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Elation Shines Bright at Grand Opening of National Medal of Honor Museum

ARLINGTON, Texas, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The highly anticipated Grand Opening Celebration of the National Medal of Honor Museum took place on March 22, 2025, with a breathtaking nighttime spectacular that showcased Elation lighting with the company’s new ultra-long-throw PROTEUS ATLAS beam FX fixture taking center stage. Located in the heart of Arlington, Texas, and the newest national museum in the United States, the National Medal of Honor Museum honors the courage, sacrifice, and service of U.S. Armed Forces personnel who took extraordinary action in the service of others.

National Medal of Honor Museum Grand Opening Lit by Elation
National Medal of Honor Museum Grand Opening Lit by Elation

Designed by renowned Rafael Viñoly Architects, the National Medal of Honor Museum is a tribute to over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients and the millions of Americans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The opening night celebration was a grand affair, with dignitaries, donors, and Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, along with local citizens of Arlington.

“Mission to Inspire Spectacular”
The nighttime spectacle—”Mission to Inspire Spectacular”—featured a stunning 360-degree display of fireworks, drones, storytelling, and live performances, all supported by an immersive lighting design by Ryan Stumpp, Principal at Cue 13 Design. The nighttime spectacular, produced by Dallas-based corporate and event production company Corporate Magic, was crafted to reflect the core mission of the museum to inspire America through storytelling while celebrating the Medal of Honor recipients, the nation’s highest military honor.

Stumpp, who worked closely with Corporate Magic as the lead lighting designer and programmer, brought his extensive experience in nighttime spectaculars—gained from nearly two decades at Walt Disney World and Disney Live Entertainment.

“The way I approach nighttime spectaculars is to carefully support the thematic emotions of the music and story through a visual journey, much like theater – but on a much larger stage canvas with a variety of viewing angles and lighting positions,” the designer stated. “In this case, it was to set moods that reinforced the narratives of commitment and valor with big and grand looks, bravery and sacrifice with solemn beams to the heavens, and a huge grand finale celebrating honor and legacy – complimenting a beautiful drone and pyrotechnics design.”

Elation Lighting
The event marked the U.S. debut of Elation’s PROTEUS ATLAS, an ultra-long-throw IP66 moving head fixture, and the foundation of a powerful team of Elation luminaires that also included PROTEUS BRUTUS, PROTEUS HYBRID MAX, PARAGON M, FUZE WASH 500, and KL PANEL fixtures. Stumpp noted that the design relied on Elation for 75% of the lighting, some 110 fixtures for the nighttime show alone. “With the backdrop of a nighttime spectacular and such a variety of important people present, we needed large and impactful lighting looks with the finesse of perfect key lighting to put our best foot forward, and Elation lighting helped us achieve that,” he stated.

Four Separate Events
The opening celebration included four events—a cocktail party, a Gala dinner, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the “Mission to Inspire Spectacular”—all lit by Stumpp and all featuring Elation lighting. PARAGON M and FUZE WASH 500 lights were used for the cocktail party, while PARAGON M, FUZE WASH 500, and KL PANEL fixtures lit the Gala dinner, which took place in a tent with the museum as a backdrop. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring former President George W. Bush, one of the honorary directors of the museum, was held in the museum’s open-air rotunda. Here PARAGON M was used for key light, with KL Panels utilized for high-quality softlight. The evening culminated by the museum’s lagoon with the “Mission to Inspire Spectacular” with an awe-inspiring combination of 32 PROTEUS ATLAS, 52 PROTEUS HYBRID MAX, 20 PROTEUS BRUTUS, and 8 PARAGON M.

Theatrical Environment
The show took the audience on a journey, starting with a powerful opening, weaving through educational and informational moments that honored the history of the Medal of Honor and culminating in a dynamic finale of light, color, and impact. Stumpp sought to create a theatrical environment in which guests could be immersed.

“It was important that the show be creative yet very emotional,” he said, “but it also needed to be backed with big beams; therefore, I relied on the PROTEUS ATLAS as the flagship lighting fixture.” Stumpp was already familiar with the fixture and its laser-based LILI light engine from his work at Elation, where he saw a shootout against competitor lights in which, he says, it more than held its own. “It has a massive front lens and throws a concentrated 0.6˚ beam of light impressively long distances,” he said.

