Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA) 2025 opens for enrolment today (April 22). Entries of locally developed information and communications technology (ICT) products and solutions are invited to compete for the Grand Awards in the eight award categories and the top accolade of the competition – the Award of the Year. Enrolment is free of charge and the deadline is July 14, 2025.
The HKICTA 2025 is organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO) with each award category to be led by a local industry association or professional body. The award categories and respective leading organisers are listed below:
Award categories
Leading organisers
Digital Entertainment Award
Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association
FinTech Award
Institute of Financial Technologists of Asia
ICT Startup Award
Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association
Smart Business Award
Hong Kong Computer Society
Smart Living Award
Hong Kong Information Technology Federation
Smart Mobility Award
GS1 Hong Kong
Smart People Award
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Student Innovation Award
Hong Kong Education City
A Grand Award will be granted in each category, and the Award of the Year will be selected by a Grand Judging Panel from the eight Grand Awardees.
In a bid to foster the innovative use of AI, the Best Use of AI award winner will be selected in each of the eight categories to magnify and honour outstanding achievements in harnessing the power of AI in respective areas.
Established in 2006, the HKICTA is an annual signature event of the local ICT industry which aims to recognise and promote outstanding ICT inventions and applications, thereby encouraging the pursuit of innovation and excellence among Hong Kong’s ICT professionals and enterprises to develop innovative applications meeting business and social needs, use innovation and technology (I&T) to bring benefits to the community, and foster Hong Kong’s I&T and smart city development. Through concerted efforts of the ICT sector, academia and the Government, the HKICTA has always been highly regarded by the information technology industry, and the winners may also be nominated to compete in other regional and international competitions on behalf of Hong Kong and be sponsored to participate in overseas I&T exhibitions. The award acts as an encouragement and recognition to the winners, and enables their access to both Mainland and overseas markets.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
To promote the culture and artistic features of Chinese opera among members of the public, the Chinese Opera Festival (COF), as a core part of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, will organise a number of free talks, masterclasses and an exhibition from May to August to introduce various theatrical genres, performance styles, repertoire appreciation and more from various perspectives.
Talks on the Three Kingdoms Opera
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Veteran Cantonese opera performing artist Yuen Siu-fai will host four talks to discuss the classic plays from the “Three Kingdoms” story that will be staged in this year’s COF from the perspectives of character portrayal, the art of adaptation, strategic plots in the storylines and genre variations.
Topic: Character Portrayal in Staging “Three Kingdoms” Stories: Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei
Date: May 17 (Saturday)
Topic: On the Adaptation of Stories from the “Three Kingdoms” for the Stage – With Examples from Excerpts and Full-length Plays
Date: May 24 (Saturday)
Topic: On the Strategic Plots: “Invoking the East Wind” and “Returning to Jingzhou”
Date: May 31 (Saturday)
Topic: Stories from the “Three Kingdoms”: From History and Literature to Traditional Theatre
Date: June 7 (Saturday)
Talks on the Art of Kunqu Opera
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This year’s COF features three Kunqu opera performances. Three talks will be given by seasoned Kunqu art researcher Cheung Lai-chun, who will guide audiences through the culture and stories behind the plays as well as their exquisite stage interpretations.
Topic: Appreciation of “Fifteen Strings of Cash”
Date: May 18 (Sunday)
Topic: Appreciation of “Kneeling by the Pond” from “The Lioness Roars” and “Rendezvous at the Pavilion” from “Red Pear Blossom”
Date: May 25 (Sunday)
Topic: Appreciation of “Entrusting His Son” from “The Beauty Washing Silk by the River” and “Cancelling the Birthday Celebrations” from “The Pavilion of Chanting in the Wind”
Date: June 1 (Sunday)
Talks on the Culture of Chinese Opera
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This year’s COF features regional operatic genres that are rarely seen by Hong Kong audiences – Yuediao opera of Henan and Qinqiang opera of Shaanxi, along with selected Chinese operas based on the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”. Scholar of Chinese opera Lum Man-yee will deliver two talks, covering the evolution of “Three Kingdom” operas and the characteristics of female performers playing “xusheng” (bearded male) role in Yuediao and Qinqiang traditions respectively.
