UNCOVER HONG KONG'S HERITAGE THIS MAY WITH CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND ALL-NEW PYRO & DRONE SHOWS

^{Photo credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board}


HONG KONG, April 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- As the weather heats up this May, so does Hong Kong’s calendar of world-class cultural happenings. International visitors are invited to join in the diverse array of vibrant cultural festivities taking place around the city, including the debut of spectacular new pyrotechnic and drone shows, offering guests the chance to experience Hong Kong from a different perspective.

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Highlighting four unmissable cultural experiences suitable for the whole family, Hong Kong promises an unforgettable journey into its rich heritage:

Cheung Chau Bun Festival: Where Tradition Meets Vibrancy
 

Piu Sik Parade and Bun Scrambling Competition Date: 15-16 May 2024 Location: Cheung Chau

Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a captivating day- celebration marking the end of spring. This unique festival, known for its distinctive local traditions, attracts thousands of visitors and locals alike each to witness papier-mâché effigies, lion dances performance and more.   The highlight of the daytime events is the Piu Sik Parade, where local children dressed up as deities showcasing their costumes and skills parading on stilts. This colourful procession sets the stage for the much-anticipated Bun Scrambling Competition. This fast-paced scramble, which auspiciously begins at the stroke of midnight, sees participants daringly ascend bun-covered towers to seek good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

Tin Hau Festival: An Ode to the Sea
 

Date: 1 May 2024 (23rd day of the third lunar month)   Key events: Yuen Long Tin Hau Festival Procession Location: Yuen Long Shap Pat Heung Tin Hau Festival in celebration in Sai Kung Location: Sai Kung Town Tin Hau Temple Complex Cha Kwo Ling Tin Hau Festival Location: Cha Kwo Ling

The Tin Hau Festival, listed as part of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, holds great significance for many local communities as it honours the birthday of Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea and protector of fishermen. The vibrant festival showcases colourful religious rituals, dynamic dragon and lion dances, captivating parades, and traditional performances held across different parts of Hong Kong.   Some communities also organise Cantonese opera shows as a gesture of gratitude, while the festival spirit is further enhanced by the exchange of "Fa Pau", large floral tributes made of bamboo and paper.

Buddha’s Birthday: A Day of Enlightenment
 

Date: 15 May 2024 (8th day of the fourth lunar month)   Key events: Po Lin Monastery’s Buddha Bathing Ceremony Date: 9 – 15 May 2024 Location: Po Lin Monastery 2024 'Buddhism in Every Step: Environmental and Spiritual Preservation’ – the Celebration Carnival for Buddha’s Birthday Date: 15 May 2024 Location: Victoria Park

A time of reflection, spiritual renewal, and cultural appreciation, Buddha's Birthday in Hong Kong is an inclusive celebration, offering enriching cultural activities for all to enjoy and embrace, regardless of their faith.   Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the city buzz with activity on this auspicious day. The Po Lin Monastery, situated on Lantau Island and home to the iconic Big Buddha, hosts grand celebrations including a public Buddha bathing ritual. The Buddha's Birthday Carnival features arts, cultural performances, and an array of stalls offering games, charity initiatives, and Asian cuisine.

Tam Kung Festival: Prayers for Safety and Favourable Weather
 

Date: 15 May 2024 (8th day of the fourth lunar month)   Key events: Tam Kung Festival in Shau Kei Wan Date: 15 May 2024 Venue: Shau Kei Wan

The Tam Kung Festival is a cherished cultural event that pays homage to Tam Kung, the deity of seafarers and fishermen.   In the vibrant neighbourhood of Shau Kei Wan and Wong Nai Chung, locals and visitors are gathered to celebrate the rich maritime heritage of the region. During the festival, the streets of the harbourside locale come alive with colourful processions, traditional lion dances, and thanksgiving opera performances. These celebrations create a vibrant and festive atmosphere that captivates all who attend. Devotees gather at Tam Kung temples to offer prayers and seek blessings for safety at sea and good fortune.

In addition to the traditional rituals and celebrations that take place during the aforementioned festivals, there is an exciting new addition that should not be missed.