PROTEUS
The PROTEUS ATLAS lights were strategically positioned around the site—including Choctaw Stadium rooftops, parking lots, and atop the Arlington Museum of Art. The fixtures created a stunning 180-degree backdrop of powerful beams, adding an impressive, layered dimension to the event’s overall look. “I needed a hero fixture that gave me strong, bold, regal moments in the show, and the ATLAS provided that,” said Stumpp, who, with his fellow designers, curated a nighttime spectacular that was worthy of some of the best theme park presentations in the world.

Despite the unseasonably cold, clear evening with minimal particulate in the air, the ATLAS’s beams remained punchy and impactful. “The ATLAS set the tone, and framed the picture,” the designer remarked. “Even when the fireworks smoke blew away, the ATLAS remained strong and punchy, wrapping the audience in an immersive lighting experience and creating a great backdrop.”

The PROTEUS BRUTUS and PROTEUS HYBRID MAX, placed around the lagoon to add dynamic mid-air effects and majestic washes over the water, also provided moments of veneration. “When we shot the BRUTUS, HYBRID MAX, and ATLAS beams straight up in the air, it really gave a sense of awe and wonder as they disappeared into the heavens,” Stumpp said.

Live Events Productions / Gemini / Pyrotecnico
Event production company Live Events Productions worked with Gemini, their local shop in Dallas, to supply the lighting, audio and some of the video elements for the event. Pyrotecnico, a sister company of Live Events Productions, provided the stunning fireworks and drone show. “I’m proud and honored that we were part of this event,” said Ben Coker, VP of Technology and Assets at Live Events Productions. “For our companies, working on a project of this scale, with such a rich heritage, and integrating fireworks, drones, lighting, and audio into one show created a full 360° experience, which was truly special.”

Christopher Laue from Corporate Magic, the event’s executive producer, shared, “The partnership with Elation and the deployment of their ATLAS fixtures allowed us to create the visual continuity between story and screen content to pyrotechnics and drones. All working in harmony with an epic musical score. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Dan Lamphier, VP of Production at Live Events Productions who headed up the project for the Live Events team, adds, “It was a true team effort. We worked with Corporate Magic for 10 months, refining the design to create something special. Bringing everything together on-site, through a week of installation, programming, and rehearsals, it resulted in a spectacular event, and I think everybody walked away with a sense of pride. The lighting, fireworks, drones, and storyline combined to honor the history of the Medal of Honor—it was more than just a building opening; the event brought home the profound significance behind the Medal of Honor.”

PARAGON
The design team also had to consider the broadcast and online audiences as the event was live-streamed, covered by media outlets, and documented by an in-house team. In particular, Elation’s new PARAGON M LED profile moving head was selected for its high color fidelity and versatility, ensuring that the live audience and camera crews captured the event’s magic in the best possible light.

Stumpp comments that the PARAGON M’s TruTone variable CRI system was essential for delivering consistent, high-quality lighting across the entire event. “I got to unlock some of the great creative abilities of the fixture through TruTone,” he said, noting that he used the variable CRI engine to get the proper skin tones for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and live performances but also used it at higher output, narrow zoom and lower CRI for extra punch during the nighttime spectacular. “It looked absolutely perfect and was well balanced on camera for both IMAG and streaming. They were a real workhorse that did what we needed them to.”

Live Events Productions recently added the PARAGON M and PROTEUS HYBRID MAX to their stock of Elation lighting gear and debuted the fixtures at the event. “The PARAGON’s TruTone variable CRI engine gives us a lot of flexibility,” stated Ben Coker at Live Events Productions. “It answers the need for a natively high CRI fixture but with LED and without having to use a filter to achieve that. It also gives the ability in the same fixture to have a higher output and lower CRI and not have to carry two fixtures. Plus, the IP54 rating means we can use it temporarily outside on shows like the Medal of Honor and don’t have to worry about it.”

Regarding the PARAGON’s ability to enhance mixed color tones and expand the color range, Coker added, “It really is incredible how different colors look at the different CRI values from 73 to 93. When you put different colors in and change the CRI, you get some really fantastic, dynamic looks.” Dan Lamphier added, “The scenic in the show lent itself to ambers, and with the variable CRI engine it was easy to get a variation of shades. It’s a tough color to reproduce in LED, especially with a subtractive color mixing system, but PARAGON did it quite well.”

