Mark your calendars for these events in Abu Dhabi

 Abu Dhabi Calendar , a list of all the upcoming events in Abu Dhabi, has unveiled events for the 2025-2026 season. 
 

Source: Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism. The Traditional Handicrafts Festival will offer experiences that showcase heritage, culture and creativity.

This year's Abu Dhabi Calendar features highlights like the NBA Abu Dhabi Games; Saudi singer, actor and composer Abdul Majeed Abdullah; the winter experience Liwa International Festival; and the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025.

Kickstarting the action are back-to-back bouts from UAE Warriors 64, bringing mixed martial arts (MMA) to the capital. At the same time, culture-seekers can explore Mamluks: Legacy of an Empire, Louvre Abu Dhabi's main exhibition of the season. Running until January, it shines a light on the craftsmanship of one of the Islamic world's most influential dynasties – making it a must-visit cultural highlight. 

The excitement builds in October as global stars and regional legends take the stage from Smashing Pumpkins and Andre Rieu to Abdul Majeed Abdullah – with American comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco adding some homour to the event lineup. 

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games presented by ADQ will return together with basketball festival NBA District, bringing basketball action and exciting fan moments, alongside a combat sports schedule that includes Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, mixed martial arts fight UFC 321 and UFC ancillary events such as the Open Workouts, Official Press Conference, and Ceremonial Weigh Ins. 

Culture gets the limelight with Sheikh Zayed Festival and cultural centre Bait Al Oud's Strings Concert as well as exhibitions like Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts, annual exhibition and competition Art Here 2025 and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Two Clouds in the Night Sky, a solo exhibition celebrating the work of pioneer Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.

In November, concerts by Enrique Iglesias and Travis Scott headline the month, while foodies can indulge in culinary experiences at Michelin Guide Food Festival Abu Dhabi, Taste of Abu Dhabi and Open Fire Food Festival.

Cultural highlights include the Traditional Handicrafts Festival, Maritime Heritage Festival, Sounds of UAE, Abu Dhabi Art and Manar Abu Dhabi, all of which offer experiences that showcase heritage, culture, and creativity. Beetlejuice The Musical is also set to take over Etihad Arena this month.

The year draws to a close with music legends Rod Stewart and Arijit Singh lighting up Abu Dhabi stages, accompanied by the return of Saadiyat Nights, which brings star-studded concerts outdoors. Ludovico Einaudi and Lewis Capaldi will add both classical brilliance and soulful melodies to the month's lineup. 

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 is set to provide full-throttle excitement, while festivals like Liwa Village, a part of the annual Liwa International Festival, and Mother of the Nation transform Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region and Abu Dhabi City into hubs of heritage and creativity, live music and high-energy adventures. 

More events will be announced as the 2025-2026 season unfolds. 

Hashtags: #InAbuDhabi, #UFCAbuDhabi 

Canon PhotoMarathon 2025 showcases visual stories for SG60

The 19th edition of Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, one of Singapore’s highly anticipated photography events, welcomed over 600 photography enthusiasts. Organised by Canon Singapore, it was themed One Click, One Vibe and aims to promote photography as a vital visual arts form by celebrating innovation, storytelling and artistic expression through the lens. 

This year’s competition saw submissions across three mystery themes – Home, Vintage and Vibe(s) – unveiled at intervals during the day. Participants raced across the island, conceptualising, shooting and submitting each photo within a two-hour window per theme for a chance to win Canon products worth around S$50,000 in total. 

“As Singapore’s photography scene continues to evolve, we understand what photography enthusiasts need and endeavour to continue supporting them in telling their creative stories. Canon PhotoMarathon has grown from a competition into a vibrant showcase of creativity, diversity and technical excellence that fuels the photography community in Singapore. 

"One of the themes this year reflects the values of SG60 and serves as a reminder of the everyday lives and spirit of the people in Singapore,” said Andrew Koh, Senior VP and Head of Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.

Mark Teo, a Commercial and Action Sports Photographer and a third-time judge of the Canon PhotoMarathon shared: “It is always inspiring to see how different people interpret the same theme. Each year, the standard just keeps rising. This year’s themes were trickier, prompting participants to think outside the box in order to differentiate themselves from the crowd. Clean composition, good lighting and clear relevance to the theme really made the winning entries stand out.” 

Canon Singapore has also continued its partnership with APSN, a social service agency that provides special education, vocational training and employment support services for individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. Through this collaboration, Canon seeks to unite individuals through photography — a universal art form that knows no boundaries. 