Elevating Festivals: The Thrilling Drone and Pyro Show at Victoria Harbour

Officially starting on 1 May at Victoria Harbour, a captivating Pyrotechnic Display will kick off to welcome the month of cultural celebrations. This spectacular show promises to dazzle spectators with its innovative use of pyrotechnics. Notably, on 11 May, just a couple of days before the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Buddha's Birthday, and the Tam Kung Festival, the newly curated drone show will be launched over Victoria Harbour, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the festivities that resonate throughout the city. Make sure to witness these awe-inspiring displays that are poised to elevate the overall appeal of the celebrations, complemented by Hong Kong's breathtaking skyline as a captivating backdrop.

Travellers looking to immerse themselves in the richness of Chinese heritage and culture should book their trip to Hong Kong for May to experience this extraordinary and unmissable season of celebration.

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Contact

For media enquiries:
Ms Natalie Chan
Email: natalie.yt.chan@hktb.com

Source : Hong Kong Tourism Board

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI DAZZLES BARCELONA DURING THE BRIDAL NIGHT

BARCELONA, Spain, April 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The most exclusive fashion show of the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week charmed over 450 guests last night who enjoyed a unique show in the historic building of the Llotja de Mar. The Maison Giambattista Valli exclusively celebrated the runway debut of its bridal collection during the Bridal Night, the gala evening of the event organized by Fira de Barcelona with the support of the Catalan Ministry of Business and Labor.

In an extraordinary show, Giambattista Valli's 30 creations shone with their own light. It was a culmination of silhouettes, representing a comprehensive exhibition of Mr. Valli’s concept of contemporary bridal dressing, inviting his audience to witness the manifestation of his vision, translated into a presentation that embodies the essence of individuality, sharing a dream and a celebration and love.

The fashion show featured ten dresses from the third “Love Collection,” ten iconic silhouettes from the first and second “Love Collections” and ten Haute Couture creations, inspiring the magnificence and the savoir-faire of the Ateliers, stepping away from classic wedding rituals and focusing on the significance of the emotions of the “moment” and the joys of celebrations. Infused with the Maison’s idyllic aesthetic and excellence, Valli's dresses stood out with a contemporary edge, whether through clean lines, unforgettable volumes or unexpected details inspired by the personalities of an imaginary new group – Mr. Valli’s friends. This blend of classic and modern appeals to many brides worldwide looking for a unique wedding gown, in pure Valli style and tied to their own personal storytelling.

The prestigious designer was delighted after the show and said that, “I chose Barcelona and Bridal Fashion Week for the debut of my Love Collection 3 because it is an event that attracts a diverse audience of fashion enthusiasts, designers, buyers and media from all over the world, and provides me with maximum global visibility and opportunities for success.” He added, “In addition, Barcelona's romantic and cosmopolitan atmosphere matches perfectly with the theme of my collection, which celebrates love and romance.”

The Barcelona Bridal Night had a luxurious audience and front row, including it-girl, model and international fashion icon Olivia Palermo, model and countess Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck, stylist and designer Pelayo Diaz, actress Hiba Abouk, actress and model Blanca Romero, model Marco Llorente, and TV hostess and actress Marta Torné, among other personalities.

Images available here. 

For media requests please contact:

Salvador Bilurbina
email: sbilurbina@firabarcelona.com
phone: +34628162674 

SOURCE : Fira De Barcelona

Jeonju International Film Festival Kicks Off Next Month With 232 Works

_{The 25th Jeonju International Film Festival is to be held in Jeonju. (Photo: JEONJU CITY)} 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 (Bernama) -- The 25th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) will return next month in Jeonju, the most Korean city, with 232 independent, short, and alternative films from 43 countries.

Running from May 1 to 10, 162 feature and 70 short films will be screened, all chosen through competitive processes, in which this selection boasts 10 films each in the international competition, Korean competition, and a special category for barrier-free films.

The Film Festival Organising Committee Chairman, Woo Beom-ki said the Jeonju International Film Festival has grown to be a cornerstone cultural event in Asia.

"We aim to be a catalyst for the global film industry's growth, further solidifying Jeonju's position as a major player on the international film scene," he said.

According to a statement, JIFF is a beloved annual tradition in Jeonju, a major Asian tourist destination celebrated for its rich history and gastronomy, will present an enhanced programme this year to mark its 25th anniversary.

Themed "Beyond the Frame", this slogan captures the festival's commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues. Curating diverse programmes, venues, and events, JIFF fosters a network between independent filmmakers and the local film industry as well as upholds its unique spirit of exploration and innovation.

