TAIPEI, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – The 2024 Summer Finals of the League of Legends Pacific Championship Series (PCS), co-hosted by Riot Games and CARRY International, recently concluded at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium. The summer split spanned over two months, with the Lower Bracket Finals and Grand Final held as offline events. These events attracted over 3,000 attendees to experience this premier annual esports event.
The gathering brought together fans, players, and contestants from all over the world to witness the PCS Summer Champion, Paris Saint-Germain Talon Esports (PSG), defend its title once again. It also showcased the strength of Japan’s top team, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS gaming (SHG). Amidst the cheers of the crowd, these two top teams will represent the PCS region in the 2024 World Championship. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our partners for their support and assistance in making this event a success.
As key partners of the 2024 League of Legends PCS Summer, ChungHwa Telecom, Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel, China Airlines, Republic of Gamers (ROG), Carry Energy, and TTL have played a crucial role in ensuring the outstanding success of the tournament.
For the third time, ChungHwa Telecom has partnered with the PCS to create a high-quality esports environment, delivering exciting content for esports viewers in the region, and ensuring the excellence of professional esports tournaments. Their support provided a solid foundation for the tournament. China Airlines continued to support overseas teams by arranging flights to Taiwan, allowing players to enjoy quality airline services. Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel provided comfortable accommodations for international esports teams and, in collaboration with ROG, created an exclusive training room, giving players a home-away-from-home experience. Additionally, Carry Energy helped players quickly recover energy and enhance concentration, while TTL introduced local flavors, allowing participants to savor unique local tastes during the competition.
The 2024 PCS was fully supported by the contributions of major partners in their respective areas of expertise, leading to the successful conclusion of the event. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to foster innovation and growth within the esports industry, and to achieve new remarkable milestones together in the future.
MAGDEBURG, Germany, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Innovative companies from high-tech industries looking to make history are warmly welcomed in Saxony-Anhalt. There is plenty of space for big plans here, as the Central German federal state offers Europe’s largest investment opportunity with 700 hectares of space at the High-Tech Park on the outskirts of its capital, Magdeburg. In addition, there are currently 19 more attractive commercial and industrial sites, each offering at least ten hectares of contiguous space, which will be showcased at the joint booth of the European Metropolitan Region of Central Germany at Europe’s largest B2B trade fair for real estate and investment, Expo Real in Munich.
Near Bergwitzsee in the Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg World Heritage region, a roughly 4-hectare area is set to be developed for tourism and water sports.
“Saxony-Anhalt is currently experiencing remarkable investment momentum. Numerous innovative companies from various sectors have deliberately chosen our location – a testament to the attractiveness of our region. In addition to excellent location advantages, such as our central location and well-developed infrastructure, we offer attractive spaces for new projects. We will be highlighting these strengths at Expo Real to attract further investors to Saxony-Anhalt and fully leverage our region’s growth potential,” emphasized Dr. Robert Franke, Managing Director of IMG.
Sven Schulze, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt is convinced: “The economy in the eastern German states has become a driving force for Germany. Saxony-Anhalt plays a special role in this, especially with recent settlements from Daimler Truck, Avnet, Wacker, and others. We want to continue this development and are working to attract more companies to the business location of Saxony-Anhalt.”
Saxony-Anhalt also offers strategic sites for near-term development in places such as Leuna, Köthen, Sangerhausen, Barleben, Stendal, Quedlinburg-Quarmbeck, and Sandersdorf-Brehna. Making its debut at Expo Real are also tourism-related investment opportunities in the emerging travel destination of Saxony-Anhalt, which impresses its visitors from home and abroad with spectacular attractions like UNESCO World Heritage sites, picturesque small towns, and unspoiled nature, resulting in continuously increasing numbers of guests and overnight stays.
For example, a hotel is planned across from the MEDIAN Clinic in the health resort of Flechtingen, and another is envisioned at Lake Geiseltal, which offers a unique view of the lake with a 190-meter-long pier. The marina is designed for approximately 165 boat berths. Along the new promenade, commercial spaces for maritime and dining establishments have been created, and vacation homes are planned on the slope behind the promenade.
