GUANGZHOU, China, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From surgical robotics to compact massage furniture blending into modern interiors, and eco‑friendly personal‑care products leading a greener shift, a wave of innovation defined by high technology, lightweight design, and sustainability is reshaping the Health & Recreation category at the 139th Canton Fair.
Standing out from the displayed medical equipment, the new orthopedic and endoscopic surgical robots offer greater dexterity and precision, while a mobile capsule endoscopy system enables a painless 20‑minute stomach exam. Its cloud platform supports large‑scale, efficient gastrointestinal screening.
AI is also transforming medical training and diagnostics. Intelligent CPR evaluation systems now automate performance assessment, improving emergency‑response education, while high‑resolution virtual anatomy platforms offer realistic, data‑driven simulation environments. These innovations collectively lower the cost of precision care and expand access to advanced screening tools.
Traditional massage equipment is undergoing a notable shift toward lighter, more aesthetic designs. New “light‑massage” models reduce bulk by nearly a third while integrating entertainment features, wireless charging, and voice interaction. Blow‑molded structures and air‑pressure modules create softer, wave‑like sensations, allowing wellness devices to blend seamlessly into minimalist home spaces.
In maternal care and daily health monitoring, smart wireless thermometers equipped with medical‑grade sensors and cloud‑based apps provide continuous, 24‑hour temperature tracking, addressing the needs of new parents seeking real‑time reassurance.
Eco‑friendly materials and multifunctional design dominate the personal‑care and outdoor‑leisure products. New adhesive‑free cosmetic brush sets use mechanical fastening and biodegradable fibers, reducing environmental impact and storage volume. Natural plant‑fiber bath tools feature modular handles and dual‑mode usability, highlighting sustainable craftsmanship. Electric surf‑assist boards designed for both surface gliding and underwater propulsion, and multi‑sport bags engineered with lightweight waterproof materials and protective hard‑shell structures have also become highlights of the category.
The 139th Canton Fair shows how the boundaries of the Health & Recreation sector are rapidly expanding. Chinese manufacturers are now actively shaping the future of global well‑being.
MELBOURNE, Australia and INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, NASDAQ: TLX, “Telix”) today announces the publication of a new independent analysis of Phase 3 ZIRCON trial data in European Urology[1], demonstrating that TLX250‑Px (Zircaix®[2], 89Zr-girentuximab) PET/CT[3] imaging may be highly predictive of renal malignancy across all subtypes, not limited to clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
Recognizing that carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) expression is also observed in other renal cancer subtypes[4], this subsequent analysis conducted by international investigators who participated in ZIRCON Phase 3 trial[5], evaluated centrally reviewed imaging and pathology data to explore whether tracer uptake in renal masses correlated with malignancy beyond ccRCC.
The analysis demonstrated that positive PET findings were highly predictive of malignancy overall, including in non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC), with a reported positive predictive value (PPV) of 98% (95% CI, 96–99), sensitivity of 82% (95% CI, 82–90), and specificity of 87% (95% CI, 81–93). These exploratory scientific findings suggest TLX250-Px has applications beyond the detection of ccRCC in primary renal masses and may have implications to management of nccRCC.
Aboubacar Kaba, MD, urologist at the University of California, Los Angeles and corresponding author, commented: “This analysis shows that when TLX250-Px PET/CT is positive, it is highly predictive of renal malignancy, including beyond ccRCC. Thus, the utility of this test may be important in distinguishing more hypoxic, and therefore, aggressive disease from indolent tumors with clear treatment implications. This may provide an additional tool to aid in risk stratifying or guiding patient and clinician decisions in the treatment of renal masses.”
Dr. David N. Cade, Group Chief Medical Officer at Telix, added: “Publication of these data in European Urology reflects the scientific strength of the ZIRCON trial and the robustness of its central imaging and pathology review. While ZIRCON was designed to address ccRCC, this analysis supports continued evaluation of TLX250-Px PET imaging across a broader spectrum of renal malignancies, with potential application in the management of patients with non-clear cell RCC. Furthermore, essentially all false-positives for ccRCC in the ZIRCON study have now been shown to be other malignant kidney cancer subtypes, reducing the risk of overtreatment and further supporting clinical adoption.”
These findings are based on exploratory analyses and were not the basis of Telix’s Biologics License Application (BLA) submission for TLX250-Px, which focuses exclusively on detection of ccRCC in primary renal masses.