Given the immense size and scope of the event, Stumpp required lighting assistance and brought Kevin Harvey onboard as Lighting Director to handle the lighting of the Gala dinner held inside a large tent. He comments, “With our low trim heights, we needed a compact framing profile fixture and the PARAGON was the perfect fixture for the job. Combined with its compact size and TruTone high CRI, I was able to use it for key lighting the performers and had zero issues with the fixture.”

The lighting system relied on Obsidian Control System NETRON devices—EN6 and EN12—for precise signal distribution, ensuring that every fixture performed flawlessly across the vast venue.

Lighting Collaboration
Stumpp expressed his privilege in lighting such a noble event and reflected on his first time working with Gemini, which he gives an A++. “It was a real honor to work on such a prestigious event, and collaborating with the Live Events Productions team, Gemini, and Pyrotecnico was an amazing experience. They were fantastic partners with a dedicated staff that pays close attention to detail. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

The National Medal of Honor Museum opened its doors to the public on March 25, 2025, as a source of pride for Arlington and the entire nation.

Christopher Laue: Executive Producer, Corporate Magic
Ben Coker: VP of Technology and Assets, Live Events Productions
Stephen Dahlem: Creative Director
Ryan Stumpp: Lighting Designer and Programmer, Cue 13 Design
Steve Dumbacher: Technical Director
Kevin Harvey: Lighting Director
Shawn Jobin: Lighting Programmer (tents)
Nick Deel: Master Electrician

About Elation
At Elation, we represent the elite in the lighting industry. We design and manufacture a comprehensive range of best-in-class entertainment lighting products valued by production/rental houses and lighting designers worldwide. Our dedication to extraordinary quality and creative solutions has established us as the go-to choice for professionals. With a storied legacy of brilliance, our influence extends from iconic stages to cutting-edge studios across the globe. We also offer an advanced line of lighting control products through Obsidian Control Systems, and a full range of dependable specialty effects called Magmatic. We invite you to take a closer look at www.elationlighting.com and elation.global 

 

SapiensAI Launches Agnes – Singapore’s Homegrown Answer to DeepSeek

  • Led by a Singaporean AI savant, Agnes marks a milestone in Southeast Asia’s journey towards AI leadership
  • Combining real-time web search and personal knowledge memory, Agnes represents a new AI platform built for today’s productivity needs
  • Agnes is Southeast Asian market oriented, chart interactive, report efficient, and seamless file-to-insight convertible

SINGAPORE, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a landmark moment for Southeast Asia’s AI landscape, the technological geniuses of SapiensAI unveiled Agnes AI, a next-generation artificial intelligence agent developed and trained entirely in Singapore on April 14, 2025. The launch event, NUS GRIP, held earlier this month at Innovation 4.0, National University of Singapore (NUS), was attended by academics, tech leaders, and investors eager to witness the region’s bold step toward global AI innovation.

Described as “Singapore’s DeepSeek,” Agnes AI is the brainchild of Bruce Yang, a prominent AI engineer, Co-Founder of SapiensAI and a PhD candidate at the School of Computing at NUS. Built with deep contextual intelligence, locally trained datasets, and advanced large language model capabilities, Agnes AI is designed to execute complex tasks with high-speed precision.

Inspired by tools like Perplexity, OpenAI’s GPT, and DeepSeek, Agnes AI stands apart by offering a fully integrated platform that merges real-time search capabilities with a personal memory engine. This hybrid foundation enables Agnes to produce in-depth insights, adaptively recall user-specific content, and dynamically update responses as context evolves.

Agnes AI has demonstrated remarkable improvements in inference stage optimisation, especially when compared to other platforms. In particular, Agnes shows superior efficiency in token usage and faster response generation when producing detailed reports or visual-based analyses. In addition, the user experience during chart-based interactions is notably smoother, thanks to proprietary enhancements to the algorithmic structure that underpins the platform’s interactive modules.

Agnes was officially launched by Bruce (Co-founder of SapiensAI) at the NUS GRIP event on April 14, 2025.
Agnes was officially launched by Bruce (Co-founder of SapiensAI) at the NUS GRIP event on April 14, 2025.

(Above: The video introduction by Bruce Yang on the Agnes AI website and platform)

Let us make it clear, Agnes isn’t just an AI assistant. It’s a vision of what Southeast Asian technology can achieve when we combine global ambition with local intelligence,” said Bruce Yang, Co-Founder of SapiensAI. “We’re not here to replicate – we’re here to make a change and lead the next generation of AI.”