The opening film of the festival is Japanese director Miyake Sho’s "All the Long Nights" and will conclude with "Matt and Mara" by Canadian director Kazik Radwanski.

A special exhibition titled "See Again: 25+50" co-hosted with the Korean Film Archive, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is a highlight this year.

The exhibition showcases the early works of renowned Korean directors such as Ryu Seung-wan, Bong Joon-ho, Jeong Ji-woo, and Hong Sang-soo, alongside the latest digital restorations of classic Korean films, including "The Widow" (1955) by Korea's pioneering female director Park Nam-ok, and "Mist" (1967) by Kim Su-yong.

-- BERNAMA

AT OUR OCEAN CONFERENCE, GLOBAL FISHING WATCH WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE OCEAN MANAGEMENT

Key collaborations will bolster fisheries governance through greater transparency, data-sharing and policy reform


ATHENS, Greece, April 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Fishing Watch, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through transparency of human activity at sea, has announced three pioneering collaborations with Greece, Panama and the West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) in a bid to harness technology and data-driven solutions for enhanced transparency, improved fisheries management and greater ocean sustainability.

The partnerships, unveiled at the 9th Our Ocean Conference held in Athens, Greece, will leverage open data to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, promote sustainable fisheries management and enable marine protection through deepened engagement with governmental bodies spanning three continents. In addition, they will provide Global Fishing Watch the opportunity to highlight transparency as a critical marine management tool and advance policy reforms regarding the adoption of vessel tracking methods like automatic identification systems (AIS) and vessel monitoring systems (VMS), as well as regional data sharing practices. 

"Today’s announcements mark a milestone in our collaborative efforts to mobilize open data and technology in the fight against illegal fishing and toward improved global fisheries management,” said Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch. “More importantly, our expanding network of partnerships shows that governments and multilateral institutions are increasingly recognizing the role Global Fishing Watch can play in achieving better and more transparent ocean governance.” 

“Collaborative partnerships, political will and open data can drive tangible impact and help deliver lasting results for a sustainable ocean future for all,” Mr. Long added. 

Leveraging Technology for Ocean Action

Presented at an official conference side event co-hosted by Greece, the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and Global Fishing Watch, the partnership with Greece commits authorities to utilizing Global Fishing Watch’s platform, which provides visualizations and analysis of fishing activity, for critical support in bolstering the country’s marine protection efforts.

"Greece commits to establishing a scientific monitoring and surveillance system for all its marine protected areas that will be supported with advanced monitoring techniques and digital tools, such as remote sensing and automatic communication with sea vessels,” Dr. Petros Varelidis, Secretary-General for Natural Environment and Waters of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, confirmed. “The support of Global Fishing Watch and the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation will enable us to monitor fishing activity in near real-time.” 

A ‘significant step forward’ against IUU fishing

The Our Ocean Conference also welcomed a new partnership between Global Fishing Watch and the seven West African SRFC Member States comprising Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Through the new three-year agreement with SRFC, Global Fishing Watch will support Member States with analysis and generated insights to inform targeted monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) actions, bolstering countries’ abilities to manage activity in their waters and safeguard livelihoods and regional economic and environmental ecosystems. 

The 5,500 kilometer coastline of West Africa is home to some of the most diverse fisheries in the world and maritime activity plays a key role across the region. Indeed, fisheries and aquaculture directly contribute US$24 billion to the African economy, with the demand for fish expected to increase by 30 percent by 2030. Inadequate monitoring and enforcement, however, have led to rampant IUU fishing, with nearly 40 percent of fish caught illegally, resulting in substantial economic losses and environmental degradation.  

"The collaboration with Global Fishing Watch represents a significant step forward in the fight against illegal fishing in West Africa," said Dr. Khallahi Brahim, Permanent Secretary of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission. "By joining forces, Global Fishing Watch and the SRFC can help transform fisheries governance, protect marine resources and secure the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the fishing industry.”

The new partnership will work to ensure that SRFC Member States are fully equipped for better cooperation, monitoring and compliance, and also help establish cross-cutting initiatives with key stakeholders in ocean governance. The collaboration will pave the way for policy reforms and seek to establish AIS usage and data sharing as central pillars of SRFC Member States’ governance practices. It will also support government agencies in developing and retaining capacity to harness data and technology to strengthen management, including MCS, enforcement and marine protection. 