About TLX250-Px
TLX250-Px is a PET imaging candidate under development for the diagnosis and characterization of ccRCC, and included in leading international guidelines for renal imaging[6]. It works by specifically binding to carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a validated target protein expressed on >95% of ccRCC cells[7], to produce images with high tumor-to-background ratio and high intra- and inter-reader consistency.
Telix’s pivotal Phase 3 ZIRCON trial evaluating TLX250-Px in 300 patients, of whom 284 were evaluable, met all primary and secondary endpoints, including showing 86% sensitivity and 87% specificity and a 93% positive predictive value (PPV) for ccRCC across three independent radiology readers[8]. Telix believes this demonstrated the ability of TLX250-Px to reliably detect the clear cell phenotype and provide an accurate, non-invasive method for diagnosing and characterizing ccRCC.
ZIRCON-X, a noninterventional, prospective, post hoc study using imaging data from ZIRCON, found that almost half of all patients (48.6%) would have undergone a change in clinical management if imaged with TLX250-Px, compared with baseline standard-of-care (SOC) imaging, and that more than 20% could potentially have avoided an invasive biopsy[9].
For more on TLX250-Px and Telix’s theranostic kidney cancer program, click here.
TLX250-Px has not received a marketing authorization in any jurisdiction.
[8] Telix ASX disclosures November 7, 2022. Shuch et al. Lancet Oncology. 2024.
About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
Telix is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals with the goal of addressing significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne (Australia) with international operations in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland) and Japan. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX) and the Nasdaq Global Select Market (NASDAQ: TLX).
Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, ASX and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on LinkedIn,X and Facebook.
You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, or on our website.
The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to securities of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States. The information and opinions contained in this announcement are subject to change without notification. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any information or opinions contained in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements (as referred to below), whether as a result of new information, future developments, a change in expectations or assumptions, or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement.
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “outlook”, “forecast” and “guidance”, or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Telix’s good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect Telix’s business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix’s business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress, completion and results of Telix’s preclinical and clinical trials, and Telix’s research and development programs; Telix’s ability to advance product candidates into, enroll and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for Telix’s product candidates, including TLX250-Px, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; Telix’s sales, marketing and distribution and manufacturing capabilities and strategies; the commercialization of Telix’s product candidates, if or when they have been approved; Telix’s ability to obtain an adequate supply of raw materials at reasonable costs for its products and product candidates; estimates of Telix’s expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix’s financial performance; developments relating to Telix’s competitors and industry; the anticipated impact of U.S. and foreign tariffs and other macroeconomic conditions on Telix’s business, including as a result of war or other geopolitical conflicts; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix’s product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix’s actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Trademarks and Trade Names. All trademarks and trade names referenced in this press release are the property of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) or, where applicable, the property of their respective owners. For convenience, trademarks and trade names may appear without the ® or ™ symbols. Such omissions are not intended to indicate any waiver of rights by Telix or the respective owners. Trademark registration status may vary from country to country. Telix does not intend the use or display of any third-party trademarks or trade names to imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from those third parties.
GUANGZHOU, China, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 2, 2026, during the 139th Canton Fair, Walovi held the Global Partner Conference at its global headquarters on Guangzhou Bio-Island. Over 280 prospective agents, overseas government representatives, industry experts, supply chain partners, and investors gathered to witness Walovi’s latest push in globalization.
Attendees included Zhang Jiong (Vice President of Guangdong Chamber of Import & Export), Cheng Hongjin (Vice President of GPHL), Fang Dafeng (Chairman of Walovi Great Health), and Ye Jizeng (Vice President of Walovi Great Health).The conference targeted partners in 60–80 countries, and Walovi signed distribution agreements with partners from 10 countries across South America, Africa, and Central Asia, expanding its global network into emerging markets.
Cheng Hongjin outlined GPHL’s global strategy as three shifts: from “going out” to “going deep”, from “products” to “system”, and from “trade” to “ecosystem”. He stressed accelerating investment via five prongs, citing the Walovi Global Partner conference as a synergy example.
Fang Dafeng extended an invitation: “We believe that together we can integrate Eastern health wisdom into daily life worldwide, making Walovi a trusted health choice globally.”
