Technology

Two Stations, One Mission: Uniting Art and Conservation in a Continuing Journey

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

《ART FOR THE EARTH: An Exhibition for Conservation》

HONG KONG, Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Building on the success of “ART FOR THE EARTH: An Exhibition and Auction for Conservation”, an initiative spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to raise awareness about endangered species and their habitats, the next chapter of this meaningful journey is set to take place from 4th to 12th December 2024, at two MTR stations – Hong Kong Station and Tai Koo Station. This continuing exhibition aims to unite art and conservation, inspiring action to protect and conserve endangered species and their habitats in the Asia-Pacific region.

Following the momentum of the exhibition and auction held in September and October, this new exhibition showcases fourteen meticulously crafted, one-of-a-kind handcrafted doll art pieces by renowned artist Ning Lau, each representing unique and threatened species and habitats. Made from upcycled fabrics, Ning’s creations emphasize sustainability and highlight the importance of reusing materials to reduce waste – underscoring the need for a more sustainable future.

At Hong Kong Station, the exhibition features artworks themed around the Ocean and Sky. Meanwhile, Tai Koo Station presents creations inspired by species and habitats from the Land, offering a complementary perspective on the natural world.

To further enhance the experience, an interactive augmented reality (AR) game has been introduced to connect the two exhibitions. Visitors can scan QR codes at the exhibition stations to enter a virtual world, explore endangered species and their habitats, and experience the entire exhibition virtually. This immersive platform allows participants to uncover fascinating facts, interact with digital environments, and engage with the conservation message beyond the physical displays.

In addition to this, another AR game has been launched across all MTR stations on the urban lines. Passengers can interact with digital panels, scan QR codes, and engage with an entirely new experience focused on endangered species and their conservation stories. This expansion ensures that the conservation message reaches a broader audience, making it an accessible and engaging part of commuters’ daily journeys.

The Art for the Earth initiative continues to leverage art as a powerful medium to promote the protection of endangered species and their habitats. By combining physical exhibitions, virtual experiences, and interactive technology, this campaign fosters a deeper connection between people and nature while raising awareness about the importance of conservation.

All of the handcrafted dolls featured in the exhibition have already been sold. Sincere gratitude is extended to the generous doll owners who have kindly allowed their dolls to be exhibited, ensuring the conservation message continues to reach a wider audience.

Special thanks are also extended to MTR advertising, managed by JCDecaux Transport, for their invaluable support in making this exhibition possible, and to Ning Lau for her sustainable creations and Prissy Tang for her vivid illustrations of endangered species.

Members of the public are invited to join this mission to celebrate and protect the planet’s precious biodiversity. Visit the exhibitions at Hong Kong Station and Tai Koo Station from 4th to 12th December, 2024, and explore the endangered species AR game at any Urban Lines MTR station for a fun, interactive way to learn about endangered species. Join the journey and make a difference for our planet!

For media photos, please download from the LINK

“Art for the Earth: An Exhibition and Auction for Conservation” Exhibition:
Venue: MTR Hong Kong Station and Tai Koo Station
Date: 4 – 12 December 2024
Time: 09:00 – 22:00

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping to make cities more sustainable. Working in more than 81 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has been in Asia Pacific for almost 30 years with projects in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. In 2019, TNC was awarded the Lui Che Woo Prize for Sustainable Development. To learn more, please visit: The Nature Conservancy (tnc.org.hk) or follow TNC HK 大自然保護協會 and @tnc_hk

About Ning Lau

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ning earned her BA (Hons) in Fashion Design from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Initially establishing her career in the luxury fashion sector, Ning transitioned to the art of doll making in 2015, channeling her enduring love for dolls into a full-time vocation. Following her pursuit of culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris last year, she is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy at The University of Hong Kong, delving into the nexus between creative expression and psychological healing.

Ning crafts hand-sewn dolls from scratch, imbuing them with whimsical and distinctive personalities that mirror contemporary life. Each doll is meticulously hand-painted and uniquely serialised, accompanied by an autographed certificate, rendering them highly collectible art pieces. Her exhibitions and collaborations, along with her inspiring journey, have garnered extensive coverage in numerous local and international publications and digital media.