Charting a new era of ocean governance

Global Fishing Watch’s activity on the margins of the Our Ocean Conference also saw the renewal of an ongoing collaboration with the Government of Panama, first launched in 2019, aimed at building an improved, collaborative framework for data-sharing and policy development.  

The updated agreement reflects a deepened relationship between the two parties and a growing commitment to fisheries transparency. Supplementing the VMS data of its vast international fleet, which has been visible on the Global Fishing Watch map since October 2019, Panama will now share vessel data from its list of international licenses, including fishing licenses, areas of operation and information related to fishing support vessels. Over the next five years, Global Fishing Watch will also provide technical and data-driven assessments for the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama to help inform national policies and regulations related to fisheries management.

"We are pleased to announce the renewal of the memorandum of understanding with Global Fishing Watch in our tireless fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,” said Hamed Tuñón, General Administrator, Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama. “Our strengthened alliance reflects the continued commitment of both parties to protecting our oceans and preserving their biodiversity. Together, we will continue to use innovative technology and collaborative strategies to ensure the sustainability of our valuable marine resources." 

“Now, more than ever, the global community must rally behind landmark initiatives to protect our ocean, combat harmful practices, and achieve ambitious conservation targets such as safeguarding at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030,” Mr. Long concluded. “Achieving these critical commitments will be virtually impossible without Global Fishing Watch’s innovative ocean monitoring technology and expertise.”

Attachments

• Global Fishing Watch Map
• Technology for Good: How Innovation and Data Can Deliver Ocean Action

Kimberly Vosburgh
Global Fishing Watch
5185902979
KIMBERLY@GLOBALFISHINGWATCH.ORG 


SOURCE : Global Fishing Watch

SINGLESTORE ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH AGILE PLATFORM

Collaboration aims to enhance development and adoption of real-time, AI-driven solutions in dynamic Korean market


SAN FRANCISCO, April 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- SingleStore, the data platform that allows you to transact, analyze and contextualize data in real time, today announced an exclusive partnership with Agile Platform to bring real-time, AI-driven solutions to the Korean market. SingleStore's real-time data platform is designed for growing businesses dealing with modern applications, analytics, and AI — and its next-generation technology has been gaining significant traction in the APAC region.

Agile Platform is a data-specialized firm that offers various consulting services including those related to SingleStore to enable real-time processing, analysis, and visualization based on data, both on-premises and in cloud environments. Over the past five years, Agile Platform has been actively dedicated to exploring and expanding its presence in the Korean market, leveraging SingleStore. Through collaborations with various clients, Agile Platform has been recognized for its expertise and technical proficiency.

Having already established a strong presence in Korea, SingleStore is proud to have leading companies including Kakao, POSCO, LG Innotek, K Bank, Kiwoon Securities, SK Telecom, and many more as customers. These industry-leading organizations have adopted SingleStore's comprehensive data platform for a variety of use cases.

“With our deep understanding of the Korean market and extensive adjacent network, we believe we are the perfect partner to support SingleStore's expansion in APAC and bring its technology to even more Korean businesses, “ said JeongHee Han, CEO, Agile Platform. “This collaboration will enhance the data platform’s market presence but also offer Korean businesses access to a powerful, scalable solution that can effectively handle their growing data requirements.”

“South Korea ranks third globally in the number of AI patents. In addition, its recent commitment to invest 9.4 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) in supporting the local AI industry underscores the ripe market for genAI technologies. SingleStore, standing at the forefront of the AI revolution with its cutting-edge data platform, is poised to become the world's only platform capable of reading, writing, and reasoning on petabyte-scale data in milliseconds. With our strategic alliance with Agile Platform, it's an unparalleled opportunity to empower digital-native and cloud-forward Korean companies to accelerate genAI adoption, build AI-fronted applications, and enhance analytical capabilities,” said Sanjay Aurora, General Manager of APJ at SingleStore.

SingleStore has been on a fast-track leading innovation around generative AI much of this past year. In fact, the company was recently ranked number one in vector databases in 2024. To learn more about SingleStore or get started visit here.

