisations promoting diversity, integration and social inclusion are invited to become part of the hub and benefit from comprehensive support to expand the social impact of their projects.

The Intercultural Innovation Hub is focused on supporting projects that promote gender equality, counter violent extremism, hatred, and prejudice, and advocate for art, culture and sports as vectors for social cohesion and diversity via financial support for sustainable growth.

It also provides a one-year capacity-building programme and membership to the “Intercultural Leaders” community.

To leverage the social impact of the selected projects, up to 10 finalists will receive up to US$20,000 each to help their initiative scale up sustainably, UNAOC said. (US$1=RM4.74)

In addition, UNAOC and BMW Group, with the support of Accenture, will provide the recipients with a year-long series of capacity-building workshops and customised support.

Interested organisations should submit their applications before Dec 2, 2022, at www.interculturalinnovation.org.

Since 2011, UNAOC and the BMW Group have worked with leaders and organisations from around the globe to tackle intercultural challenges through social innovations.

-- BERNAMA

Sun Hung Kai Properties' Hong Kong Cyclothon returns on Dec 18

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The highly anticipated Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon is making a return after four years this Dec 18, announced the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

In a statement, it said thousands of cyclists, comprising professional athletes and cycling enthusiasts, would buzz through the streets of Hong Kong as the cosmopolitan city is transformed into a racetrack for the 50km and 30km ride, as well as four other races.

The most popular event, which is the 50km ride that will start and finish on Tsim Sha Tsui’s Salisbury Road, will see participants crossing three bridges and three tunnels in the city, including the spectacular Tsing Ma Bridge.

The route will take the cyclists through Mongkok, the heart of the city, to the outlying island of Tsing Yi, providing an exclusive opportunity for the participants to enjoy the city’s signature cityscape, surreal nature and accessible infrastructure, it said.

It also stated that Hong Kong has kicked off a strong line-up of popular international sports and entertainment events earlier this month, including the “New World Harbour Race” with over 1200 swimmers making a splash in one of the world’s busiest harbours with the backdrop of Hong Kong’s spectacular cityscape.

In addition, the “2022 Hong Kong Sevens” is returning to Hong Kong Stadium from Nov 4 to 6.

In the flagship sports event of the city, 16 international men’s teams, including Hong Kong, will compete in this year’s tournament at Hong Kong Stadium with the popular national teams of Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, Team Great Britain and Samoa.

Tickets are already on sale for the soon-approaching landmark event, as Hong Kong prepares to welcome the city’s most thrilling weekend of the year.

-- BERNAMA

Xctuality unveils Singapore’s first homegrown Metaverse platform

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Xctuality recently announced the launch of Xctualyfe, Singapore's first homegrown Metaverse platform.

According to a statement, users can connect from around the world, interact and have fun together in uniquely designed and well-thought-out virtual environments.

For the past two and a half years of Xctualyfe's development, the platform’s virtual experiences have shown to present their capabilities and artistic style.

In early 2022, Xctuality showcased local Kampong Glam with snapshots featured on Channel NewsAsia sporting the Xctualyfe design and can be navigated using virtual reality (VR).

Thereafter, a series of projects was launched and with the most significant being an entire virtual world developed dedicated to Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP).

Users can now register and visit a variety of virtual worlds in Xctualyfe, including the NDP experience, to socialise and earn rewards.

Additionally, Xctualyfe users can host up to twenty friends in personal virtual homes called Lyfespace to communicate and mingle.

With further gamified features and activities awaiting to be developed and activated, Xctualyfe looks ahead to innovate and create an exciting Metaverse platform that bridges communities around the globe.

More details at https://xctualyfe.com.

-- BERNAMA

Anaqua announces executive leadership changes in Asia-Pacific

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Anaqua, the leading global innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology provider, has announced changes to its executive leadership team in the Asia-Pacific region as it continues on its long-term growth trajectory.

Shinji Tokunaga has joined Anaqua effective Sept 1, 2022, as President & General Manager, Japan, while Karen Taylor, General Manager, Asia Pacific, will be leaving the company, having led Anaqua’s growth in the region for over five years.

“I want to thank Karen for her leadership and commitment to our customers, colleagues, and stakeholders,” said Anaqua chief executive officer (CEO), Bob Romeo in a statement.

“Karen has been influential in developing our business and positioning Anaqua for future growth as well as serving as a member of our global leadership team.

“We are very pleased to have someone with Tokunaga-san's extensive experience leading the business and overseeing our next stage of growth and investment in Japan,” said Romeo.

Meanwhile, Tokunaga said: “Anaqua is an impressive company, and I am excited to join the team. Intellectual property is a critical asset for companies, and we have a great opportunity to help our clients derive more value from their portfolios.”

Tokunaga most recently served as Representative Director and CEO of Global Open Network Japan Inc, where he led the entire operation, and the development and commercialisation of a new payment service platform business using blockchain technology. 

Anaqua’s global operations are headquartered in Boston, with offices across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.

-- BERNAMA

Mary Kay Inc highlights global sustainable strategy at Prague conference

“Because of our global footprint, we know our moral imperative is to continue Mary Kay’s legacy of doing the right thing – today, tomorrow, always. We are focused on efficient manufacturing operations by reducing our environmental impact and identifying opportunities for resource improvement. We are challenging ourselves to further entrench sustainable practices in our business through product development, design, responsible sourcing, and mitigation of plastic pollution,” said Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic and Slovakia. (Photo Credit: Mary Kay Inc.)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- In late June, Mary Kay Inc has sponsored the Sustainable Future International Conference, which took place at the historic Martinic Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Thought leaders, experts, businesses, and non-profit executives from several industries descended on the historical grounds to share, network, and educate audiences on innovative and sustainable standards to successfully implement in the fight to preserve the world’s precious resources for current and future generations.