Walovi outlined a comprehensive cooperation model featuring regional protection, marketing support, headquarters assistance, and tiered incentives, aiming to add partners in over 60 new countries and regions, especially along the Belt and Road.
The signing ceremony with ten regional distributors from retail, foodservice, and distribution channels marked a strategic extension of Walovi’s global sales network.
According to Frost & Sullivan, Walovi has ranked first globally in natural plant–based beverage sales for five consecutive years. It also leads in global bulk–pack beverage sales, China’s banquet channel, and China’s gift market. Over the past decade, overseas market scale has grown over 6.5 times, with a CAGR exceeding 25%. By deepening localization in markets like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia and launching the WALOVI international can, Walovi has built a global supply chain covering Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Ye Jizeng stated, “Internationalization is not just product export; it means local rooting.” As Walovi aims to become a world–leading natural plant–based beverage company, the conference sent a clear message: riding the global wave of healthy consumption, Walovi is ready to join hands with global partners to create value and win together.
SOFTSWISS, a global technology company providing software for the iGaming industry, celebrates two years of collaboration with Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America.
SAO PAULO, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Over the past two years of collaboration with Rubens Barrichello, SOFTSWISS has significantly strengthened its presence in Brazil. In Q1 2026, compared to Q1 2025, the B2B tech provider grew total bets by 65% and GGR by 64%.
2 Years of Partnership: SOFTSWISS & Rubens Barrichello
The company has also scaled its local presence from a single representative to a dedicated team focused on business development, account management, and marketing. This expansion improves client service, ensuring timely assistance and project delivery across the region.
As one of Brazil’s most recognised racing figures, Barrichello plays a key role in bridging the company with the local market, supporting educational initiatives and engaging with partners. He has also represented SOFTSWISS at major industry events, including Futurecom 2025 and BiS SiGMA South America 2026.
“I am pleased with our productive partnership. In our third year, our focus is on continuing to build on what we have started. I look forward to helping the team engage partners through racing experiences – it’s a way to share something personal while building real connections,” commented Rubens Barrichello.
Following several rounds of strategic sessions with C-level management, the company has defined key business objectives for 2026. One of the priorities is inspired by Rubens Barrichello’s multidisciplinary experience – delivering solutions faster to accelerate product development and improve productivity across business functions.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, commented: “As a lifelong racing fan, I know that in business, just like on the track, milliseconds can define success. Speed and precision matter even more over long distances. This is exactly what Rubens inspires in our daily work. It is this mindset that has helped shape our position in the industry and will continue to drive us forward.”
This focus is already showing results. In just two months, the SOFTSWISS team launched a new B2B product. It enables iGaming operators to offer event-based wagering on real-world events via a fixed-odds model, meeting evolving audience demand while staying within their familiar business domain.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects.
Over 100 historic shipwrecks have been uncovered at a strategic maritime gateway — and researchers warn they may be at risk of fading away.
The vessels were found on the seafloor of the Bay of Gibraltar, part of the narrow waterway linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, by researchers with Project Herakles.
The project, a joint venture between Spain’s University of Cádiz and the University of Granada, has been underway for six years.
Researchers have identified 150 underwater archaeological sites — the majority of which are shipwrecks, according to The Guardian.
The wrecks span centuries, from as early as the 5th century B.C. to World War II-era vessels.
A major research effort has uncovered dozens of shipwrecks in a key maritime corridor linking the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.(Felipe Cerezo Andreo; Project Herakles)
The vessels include 23 Roman ships, four medieval ships, and the engine and propeller of a plane from the 1930s, according to The Guardian.
The findings were “not a chance discovery,” said Felipe Cerezo Andreo, a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Cádiz — and the discovery took years in the making.
The archaeologist told Fox News Digital in translated comments that his team’s research has dramatically expanded what was previously known about the area.
“Before starting Project Herakles in 2019, only four underwater sites were known in the area; today we have information on more than 150 documented sites in just three years of work,” he said.
Project Herakles researchers used advanced marine scanning technology and historical records to locate and map the underwater sites.(Felipe Cerezo Andreo)
“They can now be studied, protected and shared.”
Researchers combined historical research with advanced technology to locate, map and study the wrecks.
“We began by analyzing historical archives, museums and interviewing the local community of fishermen and divers, who know the seabed better than anyone,” Andreo recalled.
