Police have increased checkpoints in Vientiane Capital to reduce traffic in the city after a failure among many residents to remain at home.
Police Increase Checkpoints Across Vientiane Capital as Residents Violate Stay-At-Home Order
Laos Confirms 331 New Cases of Covid-19
Laos has confirmed 331 new cases of Covid-19 today as the nation’s capital enters its third day of lockdown.
Xieng Khouang Province Goes Into Lockdown
Xieng Khouang Province has gone into lockdown following the spread of Covid-19 believed to have originated in Vientiane Capital.
PolyU to Enhance Undergraduate Curriculum From The 2022/23 Academic Year Onwards, Strengthening Students With Diverse Capabilities to Meet Future Societal Needs
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 September 2021 – Given the emergence of Industry 4.0 as a key trend that is shaping the future, innovation and technology have become the new driving force for the economy of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. In addition to acquiring professional knowledge, young people are required to master the skills needed by contemporary society and to possess an entrepreneurial spirit, in order to demonstrate diverse strengths such as creativity and problem-solving capability on different occasions. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to providing high-quality education that keeps pace with the times. To better equip our students for societal needs, the University will fully implement department scheme-based admissions from the 2022/23 academic year onwards, thus providing students with more flexible study options and helping them to enhance their competitiveness.
PolyU will fully implement department scheme-based admissions from the 2022/23 academic year onwards, thus providing students with more flexible study options.
Starting from the 2022/23 academic year, the new department scheme-based arrangement will be applied to all programmes (except for some specialised programmes such as Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Nursing). Under the new arrangement, when students apply to PolyU, they will first select a scheme from a department. Upon enrolling to the University, students only need to undertake the common courses of the department in their first academic year. They will then select their Major in the second academic year. This will offer them more time to gain a better understanding about their own interests and aspirations, so as to make the most suitable choice in selecting their Major.
Furthermore, two new elements, namely “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis” (AIDA) and “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” (IE), will be incorporated into the General University Requirement (GUR) from the next academic year. All undergraduate students must complete at least 2 credits of the AIDA courses and at least 1 credit of the IE courses within their 4-year study period to fulfil the minimum requirements for graduation.
Under the department scheme-based arrangement, students can choose to take a secondary Major in AIDA and IE. They are required to complete at least 66 credits for their primary Major, and at least 36 credits should be from AIDA or IE. The former includes Artificial Intelligence, Programming and other related subjects; while the latter features initiatives such as a 12-week company attachment and visits to the Greater Bay Area to learn about the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, they must also acquire 30 credits from the GUR, totalling at least 132 credits to meet the graduation requirement. Students can also opt for a Minor in either AIDA or IE by taking 18 credits from the chosen subject area.
PolyU’s Vice President (Education), Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, said that by enhancing the undergraduate curriculum, PolyU aims to provide students with more flexible and customised programmes to meet societal needs. He explained, “University education aims to nuture future-ready leaders for society. We hope PolyU graduates will not only gain solid academic knowledge, but also have the diverse strengths that are essential for the future development of society. Therefore, PolyU is keen to promote a series of strategies to enhance the undergraduate curriculum in this respect, to be fully implemented in the next academic year. I believe these initiatives will help students acquire vital interdisciplinary knowledge, and also equip them with creative thinking to cope with the rapid changes in our world.”
To encourage undergraduate students to undertake research, PolyU launched the “Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme” (URIS) in the summer of 2021, providing funding for participating students to conduct scientific research projects. Students can submit applications individually or in groups, and each approved project will receive funding ranging from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000. Since the launch of the scheme, more than 110 projects have been approved, covering different research fields including Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering, etc. A total of more than HK$ 5 million in funding has been granted so far. In addition to research funding, PolyU will also provide additional types of support to participants, such as guidance on research, as well as auto admission to the College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI). They will furthermore be given priority in the allocation of hostel places at PolyU’s new Residential College in the Homantin Student Halls of Residence, and will be provided access to seminars and sharing sessions on different topics with resident researchers.
Prof. Daniel SHEK, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) of PolyU, said: “Through the scheme, we hope to strengthen students’ curiosity in academic research and nurture the next generation of researchers. The first cohort of the scheme was launched in the summer of 2021, and drew a positive response with close to 250 applications. Among the more than 140 proposals received, over 80% were approved. We are pleased to see students demonstrate interest and enthusiasm in scientific research, and we hope they can learn from the experience and acquire knowledge to lay a solid foundation for their future career in research.”
PolyU will hold an Undergraduate Education Info day on 9 October 2021 (Saturday) to provide students with the latest information about its full-time undergraduate programmes, and will share further details of the new department scheme-based arrangement.
For more details of the PolyU “Undergraduate Education Info Day 2021”, please visit: www.polyu.edu.hk/infoday/
#PolyU #TheHong KongPolytechnicUniversity
Final Rail Welded on Laos-China Railway
China Railway Group has welded the final 500-meter section of seamless rails on the Laos-China Railway line in time for the project’s opening at the end of this year.
CTBC Bank becomes first Taiwan client to clear at LCH ForexClear
- CTBC Bank has gone live as a client clearing FX derivatives at LCH
- UBS acted clearing broker for the trade
- ForexClear’s continues to grow its client base in Asia and globally – members and clients of ForexClear benefit from enhanced risk management, as well as margin, capital and operational efficiencies
- Implementation of phase 5 of the uncleared margin rules (UMR) took effect from September 2021, impacting firms with derivatives of a notional value exceeding €50 billion
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 September 2021 – Rohit Verma, Head of Asia Pacific, LCH, said: “Taiwan is an important financial hub for the derivatives market and we are delighted to welcome CTBC Bank to the ForexClear service. With new uncleared margin rules phases coming in, firms are looking to optimise their derivatives portfolios through clearing at LCH. Phase 5 of the uncleared margin rules was implemented in September and firms are already preparing for Phase 6, coming into effect September 2022.”
