Greenlogue/AP Dubai returned 23 rescued sea turtles to the Arabian Gulf, including a one-flipper survivor named Foxy whose release marked a fresh milestone in the emirate’s two-decade marine conservation effort. The release, staged from the Dubai coastline ahead of World Sea Turtle Day on June 16, brought together 22 green turtles and one hawksbill turtle after months of rehabilitation. Foxy, a green turtle that had lost a […]
Abu Dhabi’s AED55 billion public-private partnership programme is set to redraw the emirate’s infrastructure funding model by bringing private capital deeper into transport, water, flood protection, education, healthcare and community assets over the next two years. The pipeline, launched on May 11 by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, covers 24 projects scheduled to be brought to market during 2026 […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(Guangzhou), presents the SURREALITY Mixed Reality (MR) × Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Art Cross-City Exhibition. As part of HKUST’s 35th-anniversary celebrations, an exclusive media preview of the world’s first large-scale, cross-regional MR × AI digital art exhibition was held at the University’s Clear Water Bay campus.
Showcasing selected works by renowned international and Chinese Mainland digital artists, as well as faculty and students from both campuses, the exhibition integrates creativity with Virtual Reality (VR), MR, and AI technologies. It transforms the campus into a global hub for arts innovation and technological excellence.
The exhibition will open at HKUST(GZ) tomorrow and run through July 31, 2026, before returning to Hong Kong for public engagement. This exhibition exemplifies HKUST’s visionary commitment to driving cultural mobility and fostering international exchange through innovative technologies.
Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, remarked, “This event signifies a major milestone for HKUST in its pursuit of integrating technology, humanities, and cross-regional innovation. The national 15th Five-Year Plan released this year explicitly supports Hong Kong in deepening its development as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. In 2024, the HKSAR Government also introduced the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, outlining plans to develop diverse arts and culture industries with an international perspective, and to establish international platforms that foster East-meets-West arts and cultural exchanges. Local universities play a pivotal role in advancing these initiatives.”
“HKUST’s Strategic Plan 2031 identifies the integration of innovation and the humanities as a key direction for the University’s future development. In line with this vision, we established Hong Kong’s first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity, which is committed to creating an innovative platform that fosters the fusion of technology and art while nurturing a new generation of creative talent with strong interdisciplinary perspectives. Hosting initiatives such as SURREALITY and the HKUST AI Film Festival exemplifies this direction and is poised to develop into prominent international platforms that fosters arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world,” she added.
Prof. Lionel NI Ming-Shuan, President of HKUST(GZ), stated, “‘SURREALITY’ is not only the world’s first large-scale MR × AI art exhibition, but also a powerful showcase of the strengths of HKUST and HKUST(GZ) in interdisciplinary studies and computational creativity. As a flagship initiative under the ‘One HKUST, Complementary Campuses’ framework, the two campuses have welcomed artists and young creators from 23 countries and regions, redefining the boundaries of knowledge production and artistic expression through the seamless fusion of the virtual and the real. At a time when the nation is strategically advancing future industries and the Greater Bay Area is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, the digital ‘Portal’ connecting Clear Water Bay and Nansha represents far more than a technological breakthrough—it embodies a forward-looking model of educational collaboration, where engineering converges with aesthetics, algorithms with poetry, and global vision with local engagement. At thirty-five years old, HKUST remains youthful and dynamic. Guided by this founding aspiration, HKUST(GZ) will continue to advance in step with HKUST, writing a new chapter of integrated innovation and talent development in the Greater Bay Area.”
SURREALITY showcases the integration of AI-generated artworks with the physical campus environment, creating an immersive experience through spatial computing and real-time rendering technologies. Across the two campuses, nearly 50 works by more than 70 digital artists from the United States, Germany, Russia, Australia, Bolivia, Singapore, Korea, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong are featured. Presented in innovative and striking forms, these exceptional works from around the world highlight HKUST’s strong commitment to advancing interdisciplinary integration.
Today, 19 selected works premiered at the Clear Water Bay campus, where MR-enhanced creations transform the HKUST campus into an immersive, technology-driven art space. By wearing MR headsets, visitors can freely explore three exhibition areas: Living Currents, Future Fables, and Beyond Mind. Several projects created by HKUST(GZ) faculty and students stand out as highlights, with The Gate—built on a metaverse concept—emerging as the centerpiece of the exhibition. As the armillary sphere slowly turns and the portal comes into view, visitors can step inside and instantly traverse the virtual spaces of both campuses, experiencing a groundbreaking sense of cross‑campus, seamless connectivity that embodies the vision of “One HKUST, Complementary Campuses.” Another featured work, Kunpeng, symbolizes a spirit of boundless freedom. A giant fish leaps from the nearby Port Shelter in Sai Kung and transforms into a soaring roc that ascends powerfully into the sky. Its majestic presence delivers a striking visual spectacle. The piece The Twinworld Tree creates a dynamic living system formed by the World Tree and virtual life, symbolizing the interdependence of all things, like the tides.
