BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s ruling military council on Wednesday said it was releasing more than 2,100 political prisoners as a humanitarian gesture. Thousands more remain imprisoned on charges generally involving nonviolent protests or criticism of military rule, which began when the army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Pardon Frees More Than 2,100 Myanmar Political Prisoners

Hebe Haven Yacht Club Open Day 2023
Unlock the world of sailing at HHYC Open Day 2023
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 May 2023 – Sailing, sail training, scenery, stalls, sustainability, scrummy snacks, Sailability and sea trips are all open to the public at Hebe Haven Yacht Club (HHYC) this Sunday. HHYC is pleased to announce its annual HHYC Open Day on Sunday 7 May 2023 at its picturesque location in Pak Sha Wan. This key annual event on HHYC’s calendar runs from 10 am to 5 pm on the day showcasing its work as part of the celebrations for the Club’s 60th Anniversary. Get out on the water and enjoy the freedom and have tons of fun ashore too. Welcoming people from all walks of life, this not-to-be-missed event is expected to unveil the joy of sailing and other water based activities for all, members and non-members alike.

The Open Day is open to the public, people attending can experience our sailing programmes by joining one of the FREE taster sessions on boats both small and big! Try your hand at learning the ropes and sailing one of our fleet of dinghies (Quests and Picos), take out a kayak or a stand-up paddle boards (SUP) under the watchful eye of our expert sailing instructors. One of the highlights is the opportunity to try your hand at crewing one of our six J/80 keelboats, where you can experience what it’s like on a bigger sail boat with a group of people aboard working as a team. For those who prefer to stray ashore, there’s also a mini carnival on land offering fun games, DIY workshops, stalls galore and even a car boot sale.
As well as visiting the HHYC booths being showcased, visitors can also drop by the Sailability Hong Kong booth to learn more about how dedicated volunteers help empower physically challenged athletes and some other under-represented within the community, to pursue their dream of sailing and get control out at sea.
In addition to all the fun of previous events, this year visitors will also have the opportunity to join the taster sessions on Hansa 303 and a cruise out on MoHan, a 40-foot Solaris yacht donated to Sailability by the Scallywag Hong Kong Foundation.
For those who would like to dive deep in understanding more about what sailing is all about, come meet the Hebe Dragons team to discover their learning path towards excellence, and how their sail training and racing has put them in the spotlight in both regional and international regattas. Visitors can also find some treasure from over 20 vendors in our Car Boot Sale—we encourage everyone to bring your own bag to fill up with bargains for some preloved products, while supporting sustainability.

Paul Arkwright, General Manager, Hebe Haven Yacht Club said, “We’re delighted to once again open our doors to the public for the 10th HHYC Open Day. This year is even more special as we are also celebrating our Club’s 60th Anniversary. We welcome everyone to join us at this annual club event to unlock the wonderful world of sailing. Come along and try out a huge range of watersports for free, as our dedicated team at our Sailing Centre guide you through the ropes with practical boat handling techniques. This is great chance to try our new boats and is particularly useful for those wishing to join any of our sailing courses throughout the year. And for those who prefer something a bit more relaxing, have a snack at the Club, browse the stalls, and take a leisurely cruise around beautiful Shelter Cove aboard Hebe One—HHYC’s catamaran or take a trip out on MoHan—Sailability’s 40-foot Solaris yacht.”
Event highlights
- Free watersports trials on dinghies, J/80s, stand-up paddle boards and kayaks
- Car boot sale
- Hebe bazaar with vendors
- Cruising on Hebe One and MoHan (40-minute ride for each session around the bay)
- BBQ, F&B
- Marine Police Booth
- Lucky draws throughout the day
- End-of-day fun race
- Bouncy castle, face painting workshops
- The 60th Anniversary of Hebe Haven Yacht Club
Hashtag: #Sailing #HHYC #GoHebe #WorldSailing #SailingHK #HHYCOpenDay2023
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hebe Haven Yacht Club
Hebe Haven Yacht Club is a private members Club established in Pak Sha Wan, Sai Kung since 1963. The Club provides first class yacht racing and boating facilities for members. The Club also works closely with local schools and organisations to offer training facilities and professional instruction to develop youth sailing in Hong Kong. As a ‘Caring Organisation’ member, the Club proactively contributes to the local community with regular organised events.
Laos Braces for Sweltering Heat This Week
Almost every province in Laos will record higher temperatures this week, says the latest weather report from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
The Mills Fabrica portfolio company Circ partners with Zara to launch a first-of-its kind collection made using recycled polycotton blended textiles
The Mills Fabrica is proud to support Circ as it makes sustainable fashion accessible to the masses
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 May 2023 – The Mills Fabrica portfolio company Circ , the textile technology company that recycles polycotton waste back into new fibers, launches a first-of-its-kind collection with Zara. The partnership takes a pivotal step towards circularity in the fashion industry by revealing a new first-of-its-kind women’s capsule collection made with recycled textiles derived from polycotton textile waste. The collection is now available across 11 markets globally.