Additional resources:

• Try SingleStore free
• Read the SingleStore blog to learn more about this partnership
• Follow SingleStore on X, LinkedIn and Instagram

About SingleStore

SingleStore empowers the world’s leading organizations to build and scale modern applications using the only database that allows you to transact, analyze and contextualize data in real time. With streaming data ingestion, support for both transactions and analytics, horizontal scalability and hybrid vector search capabilities, SingleStore helps deliver 10-100x better performance at 1/3 the costs compared to legacy architectures. Hundreds of customers worldwide — including Fortune 500 companies and global data leaders — use SingleStore to power real-time applications and analytics. Learn more at singlestore.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Jessica Rampen
Director of Communications & PR at SingleStore
jrampen@singlestore.com 

Source : SingleStore

CHINA'S FIRST BATCH OF IMPORTED WASHED FEATHER AND DOWN, PILOT GOODS FOR CUSTOMS CLEARANCE SUPERVISION REFORM, SUCCESSFULLY CLEARED CUSTOMS IN GUANGXI

 

Guigang Customs staff are inspecting the goods.

GUIGANG, China, Apr. 12, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

"The goods were shipped from overseas to Guigang and cleared customs in just eight days. This new model is 17 days faster than the traditional customs clearance via Hong Kong, significantly reducing time and economic costs!" said Yang Chaodong, General Manager of Jialu Feather Products Co., Ltd. in Guigang. On March 28, a shipment of approximately 18.5 tons of washed white duck feathers imported by the company through Qinzhou Port passed customs inspection smoothly after joint supervision by Qinzhou Port Customs and Guigang Customs, marking the successful implementation of the General Administration of Customs' pilot reform of imported washed feather and down customs clearance supervision in Guigang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

 

Tao Jianquan, Secretary of the Gangnan District Committee of Guigang City, introduced that the down industry is a traditional advantageous industry in the Gangnan District of Guigang. There are currently 170 feather and down processing enterprises, processing approximately 90,000 tons of feathers and down per year, accounting for about 28% of China's total feather and down processing volume and 18% of the world's total.

 

In recent years, Guigang has seized the opportunities of the construction of the Western Land-Sea Corridor, implemented a three-year action plan for industrial transformation and upgrading, in a bid to optimize the business environment and promote the upgrading of the down industry. As a result, a complete industry chain from primary feather sorting and processing to washed feather and down processing and down product processing has taken shape. In 2023, the total output value of the down industry in the Gangnan District of Guigang reached 4.7 billion yuan, according to the Publicity Department of Gangnan District. However, about 40% of the raw materials need to be imported from abroad, with an annual import demand of 30,000 to 50,000 tons. 

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KFSH&RC WELCOMES DR. BJÖRN ZOÉGA AS NEW DEPUTY CEO

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Björn Zoéga as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 01 April 2024. This strategic move is set to accelerate KFSH&RC's aspiration of becoming a leading healthcare institution on the global stage, leveraging Dr. Zoéga's notable career and proven track record of leadership in top-tier medical institutions.

As the former CEO of the internationally renowned Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, Dr. Zoéga played a pivotal role in upholding the institution’s high standards and global recognition as the second highest rated among European hospitals and seventh best worldwide according to Newsweek’s ranking of the World’s Best Hospitals 2024. His administration at Karolinska was marked by innovative strategies and excellence in healthcare delivery—all which he is posed to enrich within KFSH&RC.

Dr. Zoéga brings decades of healthcare management and clinical expertise to KFSH&RC, having spearheaded operations as CEO of the National University Hospital of Iceland and the Stockholm Spine Center. His experience and faculties in research and education are also invaluable, given his former roles as President and Board Chairman of the EU-Cervical Spine Research Society and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Alvotech.

As Deputy CEO, Dr. Zoéga will serve as chief lead of KFSH&RC’s healthcare delivery and research and innovation groups, following on the hospital’s commitment to integrating global best practices in healthcare and pursuing cutting-edge medical research and technology.

KFSH&RC extends its invitation to the community, partners, and stakeholders to welcome Dr. Björn Zoéga, as the institution embarks on a promising new chapter in healthcare, committed to fostering a brighter and healthier future for all.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Essam Al-Zahrani, Media Affairs Acting Head, 0555254429

Mr. Abdullah Al-Awn, Senior Media Editor, 0556294232

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a2fb3b5-9219-4e72-82fd-8f093f22996e  


SOURCE : King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre