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Siu Hei Commercial Centre Awarded Bronze Honor for Best Urban Regeneration Project at 2021 MIPIM Asia Awards

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 December 2021 – Siu Hei Commercial Centre, a project managed by People’s Place, in Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun District, was awarded the Bronze Honor in the Best Urban Regeneration Project category of 2021 MIPIM Asia Awards in Hong Kong on December 8. The awards commend APAC’s most outstanding real estate projects and are a highly regarded benchmark for showcasing achievement in the property industry.

 

Inspired by the theme “Smile & Laughter”, the 36-year-old Siu Hei Commercial Centre was transformed to a vibrant community hub, welcoming young and old visitors around Hong Kong. The once obsolete dry market is now a Food Street which brings together diverse dining options that embody the spirit and tastes of local community. The former roof space has been refashioned into a multi-purpose sportsground to cater the community’s recreation needs. With intention of creating public spaces that promote health and happiness, we engaged nearby schools and non-profit organizations to re-imagine and co-create a space for the community.

 

The vibrant community hub in Siu Hei has demonstrated Gaw Capital‘s effort in building sustainable communities through diversification of tenant mix and the implementation of community initiatives. During the renovation process, we have been extensively engaging the community and collecting feedbacks from our stakeholders to adopt a bottom-up user-driven approach. In response to the rising demand for improved facilities and more diverse retail and dining options, we have done a complete reshuffle of trade mix, bringing in an air-conditioned Food Street which offering various dining options and a modern, hygiene fresh market which provides the community with daily necessities.

 

Kenneth Gaw, Managing Principal and President of Gaw Capital Partners, commented, “I would like to express my gratitude to the judges for giving us great acknowledgement on this project as well as our team’s dedication in making this project a great success. This honor is a notable vote of confidence in Gaw Capital and our strong track record of successful investments and asset management in commercial properties in need of repositioning and redevelopment. The project vision is to bring joy and happiness to the community. A complete transformation has made Siu Hei Commercial Centre a well-facilitated community hub with diverse retail and dining options. The under-utilized rooftop space has been uplifted to an energetic sportsground where residents can enjoy playing sports.”

 

Alvin Lo, Managing Director, Asset Management of Gaw Capital, said, “We are delighted that Siu Hei has been presented with this Award. It reflects the unique value that Gaw Capital has created to the asset over years, and our ability to transform a previously underutilized retail and recreation area into an uplifted, energized, and fully-leased neighborhood centre which offers varieties, qualities, and fun. We would also like to express our appreciation to the support from all tenants and the dedicated effort from our team.”

 

The MIPIM Asia Awards considers wide-ranging projects throughout the APAC region of both completed and in-progress developments.

About Gaw Capital Partners

Gaw Capital Partners is a uniquely positioned private equity fund management company focusing on real estate markets in Asia Pacific and other high barrier-to-entry markets globally.

Specializing in adding strategic value to under-utilized real estate through redesign and repositioning, Gaw Capital runs an integrated business model with its own in-house asset management operating platforms in commercial, hospitality, property development, logistics, IDC and Education. The firm’s investments span the entire spectrum of real estate sectors, including residential development, offices, retail malls, serviced apartments, hotels, logistics warehouses and IDC projects.

Gaw Capital has raised seven commingled funds targeting the Greater China and APAC regions since 2005. The firm also manages value-add/opportunistic funds in Vietnam and the US, a Pan-Asia Hospitality Fund, a European Hospitality Fund, a Growth Equity Fund and provides services for separate account direct investments globally.

Since 2005, Gaw Capital has commanded assets of US$32.6 billion under management as of Q3 2021.


#GawCapitalPartners

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The 2nd Edition of Innovative Teacher Award Prize Presentation Ceremony and Seminars

Honouring Seven Teams of Local Teachers for Advancing Innovation in Education

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 December 2021 – Riding on the momentum of last year’s enthusiasm, Hong Kong Education City (EdCity) organised the 2nd edition of Innovative Teacher Award (ITA), with the mission to recognising teachers who effectively adopt different educational technologies, ride on education theories and innovative pedagogies to successfully actualise innovative education. The prize presentation ceremony was successfully held today at the ‘Learning & Teaching Expo 2021’, graced by the presence of the officiating guest, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk Lin, JP. Dr Choi presented the awards to seven groups of awardees, recognising their great efforts and contributions to driving educational reform.