Topic: Staging “Three Kingdoms” stories: from Southern Operas of the Song and Yuan Periods to Regional Operas of Today
Date: June 8 (Sunday)
Topic: Heroine Women Playing Middle-aged Men: the “Bearded Male” Cross-dressing Roles in Yuediao Opera of Henan and Qinqiang Opera of Shaanxi
Date: June 15 (Sunday)
The Talks on “Three Kingdoms” Opera, Talks on the Art of Kunqu Opera and Talks on the Culture of Chinese Opera will be conducted in Cantonese and will be held at 2.30pm at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free, and online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1839.html#tab_13_0). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Masterclasses and Demonstration Talk of Kunqu Opera
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Main cast members of the Zhejiang Jingkun Art Center (Kun Opera Troupe) will host masterclasses and a demonstration talk delving into the techniques of sheng (male) and dan (female) role performances as well as the art of music and singing of Kunqu opera respectively.
Masterclasses of Kunqu Opera:
Venue: AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Moderator: Chan Chun-miu
Topic: The Crafting of Dan (Female) Roles in Kunqu
Date and time: August 14 (Thursday), 2pm
Master: Hu Ping
Topic: The Crafting of Sheng (Male) Roles in Kunqu
Date and time: August 14 (Thursday), 4pm
Master: Zeng Jie
Demonstration Talk of Kunqu Opera:
Venue: Theatre, Block I, Jao Tsung-I Academy
Moderator: Cheung Lai-chun
Topic: Kunqu Classics as a Living Tradition
Date and time: August 18 (Monday), 5pm
Speakers: Wu Xinyi, Wang Hengtao
A “Three Kingdoms in Chinese Opera” Exhibition will be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Yuen Long Theatre from May to August. The exhibition will illuminate the make-up, costumes and stage artistry of key characters in Chinese opera “Three Kingdoms” repertoires, showcasing the arts across opera genres. Admission is free.
Period: May 27 (Tuesday) to June 7 (Saturday)
Venue: Foyer Exhibition Area, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Period: July 16 (Wednesday) to August 1 (Friday)
Venue: Exhibition Corner, Yuen Long Theatre
In addition to the above-mentioned talks, masterclasses and exhibition, extended activities including meet-the-artists sessions, a backstage tour and a demonstration performance of Peking opera will be held during the CCF period to promote the artistry and culture of Chinese traditional opera. For more information about the events, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1839.html.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from both the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the COF, “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.
Today, I embark on a two-day State visit to the Kingdom of Saudi at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia that have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years. Together, we have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership including in the domains of defence, trade, investment, energy and people to people ties. We have shared interest and commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability.
This will be my third visit to Saudi Arabia over the past decade and a first one to the historic city of Jeddah. I look forward to participating in the 2ndMeeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and build upon the highly successful State visit of my brother His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India in 2023.
I am also eager to connect with the vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia that continues to serve as the living bridge between our nations and making immense contribution to strengthening the cultural and human ties.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Transport Department (TD) today (April 22) reminded parents, guardians or private car drivers to choose and use a suitable Child Restraining Device (CRD), such as a child safety seat, that is appropriate for children’s body size and complies with relevant standards to reduce the risks of being killed or seriously injured in traffic accidents, thereby enhancing protection for children and passenger safety.
Starting from November 1, 2025, unless child passengers aged below 8 reach a body height of 1.35 metres, they must use a CRD in private cars, regardless of whether they are sitting in the front or rear seats. Passengers aged 8 or above, or those with a body height of at least 1.35m, must either use a CRD or wear an adult seat belt. Otherwise, the driver must not drive the car on any road.
A spokesman for the TD said, “When choosing a CRD, parents, guardians or private car drivers carrying a child passenger should accord top priority to the height and/or weight range for which the product is suitable. They should also look for any markings indicating compliance with national or international standards recognised. For enquiries, they should consult the manufacturer or retailer on the product standards to meet legal requirements.”
Of note, after a collision such as a traffic accident, CRDs may show no visible signs of damage on the surface, but their internal structure may have been damaged, reducing their protective effectiveness, and they should not be used again. In addition, when purchasing second-hand CRDs, it is difficult to guarantee that the product has not been hit. For those used by relatives or friends, one should ascertain whether they have been dropped or bumped.
Apart from conventional types of child safety seats, there are various types of portable CRDs, such as seat belt adjusters, wearable safety restraint vests and foldable boosters, available in the market for selection. Yet, as portable CRDs do not have protective pads and seat backs on both sides, their protection capabilities in side-impact collisions are in general not as good as those of child safety seats.
The TD has launched a designated page on CRDs (www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/crd) coupled with infographics on the Agent T Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AgentT.hk) to set out details of the legal requirements and standards concerned. The TD will continue to work with the Police, the Road Safety Council and the Consumer Council to step up relevant publicity and public education. Members of the public may call the TD’s hotline (2804 2600) for details.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Cézanne and Renoir Looking at the World – Masterpieces from the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée d’Orsay” exhibition at HKMoA extended to May 14 Renoir’s use of colour, light and shadow in his works played a pivotal role in the development of Impressionism. Cézanne’s art theory, meanwhile, laid the groundwork for the development of various art styles in the 20th century, unveiling a new era in modern art. Hong Kong is the first stop on the Asia tour of the exhibition, featuring 52 iconic works from the renowned Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée d’Orsay, 51 of which are debuting in Hong Kong, including still life paintings with fruits and flowers, landscapes, portraits, and paintings of bathers. The exhibits serve as a testament to the remarkable artistic achievements of Cézanne and Renoir, highlighting the intersections in their careers.
Highlight exhibits include Cézanne’s “Apples and Biscuits”, “Still Life with Soup Tureen” and “Landscape with Red Roof (The Pine at l’Estaque)” and Renoir’s “Claude Renoir in Clown Costume”, “Nude in a Landscape” and “Bouquet in a Theatre Box”. The exhibition also showcases two invaluable artworks, “Large Still Life” and “Large Nude with Drapery”, from Spanish artist Pablo Picasso to demonstrate how the innovations of the two Impressionists inspired the next generation of great masters.
The HKMoA has created an education corner that mimics a French train platform, inviting visitors to board a time-travel train and immerse themselves in the creative worlds of Cézanne and Renoir. The Hong Kong version of this exhibition also features specially designed simulated conversations between the two masters, footprint maps, and more. These elements highlight the fascinating lives and enduring friendship of these two iconic artists.
The HKMoA has also invited two Hong Kong artists, Trevor Yeung and Lai Kwan-ting, to draw inspiration from the works of the two art masters and create their own new art. In “Garden Cruising: Bathers and Watchers”, an art installation with photographic works and large soft sculptures, Yeung explores the idea of the gaze associated with the depiction of nudity in the bathers painting series by Cézanne. Inspired by the still life works and portraits of the two French masters, Lai Kwan-ting’s installation work, “Everyday Whispers”, creates figure and landscape paintings with contemporary Chinese ink painting that capture fleeting moments in daily life, reinterpreting the styles of the two masters from a 21st-century perspective.
Bureau of Indian Standards announces 500 internships for students from MoU partner institutions Internship programme to promote standardisation awareness and practical engagement in industries
Convention marks renewed commitment to embed quality and standards culture in Indian academia
Posted On: 22 APR 2025 12:51PM by PIB Delhi
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body under the Government of India, announced internship opportunities for 500 students from its partner institutions in the field of standardisation. The announcement was made at the Annual Convention of BIS Standardisation Chairs and Nodal Faculty of MoU Partner Institutions, held recently.
The internships will be offered to students enrolled in 4-year degree courses, 5-year integrated degree courses, postgraduate degrees, and diploma programmes. The 8-week internship will include pre-standardisation work in two key industries, QCO (Quality Control Order) compliance surveys in collaboration with BIS offices, and site visits to large-scale units, MSMEs and laboratories. Students will undertake detailed studies on manufacturing and testing processes, raw materials, in-process controls, and other aspects of product quality and conformity assessment.
Key achievements of the BIS-Academia interface include:
Standardisation modules have been incorporated into the curriculum of 15 institutes.
More than 130 research and development projects have been commissioned.
Over 50 institutions have established BIS Corners and Academic Dashboards.
A total of 198 Standards Clubs have been formed across 52 institutes.