To support seamless integration into modern work environments, Agnes AI allows users to upload local files or submit URLs directly into the interface. Agnes can then synthesize and deliver intelligent feedback, which can be downloaded in PDF or markdown formats, or exported as a shareable HTML webpage — offering maximum flexibility for teams and individuals working across multiple platforms and file ecosystems.

SapiensAI also plans to open-source these innovations together with select research papers in May to promote industry collaboration and progress. This will ultimately contribute to the broader AI agent ecosystem and encourage a new generation of context-aware intelligent systems.

Meanwhile, SapiensAI is preparing to launch a new product in the US and European market in the coming months. This upcoming platform will expand significantly in scale and scope, positioning itself as a next-generation AI productivity and collaboration suite for future-ready organizations around the world.

We’ve got top universities like NUS and NTU with brilliant students and research that is recognised across the world. Singapore is already a global hub for business and innovation so why shouldn’t we have our own AI startups, just like DeepSeek or OpenAI? It’s time we showed the world what we’re capable of.” Bruce added.

For more information, please visit the official website at https://agnes-ai.com/

Members of the media are warmly invited to speak with the SapiensAI team for exclusive insights into the development of Agnes AI and what it means for the future of AI in Southeast Asia. Interview opportunities are available by appointment for virtual sessions. 

About SapiensAI

SapiensAI is a Singapore-based AI company focused on developing intelligent systems that are both locally grounded and globally scalable. Its mission is to build next-generation AI productivity and collaboration tools that understand cultural context, regional languages, and real-world business needs. Led by Bruce Yang, the team is committed to advancing AI innovation and empowering Southeast Asian talent on the global stage.

About Bruce Yang

Bruce Yang is the founder of Sobrr Inc, RetailX, and SapiensAI, and has consistently led innovation in the tech space. A Raffles Institution alumnus, he holds degrees from UC Berkeley and HEC Paris, and is currently pursuing a PhD at NUS. He has worked at Microsoft and LinkedIn, and collaborated with global brands like Walmart, Coca Cola, and Budweiser. Bruce is passionate about leveraging AI to deliver impactful digital solutions worldwide.

Vantage Unveils Campaign Showcasing Partnership & Shared Values with Scuderia Ferrari HP

SYDNEY, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vantage Markets  is proud to launch a campaign that celebrates the essence of their partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP, built on the pursuit of excellence, ambition, passion, and innovation. This campaign showcases the synergy between two brands, highlighting their commitment to challenge the status quo and continuous progress in their respective industries.

Vantage Unveils Campaign Showcasing Partnership & Shared Values with Scuderia Ferrari HP
Vantage Unveils Campaign Showcasing Partnership & Shared Values with Scuderia Ferrari HP

The pursuit of excellence, precision and performance are at the heart of both companies. Just as Scuderia Ferrari HP team meticulously works on every element of the Formula 1 car to find the peak efficiency, Vantage continuously enhances its offerings to provide users with access to a seamless and reliable platform.

Ambition drives success, whether it’s dominating the track or delivering an efficient experience, the campaign reflects both Vantage and Scuderia Ferrari HP’s shared drive to push limits, embrace challenges, and set new standards for excellence.

Passion is the force that fuels innovation and progress. Vantage is united with Scuderia Ferrari HP by a deep-rooted passion for their respective fields. The campaign captures this relentless spirit and dedication to transforming their vision into reality.

Jack Kelly, Head of Sales at Vantage Australia, expressed his enthusiasm: “Our partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP is built on a foundation of shared values. This campaign reflects our mutual drive to achieve excellence, inspire performance, and embrace innovation in everything we do.”

As this campaign unfolds, fans can look forward to exclusive content, immersive experiences, and unique activations that bring the partnership to life. Stay connected for more updates on Vantage x Scuderia Ferrari HP Partnership, visit Vantage Markets.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products on, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With over 15 years of market experience, Vantage transcends the role of broker, providing a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that provide clients access to trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @ vantage

Vantage Global Prime Pty Ltd (ACN 157 768 566), located at 12/15 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2000, and is authorised and regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) AFSL no. 428901.

Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Accordingly, before acting on the advice, you should consider whether the advice is suitable for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary.

You should consider whether you’re part of our target market by reviewing our Target Market Determination (TMD), reading our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), and other legal documents to ensure you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary.