Zara and Circ have tackled one of the biggest challenges for the fashion industry: breaking down blends of polyester and cotton – referred to as “polycotton” – into new recycled raw materials to create new garments. Circ´s innovative recycling technology is the only platform to successfully separate polycotton blended textile waste and recover both cellulosic and synthetic fibers. Utilizing this technology, Zara and Circ have created a collection featuring lyocell garments made with 50% recycled polycotton textile waste and polyester garments with 43% recycled polycotton textile waste. With creative direction from the design team at Zara Woman, the collection showcases on-trend and light garments in burgundy tones that are designed to keep in circulation.
“We believe our partnership with Zara signals a seismic shift in how the fashion industry and consumers view what is possible in sustainability,” said Peter Majeranowski, CEO of Circ. “This is the first-time recycled polyester and lyocell clothing manufactured from polycotton textile waste is in the hands of consumers, and we are taking important steps towards making circularity the new standard. Circ and Zara want to create a new future in which the garments hanging in our closets are made from recycled materials that can then be recycled over and over again.”
“This first-of-its-kind collection demonstrates that innovation in new fibers and collaboration with specialized experts are two key pillars in advancing the circularity of the textile industry. Circ’s technology opens the door to effectively separate and recycle any blend of polyester and cotton – which is one of the most common textile blends in clothing. At Zara and Inditex, we want to lead the transformation of our industry by creating fashion collections rooted in circularity,” remarked Javier Losada, Inditex Chief Sustainability Officer.
This partnership follows investment from Inditex, Zara’s parent company, in Circ last year aimed at accelerating industrial-scale solutions towards circularity in the fashion industry. This is the first time Inditex has made an investment of this kind within its Sustainability Innovation Hub (SIH) which aims to boost technological innovation and improve product circularity.
The Mills Fabrica has been committed to supporting innovative and disruptive technologies in the techstyle (technology and apparel technology) and agrifood industries through its investments, incubation programs, office spaces, lab, and impact retail stores since 2018. It has supported Circ since 2021 through investments, marketing exposure, and connections to the textile and apparel industry. The Mills Fabrica’s portfolio of cutting edge techstyle companies also includes Renewcell, Colorifix, Geltor, and Michroma among others.
“We’re proud to see technology-empowered solutions making such a positive impact in the textile and apparel industry, contributing to a more sustainable future. The Mills Fabrica looks forward to our continued support of Circ as they make sustainable fashion accessible to the masses through this unprecedented partnership with Zara,” says Cintia Nunes, General Manager and Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica.
Hashtag: #TheMillsFabrica
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Mills Fabrica
The Mills Fabrica is a go-to solutions platform accelerating techstyle and agrifood tech innovations for sustainability. Officially launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, The Mills is a landmark revitalization project by the Nan Fung Group, transforming their old textile factories into a new heritage, experiential retail, and innovation centre. With its investment fund, business incubator, spaces in Hong Kong and London, and community-building initiatives, The Mills Fabrica aims to create success stories of collaborations between innovators, entrepreneurs, and corporates, that together, will drive positive change for future generations. http://www.themillsfabrica.com/
BeerLao Announces New Price Hikes Effective From May
Lao Brewery Company has issued a notice informing customers about an increase in prices for some of their products, starting this month.
Give your Mum a treat this Mother’s Day with great deals on Beauty, Wines and Spirits from iShopChangi