More than 3,400 students from 74 institutes participated in national quizzes.
500 student internships are planned for the 2025-26 academic year.
Director General, BIS, Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari in his inaugural address, said, that this partnership is a shared national mission to embed a culture of quality and standardisation across academia. Deputy Director General (Standardisation), BIS, Shri Rajeev Sharma encouraged institutions to foster action-oriented collaborations and contribute actively to the country’s quality ecosystem.
The convention hosted technical sessions on curriculum integration, standards formulation, student engagement through Standards Clubs, and other promotional activities. In an open house discussion, partner institutions shared best practices and innovative models for academic collaboration.
The event concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen the culture of standardisation across Indian academia, empowering students and faculty to meaningfully engage with national and global quality systems.
Representatives from 58 partner institutes participated in the convention. Five institutions— IIT Roorkee, SSEC Chennai, NIT Jalandhar, SVCE Chennai, and PSNACET Dindigul—were felicitated for their exceptional performance in BIS-related activities as per the MoU.
On April 21, following the Holy See’s announcement of the passing of Pope Francis, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) stated that upon hearing the news, President Lai Ching-te expressed deepest sympathies and extended sincere condolences to the Holy See on behalf of Taiwan’s people and government. At the same time, President Lai directed Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) to convey condolences to the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan. The Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy to the Holy See also conveyed a message from President Lai expressing the nation’s grief and sympathies.
Spokesperson Kuo stated that President Lai has fond memories of Pope Francis’s friendly, close interactions with Taiwan during his papacy, and especially his focus on social justice and advocacy for environmental sustainability, as well as his concern for issues regarding immigrants, child labor, and violence against women. His proposals and appeals regarding world peace have resonated with all humanity. The spokesperson said that the passing of Pope Francis is a loss for the international community, and prayed that he may rest in peace. She added that Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with the Holy See and the Catholic Church in humanitarian efforts and continue to strengthen the friendly ties between Taiwan and the Vatican. The Presidential Office and Executive Yuan will fly the national flag at half-mast for two days to express the sympathies of the people and government of Taiwan.
Le gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie a appris avec une grande tristesse le décès de Sa Sainteté le pape François, né Jorge Mario Bergoglio, survenu ce lundi de Pâques à l’âge de 88 ans. Porté au siège de Pierre en 2013, le pape François a marqué l’histoire contemporaine de l’Église catholique par son humilité, son engagement en faveur des plus démunis, son souci de la justice sociale et son appel constant à la paix. Il aura été un guide spirituel majeur pour des millions de croyants à travers le monde. Au cours de son pontificat, le pape François a porté une attention particulière aux territoires d’Outre-mer en nommant notamment plusieurs évêques dans les diocèses de Nouvelle-Calédonie, de Guadeloupe, de Martinique, de Guyane et de La Réunion.
Le gouvernement adresse ses sincères condoléances à la communauté catholique de Nouvelle-Calédonie, profondément attachée à la figure du Saint-Père, ainsi qu’à l’ensemble des fidèles éprouvés par cette perte.
The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), organized the Data Users Conference on 21st April 2025, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai.
The conference aimed to foster constructive dialogue between data producers and data users, facilitating knowledge exchange on methodologies, insights from the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, Methodology changes in PLFS and key initiatives in macro-economic statistics including GDP and Consumer Price Indices. The event witnessed active participation from more than 250 attendees comprising policymakers, academicians, researchers, economists, industry representatives, and international organizations.
The conference was chaired by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, who emphasized the Ministry’s core vision of ‘Data for Development’. He highlighted MoSPI’s efforts toward enhancing data credibility, timeliness, accessibility, and relevance through technological interventions for timely release of key indicators like PLFS monthly estimates, quarterly unincorporated sector surveys, and a focus on comprehensive metadata standardization. He underlined the Ministry’s commitment to integrate administrative and survey data to fill existing gaps in the statistical ecosystem. Dr. Garg mentioned that MoSPI has actively working with research institutes to promote collaborative research.
In his address, Dr. Nilkanth Mishra, Member, EAC-PM and Chairman, UIDAI, underscored the pressing need for more granular and timely data, especially in light of India’s fast-evolving digital and informal economy. Drawing from personal experiences, he highlighted the critical gaps in economic data and appreciated MoSPI’s ongoing efforts to modernize the data access for both private and public stakeholders.
Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General (NSS), elaborated on recent advancements in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), particularly the expansion of estimates of the Labour statistics to rural areas and the introduction of monthly releases of PLFS for enhanced policy responsiveness.
Prof. Basanta Kumar Pradhan, Director, IGIDR, welcomed the delegates and acknowledged MoSPI’s role in promoting an ecosystem of data-driven research and policy-making. He emphasized the importance of understanding data generation processes, recognizing limitations, and integrating user feedback to refine methodologies.
These key note addresses set the stage for technical sessions. The conference features four technical sessions.
The forenoon technical sessions covered:
The first session has a detailed presentation on the sampling design used in NSS household surveys. The session continued with a presentation on the ‘Lessons Learned from HCES 2022-23 and 2023-24, highlighted on the key changes introduced in the most recent rounds of HCES. The presentations are followed by an enriched panel discussion and suggested to generate consumption data at sector level on quarterly basis, standardization of tools for improving the quality and exploring the scope of introducing the concepts of ‘spending’ instead of consumption as a measure of MPCE.
Updates on the evolution of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), including the original objectives from its 2017 launch and recent changes implemented from January 2025. Key updates include generating monthly estimates of labour market indicators (LFPR, WPR, and UR) for both rural and urban areas, expanding quarterly estimates to rural regions, and allowing district-level estimates in collaboration with states.
In the afternoon session Shri N.K. Santoshi, DG (Central Statistics), MoSPI, in his opening remarks highlighted the initiatives taken by the MoSPI for updating the base years of key macro-economic indicators viz GDP and CPI.
The afternoon technical sessions covered:
The session includes a presentation on compilation of GDP estimates and base year revision detailing the framework of compilation, proposed improvements in base revision and issues in interpreting the estimates. This was followed by a panel discussion wherein panellist recommended to publish detailed documentation of sources and methods, need for consistent and coherent back-series data. They also welcomed the proposed use of new data sources such as GSTN, UPI etc. in the new base.
During the session on CPI, the ongoing work on CPI revision, key upcoming changes such as the adoption of COICOP 2018, expanded service and market coverage, integration of online data sources, and improvements in the Housing Index methodology were presented. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion wherein it was suggested to release seasonally adjusted inflation data. MoSPI informed that a study in collaboration with IIT Kanpur for developing seasonally adjusted CPI figures for India is underway.
Post-panel discussions, the floor was opened for discussions, providing participants to directly engage with the speakers and panelists.
The conference reaffirmed the collective commitment of MoSPI, IGIDR, and data users to uphold and advance the quality, integrity, and usability of official statistics in India. It concluded with a call to further deepen cooperation, embrace technological advancements, and ensure data remains at the heart of evidence-based policymaking.
The Data User Conference concluded with the key take away of need for standardization between the statistical products.
For more details on the survey reports and upcoming statistical releases, please visit the official MoSPI website: www.mospi.gov.in.
Prime Minister hosts the U.S. Vice President and family PM recalls his successful visit to Washington D.C. in January and his discussions with President Trump
Following up on their meeting in February this year in Paris, PM and Vice President Vance reviewed progress in bilateral relations
They welcome progress in the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement and efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies
The two leaders exchange views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest
PM extends best wishes to the Vice President and family for a pleasant stay
PM conveys greetings to President Trump and looks forward to his visit to India later this year
Posted On: 21 APR 2025 8:50PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with the Vice President of the United States of America, the Honorable J.D. Vance today, accompanied by the Second Lady Mrs. Usha Vance, their children, and senior members of the U.S. Administration.
Prime Minister fondly recalled his visit to Washington D.C. in January and his fruitful discussions with President Trump, which laid down the roadmap for close cooperation between India and the U.S., leveraging the strengths of Make America Great Again (MAGA) and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Prime Minister and Vice President Vance reviewed and positively assessed the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation.
They welcomed the significant progress in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement focused on the welfare of the people of the two countries. Likewise, they noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas.
The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Vice President, Second Lady and their children for a pleasant and productive stay in India.
Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to his visit to India later this year.