A series of themed seminars were also held, which gathered all awardees of the Innovative Teacher Award to exchange ideas on successful factors and outcomes of innovative education and explore how they utilise technology in transforming the curriculum and teaching strategies, in response to the current pandemic and the new normal.

 

While the ceremony was witnessed by a bunch of guests, Mr Victor Cheng, Executive Director of Hong Kong Education City kick-started the ceremony. In his speech, he said: ‘The pandemic has lasted for almost 2 years and has brought dramatic changes to education. eLearning, Blended learning, Innovative Learning Design are no longer unfamiliar concepts to us, educators have gradually adapted to the new normal and transformed it with new teaching strategies. The performance of this year’s participants is brilliant, with diversified and vibrant learning designs, which demonstrated their innovative perspective. We are thrilled to witness fellow educators are flexible in utilising technology and creative teaching methods, which boosted teaching efficacy and unleashed student’s potential. EdCity hopes the “Innovative Teaching Award” could encourage the education sector to continuously innovate teaching pedagogies, foster professional exchanges among teachers, and work shoulder to shoulder for the vision of future ready education.’

 

The officiating guest, Dr Choi Yuk Lin, JP, the Under Secretary for Education, said, ‘In the new era of education, teachers have to embrace innovative education through the optimal use of technologies and innovative pedagogies to enhance teaching effectiveness and unleash students’ potential.’ Dr Choi continued to congratulate and thank all awardees for their hard work, ‘They have successfully introduced innovation to education and improved effectiveness in learning, teaching and assessment by harnessing technologies that are supported by education theories and innovative pedagogies. Their exceptional achievements fully deserve the distinguished awards.’

 

The pandemic has resulted in a vibrant scene of innovative education. The competition saw the enthusiastic participation of educators from primary and secondary schools and from a wide spectrum of professional expertise. Introductory videos and briefs on their teaching philosophies and strategies were submitted months ago. A judging panel consisting of professors, veteran principals and education experts evaluated the submissions and selected a total of seven groups of primary and secondary school teachers as recipients of the award (details of the awardees available in the background) for honouring their efforts on driving curriculum reform through innovative teaching.

 

This year’s ITA has introduced team awards in addition to the pre-existing individual awards. The new team awards are set up to recognise teaching teams who worked together in promoting education innovations in a whole-school approach to cover various aspects, including innovative teaching methods, curriculum design, team collaboration, teacher training, etc. The award recognises teams who encouraged the school at all levels in putting innovative education into practice and built a sound foundation for constructing future schools.

 

Apart from the Prize Presentation Ceremony, EdCity organised two seminars in the LTE 2021, themed ‘Enhancing Learning and Teaching Effectiveness with Transformation of Curriculum and Pedagogies’ and ‘Path of Future Schooling via a Whole-school Approach to Actualising Innovative Education’. Awardees of the ITA were invited to share their precious experience in innovative education and how they gainfully used technologies as well as reformed curriculum so as to mobilise their teaching peers to put innovation into practice and boost learning and teaching efficacy.

 

In the first session, four groups of ITA awardees shared their experiences in renewing the curriculum design by utilising innovative technology, such as AR, VR, 3D printing and EdTech in order to equip students with essential skills and qualities in the 21st century, broaden students’ horizons in the local community and global issues, as well as improve learning and teaching efficacy. You may find the summary of the ‘Innovative Teacher Award’ Series: Enhancing Learning and Teaching Effectiveness with Transformation of Curriculum and Pedagogies seminar below:

 

Shanghai Alumni Primary School

Teacher

Mr Siu Yin Tong

Title: Interdisciplinary Designed Anti-Vibration Layer

 

The awardee incorporated the General Studies theme ‘Earth’s disasters’ and created a STEM curriculum involving General Studies, Mathematics, Computer subjects in order to inspire students’ design thinking and construct an Anti-Vibration Layer for people living in the earthquake-prone area. He addressed the impacts of the pandemic, redesigned the curriculum, promoted blended learning and increased the proportion of self-directed learning. He employed flipped classrooms and various digital platforms for teaching, aiming to further improve students’ computational thinking.

 

Sau Ming Primary School

 

Vice Principal

Ms Tsang Ka Man

Title: Competence-based Innovative Education

 

The awardee utilised the ‘Framework for 21st Century Learning’ in curriculum design, which nurtured four aspects of core competence, including students’ self-directed learning, thinking, social motions and information technology. Through employing cross digital platforms in the Mathematic subject, flipped classrooms, revision before class, interactive assessment during class and personalised learning extension after class, she designed diversified learning activities. Students could design graphic questions on their own, which improved their problem-solving skills and boosted creativity. Employing peer assessment could also promote more interaction between students and improve their critical thinking and communication skills.

 

PLK Anita L.L. Chan (Centenary) School

 

Director of Curriculum Development 

Mr Tam Tin Yau Simon

Teacher 

Mr Suen Wai

Teacher 

Ms Chiu Fung Yee

Teacher

Ms Chan Mei Ying

Title: Centenary School – VR Classroom

 

The team incorporated an Immersive Virtual Reality System into the traditional experimental learning method to build a ‘VR Classroom’, which allows students with learning disabilities to feel as if they are on a real-life occasion. This helps students to master life skills and be able to handle emergencies and improve emotion management so that they can face challenges in life and integrate into the community. The team has created 360 degrees panoramic video/games, and together with multiple choice questions, they could teach students various themes, such as taking public transport, using the ATM machine, fire drills etc. and put what they learned in VR into real-life occasions.

 

Christian Alliance S W Chan Memorial College

 

Vice Principal 

Mr Ng Sum Sum

Teacher 

Mr Tsang Cheung Chun

Teacher

Mr Seto Wah Sang

Teacher

Mr Liu Kin Hang

Teacher

Mr Yu Lee Kan

Title: Creative STEM Disease Prevention Curriculum – 3D Print Masks

 

The team developed a Creative STEM Disease Prevention Curriculum, which utilised STEM knowledge to design and produce personalised 3D masks. They took science exploration as the lead, backed up by engineering design and VR coding, to achieve new media self-directed learning. They also joined computer and science subjects to teach together, stressing the importance of DIY learning and inspiring students’ creativity.

In the second session, three groups of ITA awardees will share their valuable experience in revising learning and teaching in the blended learning environment. While the trend of future education inevitably incorporates computational thinking and AI education into eLearning, cross-disciplinary cooperation can bring a ground-breaking learning experience to students. Meanwhile, in the 21st century, social-emotional learning for students is another critical teaching area for post-pandemic education, equipping students with necessary future skills.

 

You may find the summary of the ‘Innovative Teacher Award’ Series: Path of Future Schooling via a Whole-school Approach to Actualising Innovative Education seminar below:

 

SKH Holy Spirit Primary School

 

Vice Principal (Information)

Mr Chen Yi Hsin

 

Vice Principal (Curriculum)

Ms Sin Wing Sze

PSM

Ms Cheng Sau Ming

PSM

Ms Tang Yuen Mei

APSM

Mr Lee Man Leung

Title: Self-Developed C.A.S.T Unification, Experience beyond Subjects

 

The team used school-based C.A.S.T programmes to change the education ecology at school, teachers turned into KOL to create video programmes, which incorporated knowledge of different subjects, life skills and thinking logic. Through interesting videos and livestreaming, they show various themes including Culture, Arts, Sports, Spiritual, Skills and Technology, which increased students’ motivation to learn during and after the pandemic. The themes are curriculum relevant, but also includes non-academic knowledge, such as career planning, value education, which help students to build a positive value system. The video ideas are taken from daily life, and diversified teaching themes allow students to taste different experiences in a relaxing and interesting learning environment. For example, ‘Teacher’s Kitchen’ allows students to learn about Hakka culture or incorporating stretching exercises into mathematics to promote exercising at home. They also added in interactive elements, such as voting instantly which is just like a TV programme.

 

S.T.F.A. Lee Kam Primary School

 

Vice Principal (Curriculum)

Ms Ip Bik Kwan

I.T. Senior Teacher 

Mr Chan Chi Yeung

General Studies Panel

Ms Wong Pik Yan

P.E. Panel

Ms Yeung Wing Tung

Title: Sustainable eLearning, Joyful Calculating

 

The team promoted blended learning model, and incorporated affective and social learning activities, which could help students to build positive emotions, improve their resilience and learning efficacy. The originally designed ‘Brain Break’ activity, in which students have to make hand postures to respond to teacher’s tests, allows teachers to diagnose and consolidate what students have learned. The ‘Emotional Thermometer’ activity which is held before and after class could help understand the change in emotions of students before and after class, and build personalised lesson learning records for after class extensions and promote self-directed learning.

 

The Education University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Primary School

 

Assistant Principal and Coordinator of Innovation & Technology

Mr Law Kam Yuen

 

Network and System Support Team Head

Mr Kwong Ling Chun

e-Learning Co-ordinator
Ms Cheuk Wai Han

Title: Practical Experience of Motivating the Whole School for Innovative Education

 

The team promoted eLearning and blended learning, which targeted teaching difficulties by employing different tools and teaching methods, aimed to develop all-rounded blended learning under the new normal, improved learning efficacy and students’ participation, took care of learning differences and boosted quality of teaching. The school employed the ‘enriched virtual mode’, which began with face-to-face teaching to stimulate learning interest, then they consolidated the curriculum through online classes and in-depth discussions, together with gamified learning model. They continuously review and improve their curriculum and teaching methods, to promote computational learning and AI education.

EdCity aspires to gather pioneers in innovative education through the ‘Innovative Teacher Award’, foster innovative development and professional communication among the education sector and build a culture of sharing. We stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow teachers in achieving ”Actualising Future Ready Education’.

 

Details of the ‘Innovative Teacher Award’https://www.edcity.hk/ita/en/

About Innovative Teacher Award

Education needs to evolve with time and constant innovation to groom future-ready generations. The Hong Kong Education City (EdCity) established the Innovative Teacher Award in 2020, with the mission to recognise teachers who share EdCity’s vision on effective technology adoptions in education, putting education theories and innovative pedagogies into practice and successful implementation of innovative education.

About Hong Kong Education City

Hong Kong Education City (EdCity) provides a one-stop professional education portal (EdCity.hk) with information, resources, interactive communities and online services. With the vision of ‘Actualising Future Ready Education’, EdCity continuously develops and introduces new services over the past 20 years, and endeavours to promote and support all schools in Hong Kong to adopt eLearning and innovative education.

#EdCity #ITA

Laos Loses 4-0 to Malaysia At Bishan Stadium During AFF Suzuki Cup 2020

Laos striker Billy Ketkeophomphone in action during the Group B match against Malaysia.
Laos striker Billy Ketkeophomphone in action during the Group B match against Malaysia.

Laos has suffered another major loss during the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020, losing 4-0 to Malaysia during the second Group B game.

Iconic Korean Actress Son Ye-Jin of Spackman Media Group, an Associated Company of Spackman Entertainment Group, Selected As New Advertising Model for Pew Water Hydrogen

  • Son Ye-jin of Spackman Media Group, who starred in highly popular romance drama CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2020), endorses Pew Water Hydrogen, a hydrogenated beverage
  • ·Son Ye-jin headlines in upcoming JTBC’s new drama, 39, which is scheduled to be aired in the first half of next year

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 December 2021  Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups, wishes to announce that Son Ye-jin represented by MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (“MSteam“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), has been selected as the new advertising model for Pew Water Hydrogen, a hydrogenated beverage.

Pew Water Hydrogen is a premium water product made by mixing ultra-high purity hydrogen with bedrock groundwater. It can be easily purchased at convenience stores in Korea. The brand of Pew Water Hydrogen is recognized in domestic & foreign health documentaries and beauty programs, and it is well-known among local stars and social media influencers in Korea.

Son Ye-jin, who starred in highly popular romance drama CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2020), is one of the flagship artists of Spackman Media Group.

Previously, Son Ye-jin was the exclusive model of Skinceuticals  and  released a pictorial with fashion magazine Marie Claire for the first time.

Son Ye-jin stars in JTBC’s new drama, 39, which is scheduled to be aired in the first half of next year. Directed by Kim Sang-ho of RUN ON (2020) and written by Yoo Young-ah of ENCOUNTER (2018) & KIM JI YOUNG, BORN IN 1982, 39 is a 12-episode drama about the romance and everyday lives of three friends who are on the verge of turning 40. In the drama, Son Ye-jin takes on the role of Cha Mi-jo, a director of a dermatology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, who grew up in a wealthy environment.

  

Son Ye-jin’s latest tvN K-drama, CRASH LANDING ON YOU, achieved massive record-breaking viewership success in Korea and became a top hit in Japan, attaining #1 on Japan’s Netflix for four months. The K-drama was one of the top 10 Most Watched Netflix Shows in the United States. Son Ye-jin was awarded the Hallyu Drama Best Actress Award at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards for her role in CRASH LANDING ON YOU.

Her recent films include BE WITH YOU (2018), THE NEGOTIATION (2018) and THE LAST PRINCESS (2016), all of which were invested by the Group and/or Spackman Media Group.

In 2018, Son Ye-jin’s performance in BE WITH YOU, which broke the all-time first week box office historical record for romance film in Korea, clinched her the Best Actress Award at the Seoul Awards.  Son Ye-jin also received the Prime Minister’s Commendations at the 2018 Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards and won the Best Actress for Hallyu Dramas at the 2018 Seoul International Drama Awards, underscoring her international status as an iconic Korean actress.

Other than Son Ye-jin, MSteam also represents rising international Korean star Wi Ha-jun of Netflix’s most-watched show ever, SQUID GAME (2021), and popular Korean actress Lee Min-jung, who won the Top Excellence Award for her role in ONCE AGAIN (2020).

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL“or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), founded in 2011 by Charles Spackman, is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea. According to Variety, Korea was the world’s fourth largest box office market in 2019, behind only North America, China and Japan.

Since incorporation in 2011, SEGL had produced more than 30 films including a number of highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).

The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

Production Labels

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information on Novus Mediacorp, do visit http://novusmediacorp.com.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release GUARDIAN (working title) in 2021 tentatively.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.

The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.

Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. We release all of our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

Talent Representation

The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Song Hye-kyo, Yoo Ah-in, Park Hyung-sik), Fiftyone K Inc. (So Ji Sub, Ok Taec-yeon), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku), and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

Strategic Businesses

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Frame Pictures Co., Ltd. (“Frame Pictures“). Frame Pictures is a leader in the movie/drama equipment leasing business in Korea. Established in 2014, Frame Pictures has worked with over 25 top

directors and provided the camera and lighting equipment some of Korea’s most notable drama and movie projects including ITAEWON CLASS (2020), HOW TO BUY A FRIEND (2020), KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN 1982 (2019), FOUR MEN (2019) and ASADAL CHRONICLES (2019).

We also operate a café-lounge called Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

For more details, do visit http://www.spackmanentertainmentgroup.com/

#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

Auth0 Identity Platform Now Available on Microsoft Azure

New private cloud deployment option offers customers greater choice, scalability, and reliability

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 December 2021 – The Auth0 Identity Platform, a product unit within Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA), announces the launch of the Auth0 Identity Platform on Microsoft Azure. The launch gives customers the ability to choose Azure as their cloud deployment option from Auth0. The addition of Azure as an Auth0 private cloud platform option unlocks a secure cloud deployment option for organizations seeking strategic fit with their technology stack, supporting regional data residency capabilities and higher control over customer data.

Today, organizations moving to the cloud and selecting a Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solution require significant control over sensitive customer data and may require local data residency capabilities. They often have to make a hard choice of selecting either a CIAM solution that supports their product differentiation goals or one that meets their  technical requirements and regulatory needs. Auth0s modern identity platform eliminates the need to choose by providing organizations with tools designed to support security, compliance, and data residency needs that may apply to them, across multiple regions globally. The platforms design can accelerate their time to value and go-to-market strategies to meet their long-term growth goals.

 

Key benefits of the Auth0 Identity Platform on Azure include:

  • Technology Stack Alignment: Organizations have the flexibility to choose Azure as their preferred cloud vendor for greater technology stack alignment with existing investments in Azure.
  • Data Residency: Improved data residency capabilities for Auth0 customers with Azures widespread geographic infrastructure.
  • Streamlined Experience with Private Cloud: A modern, cloud-native platform built with a focus on security and compliance at every level. Organizations requiring data residency options can take advantage of periodic feature updates while maintaining control over the timing and the ability to roll back without the hassle of having to maintain them — resulting in faster time to market and a more seamless experience for organizations and their customers.

 

“As more applications move to the cloud and expand globally, organizations depend on their identity service to protect and manage access for their most critical users, applications, and data,” said Shiv Ramji, Chief Product Officer at Auth0. The Auth0 Identity Platform on Azure can help unlock a secure and compliant cloud deployment experience for organizations seeking support across CIAM use cases. This is especially true for organizations in industries like retail or financial services where selecting vendors that are not competitive to their business is top priority, organizations operating in regions where certain cloud providers have higher geographic availability, and those that have existing technology investments in Azure.”


“Companies like Auth0 add value by integrating their solutions with Microsoft Azure,” said Mandana Javaheri, Global Senior Director, SCI Business Development at Microsoft Corp. With Azure, Auth0 customers have ultimate performance capabilities and control over their environment without the hassle of maintaining it, allowing customers to focus more on their core business proposition.”

 

More detailed information on the Auth0 Identity Platform on Azure can be found on Auth0s blog.

About Auth0

The Auth0 Identity Platform, a product unit within Okta, takes a modern approach to identity and enables organizations to provide secure access to any application, for any user. Auth0 is a highly customizable platform that is as simple as development teams want, and as flexible as they need. Safeguarding billions of login transactions each month, Auth0 delivers convenience, privacy, and security so customers can focus on innovation. For more information, visit https://auth0.com.

About Okta

Okta is the leading independent identity provider. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With more than 7,000 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta provides simple and secure access to people and organizations everywhere, giving them the confidence to reach their full potential. More than 14,000 organizations, including JetBlue, Nordstrom, Siemens, Slack, Takeda, Teach for America, and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.

#Okta

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Authorities Seize and Destroy Over 200 Kg of Wildlife Parts in Northern Laos

The Saoloa is one of the world's rarest large mammals and highly endangered wildlife.
The Saoloa is one of the world's rarest large mammals.


Authorities in northern Laos have seized and destroyed over 200 kilograms of wildlife parts that had been openly on sale at fresh markets.

Laos Posts Record Number of Covid-19 Cases and Seven Deaths

Covid-19 Update


Laos has reached a new record number of Covid-19 across the country today, reaching 1,645 new cases.

Sun-kissed Fruit & Vegetables for Festive Season Indulgence with ‘The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’

Awareness campaign for exceptional Italian fare over the party season – complete with cooking classes – presented by the European Union and producer board Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli (CSO)

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 December 2021 – Flavoursome, sun-kissed fruit & vegetables headline a festive season promotion in Hong Kong themed ‘The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’. The awareness campaign by the European Union and Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli (CSO), representing the country’s leading producers, is encouraging indulgence in Italy’s exceptionally tasty and healthy fare over the party season – complete with cooking classes hosted by seasoned Italian chef Mr. Daniele Casalino from 13-22 December 2021 revealing secrets to Italian-style festive feasts.

 

Italy is world-renowned for its romantic connection to the land, with a beloved culinary culture as Hong Kong’s favourite foreign cuisine. ‘The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’ now underlines this heritage of delicious, nutritional produce, sharing knowledge and insights of origin and history with guaranteed quality and safety assured by the European Union’s certification of excellence.

 

For the third and final year of an annual promotion to China, Taiwan and Japan, the EU-led campaign in Hong Kong this year focuses on demonstrating precisely how to traditionally cook this majestic “Made in Italy” produce – from blood oranges, kiwifruit and pears to fresh processed vegetables headlined by ‘passata’ tomato sauces and fruit juices.

 

Six cooking classes assure absolute authenticity, demonstrated by veteran Italian chef Mr. Daniele Casalino, who is also the owner of Italian restaurant Acquasala in Central, from 7-9pm from 13-15 December 2021 and 20-22 December 2021 at Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art (www.hknoc.com.hk) in North Point. Priced HK$200, the classes can be booked via EventBite (https://bit.ly/3nRe8xE).

 

Specialty dishes for instruction focus on key produce including blood orange juice, for Smoked Salmon Carpaccio with Avocado and Blood Orange Vinaigrette; processed tomato sauce, for Homemade Tagliolini Tomato Sauce, Burrata Cheese and Crispy Sicilian Pistachios; and kiwi fruit, for Kiwi Tiramisu and Dark Chocolate.