Exhibitions & Collaborations:

2023: M+ limited edition for Madame Song exhibition2021: Hong Kong Tatler limited collection2020-2021: Hong Kong Ballet virtual ambassador program and limited collection2019: Solo exhibition “You and Me” in Tokyo2019: “Dream and House” exhibition in Hong Kong2017: Collaboration with fashion designer Vika Gazinskaya showcased at TSUM in Russia2017: “I Love Hong Kong” doll collection with Design Gallery of HKTDC2016: HKTDC “Fashionally Collection” at Hong Kong Fashion Week2016: “Susan & Friends” exhibition at The Peak Galleria2015: Shu Uemura X Kitsune limited cosmetics collection2015: JOYCE Christmas collection2015: First doll exhibition “Lazy Susan”

To learn more, please visit: https://ninglau.com/ and @ninglau

About Prissy Tang

Prissy Tang, a fashion-styled pet portraitist, brings a unique approach to her art. Her passion lies in creating personalized and captivating artwork that celebrates the special bond between pets and their loving owners with a bit of fashion flair, thanks to her background as a fashion illustrator for an American fashion magazine. Prissy is now on a mission to elevate the art of pet portraiture and comfort pet owners who have experienced loss. Her fine portraits are infused with such soul that they often move her clients to tears. She aims to capture not just the physical appearance of the pets but also their inner spirit, creating a unique essence that brings joy and healing to pet owners’ broken hearts. Prissy’s distinctive approach to pet portraiture exemplifies a commitment to creating timeless, tastefully elegant artwork that celebrates the unique bond between pets and their owners. Her dedication to infusing each portrait with grace, allure, empathy, and individuality, combined with her expert command of anatomy, sets her apart as a unique pet portraitist who delivers an exceptional and captivating experience for pet-loving clients.

Won the 2nd Prize for “PAWtrait Artist of the Year 2023” in a nationwide competition organized by Dogs Today Magazine, a popular pet magazine in the UK.To date, she has also garnered an appreciative audience of more than 10 million pet and art lovers worldwide, as tracked by TailWindapp.com, a marketing group in the US.In July 2024, she was one of 21 brave women authors whose anthology, “Life by Design: Creating Leverage, Lifestyle, and Legacy, Vol III,” was ranked by Amazon as a Bestseller in three categories.

To learn more, please visit: PETPRISSY.COM and for enquiries, please contact here.

#ArtfortheEarth #TNC #tnchk #NingLau #LinMinChen #PrissyTang

#EndangeredSpeices #EndangeredHabitat #Exhibition #Conservation

#大自然保護協會 #瀕藝共生 #環境保育 #藝術展 #瀕危物種 #瀕危棲息地

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SOURCE The Nature Conservancy

Technology

HashKey Cloud Partners with EAG to Support the Ethereum Application Ecosystem through ETH Staking

Published

7 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

HONG KONG, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Cloud, the digital asset infrastructure service platform under HashKey Group, announced a partnership with the Ethereum Applications Guild (EAG) during the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. The collaboration introduces an ETH Staking support solution for the EAG community.

The initiative aims to provide EAG community members and the broader community of Ethereum builders with transparent and verifiable staking infrastructure. While ensuring users maintain full autonomous control over their assets, the solution uses a specific contribution program to direct a portion of staking rewards toward supporting the growth of EAG and the native Ethereum application ecosystem.

This partnership represents an extension of HashKey’s long-term commitment to the Ethereum ecosystem and provides a new pathway for supporting the development of the application layer.

Reinvesting ETH Staking Rewards into the Ecosystem to Build Long-term Support Mechanisms

EAG is a global non-profit collaborative organization dedicated to driving innovation, adoption, and real-world impact for Ethereum-native applications. By connecting developers, institutions, and various participants, EAG explores and builds open, transparent, and sustainable collaboration mechanisms for the application layer.

The concept of EAG originated from three years of continuous practice by ShanHaiWoo centered around AI, the Ethereum ecosystem, and public goods. The core mission is to establish a sustainable support mechanism for the growth and real-world implementation of native applications. This partnership leverages ETH Staking infrastructure to allow participants to support network operations while simultaneously contributing to ecosystem building.

Launching the EAG Contribution Pool to Meet Staking Needs

According to the cooperation plan, HashKey Cloud will provide the underlying technical architecture and a dedicated frontend interface for the EAG Contribution Pool (DAPP). This DAPP will serve as the interaction interface embedded within the EAG official website or other partner wallets and platforms, making it easy for users to participate directly in ETH Staking.