On the southern shore of Lake Geiseltal, the city of Braunsbedra is offering two adjacent plots of land, one of 1.5 hectares for hotel construction and the other of 1.9 hectares for a holiday home settlement. At Bergwitzsee in the World Heritage region of Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg, an area of just over 4 hectares is to be developed for tourism and water sports. Additional potential lies in the historic Cultural Palace in Bitterfeld and the historic hotel and theater building “Reichskrone” in the cathedral city of Naumburg, for which investors are being sought.
You can find our latest press kit on investment opportunities in Saxony-Anhalt here.
We have also put together the corresponding pictures for you.
The days of spotty — or worse, no — Wi-Fi on airplanes are numbered, said Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran.
Reliable and fast Wi-Fi will become “ubiquitous” on full-service carriers, he told “Squawk Box Asia” Friday.
But not just any Wi-Fi will do. As airlines race to entice passengers with fast — and ideally free — internet in the skies, SpaceX’s Starlink services are emerging as the latest “it” product to have on board.
Air New Zealand announced in December 2023 that Starlink services would be installed on two domestic aircraft in late 2024. The service, which provides high-speed internet via some 6,000 satellites, will allow passengers to stream videos and send instant messaging on multiple devices, the company stated.
However, passengers will have to wait a bit longer for those services to launch at Air New Zealand. Foran told CNBC Friday that the planned Starlink trials on its aircraft have been pushed to 2025.
“Early next year, you will see on one of our turbo props that we’re going to have Starlink operating, and also on one of our jets,” he said. “We’ve tested it in some ways, but now to get it actually on the plane and operational is the next step. And from there, we can then assess the rollout.”
Starlink at scale
On Sept. 13, United Airlines said it had signed the industry’s largest agreement for Starlink services to date. The airline announced testing is set begin in 2025, and will eventually be rolled out to its entire fleet — more than 1,000 planes — over the next few years.
Starlink will allow passengers access to fast, reliable internet services across the world, including remote and once unreachable areas, such as mid-ocean and polar regions.
United on what Starlink allows passengers to do in-flight
Live streaming: watch live TV and movies without buffering or lag time
Work: share files, upload and download documents
Gaming: play and watch live gaming
E-Commerce: shop, schedule deliveries, make reservations
Both airlines have said that Starlink services would be provided to customers for “free,” or wrapped into airfare rather than having to be purchased mid-flight, eliminating another pain point for those who want fast connectivity in the skies.
Foran said he had met with representatives of Starlink and its owner, SpaceX, two hours prior to speaking to CNBC.
“We’ve made terrific progress with this,” he said. “We’re well down this path … I think it’s going to be a fantastic offering.”
Starlink is quickly becoming the internet provider of choice in the skies, with connectivity deals inked with major commercial carriers like Hawaiian Airlines to smaller ones like JSX.
In late September, Air France announced plans to roll out Starlink internet services across its entire fleet, starting in the summer of 2025.
In a press release, the French carrier described the move as “a major step in its move upmarket.”
Hours after a meeting with SpaceX and Starlink, Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran told “Squawk Box Asia” that the company is making “terrific progress” on introducing Starlink Wi-Fi services to its fleet, which is set to begin in 2025.
BANGKOK, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Siriraj Hospital excels in maintaining its high standards for every service, including diagnostics through the integration of cutting-edge technology into its medical services, furthering its mission to become a global leader in healthcare. The hospital is focused on expanding its diagnostic expertise across all specialties and strategically uses artificial intelligence (AI) to boost diagnostic speed and accuracy. These advancements contribute to earlier disease diagnosis, a critical factor in treating patients.
Siriraj Enhances Diagnostic Capabilities, a Crucial Factor for Medical Care
Siriraj Hospital offers comprehensive imaging modalities, including X-rays, mammograms, CT scans, MRIs, PET-CT, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy, serving a total of 655,389 patients in 2023. The hospital’s use of PACs for reporting results, coupled with AI-powered imaging diagnostics, has achieved an accuracy rate of 91.35%. This AI technology, certified by The Royal College of Radiologists of Thailand to be nearly on par with human radiologists (with less than a 5% margin of error), is now being utilized in over 40 hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health.
Siriraj Hospital’s laboratory diagnostics encompass hematology, blood chemistry, serology, and molecular diagnostics, including cancer mutation detection for targeted therapies through next-generation sequencing. With the capacity to process over 23,000 tests daily, Siriraj has pioneered the use of an online blood smear imaging system in collaboration with private partners, making it the first hospital in Thailand to fully implement this innovative technology. Moreover, the introduction of allele-specific quantitative PCR in cancer mutation detection has significantly exhibited the promising sign of cancer treatment and reduced reliance on imported reagents, enhancing the affordability and accessibility of these critical tests for patients.
Siriraj operates state-of-the-art parasitology and microbiology labs equipped with 36 advanced scientific instruments, performing an average of 140 tests daily. The hospital’s microbiology division includes seven BSL2/BSL2+ biosafety labs, specializing in the analysis of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria, and Toxoplasma parasites. More than 380,000 tests are conducted annually. Siriraj is also home to Thailand’s only WASP® automated specimen processing system, the first of its kind in the country.
The hospital’s range of genetic diagnostics includes chromosome and DNA analysis for detecting genetic disorders. With over 100 specialized tests, many of which are available at only a few centers nationwide, Siriraj’s Molecular Genetics Lab is a leader in the field. The lab’s pioneering research has led to the inclusion of BRCA1/2 gene testing for breast cancer patients under the national health insurance scheme.
The Pathology Department at Siriraj is staffed by specialists covering all systems, analyzing around 250 surgical and cytology specimens daily, in addition to 200 special pathology tests. Key services include digital pathology, electron microscopy, and high-precision immunohistochemistry techniques for biomarkers such as ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67.
Siriraj also offers forensic testing services, including drug, toxin, and volatile substance analysis, identity verification, and evidence testing. The hospital’s forensic division utilizes 210 highly accurate instruments and conducted 67,514 forensic tests in 2023.
Siriraj Hospital has received multiple international certifications, including ISO 15189 and ISO 15190, and is the first and only teaching hospital in Thailand accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This recognition reflects the hospital’s commitment to delivering medical services that meet the highest global standards.
As one of Thailand’s premier medical institutions, Siriraj Hospital is committed to delivering world-class healthcare to patients across the country and throughout the ASEAN region. In addition to its leading role in medical education, Siriraj contributes significant research that drives global advancements in medical science. With over a century of dedication to excellence, Siriraj remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation, continually meeting the standards of the world’s top medical institutions.
Contact information:
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Established in 1888, Siriraj Hospital is Thailand’s oldest and largest healthcare institution, affiliated with the prestigious Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. As a leading specialist referral hospital, it annually trains 300 medical students, fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals. With a capacity of over 2,000 beds, the hospital provides advanced medical services to more than three million patients annually. Its legacy is rooted in a commitment to excellence, compassion, and innovation. Siriraj Hospital continues to be a pillar of healthcare in Thai society, blending tradition with modernity to provide exceptional medical care for the community.
Mark Starling, the morning show host and news director for iHeart Media-Asheville on News Radio 570 WWNC, has been on the air since 3:30 a.m. today, trying to keep local residents informed and calm after Hurricane Helene devastated the western North Carolina city of Asheville. But as a resident himself who lost neighbors in the storm, Starling says it’s been hard to process the tragedy.
“Some of our neighbors — their homes didn’t make it and neither did they,” he tells Yahoo Life. “People were literally just swept away.”
Starling says that his wife, son and four dogs got caught in floodwaters and had to take shelter at a gas station during the storm. “I lost touch with them,” he says. It wasn’t until hours later that he learned his family was OK. “We’re just extremely lucky that all of us escaped unscathed,” he says, adding that he’s not sure when he’ll be able to get back into his home due to the loss of power and water.
Starling, who has been sleeping at the radio station, says his team hasn’t had running water or been able to shower, noting that they’re getting portable toilets delivered to help with plumbing. His station is currently being run with generators and a Starlink unit, and even got his news from a ham radio for a while when the internet went down.
“This is home. These are our neighbors. These are our family members,” he says. “These are people that tune in to our radio stations every day and allow us to have a job. It’s time to pay them back for all of that.”
But he admits that he’s struggling to cope with it all. “I just repeat the same phrase in my head over and over again, ‘It’s OK to not be OK.’” He also has been saying the phrase, “Don’t get bitter, get better,” which he’s repeated on his show for decades.
Starling is one of many Asheville residents who are relying on each other after the city was hit with nearly 14 inches of rain in just three days — the equivalent to what the area typically sees in three months. Local officials described the aftermath as “biblical devastation,” which has claimed the lives of more than 200 people across multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia, while hundreds remain missing.
“We’re leaning on each other, and we’re loving on each other as much as we can,” Starling says. Some volunteers have brought food and supplies to the station, and employees have brought their dogs to work. “Pet therapy has been helpful as well,” Starling says.
Many residents are without water, power and internet, and others are trying to dig out their homes and businesses, while attempting to figure out their next move. “We have hundreds of thousands of people who are going through the worst imaginable crises you can imagine,” says Starling. “They’ve lost everything.”
Asheville residents are speaking out about the destruction, along with the anxiety they feel about the future. But they’re also repeatedly stressing the importance of community at a time like this. “A tragedy like this allows for a community to come together,” Thea Gallagher, a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Health and a co-host of theMind in Viewpodcast, tells Yahoo Life. “It also helps to give you a sense of control experiencing something that was out of your control.”
In addition to Starling, Yahoo Life spoke with four other people who live or work in Asheville about the toll of going through such a catastrophic event — and why they’re so proud of their community.
‘At some point, we’ll sit down and think about what it means to have lost our livelihood and belongings’
Asheville photographer René Treece has a studio in the River Arts District, which experienced catastrophic flooding. “The building’s lower floor is now sideways,” she tells Yahoo Life. “I think the building is condemned.”
When asked about her mental health, Treece says, “I can’t tell.” Instead, she’s been focused on trying to help people in her community. Treece says that family and friends have sent her money that she’s used to buy groceries for people in her area. When she notices people who only have three or four items in their grocery cart, “I am able to very discreetly hand them $50 and $100 bills they can use to buy food,” she says, noting that the store is currently only able to accept cash.
“Mentally, I’m just in the ‘go’ mode of doing what I can to help people,” Treece says. “That is making it a little more digestible.”
Treece says that her boyfriend recently put his things in a storage facility in preparation for building a new home, and it was all wiped out. “All of his things are now underneath a foot of mud,” she says. “Everything is gone.”
Treece’s boyfriend is currently trying to help recover bodies. “There are a lot of people that were being pulled out of the mud yesterday, and some are still alive,” she says. “So the loss of a photography studio or art or furniture or having a moldy basement just really isn’t a priority.”
While she’s focused on helping others right now, Treece says she knows there will be hard decisions in her future. Her daughter is currently in a different city and safe with her father, for example. “When she comes back to me on Friday, it’s going to be a real game changer,” Treece says. She also has tough conversations ahead with her boyfriend. “At some point, we’ll sit down and think about what it means to have lost our livelihood and belongings,” she says. “Right now, it’s not important, but it’s going to be. It’s not like our mortgages are going to stop being due.”
Despite everything she’s going through, Treece is eager to help her neighbors. “I would love to be useful and be helpful,” she says. “I would love to help anybody who I can.”
‘We’re confronting all of these things that we have no idea how to handle’
Jessica Wakeman is a freelance journalist and former staff reporter at Asheville’s weekly newspaper, Mountain Xpress, who has lived in the area for more than 3 years. “We have electricity, but we don’t have water or internet,” she tells Yahoo Life. “We need to drive to the public library and sit on their front lawn to work, and we’re using a bunch of buckets of water, but we’re fine, all things considered.”
Wakeman lives on the top of a steep hill and says her house wasn’t damaged, but homes at the bottom of the hill flooded up through the first floor. “The water covered the road sign at the bottom of the hill — that must be 9 feet,” she says.
She says the mental toll after such a catastrophic event is the hardest. “It’s just now sinking in,” she says, pointing out that people in her community are “very, very upset, but ultimately grateful that the people they love are still safe.”
“I know people who had trees fall on their cars, but they’re like, ‘At least we’re OK.’ We’re really trying to find the silver lining,” she says.
Wakeman says she’s noticed “waves of anxiety and sadness” in people she’s spoken with. She also describes the “tension” of living through this. “Nobody really knows exactly what is the right thing to do,” she says. “We’re confronting all of these things that we have no idea how to handle.”
But Wakeman also says that there are moments that feel more positive. “You meet up with your neighbors, share some food with them or pet their dog and you feel a sense of community,” she says. “I’ve also had the opportunity to meet more neighbors because of this. People are being so generous, offering water, food and toilet paper.”
Wakeman says she and her husband plan to stay in Asheville permanently. “We’re not moving,” she says. “I could see us driving to a town an hour away to go to a laundromat because I don’t want to wash all my clothes by hand, but I don’t want to leave.”
She also has this request for people in the future: “When all of this gets cleaned up, come visit Asheville and spend money here. We’re going to need the support.”
‘You need something, there are 10 people that will try to help you’
Brandegee Pierce and Danielle Del Sordo are co-founders of Pirani, a sustainable party goods company in Asheville. Pierce tells Yahoo Life that the couple is “extremely fortunate” that they only had flooding in their basement, front yard and backyard, noting that they “still have a home” that they can sleep in.
“There are no words that truly explain how we feel,” Pierce says. “Danielle and I have spent the past six years building Pirani and there are so many companies that have lost everything. The same companies also poured everything they have into their business for years and, like that — gone.”
But Pierce says that “if there is a ‘good news,’ it is the community is strong. Asheville is one of the most amazing communities we have ever seen prior to the storm and the way they have come together is truly heartwarming.”
Pierce says there was a “honeymoon phase” in the aftermath of the storm because information about the devastation hadn’t yet spread. “All phone service was nonexistent so we didn’t know Chimney Rock doesn’t exist… Swannanoa is beyond belief,” he says.
The couple left for Atlanta in an effort to keep working and to keep their business afloat. “Upon arriving and learning about the destruction, I personally had guilt that I abandoned my community,” Pierce says. “It has been really hard to see what our home has become and the fear of what will happen in the coming months… the places we love… the people that make our place great are hurting and in turn, we are all hurting.”
Pierce says that the community has created group messages to support neighbors and to share things like food, gas, water and internet. “People are offering their homes if they have water,” he says. “People are doing supply runs. You need something, there are 10 people that will try to help you.”
‘We will dig out and come back stronger than ever. We have no choice.’
Eddie Foxx is a native resident who hosts The Eddie Foxx Show on 97.9 iHeart Radio in Asheville, along with his wife, Amanda. His family lives in Weaverville, about 15 minutes north of Asheville, and have been without power since Friday morning. “We’re lucky, considering how a lot of folks are dealing with tragic loss and complete devastation. We’ve had no damage,” he tells Yahoo Life.
Like many people in the community, Foxx didn’t think the hurricane’s effects would be bad. “We have not had a power outage since the blizzard of ‘93. It was one of those situations where you think, ‘It’s not going to be me,’” he says. “It’s hard to wrap your mind around it.”
Foxx says he drove into the city on Sunday and was shocked by the devastation. “There was a van upside down with a truck on top of that, vehicles wrapped around telephone poles, buildings leveled. … My heart grew sadder with every mile we went into the city,” he says. “Me and my wife … we just sobbed.”
Foxx says he’s reported on tragedies like hurricanes in the past. “We’re the first ones in the community asking our community to give to people they don’t know,” he says. “They’ll give their last dollar.” Foxx says it’s “surreal” to be living through a natural disaster and to be on the receiving end of aid. “The outpouring of love and support is amazing,” he adds.
Foxx praises his neighbors. “Mountainfolk are so giving,” he says. “Before the mud stopped sliding, there were people saying, ‘I’ve got a truck. I have water. How can I help?’ not even knowing if their own families were safe. That’s the caliber of people that live here.”
He says the community is focused on recovery. “We will dig out and come back stronger than ever. We have no choice,” Foxx says. “We will come back out on the other side.”
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Travelers onboard cruise ships around the world are taking a new approach to souvenirs by bringing — and leaving — rubber ducks around boats.
The trend has people purchasing rubber ducks and hiding them in spots around cruise ships. Over the last year alone, TikTok videos garnering thousands of views show users hiding and finding duckslike it’s a game.
In one Facebook group, named “Cruising Ducks,” which has more than 284,000 members, the trend is described as a “cute and entertaining way to have a blast on cruises and to brighten others’ days.”
Reports say that a young girl named Abby Davis started the Easter-egg-like idea — and it has since taken off.
Cruise ship travelers are taking rubber ducks onboard and hiding them in an online game of hide and go seek. (iStock)
The Facebook group explains, “Our goal is to see how far our ducks will travel and where their journey might take them. Keep or hide, you decide, but please post your ducks’ travels here so everyone can enjoy.”
Members are then asked to post a photo of their rubber duck onboard a ship and to specify which cruise line they are on.
In the last month, roughly 3,500 posts have been featured on the Facebook page.
Players online have posted photos and number counts of how many ducks they’ve collected on their trip — some upwards of 100 ducks. (iStock)
One person posted a photo of their children, writing, “Kids came back with 20ish ducks. They loved finding them! Carnival Dream, September 21-29.”
Another person posted a photo of their 113 ducks found on the Carnival Cruise Lines Jubilee in September, saying they had five “active hunters” on the boat and brought over 400 to hide themselves.
The trend has made its way to Reddit as well, with one traveler posting on the “r/royalcaribbean” subreddit, saying they paid for a carry on just for their rubber duckies.
While on board, cruisers can post a photo of their duck and the ship they’re on to a Facebook page to play the game. (iStock)
Reddit users took to the comments to weigh in on the offbeat trend, with one person writing, “I hate to be a killjoy, but there’s really no reason for it. Just go on the cruise and enjoy what’s already there.”
Another user explained that hiding and finding ducks on the ship was a fun activity for their kids on sea days when the boat didn’t stop at ports.
“My daughter works on the Utopia of the Seas and loves finding these! When her contract finishes, she plans to hide all the ducks she has collected around the ship,” another Reddit user commented.
A game of hide-and-seek with ducks has taken over cruise ships, and passengers are sharing photos of their squeaky finds online.(iStock)
Cruising Ducks also has its own line of rubber ducks that can be purchased to take onboard cruise ships.
For anywhere from $14 to $26, customers can purchase different types of themed ducks — Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, “The Godfather” and even Donald Trump.
Several theories online claim that some cruise ships discourage guests from hiding ducks on board.
MOSCOW, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As autumn rolls in, the fashion world traditionally kicks off the season with events in Milan and Paris. Now the spotlight shifts to the Russian capital, where Moscow Fashion Week is taking place from October 4 to 9, set against the iconic backdrop of the Kremlin. Designers from Russia and other countries present their new collections, blending cultural influences with modern innovations while embracing the latest fashion trends.
This season, the event features a vibrant representation of designers from Asian countries, including India, China, and Indonesia. As always, the Asian brands are expected to light up the catwalk with creative designs and unique silhouettes.
The Indian designer Nitin Bal Chauhan, presented by Fashion Design Council of India, is set to showcase his collection at Moscow Fashion Week. After generating significant interest with his previous collection in the city, he promises that this season’s offering will be equally fascinating. His new collection artfully merges traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary fashion influences, debuting on the opening day, October 4.
Indonesian brand RAEGITAZORO emphasizes sustainable practices, presenting a collection that highlights the transformation of recycled materials into stylish looks. China will be represented by designer Sun Guitian, the creative force behind the KENSUN brand. The upcoming collection synthesizes traditional Eastern aesthetics with a modern design perspective. “Our participation not only marks a further enhancement of the international recognition of our brand but also represents a significant milestone in the fashion and cultural exchange between China and Russia,” noted the designer.
Moscow Fashion Week will also feature over 70 runway shows from Russian designers, spanning both established names and emerging talents. IANIS CHAMALIDY, who has previously showcased in Milan and Beijing to positive acclaim, will unveil a grunge-inspired collection that blends elements of streetwear with high fashion. Meanwhile, LI LAB brand is set to impress with its elegant silhouettes, adorned with feminine details and contemporary touches like draperies, trains, and metallic accents.
Moscow Fashion Week follows the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, taking place from October 2 to 5. This significant event unites over 100 countries from the global fashion industry. As part of the Summit, the international exhibition “Heritage” showcases more than 40 designers from countries including Hungary, Sudan, Peru, Laos, and Qatar, celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the global fashion community through their collections.
WEIHAI, China, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CRI Online:
The top three winners of the men’s elite group at “Guangwei Cup” 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series Weihai receive the awards
On September 28, as the last athlete in the Extreme Triathlon group crossed the finish line, the “Guangwei Cup” 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series Weihai (WTCS Weihai) &”Liugong lsland Cup”2024 China•Weihai Extreme Triathlon Series came to a successful close. A total of 862 athletes from 25 countries and regions, including nine Olympic medalists, experienced “the most beautiful and challenging course in the world.”
After intense competition, Paris Olympic champion Alex Yee from the UK took victory in the elite men’s standings at the WTCS Weihai, while German athlete Lisa Tertsch notched brilliant victory in the elite women’s standings. Meanwhile, Australian professional triathlete Dimity-Lee Duke shattered the women’s age group record again for the China •Weihai Extreme Triathlon Series, finishing with a total time of six hours, 18 minutes, and 15 seconds.
In addition to the Olympic-distance elite men’s and women’s groups, the event featured 39 competition categories across four race distances, including X-Triathlon, X- Triathlon Relay, X-Triathlon Sprint, and X-Triathlon Fun. Among that, the X-Triathlon course covered a total distance of 128 kilometers, consisting of a three-kilometer swim, a 100-kilometer bike ride, and a 25-kilometer mountain run, posing a significant challenge to the participants’ physical endurance and willpower. This year marked Weihai’s first time hosting the Olympic-distance World Championships and the 14th occasion it has held a high-level triathlon event.
When Richard Kvech first set foot on Pinang four years ago, a dilapidated bungalow used by passing fishermen was the only sign of human life on the island.
Kvech and three friends, all from the Czech Republic, slept in hammocks and cooked on the beach, while dreaming of creating an eco-retreat on the 50-hectare Indonesian island off the western coast of Sumatra.
Tomas Ouhel, a member of the group, had come across Pinang while doing conservation work on the nearby island of Bangkaru a year before.
After a year of discussion — among themselves and the two families that own the island — the group, Kvech and Ouhel, along with photographer Stephan Kotas and fertility clinic co-owner Martin Mrazek, signed a 50-year lease to create a small eco-resort on the island, said Kvech.
Building an eco-resort
Using locally sourced wood, the foursome built a guest bungalow and dug wells to access the island’s underground fresh water, before putting up solar panels for electricity, said Kvech. Supply and labor costs were funded by the group’s own pocket, he said.
Tomas Ouhel, second from the right, was the first of four friends to see the Indonesian island. Together with Stephan Kotas, Martin Mrazek and Richard Kvech, the group leased the small island from two families and built an eco-resort.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
They then built staff quarters, a beachfront communal space and four more guest bungalows, which together can fit 12 people. The main bungalows have bathrooms while the smaller ones share facilities, all of which are connected to an organic septic waste system, said Kvech.
The group also established a fruit and vegetable garden in line with the island’s natural vegetation — an approach known as permaculture — and introduced chickens so guests can have fresh eggs. They compost organic food waste and recycle glass and cans, he said.
There are five guest bungalows, plus a beachside communal space. The eco-resort is “not for people who are looking for a high end vacation … It’s more for people who want to live with nature,” said operator Richard Kvech.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
The previously uninhabited island received its first paying guests two years ago, said Kvech. Kvech, a former medical travel coordinator, is now in charge of marketing and permaculture at Pinang Island.
“Before we came to Pinang, there was hardly anything on the island — a small pathway around, a collapsed bungalow and a small field. It was really pristine jungle which had not been interrupted by human beings,” Kvech told CNBC Travel.
The eco-resort was built using local materials, like shells, driftwood and coconut wood. Lodgings are described as simple and minimalist.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
“We are trying to interrupt it as little as possible. It’s such a beautiful island and we don’t want to ruin the pristine nature, so our place only takes up one or two percent of it. There are swamps, bamboo forests, coconut trees, hills. There are hermit crabs, lizards and gumtree snakes. The jungle is very active.”
The cost to stay
Since it opened to the public two years ago, Pinang Island has welcomed 100 guests and has become an appealing destination for yoga and surf retreats, Kvech said. He’s received interest from other groups as well, he said — from writers to martial artists, DJs to gardeners.
Pinang Island is 50 hectares. The architecture built for the eco-resort takes up “one or two percent of it,” said Richard Kvech.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
The island costs $999 per night for eight people. Up to four additional guests can stay for $125 per person per night.
The rate includes all meals, daily cleaning, a weekly change of towels and linen, Starlink satellite reception and 4G Wi-Fi, as well as activities like snorkeling, fishing, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.
For $500 more per night, guests can take guided surf trips to places like the Bay of Plenty, or to Bangkaru and other nearby islands.
Getting there
Guests, however, should be prepared for a long journey to Pinang Island with multiple stops, Kvech said.
That typically involves a long-haul flight from a major city to Singapore or the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. From there, it’s a short flight to Medan, the capital of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra, where many visitors choose to spend the night. Early the next morning, guests board another flight to the town of Singkil, in Indonesia’s Aceh province.
Guests can dive, fish, farm and cook while visiting. Many enjoy surfing, which the eco-resort’s operators describe as world-class.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
The final leg of the journey is an hour and a half boat ride to Pinang Island. This can be a treacherous one — in August 2023, a boat en route to Pinang from the nearby surfing hot spot of Nias Island capsized during a storm. Seven people were missing at sea for two nights and one day, as Kvech and the group confirmed in a statement. A large-scale search and rescue mission recovered six of the passengers, a group of Australian surfers. But the captain, a local Indonesian, was tragically not found.
“We express our deepest sympathy for the distress caused by this unfortunate event and we acknowledge the importance of working with the broader Pulau Banyak community to improve marine safety standards of vessels and captain training in the region,” the statement read.
“This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea and the importance of advanced safety measures. In light of this, we want to assure our community that we are taking decisive action,” it stated.
Since Pinang Island takes effort to reach, its operators told CNBC Travel that a 10-night stay is recommended, but that they accept week-long bookings too.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
The resort closed temporarily, Kvech said, but reopened after the group, who had previously relied on local vessels, purchased their own fiberglass boat. It’s equipped with a marine VHF radio, a Garmin Inreach satellite communications device, an Ocean Signal GPS transmitter, smoke flares, flashlights, floating rings, life jackets and whistles, he said.
The group also set up the Fifan Foundation, in the name of the missing captain, to improve safety training for other local sea captains, Kvech said. They also changed the boat transfer point from Nias Island to Singkil, which is a shorter, safer journey, he said.
‘For adventurous souls’
The hope, going forward, is to keep Pinang Island niche and intimate, said Kvech.
“I can never imagine that we will be running a hotel for 50 plus people. It would be a logistical disaster, and an environmental one as well,” said Kvech.
The island employs 12 local people, including a kitchen crew who cook a mix of Western and Indonesian dishes.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
He also said the island isn’t for travelers looking for a high-end vacation.
“It’s more for people who want to live with nature again and find their balance. It’s for adventurous souls — people who want to experience something very remote, but still want to have a certain level of quality and comfort.”
Kvech said he divides his time between Pinang Island and the Czech Republic, and admitted that life on a desert island is not always the fantasy many people imagine.
The island employs 12 local people, including a kitchen crew who cook a mix of Western and Indonesian dishes.
Source: Segara Bumi Indah
“It’s definitely not a fairy tale. It’s the hardest project I have ever been involved in,” said Kvech. “We’ve had to learn to understand the culture of the people, and the island itself. Issues come up every day that we need to resolve.”
“But when I hear feedback from guests, that they were really happy that they went such a long journey and enjoyed their time on Pinang, that makes me happy.”