DAR GLOBAL ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DOHA AND ULTRA-LUXURY BEACHFRONT VILLAS WITHIN THE SIMAISIMA COMMUNITY

DOHA, Qatar, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dar Global has signed an agreement with The Trump Organization to develop Trump International Golf Club, Doha as part of the landmark Simaisima coastal masterplan located 40 kilometers north of Doha.

Occupying approximately 790,000 square meters within the broader 8 million square meters of Simaisma development, this collaboration will deliver a world-class 18-hole Trump International Golf Course, a Trump Golf Clubhouse, and approximately high-end branded villas overlooking the golf and the beach with direct access to beach and neighbouring anticipated luxury lifestyle destinations.

 

Ziad El Chaar, CEO, Dar Global
Ziad El Chaar, CEO, Dar Global

 

The larger Simaisima masterplan, led by Qatari Diar, is set to transform Qatar’s eastern coastline and will feature a 650,000 sqm theme park, tourism and hospitality zones, a yacht marina, beach club, and a curated mix of cultural attractions, retail, and fine dining experiences.

Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, commented:

“We are immensely proud to bring the Trump brand to Qatar through this exceptional collaboration with Dar Global. This debut marks an exciting new chapter in our global expansion, bringing our signature standard of excellence and world-class experiences to this dynamic market. Trump International Golf Club, Doha, together with our exclusive villa community, will embody the highest levels of quality, prestige, and timeless elegance that define the Trump name.” 

Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, added:

“Dar Global is honored to partner with The Trump Organization to deliver this iconic development. With the Trump brand’s global prestige and our deep expertise in creating world-class residential destinations, Trump International Golf Club, Doha will raise the bar for ultra-luxury coastal living in the region.”

The Trump-branded enclave will be a key highlight within the Simaisima masterplan, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a global hub for luxury, tourism, and investment.

Disclaimer: Trump International Golf Club, Doha is not owned, developed or sold by The Trump Organization or any of their current or former principals or affiliates. Dar Global PLC, the owner and developer of the property, uses the “Trump” name and mark under license, which license may be terminated or revoked according to its terms.

Atomic Leap Unveils Free AI SEO Audit, Delivering £1k-Level Insights in Minutes

BRISTOL, England, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Marketing leaders can now download a 40–page, agency–grade SEO audit in under an hour—absolutely free.

 

Illustration of AI robot inspecting website code – Atomic Leap free AI SEO Audit
Illustration of AI robot inspecting website code – Atomic Leap free AI SEO Audit

 

Unlike conventional “free” SEO audit tools that stop at surface–level scans, the new AI SEO Audit from Bristol–based performance agency Atomic Leap generates a full, expert–level report across four critical pillars:

  • Technical health – a review of up to 200 pages for technical issues and errors
  • Content quality – reviewing key pages for content against competitors
  • Backlink strength – trust metrics, toxic link flags, competitor gaps
  • Keyword performance – current rankings and untapped SERP opportunities

 

 

Watch our explainer video of the audit

 

“This isn’t just another automated SEO check. It’s a truly comprehensive, AI-driven audit built from the ground up to deliver actionable insights,” said Wayland Coles, digital pioneer and founder of Atomic Leap. “We wanted to democratize the depth and quality of professional SEO audits, typically costing over £1,000, by making them accessible to every business, absolutely free.”

What sets Atomic Leap’s AI SEO Audit apart from existing free options is its intelligent analysis, covering every page and keyword, and benchmarking websites precisely against relevant competitors. The system draws from the same premium data sources trusted by global brands like Amazon, Adidas, and Samsung, ensuring businesses of all sizes receive insights typically reserved for large enterprises.

Early adopters report actionable insights in less than 1 hour without the usual consulting costs.

Try it now

Run your free audit at atomicleap.agency/free-ai-seo-audit.
Download the on-page overview (PDF): https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2677004/Atomic_Leap.pdf.

About Atomic Leap

Founded in 2010, Atomic Leap is a performance marketing agency specialising in data–led SEO and AI–driven growth strategies. Headquartered in Bristol, the agency has delivered measurable results for brands across the world.

Photo: https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/atomic_leap.jpg
Video: https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2677012/Atomic_Leap.mp4
PDF: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2677004/Atomic_Leap.pdf

Mark your calendar, Java making a strong entrance to 2025 China International Bicycle Fair

SHANGHAI, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The high-performance bicycle brand JAVA is set to make a strong appearance at the 2025 China International Bicycle Exhibition (CHINA CYCLE) from May 5 to 8, where it will unveil an all-new lineup of road, TT, MTB, and city bikes at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, Booths W1-0921 & 1326.