‘Beautiful’ Sitewide Deals for Travellers & Non-Travellers
Celebrate Mother’s Day with iShopChangi, with slashed prices on big beauty brands! Snap up deals and exclusive beauty sets on renowned brands like Clinique, Estée Lauder and more.
Don’t miss out on great deals like Clinique’s Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator 50ml. Previously retailed at S$133, it is now S$79, or 41% off its usual price. For fans of homegrown Singaporean brands, here’s your chance to support local under the Changi LoveSG beauty section. Kicking things off with IDS Skincare’s DermaShield Mask (packet of 10’s), it retails at S$89.30 now, a good 15% off its usual price of S$105. ést.lab’s OptimaLift A+ Intelligent Eye Revitaliser 2.0 is a deal not to be missed either. Hailed as Cleo magazine’s Clear Skin 2020 Awardee, it is an accredited beauty gadget to get. Furthermore, it is retailing at S$90.10, an excellent discount of 15% off its usual price of S$106.
Beauty aficionados know the name Clé de Peau Beauté, and during this special season of appreciation, iShopChangi offers exclusive deals on this sought-after beauty brand. Going at S$130, the Clé de Peau Beauté Lip Glorifier Natural Duo Set is retailing at 39% off its usual price of S$212. With the Clé de Peau Beauté’s Correcting Cream Veil Duo Set retailing at S$220, a whopping 41% off its usual price of S$373, it is a deal to be taken advantage of.
iShopChangi Presents ‘Drink Around the World’
Discover the world of wines and spirits with iShopChangi’s 2,500 authentic liquor deals with exclusive bundles of up to 50% off! From 11 May – 8 June, seize the best deals with weekly themed spirits, whisky, wine and sake selections.
Kicking things off in the first week, Glendronach’s Revival 15 Years expression retails at S$245.90, a nice 15% off its usual price of S$289. Following that, in week 2, the Singleton Dufftown 12 Years Old Whisky bundle of 3 will be going at 5% off its usual price of S$255 at S$192. Week 3’s offering comes in hot as the Brown Brothers’ Sparkling Moscato Set of 6 bundle goes for S$128, a lovely 29% discount from its usual price of S$180. Lastly, in week 4, the Drink Around the World series closes strong with the Tanaka Shuzo Junmai Daiginjo Shirasagi No Shiro that comes with a complimentary wooden box. At just S$153, 15% off its usual price of S$180, it is not only the strongest tipple on the list but also the best deal. That’s not all: shoppers will receive a Nosing Glass set when a minimum of S$600 is spent within the wines and spirits category.
Want to carve out more savings? Cart out with these codes:
Mother’s Day Beauty Promo (1 – 31 May 2023) | |
Code | Description |
MDAY15 | 15% off* min. spend S$300, capped at S$80 |
*Applicable to beauty category only | |
5.5 Flash Sale (1 – 7 May 2023) | |
Code | Description |
55FLASH12 | 12% off* no min spend, capped at S$50 |
55FLASH20 | 20% off* no min. spend, capped at S$50 |
55TECH | 10% off^ min. spend S$700, capped at S$100 |
*Applicable sitewide with product exclusions. Other T&Cs apply.
^Applicable to electronics category only |
|
Mother’s Day Flash Promo (8 – 14 May 2023) | |
Code | Description |
MOTHERSDAY12 | 12% off* no min. spend, capped at S$30 |
MOTHERSDAY18 | 18% off* min. spend S$400, capped at S$100 |
*Applicable sitewide with product exclusions. Other T&Cs apply. |
A Celebration for Both Travellers and Non-Travellers
Both travellers and non-travellers can slash another S$20 off when they spend at least S$79 on their first purchase when they lock in <ISCNEW20> at checkout. Limited to the first 1,000 new users per month.
Enjoy up to a 3% rebate with a Changi Rewards membership too. For extra savings, cart out via Changi Pay and enjoy a S$5 welcome voucher for new Changi Pay sign-ups.
Travellers may place their orders between 30 days in advance and up to 12 hours before flying, and pick up their purchases from the Collection Centres across all terminals at Singapore Changi Airport. Alternatively, spend S$59 and enjoy delivery in Singapore.
Non-travellers can cart out at tax and duty-absorbed prices on iShopChangi and have their items delivered to them for free when they spend at least S$59 and provide a Singapore residential address for delivery. If not, they can pick up selected products from the Jewel Collection Centre. No minimum spend is required.
Hashtag: #iShopChangi
https://www.facebook.com/iShopChangi
https://www.instagram.com/ishopchangi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About iShopChangi
iShopChangi was launched in 2013 as an extension of Changi Airport’s promise to deliver greater comfort and convenience to travellers in its suite of airport retail offerings. Passengers can browse and purchase tax- and duty-free products across all terminals between 30 days to 12 hours pre-flight on the e-store – and choose to collect their items at Collection Centres within departure, upon arrival or have them delivered free in Singapore. Providing easy access to over 30,000 products across 900 brands and exclusives such as Changi First product launches, the site has since received global recognition with its award for Best Website – Retail Customer Facing at The Moodies: the Airport and Travel Retail Digital Media Awards 2018. In early 2020, the e-commerce store started to retail a selection tax- and duty-absorbed products to Singapore-based residents without the need to fly.
Australian Global Firm AgCo Tech Sets Foot In Luang Prabang With New Factory

Agcotech Global, a prominent producer of animal feed and nutrition solutions, held a grand opening ceremony on 27 April 2023, for their new Methane reduction block factory at Ban Muangkai, in Luang Prabang Province.