Mary Kay Inc, a long-time advocate for sustainability, preempted the event by announcing its new sustainability strategy in 2021: Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.

Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow was developed with the company’s key stakeholders and is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, making Mary Kay a key part of a global coalition to effect change for a better future.

“Mary Kay’s global sustainability strategy, Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow, is anchored in the three dimensions of sustainable development—economic, environmental, and social,” said General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic and Slovakia, Edita Szaboova in a statement.

“Because of our global footprint, we know our moral imperative is to continue Mary Kay’s legacy of doing the right thing – today, tomorrow, always. We are focused on efficient manufacturing operations by reducing our environmental impact and identifying opportunities for resource improvement.”

The Sustainable Future International Conference was organised by Startup Disrupt, a global marketplace for startup companies that want to help a new generation of startup founders, engineers, developers, tech innovators, and others to succeed.

The event focused on the topics of smart cities (infrastructure, development), electromobility (e-mobility, energy & renewable resources, economy & policy), sustainable business (environment, taxonomy, sustainable finance), and sustainable life (agrotech, food waste, fashion disrupt, smart farming).

The next summit hosted by Startup Disrupt will take place in the Czech Republic on Sept 13 at Clam-Gallas Palace in Prague. The summit’s theme is Diversity which will bring together more than 50 keynote speakers from a variety of Czech and global brands. 

-- BERNAMA

THE UNITED NATIONS TO HOST ANNUAL WORLD OCEANS DAY EVENT (8 JUNE) WITH THE 2022 THEME REVITALIZATION: COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR THE OCEAN

The United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, sustainability advocate Amber Valletta, oceanographer Sylvia Earle, economist Ralph Chami, World Champion sailor Lisa Blair, and others will speak at the event produced with the contribution of Oceanic Global and made possible by La Mer

New York, New York, June 9 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday 8 June, the United Nations will host its annual World Oceans Day celebration with the 2022 theme Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean. Produced by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs with the contribution of non-profit organization Oceanic Global, and made possible by La Mer, United Nations World Oceans Day 2022 (UNWOD) will feature keynote speeches, panels, presentations, and performances kicked off by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly. The day’s programming will also include leading voices such as sustainability advocate Amber Valletta, International Monetary Fund economist Ralph Chami, World Champion sailor Lisa Blair, deep sea explorer Sheena Talma, and Michelin-star chef Shinobu Namae to name a few. While United Nations World Oceans Day has been fully virtual since 2020, this year’s celebration will once again bring together UN delegates and thought leaders from around the world for an in-person gathering at UN Headquarters in New York. The event will also be open to the public by live stream from 10am -13:30pm (EDT) on the United Nations World Oceans Day website (www.unworldoceansday.org) with the content reshared on the social channels @unworldoceansday.   

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=43367

ZOOM HIRES MATTHEW SAXON AS CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) today announced that Matthew Saxon will join the company as its Chief People Officer, effective immediately. Saxon brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources and people operations. He was most recently the Vice President of People Operations at Meta, and previously was Senior Vice President of Compensation, HR Operations, and Shared Services at Humana. Saxon will lead Zoom’s people experience team and report to Aparna Bawa, Zoom’s Chief Operating Officer.

Zoom has experienced rapid growth in its workforce to meet the demands of its customers and business worldwide. Saxon will help Zoom’s continued growth and help scale all elements of the organization including culture, organizational design, talent acquisition, engagement, training and development, employee experience, and infrastructure.

“Our Zoomies are at the core of everything we do, and we know that having the right leader in place to help shape the future of Zoom’s workforce will allow us to better serve our customers’ evolving needs. We are excited to welcome Matthew, who has a deep understanding of the complexities today’s workforce is facing, and we are confident that his skill set will help elevate and strengthen Zoom as we navigate the next phase of work together,” said Bawa.

“I was drawn to Zoom’s clarity in its core value of care. It is obvious in everything the company does, but most importantly, it’s clear the leadership team genuinely cares about employees. Zoom has completely transformed the way people and businesses connect, and I’m excited to help drive the company forward by elevating and advocating for our employees. Together, Zoom will continue to lead and demonstrate how companies can thrive to drive successful business outcomes,” said Saxon.

About Matthew Saxon
Matthew Saxon leads the People Experience team at Zoom, ensuring that the core value of Care is reflected in the company’s approach to benefits; compensation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; recruitment; culture; and employee experiences. He brings with him over two decades of experience in the HR field, serving most recently as Vice President of People Operations at Meta, where he helped develop the strategic people roadmap and led the delivery of programs and services supporting significant increases in headcount and company growth. He was also Senior Vice President of Compensation, HR Operations, and Shared Services for Humana Inc., and held several leadership positions at Motorola, Inc., including Vice President of Total Rewards and Vice President of Human Resources for Asia Pacific and Middle East.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. Zoom is a space where you can connect to others, share ideas, make plans, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for large enterprises, small businesses, and individuals alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ:ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Candace Dean
Corporate PR Lead
press@zoom.us 

Source: Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

--BERNAMA