Mark your calender, Java making a strong entrance to 2025 China International Bicycle Fair
Mark your calender, Java making a strong entrance to 2025 China International Bicycle Fair

Under the theme “Ride Different.”, JAVA will present several cutting-edge models that embody the brand’s latest advancements in aerodynamics, lightweight carbon technology, and urban mobility design.

JAVA’s official 2025 New Product Launch will be held on-site on May 5, offering attendees a first-hand look at our latest models, along with exclusive technical insights. A number of influential KOLs and media representatives from across China will be attending the event — we welcome all cycling enthusiasts and partners to join us!

New Models Preview

VITTORIA |Flagship Carbon Road Bike
Featuring a race-optimized full carbon frame and integrated cockpit system, VITTORIA is built for both aerodynamic speed and long-distance comfort. It represents JAVA’s most advanced road platform to date.

New TT Bike |Born for Speed and Precision
Engineered for triathlons and time trials, the new TT model integrates aero frame geometry with deep-section wheels, offering elite-level speed stability and reduced drag.

CIMA |All-New Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike
The CIMA is JAVA’s next-gen MTB built with a lightweight carbon fiber frame, front hydraulic lock-out suspension, and sharp geometry for maximum control on aggressive terrain.

SABBIA-MINI |Compact Gravel for Urban & Trail Exploration
A standout model at this year’s show, the SABBIA-MINI blends light gravel capabilities with a space-saving frame design, making it perfect for multi-scenario riding—from city streets to light trails. Its geometry is specially tailored for smaller riders and younger cyclists, offering a comfortable and confident ride for teens or entry-level users.

CL & CL-CB |Urban Mini Bikes with Attitude
JAVA’s 20-inch small-wheel urban bikes offer style and function. The CL emphasizes agility for city commutes, while the CL-CB adds vintage flair for the trend-conscious rider.

Cycling Gear & Apparel |New in 2025
JAVA is also launching a new line of cycling wear and accessories, including high-performance jerseys, padded gloves, aero helmets, and more, designed to complement our bikes and support every rider’s needs.

JAVA’s Marketing Director stated:
“2025 is a transformative year for JAVA. We’re proud to unveil a comprehensive lineup that represents our commitment to innovation, design, and rider-first performance. We look forward to connecting with the global cycling community at China Cycle.”

Throughout the event, JAVA will also host product showcases, interactive giveaways, and technical sessions.

Contact:
0755-27496573 
java@javabikes.com 

A global study led by CUHK and the University of Calgary charts four-stage evolution of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

HONG KONG, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — An international consortium led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) and the University of Calgary in Canada has conducted a global epidemiological study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). It found that this chronic gut condition follows a four-stage epidemiological evolution across different regions of the world. Analysing data from more than 500 epidemiological studies across 80 regions in the past century, the team generated a machine-learning model for classification of stages which enables health-care systems to prepare for the growing burden on healthcare arising from the prevalence of IBD. Results of the study have been published in the leading scientific journal Nature.   

Professor Gilaad Kaplan (left) and Professor Siew Ng
Professor Gilaad Kaplan (left) and Professor Siew Ng

Epidemiological model informs trend of IBD burden for the next 20 years

The Global IBD Visualization of Epidemiology Studies in the 21st Century (GIVES‑21) consortium, led by Professor Gilaad Kaplan of University of Calgary and Professor Siew Ng of CU Medicine, synthesised data from 522 population-based studies across 82 geographical regions over the past century. They observed differences in IBD incidence and prevalence across various geographical areas over the past century suggest that epidemiological patterns shift through time.

To further explore the trends and characterise the epidemiology of IBD independent of geography and time, researchers developed a machine-learning model that classifies regions by epidemiologic stage, maps spatiotemporal transitions across stages and models a theoretical prevalence stage for the next two decades. They also demonstrated a stage where IBD prevalence reaches equilibrium. (Please refer to Table 1 for details.)

Professor Gilaad Kaplan, Professor of Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine, the University of Calgary, said: “Our analysis, drawing on a century’s worth of historical epidemiologic data, enables health authorities to tailor interventions – whether clinical, policy driven or preventive.” 

Incidence rapidly rising in China and Malaysia while Japan and South Korea seeing an acceleration in prevalence

Study data showed epidemiological stages vary among regions in Asia. Japan and South Korea, which underwent rapid industrialisation in the latter half of the 20th century, have reported prevalence exceeding 0.1%, placing them on the brink of transitioning towards stage 3. In contrast, nations like China and Malaysia, which industrialised later, entered stage 2 more recently.

