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The 14th Straits Forum was Held in Xiamen, Fujian

Straits Forum: Drinking the Same Bottle of Wine, We Belong to the Same Root

XIAMEN, CHINA Media OutReach18 July 2022 – On July 13, 2022, the 14th Straits Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian. “Drinking the same bottle of wine, people from both sides of the Straits belong to the same root.” That was said by Yang Cheng-wu, Magistrate of Kinmen County when he addressed the Form before. Now it is quoted again at the Forum this year. The quotation best expresses the purpose of the Forum to promote people-to-people exchanges across the Straits.

Full of young people, the Forum also causes homesickness. The spectacles here remind Taiwanese singer Nini Wei of the hustle and bustle of the alley where she used to live with her grandmother. The performance of waving flag-tied bamboo poles originated in Fujian, where the roots of most Taiwanese lie.

Forum is focused on folk culture and future development. In addition to youth exchanges, the Forum has been valuing cultural and economic exchanges by holding events about agriculture, folk culture, and religions for the past 13 years. It also has been trying hard to meet the needs of the Taiwanese for development opportunities.

The dancing program Tea Fragrance poetically shows the beauty of the Cherry Blossom Tea Garden in Yongfu Town. As the hub of the National Taiwan Farmers Pioneer Park, Yongfu Town is where most Taiwanese farmers invest, and the mainland’s largest producer of Ruan Zhi Oolong Tea. Drinking tea brings together people from both sides of the Straits, and a growing number of Taiwanese farmers are now choosing to work in Yongfu Town.

The Forum is full of affectionate stories and best wishes. There will be a nostalgia program called “35 Years of Affectionate Stories”. In the program, stories about people who have helped promote cross-Straits exchanges will be shared. Many young people from Taiwan have been inspired to engage themselves in the rural revitalization drive of the mainland. Li Peizhen, a Taiwanese folk culture artist restores North-Song houses and runs a folk culture museum in Qingqiao Village, Haicang District, Xiamen.

Lin Shuren, a young man from Taipei, each year helps 5000 Yi people in Sichuan grow olives.

The Forum witnesses frankness as well as perseverance. Taiwanese man Yang Mingzhong once promised to cycle together with orphans to the mainland to see the Yellow River. He wanted to prove to the orphans that the Yellow River is not yellow. He has been cycling so for 10 years.

Over the past decade, he has cycled 12,000km through 50 cities . Along the way, he has helped 920 young people of both Taiwan and the mainland.

Like many Taiwanese attendees here, Yang Minzhong greatly values the friendship between the youth of both sides of the Straits.

Thailand Celebrates Non-Stinky Durian

Thailand Celebrates Non-Stinky Durian
A festivalgoer holds a Pak Chong-Khao Yai durian, said to be non-stinky.

The Thai province of Nakhon Ratchasima is celebrating the certification of its “non-stinky” durian variety as a geographical indication (GI).

“Hmong-inspired” Ensembles Spark Discussion on Appropriation

Women wear xauv necklaces as part of traditional Hmong dress.

The Laotian Times interviews two experts on Hmong clothing about their differing views on a celebrity’s “Hmong-inspired” outfit at the 2022 BET Awards. 

Malaysia Takes AFF U19 Trophy in Indonesia

Malaysia takes U19 trophy at AFF U19 Youth Championship 2022 in Indonesia

Malaysia U-19 won the 2022 AFF U-19 Cup after defeating Laos 2-0 in the championship match on Friday evening at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Indonesia.

Community-based Social Innovation for Youth Program in Hong Kong Prize Presentation Ceremony for the Fourth “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition

HONG KONG SAR Media OutReach15 July 2022 A team of four Form 3 students from HKSYCIA Wong Tai Shan Memorial College was crowned champion at this year’s “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition. Their winning solution “Sunshine to Elderly”, is a socially inclusive sustainable gardening system on school campus. It aims to tackle the mental health issues of elderly citizens living in Sham Shui Po District by encouraging them to team up with students to grow plants while also making use of an application to keep track of the growth in the plots. Regular pop-up markets will be held by the students and the elderly for selling the plants with the purpose of enhancing the self-esteem of the elderly. The winning school team will join an overseas tour to visit a cluster of innovative start-ups and social enterprises.

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Mr. Paul Wong Yan Yin, JP, District Officer, Sham Shui Po District Office, Home Affairs Department (first from left), joined by Ms. Susan Kwek, Head of Operations & Technology, Citi Hong Kong, (first from right), presents the award for the fourth “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition to the champion team from HKSYCIA Wong Tai Shan Memorial College for their innovation “Sunshine to Elderly”.

Supported by Citi Foundation and organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition is a pioneering challenge open to all secondary schools to find sustainable solutions to community problems.

Five award prototypes were showcased at the ceremony.

Five award prototypes were showcased at the ceremony.

Mr. Paul Wong Yan Yin, JP, District Officer, Sham Shui Po District Office, Home Affairs Department; Ms. Susan Kwek, Head of Operations & Technology, Citi Hong Kong; Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, JP, Chief Executive, HKCSS and Dr. Jacob Hui Shing Yan, Chief Curriculum Support Officer, Education Bureau officiated at the award presentation ceremony today. Also attending were representatives of the competition’s partnering and supporting organizations, as well as teachers and students from the finalist teams. Five award prototypes were showcased at the ceremony.

Each year, a district in Hong Kong is selected as the focal area – Central and Western District in its first year, Kowloon City District in the second, and North District third. Sham Shui Po District was the focus this year. Through experiential learning in the community and comprehensive training in design thinking, technology and making prototypes, as well as interaction with local citizens with the support of the District Office and NGOs in the area, participating students were challenged to identify a community issue and come up with solutions to address it.

15 prototypes and 44 concept boards are now being exhibited to the public at Form Society and Parallel Space on Tai Nam Street until July 18.

15 prototypes and 44 concept boards are now being exhibited to the public at Form Society and Parallel Space on Tai Nam Street until July 18.

This year, 44 teams from 34 secondary schools around Hong Kong submitted their proposals. 15 finalist teams were invited to produce prototypes, which, together with the remaining teams’ concept boards, are now being exhibited to the public at Form Society and Parallel Space on Tai Nam Street in Sham Shui Po from July 13 to July 18.

Mr. Paul Wong Yan Yin, JP, District Officer, Sham Shui Po District Office, Home Affairs Department, said, “Social Innovation Community 4.0 encourages young people to apply innovative thinking to tackle social issues in Sham Shui Po. It has set out a new paradigm for community building by young people. I look forward to seeing the participants to keep contributing to the community in their future endeavors.”

Ms. Susan Kwek, Head of Operations & Technology, Citi Hong Kong said, “Citi Foundation has been supporting initiatives that improve youth employability and promote sustainability. This program not only enables young people to understand the community and to care about society, but also provides them with a platform to unleash their creativity, learn problem-solving, equip themselves for future career development and comprehend the meaning of team spirt. At the same time, it also helps build a sustainable city by addressing community issues. Young minds are key to shaping a brighter future for all, and Citi Foundation aspires to equip them with the skills and networks, which will contribute to their success in our ever-changing world.”

Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, JP, Chief Executive of HKCSS, said, “The Social Innovation Community 4.0 Competition has launched in its 4th year. In addition to the genuine support of Citi Foundation, the engagement of the government departments, supporting NGOs and community partners provides a chance for the students to experience a complete journey of social innovation. Through community visit and stakeholder’s interaction, the teams are able to create innovative solutions in response to the specific social problems. The mindset of “thinking out of the box” and breaking through is definitely the collective goals of the society. It is hoped that more creative proposals could be implemented in the community and all students could continue to pursue your passion towards the society by contributing to the well-being of all communities together with the social sector in the future.”

The finalists’ prototypes will undergo four rounds of testing in the community on July 20 and 22 this year. Teams will demonstrate on-site how their prototypes operate in practice, while residents in Shan Shui Po District will be invited to provide user feedback in order to improve the feasibility and practicality of the prototypes.

The fifth “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition will be open for applications in mid-October, and the new cohort will focus on social issues in Yau Tsim Mong District. It is hoped that the competition inspires the students to turn their ideas into action for the betterment of the community, thereby advancing social innovation in our society.

Hashtag: #Citibank

About Citi Foundation

Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfil our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit

About HKCSS

The HKCSS is an umbrella organization of over 500 agency members that provide over 90% of the social welfare services in Hong Kong. HKCSS strive to build a cohesive society by promoting strategic partnership among business and social service partners and inspiring corporate social responsibility through caring for the community, employees and the environment. HKCSS put much effort in building capacity of social enterprises through the Social Enterprise Business Centre (SEBC) to advance social entrepreneurship and mobilize social innovation. For more information, visit | Facebook:

Police Arrest Arms Dealer in Vientiane After Exchange of Gunfire

Police have apprehended a man believed to be a notorious arms dealer who fired shots at police yesterday in an attempt to evade arrest.

Australia Scraps Agricultural Visa Scheme for Lao Workers

The Australian government has discontinued a policy to allow foreign workers, including those from Laos, to work in Australia under agricultural programs.

5ire raises USD 100 million in Series A Funding at valuation USD 1.5 billion, turns unicorn

  • 5ire, has received funding from UK-based conglomerate SRAM & MRAM to become the fastest growing blockchain unicorn in India and the only sustainable blockchain unicorn in the world.
  • Brainchild of India-origin founders, Pratik Gauri and Prateek Dwivedi

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 15 July 2022 – 5ire, a fifth generation level 1 blockchain network and the world’s first and only sustainable blockchain, today announced that it has raised $100 million in Series A funding from UK-based conglomerate SRAM & MRAM. This investment makes 5ire the fastest growing blockchain unicorn in India and the only sustainable blockchain unicorn in the world, valued at $1.5 billion. 5ire was founded by Indian-origin entrepreneurs, Pratik Gauri and Prateek Dwivedi, along with web3 financier Vilma Mattila, in August 2021.

5ire raised a funding of $21 million in its seed round at a valuation of $110 million with participation from both private and institutional investors like Alphabit, Marshland Capital, Launchpool Labs, Moonrock Capital, and amongst many other investors.

The funds raised will be used for business expansion and extending 5ire’s footprint across three continents including Asia, North America and Europe, with India as the hub of operations and core area of focus. 5ire will continue to invest in strengthening its blockchain further and work towards ensuring this decentralised technology benefits a larger base globally. Additionally, 5ire aims to hire the best talent in the industry across functions like product, engineering, marketing etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani, Chairman of the SRAM & MRAM group, said, “We have great confidence in moving forward with investments in sustainable technologies. As a scientist, I have always believed in finding better ways to do things, and 5ire is committed to finding solutions for the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals. We are assured in the abilities of the leadership team at 5ire and wish them all the very best.”

Pratik Gauri, CEO and Founder of 5ire said, “We are on a mission to embed sustainability into blockchain and shift the current paradigm from ‘for-profit’ to ‘for-benefit’. The 5ire team has worked round-the-clock to develop a platform that combines both technology and processes for the benefit of humankind. Becoming the world’s first and only sustainable unicorn born out of India, in just 11 months, is testimony that we are on the right path. We are humbled by the trust shown in 5ire by the SRAM & MRAM group and thrilled to find a partner who also wants to promote the transition of the world from the 4th Industrial Revolution to the 5th Industrial Revolution.”

5ire is a blockchain ecosystem that brings forth Sustainability, Technology & Innovation to build the 5th industrial revolution (5IR). The mission of the 5ire ecosystem is to embed the for-benefit paradigm at the heart of blockchain, by highly incentivizing practices that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), therefore facilitating the transition from the 4IR to 5IR. 5ire empowers decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and working groups to help accelerate the implementation of the UN’s 17 SDG goals. It assures openness, unity of purpose, and inclusivity. Thus, shaping the ethics of business and collaborations toward sustainability while providing a cross-chain environment as well as advanced governance and rewarding mechanisms for participants.

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

About 5ire:

5ire is a blockchain ecosystem that focuses on sustainability, technology and innovation to build the 5th industrial revolution (5IR). Founded by blockchain proponents Pratik Gauri, Prateek Dwivedi and Vilma Mattila in August 2021, the missions of the 5ire ecosystem are to embed a for-benefit paradigm at the heart of blockchain, highly incentivise practices that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), facilitate the transition from the 4IR to 5IR, and accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The company’s primary offering is 5ireChain, a first layer, sustainability-driven 5th generation blockchain that ensures adherence to the philosophy of 5IR, creating a net positive impact on the planet and service humanity.

For further information, visit its website at .

About SRAM & MRAM Group:

SRAM & MRAM Group is the brainchild of , and founded in 1995. Dr.Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani, holds a Ph.D in Financial Management from UK , is a visionary with a steadfast background in Financial and Risk management in Hedge Funds and Forex Managements. His career started with commodity trading in India and Cambodia and gradually entered FX hedging and rollovers from Tokyo, Hongkong and Singapore. During this time, the world currency markets were rapidly fluctuating and he wanted a reliable system to manage the USD against GBP, EURO and JPY. This led to his acquiring considerable skills in both Financial and the Information Technology market.

Assisted by an able team of and Forex associates, he set up what is today, after two decades, a global conglomerate with 8 international alliances, 10 companies,5 continents, 35+ locations, 300+ employees with a sales turnaround of USD 800 Million (FY 2017-2018). The corporation is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom with branch offices in Cambodia, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Georgia, India and Bangladesh. For further information, please visit .