This year was no different as students from APSN were invited to participate in the student categories. This is reflective of Canon’s philosophy of kyosei (共生) – living and working together for the common good, and empowering individuals of all abilities to excel in harmony.

“Beyond encouraging students to express their creativity and build confidence, the Canon PhotoMarathon reflects our school’s values – I Can, I Want, I Will – and motivates them to believe in themselves. Most importantly, the event fosters inclusivity by empowering individuals with special needs to become active contributors of society. Through platforms like this, we not only showcase their talents but also inspire the broader community to celebrate their achievements,” said Muhammad Faris, CCA Arts Coordinator, APSN Delta Senior School. 

The Canon PhotoMarathon 2025 winners: 

	Open categories	Student categories
Theme 1: Home	1st prize: Kenneth Chia 2nd prize: Dongli Zhang 3rd prize: Samuel Sze	1st prize: Ryan Yeo 2nd prize: Chen Xi Teo 3rd prize: Isaac Sin
Theme 2: Vintage	1st prize: Ahmad Iskandar Abdullah 2nd prize: Irfan Djorhanaen 3rd prize: Mohd Safuan Salahudin	1st prize: Keller Seah 2nd prize: Dionne Pang 3rd prize: Alvaro Vincent Wijaya
Theme 3: Vibe(s)	1st prize: Hui Min Lee 2nd prize: Rita Chang 3rd prize: Farha Patel	1st prize: Rewan Teh 2nd prize: Bryant Bong 3rd prize: Keller Seah

Wayne Kwan, an educator who has joined over 11 editions said: “I first participated in the Canon PhotoMarathon in 2012. Photography is my way of capturing memories, and I enjoy the thrill of the hunt for unique angles. This year is extra special as my wife and son have joined me in this year’s PhotoMarathon, turning this event into a meaningful family experience built upon our shared love for the hobby.”

De Long Goh, 58 years old, engineer and long-time participant of 10 years, shared, “Every year brings something new, reconnecting with friends, exploring different subjects and challenging myself to think creatively about what to shoot. Some themes can be difficult to interpret, but that is exactly what makes the event so rewarding – it pushes me to improve my photography skills every year.”  

Home Open category first prize winner:

Source: Canon. The winning picture in the Open category for the theme Home.

Kenneth Chia, 39 years old, engineer and first prize winner of the Open category for the Home theme said: “I was very surprised to win the first prize, and my hands are still shaking. When I think of home, I think of my 17-month son and all the things that I treasure the most. 

Once the theme was announced, I went back to my HDB flat to capture what was most important to me. My kid is home. This image of my child was taken against the flag which embodies Home, a symbol of our shared identity.”

Aaron Low, Photo Director and one of the judges said: “The Canon PhotoMarathon really brings the community together by forming lasting bonds through a shared passion for photography. To me, the most important part of photography is storytelling, and a strong photo should convey a clear message that resonates with many. Composition and the overall impact of the image, beyond technical details, are crucial. The winning photos comprised these elements and turned out outstanding.” 

Celestia Tan, Fashion Photographer and also a judge said: “Canon PhotoMarathon offers a unique platform for photography enthusiasts to explore, experiment and have fun. For me, the true magic of photography lies in capturing a moment and bringing a vision to life. The second theme, Vintage, was probably the most challenging for participants, where many adopted a literal interpretation due to the time constraints. The most exciting part of this competition is seeing how participants interpreted these themes, capturing diverse stories and unique perspectives through the lens.”

Launched in 2003, the Canon PhotoMarathon is designed to inspire and provoke creative expression by pushing participants to think beyond conventional boundaries. With mystery themes, tight timelines and an open invitation to all levels of photographers, participants race against the clock in a test of creativity and quick thinking to capture fresh, unique perspectives that bring each theme to life.  

The themes encourage photographers to explore new ideas, experiment with different techniques to tell stories. This fosters a vibrant community where creativity flourishes, and diverse voices come together to redefine the art of photography.

Beyond Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, photographers can engage in a range of Canon-led activities aimed at nurturing Singapore’s photography scene. Activities include immersive workshops and guided shoots that offer valuable opportunities for both emerging and experienced photographers to sharpen their skills, expand their creative horizons and receive mentorship from seasoned professionals to elevate standards of photographic excellence in Singapore. 

Kramnik to play Alcántara in rematch on Chessarena.com

Source: World Chess. Kramnik (left) will replay José Alcántara (Jospem, right) in August 2024.