The exhibition also features an MR recreation of a classic work—GFP Bunny, created by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist, Prof. Eduardo KAC, who is also Professor of Art and Technology Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Since its debut, this piece has sparked global reflection on genetic modification, bioethics, and the boundaries of art. Mr. ZHANG Yishuai, a PhD student in the Thrust of Computational Media and Arts at HKUST(GZ) and a computational artist, presents Echoes of Earth 2.0, offering a forward-looking perspective on AI and interstellar civilizations. This work enriches the exhibition with a visionary reflection on humanity’s aspirations for the future.
Several VR digital art pieces are also on display, including Astra, created by Ms. Eliza MCNITT— Venice Immersive Grand Prize winner and renowned American writer and director—which offers visitors a unique journey of exploration into the universe. Mr. Benedict YU, a VR visual artist from Singapore, presents Mother’s Body Remembers, utilizing LiDAR to capture movements and combining VR with tactile interaction to rekindle visitors’ memories of family connections. The HKUST XRIM Lab‘s work, Unfolding Touch, enables a soft-robot-mediated handshake between the Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses, integrating sensing and tactile replication to create a shared touch experience across distance. Other works include My Flower, which invites viewers to experience the daily challenges faced by people with Alzheimer’s disease. A short animation, The Cat Ghost, which narrates the relationship between ancient Chinese people and cats from the Western world, is also screened.
Prof. Pan HUI, Chair Professor of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas at HKUST, Acting Head and Chair Professor of the Thrust of Computational Media and Arts, and Director of the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(GZ), introduced the core concept of “SURREALITY.” He explained that as technologies such as AI, spatial computing, and MR rapidly evolve, digital worlds are transcending screens into real spaces and becoming deeply integrated into people’s daily life. SURREALITY explores a new form of reality that may emerge in the future—a scenario where the virtual and the physical are no longer distinctly separate but collectively form the environments in which we perceive, interact, and live. Through artistic creation and immersive experiences, the exhibition offers audiences a glimpse into this transformative vision, prompting reflection on how technology is reshaping humanity’s understanding of reality.
The exhibited works come from numerous internationally renowned artists, showcasing the remarkable fusion of creative arts and digital technology. Several prominent participating artists also joined today’s event to introduce their works, fostering cross-regional cultural and arts exchanges. They include Prof. Benjamin SEIDE, media artist, VFX expert, and Associate Professor in the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University; Ms. Katerina SEMENKO, a Russian conceptual phygital artist and International Design Award recipient; and Dr. Adam NASH, an Australian digital virtual artist and Honorary Fellow of RMIT University.
Hashtag: #HKUST #HKUST(GZ)
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (
https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university known for its innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 6th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th globally and 1st in Hong Kong in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings 2025. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, HKUST’s Computer Science discipline which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, has been ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for ten consecutive years. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of the Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of May 2026, HKUST members have founded over 1,900 active start-ups, including 11 Unicorns and 22 exits (IPO or M&A).
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2026 – Building on last year’s success, Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” school outreach programme has been further deepened and expanded this year. Evolving from in-school learning to a model that integrates and extends into off-campus activities, the programme combines school visits with tours of Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base, opening a new chapter in a comprehensive way and bringing students closer to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) through a lively and interactive engagement.
Two-stage learning: from in-school education to hands-on experience
Through a variety of interactive formats, “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” offers students an engaging and knowledge-rich introduction to Chinese medicine. Designed around the concept of “from understanding to experience,” the programme combines in-school learning with off-campus visits to Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base. Activities include guided storytelling on the “Tong Ren” story, acupoint-based interactive games, and lively introductions to Chinese medicine culture and basic Chinese medicine knowledge, making the learning experience both enjoyable and informative. Students can also visit Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base in Tai Po, where they tour the museum, learn about the operation of the production line, and explore the Chinese Herbal Garden. In this way, students gain a well-rounded understanding of Chinese medicine and learn how it can be applied in daily life.