 

Kiwi fruit is another specialty, as Europe’s biggest fruit export and Italy the second largest producer in the world after China. Thanks to ideal environmental and climatic conditions along with strict European production techniques, Italy’s high-quality, highly nutritious and healthy kiwi fruit is cultivated in both green and yellow varieties, to enjoy fresh or in luxurious desserts and jams.

 

Oranges, revered as a symbol of health and well-being in Asia, are a centuries-old tradition of sun-blessed Italy, famed in particular for unique varieties of red-fleshed ‘blood oranges’. Grown in accordance with state-of-the-art science in terms of cultivation methods, soil preparation and pruning for superior quality, sumptuous varietals range from Tarocco, Moro and Sanguinello to Sicilian specialty Arancia Rossa di Sicilia, with PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status for their ancient attachment to the nutrient-rich slopes of Mount Etna volcano. As well as served simply chilled, these Italian varieties also enliven salads, desserts and even cocktails.

 

European pear cultivation is also mainly concentrated in Italy, with the ideal climate for outstanding quality which is also recognised by the European Union as a product of excellence with PGI. Italy’s most renowned variety, Abate Fétel, is known as the “queen of pears” for its outstanding sweetness and juiciness, perfect for either desserts or salad. Other varieties include Kaiser, which has a rusty skin and melting flesh; aromatic white or red Williams; fresh and fragrant Decana del Comizio; and sweet and crunchy Conference.

 

Processed vegetables are also a famous Italian tradition, preserving abundance of seasonal crops with processing immediately after harvesting. Most notable are ripe sun-grown tomatoes, with tomato passata one of the world’s most used cooking ingredients, originating from Italian cuisine for beloved favourites from pastas and pizzas to festive specialities. Preservation of ‘pomodoro’ tomato sauce, in particular, is a tradition dating back nearly two centuries, and a symbol of Italy worldwide.

 

As a result, Italy is, in fact, a world leader in processing fruit and vegetables – including the world’s third largest tomato processor after the United States, and just behind China.

 

Orange juice, along with other fruit juices such as pear, peach and apricot that pleasantly accompany festive feasts, are another growing Italian export, gaining popularity with guaranteed excellence in both quality and healthy nutritional value – produced under strict European regulations with state-of-the-art technology.

 

EU quality also stands out worldwide for its stringent product protection requirements for consumer protection. A traceability system allows individual agricultural production companies to be traced; and organic certification guarantees organic production, prohibiting use of synthetic chemicals and promoting environmental sustainability.

 

The European quality system also safeguards PGI and PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) certification for unique. Italy alone has 93 designated PDO and PGI agri-food products, including Arancia Rossa di Sicilia PGI (blood oranges), Pera dell’Emilia Romagna PGI (pears) and Pesca e nettarina di Romagna PGI (peaches).

 

Thanks to a unique climate and environmental conditions, Italy – together with Spain – is the leading fruit and vegetable producing country in Europe and The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’ celebrates this heritage,” said CSO President, Paolo Bruni.

 

“Italy is synonymous with art, from the art of landscapes and 54 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visual art of the Renaissance, architecture, motoring and fashion. Italy is also renowned for culinary art and world-renowned dishes. So our fruit and vegetables are no exception – and this campaign celebrates our masterpieces of Italian nature that wonderfully accompany festive season celebrations.”

 

To identify with Italian art in the broad sense, The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’ is illustrated with artwork by Italian artist Antonio Pronostico, who symbolises Italy’s rich, vibrant history and tradition of growing tasty, top quality fruit & veg.

 

“The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces” Cooking Classes

Date: 13-15 & 20-22 December 2021

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Venue: Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art, 2/F, KP Tower, 93 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong

Fee: HK$200 per person

 

Like and connect with “The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces”:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/european.art.of.taste.hk/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/european.art.of.taste.hk/

 

For more information, please visit : www.europeanartoftaste.com.

For high resolution images, please download from:

www.dropbox.com/sh/zbxilinncfdsiuq/AAA8YW7RCZorKYV3ygGnOkwha?dl=0

Flavoursome, sun-kissed fruit & vegetables headline a festive season promotion in Hong Kong themed ‘The European Art of Taste: Italian Fruit & Veg Masterpieces’

Six cooking classes assure absolute authenticity, demonstrated by veteran Italian chef Mr. Daniele Casalino, who is also the owner of Italian restaurant Acquasala in Central, from 7-9pm from 13-15 December 2021 and 20-22 December 2021 at Hong Kong New Oriental Culinary Art in North Point.

Specialty dishes for instruction focus on key produce including blood orange juice, processed tomato sauce, and kiwi fruit

For the third and final year of an annual promotion, the EU-led campaign in Hong Kong this year focuses on demonstrating precisely how to traditionally cook this majestic “Made in Italy” produce

CSO President, Paolo Bruni

 

Appendix I

Highlighted Italian Fruits & Vegetables

 

Grown mainly in Europe, in the Mediterranean basin and in particular in Italy and Spain, they are a symbol of health and well-being. Specifically, Sicilian blood oranges are one of the most important and unique varieties grown in accordance with a centuries-old tradition, but also in accordance with the latest scientific guidelines in terms of cultivation methods, soil preparation and pruning in order to maximise the quality standards of these fruits thanks to guaranteed sunshine and special technical precautions during cultivation. In fact, production is protected from the main diseases with integrated defence methods that respect the environment and human health. The red flesh varieties grown are Tarocco, Moro and Sanguinello, which all meet high standards for taste, flavour and wholesomeness. The Arancia Rossa di Sicilia received PGI certification from the European Union. It is the Sicilian orange par excellence, which grows on the slopes of the Etna volcano, favoured by its fire, strength and heat but also by sunshine.

In Europe, kiwifruit cultivation is mainly concentrated in Italy, which is the second largest producer in the world after China. Kiwifruit is the most exported fruit in Europe; in fact, it is shipped to every continent. Kiwifruit cultivation, especially in Italy, has been developing since the 1970s. In fact, Italy has ideal environmental conditions to grow kiwifruit at an excellent level of quality. Thanks to suitable soils for cultivation and to the production techniques adopted in compliance with European regulations, kiwifruit is a high-quality, highly nutritious and healthy fruit. European kiwifruit is produced from November to May. The commercial availability of kiwifruit is such that it is possible to choose between two varieties with a different flesh colour, which can be either green or yellow.

Pear cultivation in Europe is mainly concentrated in Italy, which has the ideal climate to produce a fruit with outstanding quality characteristics. A product of excellence recognised with PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status by the European Union, which highlights the close bond between the product and its area of origin. The most characteristic variety produced in Europe, and especially in Italy, is Abate Fétel, which is also called the “queen” of pears. This variety stands out for its sweetness and juiciness. Other varieties include Kaiser, which has a rusty skin and melting flesh, Williams, which can be either white or red and is very aromatic, Decana del Comizio, which is fresh and fragrant, and Conference, which is sweet and crunchy. Pears are available on the market from September to April.

Processed vegetables are traditionally produced in the Mediterranean Basin, and Italy offers ideal production conditions. Fresh produce is processed immediately after harvesting, after an accurate selection. Tomatoes are one of Europe’s most characteristic processed vegetables. Ripe sun-grown tomatoes are washed and pureed to obtain excellent preparations that are ideal for any type of dish. Tomato passata is one of the world’s most used cooking ingredients and originated from Italian cuisine, which contributed to its popularity.

Orange juice, along with other fruit juices made from fruits grown in Europe such as pears, peaches or apricots, is an excellent source of healthy nutrients, readily available at your fingertips. Orange juice consumption is increasing exponentially all over the world, but it is essential to understand the value of the origin of this product. European quality is guaranteed by strict regulations and by top-quality raw materials combined with a production method that implements state-of-the-art technology, ensuring the high-quality final products.

About Centro Servizi Ortofrutticoli (CSO) Italy

CSO Italy represents leading companies in the Italian fruit and vegetable sector. Members are located all over Italy and include not only producers, but also the technological supply chain with companies specialising in the packaging, processing, equipment, machinery and logistics.

CSO Italy is now an organic system of businesses sensitive to the needs of the world’s markets, a unique benchmark for entering into contact with Italian companies that are leaders thanks to the excellence of their produce, services and technology.

CSO has more than 70 members, with an overall turnover of more than €2 billion. The group was created to develop synergies between operators in the Italian fruit and vegetable supply chain, with the aim of increasing competitiveness of the entire sector.

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