Dr Joyce Mak, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at CU Medicine, said: “Today, we stand at a critical juncture as we address the alarming rise in IBD in newly industrialised countries such as China and Malaysia. This increase is not just a statistic; it represents the health and well-being of millions of people. As these nations embrace rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, we must prioritise public health initiatives, enhance awareness, and invest in research to understand underlying causes of this disease.”

Professor Siew Ng, Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences at CU Medicine, Director of the Microbiota I-Center (MagIC) and New Cornerstone Investigator, said: “Our GIVES‑21 consortium is conducting epidemiologic surveillance studies in low- and middle-income countries, as the disease is evolving in these regions. We are seeing a paradigm shift of IBD accelerating in these regions and we will need to prepare our clinical infrastructure and personnel to manage this complex and costly disease. We are planning research to focus on preventive strategies targeting the gut microbiome, diet and environmental exposures to reduce disease incidence.”

This study was supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the International Organization for the study of IBD (IOIBD), and contributions from over 30 international partners.

Guizhou poised to become major player in global digital economy

GUIYANG, China, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — According to Communist Party of China Guizhou Gui’an New Area, Guizhou province in Southwest China has emerged as a national computing network hub. There is now ample evidence to show that the “east data, west computing” project, which means “computing the eastern region’s data in the west” of the country, encompasses not only technology transfer, but also the restructuring of production. Guizhou is evolving from being a follower to a leader in the field of computing, setting a new paradigm for other western provinces in China.

Since being designated as a national computing power hub in May 2021, Guizhou has made giant strides in expanding its computing power. By late 2024, its gross computing power had doubled, exceeding 57 EFLOPS (57 quintillion floating-point operations per second), among which intelligent computing accounts for over 90 percent, transforming Guizhou into one of the top intelligent-computing provinces in China.

With clustered intelligent computing centers, including the Huawei Ascend Computing Center, Guizhou has transformed itself from being a “data storage warehouse” to becoming a “computing engine”.

With a considerable number of data centers, Guizhou is poised to build an industry chain centered on computing power and data.

Guizhou has issued 26 incentive policies to promote its development as a national computing hub, and expanded the scope of incentives to attract enterprises from regions such as Guangdong and Sichuan provinces and Beijing to start computing-related businesses in the province. It is planned that it will continually expand its computing capacity based on the clustered data centers in Gui’an and aggregate resources and computing power.

By late 2024, Guizhou had provided 23 percent of the country’s total computing power, and had completed computing transactions worth 11.35 billion yuan ($1.56 billion). It is currently developing diverse application scenarios, and actively cultivating clustered data centers, intelligent terminals and data applications — all with the aim of all three reaching a scale of 100 billion yuan respectively.

Innovation has replaced resources as the province’s primary driving force. Application scenarios have stimulated demand and services. In recent years, Guizhou’s computing power has gained popularity among film-making teams in eastern regions. The major operator of the Gui’an Supercomputing Center has helped render more than 50 films including The Wandering Earth, Deep Sea and The Three-Body Problem. Notably, over 40 percent of the special effects shots in the popular animated film Ne Zha 2 were rendered using computing power generated in Guizhou.

Nevertheless, Guizhou still faces challenges, namely, insufficient endogenous technological advancement, shortage of high-end talents and poor regional coordination. For this reason, Guizhou is sparing no effort to cultivate local innovative teams through projects such as “scientist workstations” and “university-enterprise joint laboratories”. The Gui’an Supercomputing Center, for example, has supported research computing for universities and research institutes in Guizhou in fields such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence and industrial simulation.

The province’s financial authorities guide financial institutions to enhance coordination between the government, finance, and enterprises, thereby assisting sci-tech businesses to secure finance and foster innovation. By last September, the province had 11 bank branches specializing in sci-tech financing, with outstanding loans to technology-based enterprises totaling 99.84 billion yuan, an increase of 2.32 billion yuan compared to early 2024. Notably, loans to high-tech enterprises amounted to 83.38 billion yuan, up 29.82 percent from the start of 2024.

If Guizhou achieves its goal of building China’s largest computing clusters by the end of 2025 as planned, it is poised to become a prominent player in the global digital economy, and better support the country’s modernization.