Archaeologists then used advanced marine scanning technology to map the seafloor and locate buried shipwrecks, including magnetometers to “detect metallic anomalies.”
The shipwrecks range in age from the 5th century B.C. to vessels used during World War II.(Project Herakles)
Andreo said most of the recorded shipwrecks are from the 18th to 20th centuries — but older Phoenician, Punic and Roman vessels are also buried in the sands.
“The bay was a very important space in antiquity,” he said. “We have evidence of settlements such as Carteia and Iulia Traducta that used these waters as their main port.”
He added, “Although the more recent ships are more visible, beneath them lie Phoenician, Punic, and Roman wrecks that tell the maritime history of both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.”
The scale of the findings suggests the area holds a continuous record of maritime history, he said.
“A large portion of these 150 sites are at significant risk of deterioration.”
“This tells us we are not dealing with isolated shipwrecks, but rather a submerged historical archive that has recorded every commercial and military movement since antiquity,” said Andreo.
“The bay has functioned as a funnel of global history, and this is reflected in a seabed that preserves archaeological evidence.”
Most of the ships are in “critical” condition, he said — with the biggest threats coming from human activity, including port work, construction and looting.
“We have identified that a large portion of these 150 sites are at significant risk of deterioration,” he said.
Researchers are prioritizing non-intrusive documentation methods such as photogrammetry and 3D modeling to record the sites.(Alejandro Mañas)
An invasive algae called Rugulopteryx okamurae is “drastically altering the marine environment and hindering the preservation and study of the remains,” he said.
“That is why, in Herakles, we prioritize non-intrusive documentation, [such as] photogrammetry and 3D models, to record everything before it disappears, following UNESCO principles of in situ conservation,” he said.
The archaeologist stressed that the shipwrecks are still a living cultural resource, and that his team is “working to make this heritage accessible to everyone.”
“We want society to feel that these shipwrecks are their ‘museums beneath the sea.'”
The team is planning an underwater park and VR experiences, so that people can explore the shipwrecks without risking further damage to the sites, Andreo added.
“We want society to feel that these shipwrecks are their ‘museums beneath the sea,'” he said.
Dennis Cometti has been remembered for his genius wit, professionalism, kindness and his questionable fashion choices during a moving State Memorial Service for the legendary broadcaster.
Long-time colleague Bruce McAvaney was among the guest speakers in Perth as football fans got to say goodbye to the golden voice of Australian Rules football.
“I reckon he is in the make-up chair right now thinking, ‘Yeah, the fuss is pretty good’,” McAvaney quipped about his good friend.
“He inspired us. And every time someone’s spoken to me about Dennis, they’ve had that reflective smile.
“It is the measure of what he’s given so many Australians over the years, and that enduring gift does elevate him beyond the confines of a heaving football stadium or a television set.
“He has certainly entered our vernacular.
“His passing has had a profound effect on me.”
McAvaney marvelled at Cometti’s brilliance to match the rhythm of the moment.
And of course, there were the Cometti-isms.
“Often during a piece of commentary magic from Cometti, he would pivot slightly to the right and look me in the eye, just to give me that look, so that I knew that he knew how damn good that was,” McAvaney said.
In front of Cometti’s wife Velia, his daughter Ricki and son Mark, there were plenty of amusing and insightful stories about the great man.
Velia Cometti, wife of Dennis Cometti and children, daughter Ricki and son Mark. Credit: AAP
Like the time Cometti’s mother was left upset when he left his “secure” post office job to take up a role as a DJ at 6KY.
Another memorable Cometti story was his iconic call of Kieren Perkins winning gold from lane eight in the 1500m final at the 1996 Olympics.
“This is rare gold, the best type of gold,” Cometti said during his famous call.
Afterwards, Cometti went up to Perkins, looked him in the eye and said, “Kieren, I couldn’t have done it without you”.
Cometti’s quick wit and dulcet tones were a feature of his commentary and made him a household name.
‘Cometti-isms’ featured prominently during Monday’s memorial.
His “like a cork in the ocean, over his head” call to describe Peter Wilson’s snap-over-the-head goal in the 1992 grand final is part of West Coast folklore.
“Centimetre perfect” was echoed by schoolkids all over the country.
Cometti passed away in March. Credit: AAP
And who could forget the “he came up behind him like a librarian, he never heard him” to describe Heath Shaw’s desperate goal-line smother to deny Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 grand final replay.