Herbal planting activities reinforce learning experience
A special feature of the programme is a planting experience in the Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Herbal Garden. Guided by gardeners and instructors, students take part in a seedling transplanting activity, observing herbal plants up close and experiencing the planting process first-hand. This hands-on experience not only gives them a sense of achievement but also deepens their understanding of what they have learned. Through this enjoyable and educational activity, Chinese medicine culture is brought to life for the younger generation while supporting its preservation and continued development.
In-school learning: “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” tutorial
During the school visits under “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey,” Chinese medicine practitioners and instructors each led nearly 100 students at a time through a lively one-hour session, using an easy-to-understand approach that combined storytelling and interactive games to explore Chinese medicine knowledge. Topics covered ranged from itinerant physicians to hall physicians, from the acupuncture bronze figure to the meridian system, and from the four diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine to its internal and external treatment approaches. Students were also introduced to Tong Ren Tang’s history of supplying imperial medicine, as well as Chinese medicine concepts such as “monarch, minister, assistant and guide“. These sessions helped students understand Chinese medicine in an accessible way, while interactive acupoint games further strengthened memory and comprehension through play.
Off-campus experience: visits to Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base
After completing the school visit component of “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey,” students also had the opportunity to visit and experience Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base in Hong Kong. During the guided tour, students gained a deeper understanding of the story of Tong Ren Tang, a time-honoured Chinese medicine brand, its imperial medicine tradition and its pharmaceutical culture, while revisiting the core beliefs it upholds: “cultivating benevolence and virtue, and promoting health for the benefit of society” and its corporate motto of “No compromise on cost and labour despite the complexity of processing herbal medicine. No compromise on quality and standard despite the scarcity of medicine ingredients.”
During the visit, students sampled herbal tea as an entry point to understanding Chinese herbs. They then learned about the Chinese medicine production process and took part in a workshop on the traditional pill-rolling technique, an item of intangible cultural heritage. This allowed them to translate theory into practical experience, and to understand how herbs are processed and prepared into medicinal materials for use. Through this, they learned about the development of Chinese medicine from ancient times to the present, as well as the evolution of different dosage forms. Students later moved to the Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Herbal Garden for a herbal planting activity, where they learned how soil, water and sunlight affect plant growth.
Expanded to 20 primary schools, with a comic book supporting school-based extended reading
This year, “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” expanded to 20 primary schools, reaching approximately 3,000 teachers and students in total. To complement the in-school curriculum and extended reading, Beijing Tong Ren Tang specially wrote and produced the comic book The World of Chinese Medicine – “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey”. Featuring the adorable “Little Tong Ren” as the main character and guide, the comic adopts a child-friendly narrative approach to help students understand the meaning of “Tong Ren” and “Tong Ren Tang,” the wisdom of balance emphasised in Chinese medicine culture, and its people-oriented spirit of benevolence and compassionate healing. Beijing Tong Ren Tang hopes that, through more interesting and approachable content formats, Chinese medicine culture can take root on campus and, through students’ reading and sharing, extend into families and communities as a cultural learning journey that can be passed on continuously.
Bringing Chinese medicine into everyday life
Beijing Tong Ren Tang hopes to foster a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment for students, introducing Chinese medicine step by step and encouraging them to share what they have learned with family and friends. By starting from a child’s perspective and focusing on themes such as meridians, herbs and balance, the programme helps integrating the wisdom of TCM into students’ everyday knowledge systems and encouraging them to share and apply these insights in daily life.
Hashtag: #BeijingTongRenTang #TheTongRenExtraordinaryJourney #primaryschool #chinesemedicine
https://cm.tongrentang.com
https://www.facebook.com/beijingtongrentanghk
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Tong Ren Tang was founded in 1669 and has a 356-year history. The company has always adhered to its corporate motto of “No compromise on cost and labour despite the complexity of processing herbal medicine. No compromise on quality and standard despite the scarcity of medicine ingredients.” This commitment has led Beijing Tong Ren Tang to steady development, lasting through every generation, achieving excellence, and becoming a national treasure while expanding globally.
At the same time, Beijing Tong Ren Tang has taken on the mission of promoting traditional Chinese medicine culture, actively participating in domestic and international traditional Chinese medicine promotion activities, facilitating cultural exchanges around the world, and striving to expand the international influence of traditional Chinese medicine. To date, it has been operating over 160 retail branches in 26 countries and regions overseas, making it one of the most recognized traditional Chinese medicine brands internationally.
Established in Hong Kong in 2004, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited serves as Tong Ren Tang’s development platform outside Mainland China. The Company was listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2013 and transferred to the Main Board in 2018. Guided by its corporate spirit of “cultivating benevolence and virtue, and promoting health for the benefit of society” and driven by its mission to “create health for all to share globally,” the Company has built on Hong Kong as its base while expanding its global presence. It is committed to promoting Chinese medicine culture beyond Mainland China, and has accelerated the internationalisation of Chinese medicine through a communication model that integrates medical services with pharmaceutical products and places culture at the forefront. (Beijing Tong Ren Tong Chinese Medicine Company Limited website: https://cm.tongrentang.com)
Greenlogue/AP Nearly half the world’s children are living under at least three overlapping climate threats, with heat, drought and storms pushing risks to health, schooling and survival into the daily lives of about 1.1 billion children, UNICEF findings show. The Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026 maps exposure to eight common hazards: coastal floods, drought, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, river floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms. […]
Abdullah Ibrahim, the South African pianist and composer whose spare, meditative sound carried Cape Town’s musical memory into the global jazz canon, has died in Germany at the age of 91 after a short illness. The musician, born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town in 1934 and known early in his career as Dollar Brand, became one of the defining cultural figures of the anti-apartheid era. His […]
Scientists have identified cancer-linked mutations in brain immune cells that may help fuel Alzheimer’s disease, opening a new line of inquiry into how ageing blood biology, inflammation and neurodegeneration may intersect. The finding, published in Cell, suggests that mutations commonly associated with blood cancers and clonal haematopoiesis can appear in microglia-like immune cells in Alzheimer’s-affected brains. Rather than forming tumours, these altered cells appear to adopt inflammatory […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Future Foundation has graduated 160 students from the second cohort of the Dubai TKS – Knowledge Society programme, marking a sharp expansion of the emirate’s effort to build early-stage talent in artificial intelligence, robotics, climate technology, biotechnology and advanced computing. The students, aged 13 to 17 and drawn from a range of nationalities, completed the 10-month programme at a ceremony held at […]
Zed has launched a digital wallet offering 15 per cent cashback on every ride in Dubai, escalating competition in a transport market where app-based booking, loyalty incentives and faster fleet access are becoming central to commuter choice. The Dubai-built ride-hailing platform said the Zed Wallet will credit cashback automatically after each eligible journey, with rewards capped at Dh20 per trip and redeemable against future rides booked through […]
Greenlogue/AP Climate stress is tightening its grip on vulnerable communities across the Middle East and North Africa, where water scarcity, conflict, weak public services and economic pressure are combining to narrow the choices available to millions of people. The region’s exposure is no longer defined by heat and drought alone. Families in fragile rural districts, informal urban settlements, refugee camps and conflict-affected towns are being pushed into […]
The framework brings together lesson planning, posture development, instrument handling, basic technique, and instrument setup guidance. It was developed in response to common challenges faced by beginner string students, including discomfort while holding the instrument, poor bow grip, inconsistent sound production, unsuitable instrument sizing, and difficulty building good practice habits in the early stages of learning.
Unlike some instruments where students can begin with fewer setup considerations, the violin and cello require careful attention to posture, hand position, bow control, instrument fit, and tuning stability from the start. For young beginners in particular, an instrument that is too large, poorly adjusted, or difficult to play can affect both progress and confidence.
LVL Music Academy’s method aims to make the early learning process more structured by connecting what happens in the lesson room with the physical condition and suitability of the instrument itself. The academy’s in-house luthier support allows teachers and staff to assess factors such as instrument size, bridge height, string condition, peg function, bow quality, and general playability where needed.
“Many beginner students struggle not because they are not musical, but because the instrument is difficult to manage or the early foundations are not clear enough,” said a spokesperson for LVL Music Academy. “For violin and cello, comfort, posture, instrument setup, and lesson structure all affect how a student learns. This method is designed to address those areas together rather than treating them separately.”
The beginner framework covers several core areas: posture and body awareness, correct instrument hold, bow hold development, left-hand position, rhythm, note reading, tone production, listening skills, and home practice guidance. Students are also guided on how to care for their instrument, tune safely with support, and understand when an instrument may need adjustment.
The approach is intended for children and adult beginners who are new to string instruments. It also provides parents with clearer guidance on what to expect during the early stages of violin or cello learning, including how to support practice at home and how to recognise whether an instrument is suitable for the student’s size and level.
LVL said the framework is part of its wider effort to make beginner string education more practical and better supported. By combining teaching, instrument guidance, and luthier knowledge under one roof, the academy hopes to reduce common early-stage barriers that can affect motivation and long-term progress.