Node Model: Supports the 0x02 withdrawal credential node model.Capacity: Minimum 32 ETH per node, supporting up to 2048 ETH.Asset Control: Users maintain constant control over their assets. HashKey Cloud does not touch, control, or withhold user funds. It only provides node operation and technical support.Reward Mechanism: When a node has not reached the 2048 ETH limit, rewards are not withdrawn. Once it exceeds 2048 ETH, rewards flow into the user’s exclusive Withdrawal Vault. Users can manually claim rewards or use the Claim & Contribute mechanism to automatically distribute rewards based on preset parameters.

Connecting Infrastructure to the Application Ecosystem

This partnership aims to bridge infrastructure capabilities with community needs. It provides professional, verifiable ETH Staking services while shifting ecosystem support from one-time donations or short-term grants toward more sustainable, ongoing contribution mechanisms.

Moving forward, both sides will continue to collaborate on Ethereum application layer construction, encouraging more developers, communities, and institutions to participate in the long-term development of native applications.

About HashKey Cloud
HashKey Cloud is an institutional-grade staking infrastructure under HashKey (3887.HK). It focuses on providing secure, auditable multi-chain staking services for global institutions, asset managers, and professional investors. Its services include ETF/DAT Staking, Prime Staking, VIP Staking, API Staking, and Prime Yield, helping clients efficiently manage on-chain assets and returns.

About Ethereum Applications Guild (EAG)
The Ethereum Applications Guild (EAG) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Ethereum-native applications with real-world impact. EAG connects developers and institutions to build transparent collaboration mechanisms. Through application acceleration, open co-creation, ecosystem partnerships, sustainable funding, and global events, EAG connects builders, institutions, and ecosystem stakeholders to foster the sustainable growth and broader reach of the Ethereum applications ecosystem.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hashkey-cloud-partners-with-eag-to-support-the-ethereum-application-ecosystem-through-eth-staking-302747026.html

Technology

Step inside Efficient, Healthy, Sustainable Buildings at the 2026 Passive House Network Conference

Published

7 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Hotel Marcel will host building science experts from around the world on June 4th & 5th in an event that showcases why Passive House is the building-performance gold standard.

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The 2026 Passive House Network Conference, held on June 4th & 5th in New Haven, CT, invites Passive House architects, designers, developers, and other building enthusiasts from around the world to exchange ideas, share experience, and accelerate the adoption of the world’s most rigorous building efficiency standard. Hosted by The Passive House Network (PHN), the conference highlights the Passive House standard as a solution to the variety of housing, climate, and cost challenges facing the building industry today.

“We’re inviting everyone to profit by experience, because there is nothing more valuable than shared experience,” said Ken Levenson, Executive Director of PHN. “Practitioners around the world are finding that Passive House is the way forward for comfortable, sustainable, and resilient buildings.”

The event will take place at Hotel Marcel, the first Passive House Certified Hotel in the country–an ideal building to act as both host and exemplar for this event. Opened in 2022, the all-electric building features EV charging stations, a solar-paneled parking lot, and a gas-free kitchen. The brutalist masterpiece was originally completed in 1970 as a corporate headquarters by Marcel Breuer before its renovation to the Passive House EnerPHit standard and rebirth as an award-winning hotel. Experts involved in the renovation will attend the conference and present on the process, including Bruce Becker, the architect, developer, and owner of the building.

“It seemed to me that this was a perfect opportunity to build a hotel that really was part of the solution to the climate crisis,” Becker said. “I’m happy to take what I’ve learned and share it with architects and developers who have the same goals, and the 2026 PHN Conference is the perfect place to do that.”

Other highlights of the conference program include a showcase of Passive House buildings from around the world, including Senior Housing in Spain, Social Housing in Ireland, and a New York University student residence retrofit. The conference will showcase developments in building materials, like adobe and mass timber, and highlight how Passive House makes financial sense by increasing value and providing climate resilience.

Over 30 expert speakers will share their perspectives during the two-day event. Registration is now open, and a full program is available to view on the Conference Webpage.

For more information on The Passive House Network, visit https://passivehousenetwork.org/ or email kim@passivehousenetwork.org.