Joe Chen, Head of Global Trading, CTBC Bank, said: “CTBC Bank has strong history of innovation and we are pleased to be the first Taiwan bank to become a client at ForexClear. Clearing at LCH allows us to efficiently manage our risk while benefitting from multilateral netting and a more streamlined derivatives portfolio.”
Victor Gusak, Head of APAC Execution & Clearing, UBS AG, said: “This go live is a significant milestone for both the Taiwan market and UBS’s global clearing franchise. We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner for our clients and we look forward to continuing to supporting CTBC Bank and the wider market in accessing clearing.”
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lch-clearnet/
Twitter: @LCH_Clearing (https://twitter.com/LCH_Clearing)
#LCH
GEODIS expands AirDirect service between Europe and Asia with new route
Global logistics player eyes strong growth in Asia Pacific (APAC) through strategic expansion of its fixed schedule network
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 September 2021 – GEODIS, a global leading transport and logistics services provider, is extending its AirDirect service with the addition of a twice weekly flight routed London Stansted (STN)/Amsterdam (AMS)/ Hong Kong (HKG)/STN/AMS. With the new schedule coming into effect from October, GEODIS’ APAC customers will have access to almost 80 percent of European destinations within 24 hours. This new investment underscores the company’s enhanced focus on the APAC region and its commitment to serve a greater range of business verticals in Asian markets. GEODIS will in part use its new A330-300 full freighter aircraft to operate this rotation between Europe and Asia.
GEODIS expands AirDirect service between Europe and Asia with new route
As manufacturing in Asia continues to be the backbone of several key European business sectors, the requirement for exporters to secure reliable and well-priced freight forwarding services has become even more critical through the disruption brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak. The new route launch comes on the heels of the introduction of GEODIS’ Shanghai to Guadalajara flight in March this year, which has improved cargo connectivity to the West Coast of the Americas. GEODIS also continues with its dedicated service from Hong Kong to Guadalajara.
The new flight will also help expand GEODIS’ operations in Asia with increased connectivity, aiming to build on its existing customer base consisting of pharmaceutical, high tech, and retail clients. The new service will offer all the existing AirDirect options of AirFast, AirFlex, and AirSave services with much needed guaranteed capacity.
“The strength of our network in Europe plays a critical role in driving our growth in APAC. Opening up new and in-demand routes to better address our customers’ needs is a pivotal element of our aim to increase our footprint in growth markets,” said Onno Boots, President and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, GEODIS. “Our business in APAC has seen steady and significant growth over the past few years and therefore we want to add more routes into our current network.”
The new route will connect more locations in the APAC region to markets in Europe and the Americas by leveraging GEODIS’ road network in Asia. This network plays an important role in the company’s business growth in Southeast Asia. GEODIS’ cross-border trucking operations offer scheduled departures for consignments along the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok axis, with multi-modal gateway services beyond these hubs.
“While taking care of our customers’ priorities across the region, it’s very important for us, as a recognized service provider to factor in the demands of end users, who are comprised of high tech, automotive, and industrial customers,” said Chris Cahill, Managing Director, North Asia Sub-Region at GEODIS. “Having our own network combined with our recently expanded logistics facilities gives us unparalleled security and end-to-end control over every aspect of the operation, maintaining optimal conditions for the cargo, but also ensures our customers enjoy reliable capacity for moving supply parts to production facilities or finished goods to their destinations.”
https://geodis.keepeek.com/bMNkIv13f
GEODIS – www.geodis.com
GEODIS is a global leading transport and logistics services provider recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a global network spanning nearly 170 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France and #7 worldwide. In 2020, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.4 billion in sales.
#GEODIS
World premiere: Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Newsaktuell – 20 September 2021 – The first museum for immersive art in Switzerland is opening with a world premiere: Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience. The preparations for this immersive enactment of the life and work of Frida Kahlo have been two years in the making. The exhibition will be unveiled on 22 September at the new Lichthalle MAAG in Zurich. It will be the first time that the life and work of the iconic Mexican artist will be presented in an immersive format outside of Mexico.
Kahlo’s expressive paintings, with their accessible symbolism and colourful, exotic plants and animals, as well as her powerful self-portraits, are the perfect templates for an immersive presentation with video projections and light and sound effects. Visitors will experience Frida Kahlo’s life and work on a completely new level via panoramic projection.
“Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience” offers an insight into the tragic life of the Mexican artist and her creations. Her pictures come to life in the projections, while a voice-over playing the role of Frida Kahlo comments on the events and a specially composed soundtrack paints the presentation’s acoustic background. The new Lichthalle MAAG uses high-performance projectors to project images onto walls, columns, ceilings and floors up to 10 metres tall and 34 metres wide, making for a breath-taking 360° experience.
Viva Frida Kahlo – Immersive Experience
Date/venue: 22.09.2021–02.01.2022, Lichthalle MAAG, Zurich, Switzerland
More information: www.vivafridakahlo.com
Contact: MAAG Music & Arts AG, PR & Communications, Christoph Rüdt, christoph.ruedt@bmaag.ch