Hashtag: #LVLMusicAcademy
https://www.lvlmusicacademy.com
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/alan-senejani
https://x.com/lvlmusicacademyhttps://facebook.com/lvlmusicacademy
https://instagram.com/lvlmusicacademy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
LVL Music Academy is a Singapore-based music school, string instrument shop, and in-house luthier workshop located in Bukit Timah. The academy provides violin, cello, piano, viola, and music theory lessons for children and adults, alongside instrument sales, rentals, repairs, restoration, and professional setup support.
Founded with a focus on practical music education and proper instrument care, LVL Music Academy supports students from beginner to advanced levels through structured lessons, performance opportunities, examination preparation, and access to luthier guidance under one roof.
For more information, visit www.lvlmusicacademy.com.
Dubai’s property market is set for one of its largest new supply commitments as Emaar Properties prepares to unveil a Dhs200bn master-planned district designed for nearly 150,000 residents in the heart of the emirate. The project, valued at about $54.5bn, will span more than 4.5 million square metres of gross floor area and combine residential towers, villas, mansions, offices, retail centres, hotels and civic amenities. Emaar has […]
Dubai has moved to shorten the waiting time for tourist entry permits, with 30-day and 60-day single-entry visas now expected to be processed within 48 hours through approved channels, sharpening the emirate’s appeal as peak summer and year-end travel planning gathers pace. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai has indicated that the service applies to single-entry tourist visas issued for visits of either […]
Canadian University Dubai and FINTECH. TV have inaugurated a live broadcast studio at the university’s City Walk campus, creating a direct media and education link between Dubai and the New York Stock Exchange. The Global Markets Studio, opened on 1 June and announced publicly this week, is being positioned as a hands-on platform for students to produce financial news segments, podcasts, interviews and market-focused programming while engaging […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates Global Aluminium has built new STEM laboratories in schools and universities across the UAE, expanding an education-industry programme aimed at preparing students for technical careers in manufacturing, engineering and advanced industrial sectors. The facilities have been developed with Al Samha School, Al Rahba School, Al Falahiya School, Dubai National School, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. More than 2,600 students […]
Apple has unveiled a major overhaul of Siri and a broad set of child safety tools at its Worldwide Developers Conference, placing artificial intelligence and family controls at the centre of its next software cycle. The new Siri AI is available immediately for developer testing across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 and visionOS 27, with support for watchOS 27 due in a later developer beta. A […]
A powerful offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday, killing at least 12 people, damaging buildings in General Santos City and sending coastal residents racing to higher ground after tsunami waves hit parts of Mindanao. The magnitude was placed at 7.8 by global monitors, while domestic bulletins initially listed the tremor at 7.4. The quake struck at 7.37am local time, with its centre at sea near […]
Musk responded on X to a post claiming that India’s birth rate had fallen below replacement level, writing that the trend had appeared “among those most educated” many years earlier. His comment drew attention because the Tesla and SpaceX chief has repeatedly argued that declining birth rates pose a long-term risk to economies, innovation and social stability.
The viral post said India’s fertility rate had fallen from 2.3 to 1.9 over a decade and cited Delhi’s rate at 1.2, among the lowest in the country. Official demographic data broadly support the decline, though the claim that the fall below replacement level has happened for the first time needs qualification. India’s total fertility rate stood at 1.9 in 2024, the same level recorded for 2023, meaning the country has already been below the conventional replacement threshold.
The latest figures mark a sharp departure from long-running anxieties about population growth. India, with an estimated population of more than 1.4 billion, overtook China as the world’s most populous country in 2023. Yet the fertility trend now points to a slower population expansion in the coming decades, with regional variation likely to shape labour supply, welfare planning and state-level fiscal priorities.
Delhi’s total fertility rate of 1.2 highlights the depth of the shift in urban centres, where higher education levels, later marriage, higher housing costs, career pressures and rising aspirations have contributed to smaller families. Several southern and western states have also remained below replacement level for years, while parts of northern and central India continue to record comparatively higher fertility.
Only a small group of states remains above the replacement threshold. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand continue to report fertility levels above 2.1, keeping national population momentum alive even as most states move towards smaller family norms. The divergence has implications for political representation, public finance and migration, particularly as lower-fertility states age faster while higher-fertility states continue to add younger workers.
Demographers distinguish between a falling fertility rate and immediate population decline. India’s population will continue to grow for some time because of demographic momentum: a large base of people in reproductive age groups will keep births high even when the average number of children per woman falls. The larger policy issue is not a sudden fall in population, but the speed at which the age structure changes.
Musk’s intervention reflects a view he has voiced across countries, including Japan, South Korea, China and several European economies, where low fertility has triggered concerns about shrinking workforces and mounting pressure on pension and health systems. His comment on India stands out because the country has long been seen as a counterweight to ageing economies, with a large young population expected to support growth.