Media Contact

Kim Ravold, The Passive House Network, 1 6094101308, kim@passivehousenetwork.org, https://passivehousenetwork.org/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/step-inside-efficient-healthy-sustainable-buildings-at-the-2026-passive-house-network-conference-302746459.html

SOURCE The Passive House Network

Technology

PEPSI MAX® RECRUITS GLOBAL STARS TO CREATE THE ‘PEPSI FOOTBALL NATION’: WHERE FANS DEFINE THE RULES

Published

7 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Sir David Beckham, Mohamed Salah, Vini Jr., Lauren James, Alexia Putellas and Florian Wirtz star in Pepsi MAX’s latest brand film – along with a cameo appearance from chef Gordon Ramsay.The campaign is anchored in the rituals of football, from legendary chants to the shared passion of the global community.Pepsi MAX will launch a browser extension to ensure Rule #1 ‘It’s Football, Not Soccer’ is correct across the web and kicks off a fan-debate with Reddit.

LONDON, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ahead of a summer of sport, Pepsi MAX® has brought together football legends in a brand-new film to celebrate the traditions, rituals and shared passion of fans beyond the 90 minutes.

Following the launch of the Pepsi Football Nation platform, a multi-year global platform designed to bring football culture into everyday life for fans across the globe, the campaign film is inspired by the conversations that keep the spirit of the game alive.

The film opens with Sir David Beckham handing the playbook to the fans, inviting them to dictate the “rules” of the Pepsi Football Nation. Viewers are taken on a high-octane journey through a world where fan debate reigns: from local hangouts to unexpected matchups, Florian Wirtz speed parking with accuracy, to the disbelief of a referee who checks it on VAR, Lauren James teaching a university lecture on breaking the offside trap, and blockbuster movies starring Vini Jr., Alexia Putellas, and Mohamed Salah.

Fans throughout unveil the “rules” that are central to the Pepsi Football Nation, brought to life by the Pepsi global roster: Rule #7: Superstitions are Sacred, Rule #33: Who is the “King of Skill”? Rule #84: You Must Wear Your Winning Jersey to Work. Rule #100: Everything Gets Settled on the Pitch.

To celebrate the film, Pepsi MAX is supporting fans tackle Rule #1 of the Pepsi Football Nation: “It’s called Football, Not Soccer”. Fans will soon be able to download a free web extension that automatically replaces every mention of the word “soccer” with “football.” Whether reading global news or scrolling through searches, fans can ensure the “beautiful game” is always described in the best possible way.

Fan debate also lives in chats, fan pages and blogs. That’s why Pepsi MAX is bringing the debate to Reddit, the world’s fastest-growing hub for football discourse. This activation will allow fans to define their own rules and rituals, empowering the community to dictate how the game is celebrated worldwide.

Eugene Willemsen, Chief Executive Officer, International Beverages at PepsiCo, says: “Football has always gone beyond what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes. It lives in conversations, rivalries, and traditions that bring fans together every day, across communities, markets, and generations. Pepsi Football Nation celebrates that culture and the many ways fans experience the game beyond the match itself. For decades, Pepsi MAX has been at the heart of the game; now, we’re honoring the shared experiences and ‘rules’ that unite fans worldwide.”

The Pepsi Football Nation celebrates the culture of football on and off the pitch. Fans worldwide can watch the full film on Pepsi MAX’s social channels, including: X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Player Quotes

Mohamed Salah: “Fans are what makes the beautiful game great, so having a world where they write the rules just feels right. Love being part of the Pepsi Football Nation and celebrate football’s rituals.”

Vini Jr.: “For me, football is about joy and expression, so joining the Pepsi squad to celebrate the game’s culture and passion was easy. I regret not asking the fans sooner!”

Lauren James: “I’ve always had my own approach to big games, whether playing or watching. So to see all these football culture quirks come together in one campaign was great.”

Alexia Putellas: “There’s something special about football culture beyond the pitch. Rituals that are shared by players and fans. I jumped at the chance to help Pepsi bring those traditions centre stage.”

Florian Wirtz: “Football is so much more than a game. There’s passion, there’s debate, there’s traditions. So, it was fun to tell the rules that fans live by every day.”

Notes to Editors

Browser extension privacy

The web extension will work locally in your browser to replace the word “soccer” with “football” on the webpage you are currently viewing. It does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. No browsing history, cookies, form inputs, or account information is accessed. The permission to “access data on all websites” is required solely so the extension can read the text on the page you are viewing and make the word replacement. No data leaves your device.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

Credit List:

PEPSI IB

Head of Production: Kane Phillips

Senior Producer: Eleanor Fitzgerald

BIG TIME CREATIVE

Production Lead: Inas Nagy

FILM

SAUVAGE.TV

Director: Ernest Desumbila

Executive Producer: Eva Laffitte

Producer: Isidor Arjona

Post Producer: Yukio Montilla