But before that, Cometti was a player at WAFL club West Perth, and he later coached the Falcons for three seasons.
Ex-West Perth captain Les Fong remembered his former coach for his empathy, wisdom, and understanding of the game.
“And of course, Dennis had his style,” Fong said.
“He introduced fashion no coach before and since quite matched – the famous vest.
“Among the player group, there was always curiosity about what the coach would be wearing that day.”
Cook lauded Cometti as one of the most quoted Western Australians of all time, describing him as the Shakespeare of the AFL community.
And it was fitting McAvaney, who shared the microphone with Cometti for almost 450 matches, had the final word at Monday’s memorial.
“His legacy is permanent. He will always be with us. That’ll do. Thank you.”
Plenty turned out to pay their respect. Credit: AAP
Bruce McAvaney’s full speech
How many times have I been asked about Dennis, or someone has grabbed me in the street in the last eight weeks and wanted to talk to me about him? The commentator, the bloke, what was he like? But they always wanted to tell me what he did for them. We’ve talked about that already today, haven’t we? About the joy. The fact that he made us laugh. He inspired us. Every time someone has spoken to me about Dennis they have had that reflective smile.
It is the measure of what he’s given so many Australians, all of us in this room and everyone that might be watching right now, over the years. And that enduring gift, it does elevate him beyond the confines of a heaving football stadium or a television set. He has certainly entered our vernacular. How often we’ve laughed today at the Cometti-isms. How lucky was I standing alongside of him? They emerged without any hesitation at the most appropriate moment. And I’d think, how did he do it? I’d still be asking my question as he cemented yet another line into footy folklore.
We’ve said it before; he made footballers famous. We pride ourselves here in Australia at the quality of our sports broadcasters, there are many of them in the room today sitting right over there and I’m sure there’s many of them watching around Australia. Dennis unquestionably one of our finest and without doubt, the benchmark when it comes to Australian Rules Football.
He did have the perfect cocktail – and we’ve heard about that today. A player, a coach and that golden voice, that curiosity, a sense of fun, ego and generosity.
A few years ago, in a conversation I had with another truly great commentator in Tim Lane, we shared our admiration for Dennis’ ability to rise in sync with the match as it reached that crucial point. I can visualise it now. A prolonged, pivotal contest for ascendency on the wing of the MCG and Dennis’ voice quickening. His body was in rhythm with the action, the tone, the accuracy, the cadence. Sorry Dennis, it was centimetre perfect. It really was. And here I was, standing alongside of him.
His passing has had a profound effect on me. We shared a journey and for me, that was singularly the most extraordinary I’ve had in partnership with anybody else in my broadcasting career. Those Friday nights, we went about it very differently. Dennis would prepare by writing copious sentences as I was jotting down numbers. We never compared notes. We didn’t have a game plan. But I sort of knew, when he walked through the door of the studio with that carnival knee, that ungainly gait of his, that everything would be alright. That smile of this. That ability to say a lot without really saying too much. He had such a presence. In a funny way, he calmed us all. And yet as I got to know him, I realised he was going through exactly what I was.
He would sit to my left and call mainly off the monitor. I’m too small to do that, so I had to stand and use my binoculars. And often, during a piece of commentary magic from Cometti, he would pivot slightly to the right and look me in the eye. Just to give me that look so that I knew, that he knew, how darn good that was.
We were a similar age in our lives, similar stage. Both privately in the work that we did, we were so anxious both of us, in not delivering the right line at the right moment.
Once or twice a season, usually a few weeks after the Finals, we would meet for breakfast at a little café adjacent to the hotel. It was our time to check up on one another. Share our doubts, our desires, our ambitions. It was an opportunity to take a breath. It was at one of those meetings that Dennis gently suggested that I never look at social media chat. I sorely had to say, I took him for his word. It was a message well received.
In that final season that we worked together in 2016 at one of our summits, he lamented advising the Seven Network that this would be his last. He told me, don’t let them know. There’s only so many farewell laps you can do. It was a long, long season. In a funny way, he was a show-off, we all know that, but he wasn’t an attention seeker.