India’s demographic advantage remains substantial, but the window is not permanent. A lower fertility rate can help families invest more in each child’s education and health, while also reducing pressure on land, housing and public services. At the same time, it places greater urgency on job creation, women’s workforce participation, skilling, healthcare and pension coverage before the population ages more visibly.
Education plays a central role in the fertility shift. Women with greater access to schooling and employment tend to marry later and have fewer children. Urbanisation has reinforced the trend by raising the cost of child-rearing and changing family expectations. The pattern is not unique to India, but its scale is significant because of the country’s population size and uneven development across regions.
The decline also complicates older political narratives around population control. States that achieved lower fertility earlier have argued that they should not be penalised in future federal arrangements, while states with higher fertility still face pressure to improve education, healthcare and women’s economic participation. Any future delimitation of parliamentary seats is likely to bring these tensions into sharper focus.
Public health indicators add another layer to the debate. Lower fertility often accompanies improvements in child survival, maternal health and access to contraception. However, uneven access to quality healthcare, nutrition and education means the benefits are not distributed equally. Rural families, poorer households and marginalised communities may face different constraints from urban professional families choosing to have fewer children.
India’s policy challenge is therefore more complex than simply reversing a fertility decline or celebrating it. The country must prepare for a future in which some regions face ageing and labour shortages while others continue to supply young workers. That will require better migration planning, stronger urban infrastructure, more reliable social security and greater investment in human capital.
Dubai’s GameExpo has shifted attention from global gaming brands to the local talent building games, art and digital content, giving developers, designers, artists and small businesses a larger platform at Dubai World Trade Centre. The three-day event, running from June 5 to 7 as part of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, has become a showcase for the UAE’s expanding gaming economy, combining esports tournaments, cosplay contests, […]
Côte d’Ivoire is set to extend electricity access to more than 100,000 households after the African Development Bank Group approved €103.14 million in financing for a major grid-expansion programme aimed at strengthening the country’s power system and narrowing remaining access gaps. The financing, approved by the bank’s Board of Directors in Abidjan on 15 May 2026, will support the second phase of the Project to Strengthen the […]
Synology used COMPUTEX 2026 in Taipei to set out a wider enterprise data strategy built around the next generation of DiskStation Manager, AI-assisted administration, expanded backup appliances and a larger surveillance and private cloud portfolio, positioning the company more directly in the market for secure, on-premises data intelligence. The showcase, held at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre from June 2 to 5, placed DSM at the centre of […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 June 2026 – Organised by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation (‘HKIF’), the Fifth Hong Kong Science Fair (‘Science Fair’) will take place from 27 to 28 June 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will showcase around 120 shortlisted teams from primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong, presenting creative inventions that integrate artificial intelligence with a diverse range of technology applications. With Sino Group as Principal Patron, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government (ITIB) as the Supporting Bureau, and the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC) as Strategic Partner, HKIF is also honoured to have, for the first time, invited the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in China as an Advisory Organisation. Representatives from the Foundation will attend the award ceremony to witness the announcement of this year’s winning teams. Consistently a major draw for the community, the Science Fair is now open for online registration with free admission, and the public is warmly invited to attend in person.
Following Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Dr Lai Ka-ying, into space, the local innovation and technology ecosystem has attracted even greater attention. This year’s Science Fair has specially incorporated aerospace engineering elements, enabling the public to learn about the daily work and challenges of payload specialists, gain insight into the reality of aerospace research and development, and spark greater interest among young people in space exploration. Dr Lai launched aboard the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and is expected to remain in space for approximately six months to conduct space science experiments and maintenance tasks. Visitors can express their support and encouragement by creating message cards for her. In addition, UBTECH Robotics, a globally leading enterprise in embodied AI robotics, will participate in the exhibition, showcasing multiple humanoid robots and offering visitors the opportunity to experience the appeal of embodied intelligence up close.
Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, stated: ‘The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, with talent being a key driver of this growth. Now in its fifth edition, the Hong Kong Science Fair – organised by the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation – has become an annual flagship I&T education event. It offers students a valuable platform to turn their innovative ideas into practice, deepen their interest and confidence in I&T, and help bring I&T into schools and the wider community, thereby fostering a more innovation-friendly atmosphere. I look forward to seeing more young people unleash their potential through this platform, pursue careers in I&T, and contribute to the high-quality development of Hong Kong and our nation.’
Mr Daryl Ng, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, said ‘Innovation and technology are key to Hong Kong’s long-term sustainable development and are integral to the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan. It is vital for Hong Kong to strengthen its I&T capabilities and actively contribute to national development, as underscored by the historic moment when Dr Lai Ka-ying became Hong Kong’s first astronaut. We are encouraged to see growing recognition of I&T opening up new opportunities for young people aspiring to pursue scientific research. As the Hong Kong Science Fair enters its fifth edition, its growth has been made possible by the support of the HKSAR Government, industry partners, tertiary institutions, research organisations, and our panels of judges. This year, we are grateful for the guidance and support of the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology in China. Moving forward, the Science Fair will remain committed to nurturing talent from an early age, bringing together all sectors to promote I&T and inspire more young people to pursue careers in science and technology.’
Professor Anderson Shum, MH, Chairman of Judging Panel, Hong Kong Science Fair, President of The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, said, ‘The Science Fair adopts the format of “integrating competition with exhibition,” enabling students to translate their learning into tangible and verifiable outcomes. This plays an important role in nurturing Hong Kong’s youth I&T ecosystem. I am delighted to have served as a judge for this major event over the years, witnessing students progressively enhance their presentation skills, build confidence, and broaden their horizons through exchanges with experts, participation in workshops and showcasing their work to the public. The standard of participating projects continues to improve each year, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence and diverse technological applications across different fields. Scientific research is a journey that demands passion and perseverance, and the growth of young scientists often begins with curiosity during their primary and secondary school years. Through these exchanges, we hope to leverage the role-model influence of young scientists, inspiring more students to pursue I&T as their lifelong career. I look forward to seeing our younger generation continue to grow and excel in scientific research and innovation, and officially join the community of scientists in the near future to jointly drive Hong Kong’s I&T development.’
Mr Michael Tam, Chief Brand Officer of UBTECH, said, ‘Humanoid robots are among the most promising real-world embodiments of artificial intelligence, reflecting a future in which intelligent systems are deeply integrated with the physical world. As a global pioneer in humanoid robotics, UBTECH has remained at the forefront of innovation for more than 14 years, with a long-standing commitment to I&T education. The company is dedicated to translating advanced technologies into practical, accessible educational resources. Through collaboration with like-minded partners such as the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation, we aim to inspire greater interest and engagement among both teachers and students in humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence. We are committed to supporting the development of Hong Kong’s I&T education ecosystem, helping to nurture future-ready talent and build a strong, sustainable foundation for long-term growth.’
Since its launch in 2021, the Science Fair has attracted participation from over 400 local schools, engaging nearly 9,000 Primary 4 to Secondary 6 students and their teachers. To date, more than 2,200 creative invention submissions have been received and total attendance has exceeded 120,000 visitors. The Science Fair has gradually established itself as a key platform for youth innovation and technology (‘I&T’) exchange and one of Hong Kong’s most representative I&T education initiatives. This year’s response has been enthusiastic, with over 500 project submissions received. Following preliminary judging, around 120 shortlisted teams took part in a series of workshops and mentorship sessions, and will present their projects at the exhibition in late June to compete for top awards. Gold award-winning teams from each category will have the opportunity to participate in the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva in Switzerland, fostering idea exchange with global I&T talents.
The Hong Kong Science Fair draws tens of thousands of visitors each year. During the exhibition period, the venue will be transformed into a catalyst for city-wide I&T inspiration. In addition to student showcases, five interactive zones will offer hands-on experiences, including DIY bubble bath bomb workshops, freezer-free slushie making, themed games celebrating the Science Fair’s fifth anniversary, and modified remote-controlled cars made from upcycled household appliances, allowing visitors of all ages to explore science and innovation through engaging and enjoyable activities.
To celebrate the Science Fair’s fifth edition, various special experiences will be introduced. The venue will feature a hidden Science Fair character treasure hunt and check-in activity, through which visitors can redeem curated gifts upon completion. Limited-edition souvenirs, including the ‘HKSF-5 Metal Standee Collection’ and the ‘Special Edition Robo K’ blind boxes, will also be available in limited quantities. All proceeds from the HKSF Bazaar, with no deduction, will go directly to charity to support local community technology initiatives.
The Fifth Hong Kong Science Fair Details:
Photos download: https://shorturl.at/mgawb
Hashtag: #HKIF #ScienceFair
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 June 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today successfully hosted its annual “Unicorn Day,” one of Hong Kong’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship events. The event brought together over 1,800 participants, including students, faculty, and alumni, as well as international and local government representatives, industry partners, investors, innovation and technology entrepreneurs, and researchers. Participants exchanged insights on strategies to strengthen collaboration across the innovation ecosystem, foster cross-disciplinary partnerships, and accelerate the translation of research outcomes into real-world impact.
The event was officiated by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, alongside consuls-generals and senior officials from countries including Australia, Chile, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. They were joined by Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; Prof. Lionel NI, HKUST (Guangzhou) President; and Prof. Tim CHENG, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development; in touring over 100 HKUST-nurtured startups, showcasing innovations and applications spanning areas such as healthcare, electronics, and artificial intelligence systems, as well as new materials, green energy, and sustainability.
Prof. Sun Dong remarked, “Innovation and technology (I&T) has always been at the top of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s agenda. We fully recognise the crucial role of local universities — not only as key partners, but as the bedrock of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem. In just three and a half decades, HKUST has risen to become a global powerhouse in deep tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation as demonstrated by its ability to nurture unicorns and deep-tech ventures. Hong Kong is entering a golden era of I&T development. We are building new engines to drive Hong Kong’s high-quality development, focusing on research and development in key fields and leading industry applications. I am confident that Hong Kong will rise as a leading international I&T center and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s high-quality development, and that HKUST will continue to be a driving force in this amazing journey.”
President Ip said, “As we mark the 35th anniversary of HKUST this year, we also celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has long been embedded in our DNA. Both the Technology Transfer Center and the Entrepreneurship Center were established in the University’s early years to support faculty and students in realizing their entrepreneurial aspirations and to promote the translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. Over the past 35 years, the University has forged ahead with determination, sowing the seeds of innovation and yielding remarkable achievements across multiple frontier fields. Today, HKUST continues to broaden its horizons, strategically positioning itself in key domains. One example is medical education. The establishment of the HKUST Medical School will integrate the life sciences with cutting-edge technologies to nurture a new generation of interdisciplinary medical professionals.
Concurrently, HKUST has been actively involved in national initiatives such as the Chang’E 8 lunar exploration mission and research projects for the Tiangong Space Station, and the launch of the first commercially viable aerospace project under the RAISe+ Scheme. These achievements exemplify HKUST’s enduring ‘can do’ spirit over the past decades and echo the theme of today’s event—’From Ideas to Miracles—35 Years of Impact and Beyond’. Looking ahead, HKUST will continue to nurture bold ideas and action, working hand in hand with partners across different sectors to cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem, ensuring that research achievements benefit society and create lasting global impact.”
To support startups in expanding into global markets and to promote cross-border collaboration, HKUST introduced an “International Pavilion,” featuring startups and innovation organizations from various countries and regions. Participants from Thailand, Singapore and Korea were among those represented, strengthening connections between Hong Kong, and countries and regions along the Belt and Road in technology application and industry development.
The event also saw the signing of multiple partnership agreements, including six strategic collaborations with:
to advance talent development and industry–academia integration, and foster innovation-driven research and real-world technology translation.
HKUST’s I&T Strength Driving Economic Growth
In addition, HKUST also released the report Driving Socioeconomic Impact Through Research and Innovation: Insights from HKUST, commissioned by the University and prepared by the international research information analytics organization Elsevier. The report highlights HKUST’s outstanding performance in innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, research output has recorded an average growth of 10%, approximately 9% higher than that of other local institutions. More than 65% of the research is concentrated in engineering and computer science, while 6.2% involves academia-industry collaboration, significantly higher than the global average of 2.7%. These collaborations have translated into impactful intellectual property, with approximately 1,670 patent applications and 700 grants over the same period, and a high IP utilization rate of above 30%.
Prof. Tim Cheng noted that the findings demonstrate HKUST’s steadily strengthening capabilities in research translation and academia-industry collaboration. HKUST’s publications achieved a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 4.40, indicating that their citation impact is 4.4 times the global average. This underscores HKUST’s significant contributions to advancing Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and enhancing its competitiveness in innovation and technology.
In addition, a “Marketplace” was also featured, showcasing products already launched by startups, including AI analytics tools, healthcare technologies, and smart city solutions, demonstrating the progress of translating research into practical applications.
Hashtag: #unicorn #unicornday #HKUST #partnership #innovation #startup #tech #AI #space #robotics #materialscience
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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE real gross domestic product expanded 6.2 per cent in 2025 to AED1.9 trillion, underscoring the country’s strongest evidence yet that diversification is becoming the central driver of national output rather than a supporting pillar. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre said non-oil GDP rose 6.8 per cent to AED1.5 trillion, outpacing headline growth and reinforcing the shift towards trade, finance, construction, manufacturing, […]