That grand final, the Bulldogs and the Swans will always be my favourite game of football. We knew that was the final time. A couple of years later we caught up in Perth and we did that reasonably regularly. We discussed exit strategies. I was still pretty much full-time and Dennis was still working but based here in WA. He talked to me about the importance of a soft landing. After the intensity of national commentary, it was important that he didn’t just stop completely. And then he paused and he looked me in the eye and he said, I may have retired, but I haven’t retired my ego. None of us ever do. It’s the hard trick for all of us. How do we stay relevant after you’ve been so important?
Right until the end, he had my back. I hope he knows I had his as well. We were colleagues, we became lifelong friends.
And finally to you V, I can speak with experience with Annie by my side today, how your judgment, intuition, unwavering support and understanding of the industry allowed Dennis to fulfill his potential.
We have been so lucky, all of us, to have heard the voice and to have met the man. His legacy is permanent; he will always be with us.
Abel Zhao, Group CEO and Executive Director of travel management group CSTS Enterprises, discusses the impact of the energy shock on travel demand, travel trends in China, and the rise of experiential tourism.
One Exhibition • A Dual Experience The exhibition combines an immersive multimedia section “Meet Mona Lisa” and a physical art section “Portraying the Renaissance”, taking audiences back to the glorious age of the Renaissance.
Exhibition runs from 1 May to 27 July 2026
HONG KONG, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and French May Arts Festival, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and French May Arts Festival, with title sponsorship from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and support from the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance” exhibition runs from 1 May to 27 July, 2026 at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Admission is free.
Centred on Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, the exhibition is divided into two main sections: Meet Mona Lisa and Portraying the Renaissance. Meet Mona Lisa is an immersive multimedia experience jointly produced by the Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif, specifically created for Hong Kong by a French creative team. The section presents the extraordinary 500-year journey of the Mona Lisa across six immersive chapters, narrated by the lady herself in a monologue that reveals the fascinating stories behind her mysterious smile. Visitors will learn how this painting – commissioned but never delivered to its patron, remaining in Leonardo’s possession until his death – went on to captivate the world and become a cultural icon. The six chapters include panoramic projections blending portraits and landscapes, interactive multimedia displays that introduce Leonardo’s painting techniques, playful games as well as an immersive photo booth, inviting audiences to step into the world of the Mona Lisa.
Portraying the Renaissance is curated for Hong Kong by the Musée national de la Renaissance – Château d’Écouen, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ateliers d’art de la Réunion des Musées nationaux – Grand Palais, and the Atelier de Chalcographie du Louvre, showcasing exceptional Renaissance artworks. Most of the artifacts are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including as a highlight four original manuscripts by Leonardo da Vinci, allowing visitors to appreciate up close an artistic style that masterfully blends scientific rationality with aesthetic brilliance. Through a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, prints, sculptures, decorative art, and everyday objects, visitors can glimpse how this surging humanist movement permeated every aspect of daily life. Also featured are three items from the collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, along with paintings by mainland Chinese artist Xu Lei that echo the aesthetics of Renaissance art, creating a dialogue across time and space and underscoring the enduring influence of a cultural movement that originated in 14th-century Europe.
Ms. Pansy Ho, Co-Chairman of the Board of French May said, “Over 33 years of dedicated development, the French May Arts Festival has grown into one of Asia’s most cherished annual cultural celebrations. It remains committed to serving as a bridge for cultural exchange between Hong Kong and France, bringing world-class artistic experiences to audiences from all walks of life. We are delighted to return to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum to proudly present two remarkable exhibitions, Meet Mona Lisa and Portraying the Renaissance, and to welcome everyone – families, students, art lovers and visitors from around the world – to discover one of the most iconic treasures of French cultural heritage. This is at the heart of what French May has always sought to do: make culture accessible to all, while highlighting Hong Kong’s unique status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”
Speaking at the ceremony, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Steward Nicholas Hunsworth said the exhibition offers an unprecedented hybrid experience, blending centuries-old legacy with immersive technology, and culminating with the vision of Asian artists as a bridge between East and West. The Club’s support for the exhibition, together with its role as the exclusive sponsor of The Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programme, reflects its commitment to nurturing talent, fostering arts appreciation and supporting cultural development in Hong Kong. It also aligns with the Central Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 15th Five-Year Plan.
Miss Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that under the theme “Re/naissance”, she is confident that the Festival will continue to offer an energetic platform for artistic innovation and the exchange of ideas, strengthening the cultural dialogue between France and Hong Kong in unprecedented ways, and drawing visitors who come specifically to experience the rich cultural programmes.
MrsChristileDrulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, remarked, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance stands as a compelling expression of our ambition to renew and share the relationship between France and Hong Kong more widely, as art continues to connect people across time and borders. This exhibition invites us to experience the Renaissance as a living dialogue between cultures, one that reflects the depth and vitality of our tie.”
Mr. VincentDelieuvin, Chief Curator of Italian Paintings in the sixteenth century, Musée du Louvre, said, “The immense fame of the Mona Lisa is an extraordinary and delightful phenomenon, but it has the consequence that it is difficult to see her, just like all the big stars. At the Louvre Museum in Paris, nearly 25,000 people come every day to admire the real Mona Lisa, but it is not possible to get close to it for security reasons and so that all her admirers can catch a glimpse of her. The Meet Mona Lisa exhibition offers the perfect opportunity to finally get up close to the Mona Lisa, admire her, and understand how and why she became the most famous work of art in the world.”
Dr. MatteoGianeselli, Curator and Art Historian, Musée national de la Renaissance, said, “Portraying the Renaissance offers a broad overview of European artistic creation between the 15th and 16th centuries, explored through the lens of portraiture. The exhibition explores Leonardo da Vinci’s place in contemporary creation through a dialogue with works from the Heritage Museum’s collections. This marks the first time that the Musée national de la Renaissance at Écouen has loaned works to a destination so far from France. On behalf of my director, who unfortunately could not join us today, I would like to warmly thank you for this rich collaboration—one that I hope is but the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”
Ms.Delphine deCanecaude,President, Grand PalaisImmersif, said, “With Meet Mona Lisa, co-produced with the Musée du Louvre, we presented a new iteration of an exhibition previously shown in Marseille. Its narrative is carried by Mona Lisa herself – a singular choice that shifts the visitor’s relationship to her entirely. Presenting Portraying the Renaissance alongside this immersive experience allowed us to contextualize da Vinci’s work. Curated by the Musée national de la Renaissance – Château d’Ecouen, the exhibition brings together exceptional loans from their collection and from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, alongside casts of Louvre sculptures produced by the Ateliers d’art de la Réunion des Musées nationaux – Grand Palais. We are deeply grateful to each of these institutions for their trust and generosity. We are also profoundly proud to bring this work to Hong Kong as part of the French May Arts Festival, and equally honoured that the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has opened its doors to these exhibitions.”
To honour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its 15th consecutive year of support for the French May Arts Festival, a series of educational and outreach activities including talks, workshops, free screenings, and guided tours, will be held throughout the exhibition period under the Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programmes, allowing the public to gain a deeper understanding of the captivating allure of the Mona Lisa and Renaissance art, and to experience the essence of French arts.
Credit: Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and French May Arts Festival Jointly organised by Hong Kong Heritage Museum and French May Arts Festival Title Sponsor: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Supported by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong
Meet Mona Lisa Jointly produced by Musée du Louvre and Grand Palais Immersif Scientific direction: Vincent Delieuvin Creative direction: Mathilde Adrien-Babillon
Portraying the Renaissance Curatorial expertise: Thierry Crépin-Leblond and Matteo Gianeselli Participating Organisations: Musée national de la Renaissance – Château d’Ecouen, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Ateliers d’art Grand Palais RMN and Atelier de Chalcographie du Louvre
Project Grant: Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Digital Display Partner: LG Electronics HK Sponsors: SOGO Hong Kong Company Limited, Wheelock Properties
About French May Arts Festival
Established in 1993, French May Arts Festival is one of the largest cultural events in Asia. With over 100 programmes presented across two months, we showcase the most diversified art forms – from heritage and contemporary art, paintings and design to classical music and hip-hop dance, cinema and circus. It has become an iconic part of Hong Kong’s cultural scene, reaching over 400,000 visitors each year.
French May brings the arts to everyone, not only in cultural venues, but also in public spaces, shopping malls and more, inviting everyone across Hong Kong to enjoy art in their daily lives.
With the aim of promoting accessible arts for all, French May places a strong emphasis on education through outreach programmes, guided tours, workshops, masterclasses and free performances. The festival strives to reach the widest possible audience and contribute to education of the young and less-privileged, working closely with over 50 local institutions and organisations to establish barrier-free access to the arts.
About Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Fund
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government sets up the Mega ACE Fund to attract and support international or large-scale arts and cultural events which bring significant arts, cultural or economic values and can be recurrent and anchored in Hong Kong, or events which can bring exceptionally significant arts or cultural merit, as well as publicity and image building values to Hong Kong as an arts and cultural hub with a view to contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an arts and cultural metropolis as well as a tourist destination, providing development opportunities for the arts, cultural and creative sectors, and facilitating arts and cultural exchange.
The Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to French May Arts Festival 2026 only, but does not otherwise take part in it. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the materials/activities (or by members of the grantee’s team) are those of the organisers of French May Arts Festival 2026 only and do not reflect the views of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Archaeologists in Egypt recently uncovered a massive statue believed to depict King Ramses II, the pharoah believed to be a major character in the Old Testament.
The statue was found at the Tel Pharaoh site in Husseiniya Center, Sharqia Governorate, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on April 22. The site is in Egypt’s Nile Delta, northeast of Cairo.
Officials also described the statue as “remarkable” in size, weighing between 5 and 6 tons and measuring over 7 feet long.
In a translated statement, the ministry described the statue as being in a “relatively poor condition of preservation,” with its legs and base missing.
Still, officials described the statue as “likely represent[ing] King Ramses II.”
The statue is believed to depict Ramses II, a ruler often linked by historians to Moses and the Exodus story. The excavation site is seen at left.(Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; Rischgitz/Getty Images)
Ramesses II, born in 1303 B.C., is considered one of the most influential and powerful Egyptian rulers of the New Kingdom era.
“[P]reliminary studies indicate the statue was transported in ancient times from the city of Pi-Ramesses to the Tel Pharaoh site, known in ancient times as ‘Imet,’ to be reused within one of the religious complexes, reflecting the religious and historical importance of the site across different periods,” said Badie.
The statement also described the statue as “one of the important archaeological pieces of evidence that shed light on aspects of religious and royal activity in the eastern Delta region.”
The biblical account describes Moses challenging a pharaoh, whom some scholars identify as Ramses II.(Culture Club/Getty Images)
“As part of efforts to preserve this discovery, the statue was immediately transferred upon its discovery from within the temple complex at the site to the museum storage facility in the San El-Hagar area,” the statement noted.
The move was “in preparation for the start of precise and urgent restoration work, in accordance with the highest scientific standards followed in the conservation and preservation of antiquities.”
Officials also recently unveiled the remains of an ancient religious complex in North Sinai, a site often identified with a biblical city mentioned in the Old Testament.
GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the exhibition area of the 139th Canton Fair’s Toys & Children, Baby and Maternity Products category, exhibitors are presenting products that merge smart technology, educational value and sustainable materials, responding to the evolving expectations of global families seeking safe, creative, and smart parenting solutions.
Parenting products have put a focus on smart, multi-functional design. An intelligent soothing pendant uses voice recognition to detect a baby’s cry and automatically play music, while a self-rotating smart car seat improves convenience of use by automatic turning.
Further innovations emphasize convenience and integrated care. A wireless diaper-changing baby scale combines multiple functions for daily care and health monitoring, alongside an electric cradle and a one-touch foldable crib that enable effortless setup and hands-free parenting.
Newly released products highlight the educational wooden toys sector’s momentum. A miniature wooden kitchen set, crafted from FSC certified natural wood and coated with water-based paint, meets major international safety standards and supports early life skills development. Alongside it, an ocean themed multifunctional play table introduces a modular approach to early learning. Built from natural wood and finished with food grade coatings and rounded edges, the table integrates geometric cognition, musical exploration, and logic training. It represents a meaningful step in the evolution of traditional wooden toys toward more interactive early education tools.
Sustainability remains a defining thread across the category. A series of thick wooden puzzles illustrates how recycled materials can be developed into durable, affordable and educational products. Made with a significant proportion of medium‑density fiberboard derived from reclaimed wood fibers, the puzzles reflect efficient resource use while demonstrating how manufacturers integrate function, durability and cost‑effectiveness into their design considerations. Their handcrafted texture and cultural warmth further underscore a commitment to greener, more responsible production.
In an age shaped by AI and diversified consumption needs, traditional maternity and child product makers are finding fresh relevance. While preserving an emotional warmth, they are introducing smart interaction, joyful educational design, and greener materials, giving the classic category a modern spark and renewing its appeal for today’s families.