World Chess, a chess organisation committed to enhancing the global mass market appeal of chess, will host Clash of Claims 2, a chess rematch after the first Clash of Claims between Vladimir Kramnik and José Alcántara ended in controversy. The event will feature live commentary from prominent figures in the chess community and interactive segments for viewers.

Kramnik, the 14th World Chess champion, has been actively sharing evidence of what he believes indicates cheating in online chess tournaments. With the ease of access to software that could help players cheat, the results of some online tournaments have led to accusations of deception.

Following Kramnik’s claims, a hybrid approach was suggested in June this year with Kramnik playing against Grandmaster José Alcántara, a well-known online chess player, in a three-day chess event. This first Clash of Claims event was held in Madrid and was a hybrid mix of in-person board games and online matches via the Chess.com platform.

Due to technical issues with Chess.com, World Chess has invited the players to return for Clash of Claims 2 in London from 19 - 21 August 2024, hosted on its Chessarena.com platform. This rematch will have stringent physical and online anti-cheating methods in place to address previous alleged shortcomings. Chessarena.com is the only online platform that has an anti-cheating engine approved by FIDE, the international governing body of chess.

Chessarena.com plans to leverage this event to highlight new platform features, including the introduction of in-game emoticons, and to run a Clash of Claims 2 promotion for new subscribers.

Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess said: “We are so excited to welcome these two renowned players, once again, to the stage to battle it out in London.

“World Chess and the FIDE Arena are looking forward to resolving once and for all the fair play allegations raised by Kramnik, and to enhance the reputability of online chess tournaments.

“We are confident Chessarena.com will provide advanced anti-cheating measures and a superior platform from which the games will be hosted.

“Online chess is going through a major transformation right now. We are possibly witnessing the ultimate way to address all anti-cheating allegations — by taking an online dispute to the physical board, marking a truly hybrid approach.”

Samsung launches metaverse-driven Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt campaign

Source: Samsung. Enter the metaverse to participate in the Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt campaign.

Samsung Electronics has followed its launch of the flagship Galaxy S22 series 5G smartphones with the Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt campaign, aimed at providing Galaxy fans with a unique experience in the metaverse.

Set to run till 24 April 2022, the Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt campaign comprises a treasure hunt, as well as a user-generated content event exclusive to selected markets in Southeast Asia. Users in Singapore stand a chance to win special Galaxy S22 items for their avatars and ZEPETO coins for in-game purchases. The campaign is hosted on the My House platform, a collaboration between Samsung and Naver Z’s ZEPETO – the largest metaverse platform in Asia, with more than 300 million users worldwide.

“At Samsung, we aim to create innovations that can be customised to suit a wide range of tastes. With the Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt campaign, we want to engage the large community of Gen Z and millennial users in our region who are exploring personalised experiences in the metaverse. My House, which saw over 4 million visitors in its first month, offers new ways for users to design their dream homes and experience the Galaxy S22 series and other Samsung products in a virtual environment,” said Olivier Bockenmeyer, Regional Corporate Marketing Head, Southeast Asia and Oceania at Samsung Electronics.

First revealed at CES 2022, the My House world map allows users to decorate their homes in the metaverse with Samsung products. They can select, customise, and experience over 18 Samsung products in their virtual space, from the Freestyle, Neo QLED and lifestyle TVs like The Frame, to the Bespoke Refrigerator, Bespoke Jet, Air Dresser and more. The SmartThings Mode experience can be activated via the Galaxy Z Flip in the virtual world, where users can enjoy a home party or games in their My House living room. Targeted at Gen Z and Millennials who actively seek new avenues of self-expression, the platform builds on Samsung’s efforts to empower users with customised experiences.

"Through the Galaxy S22 Treasure Hunt and user-generated content events, we want to engage more Gen Z and millennial users to spark their imagination and creativity. We hope to be an important part of their on-going journey in exploring their individuality, and in developing their lifestyle preferences,” added Bockenmeyer.

Details:

Users can participate in the Treasure Hunt at Jeromy’s House in the My House map. Galaxy S22 gift boxes will appear every 15 minutes for a limited time. Users can win an exclusive in-app S22 effect item each time they find a gift box, and the limited virtual fashion item – a Galaxy S22 jumpsuit - upon collecting eight gift boxes.

Download the ZEPETO app from the Google Play Store. The My House map can be accessed by tapping on Recommended Map or searching for My House in the ZEPETO app’s World tab.

Sony World Photography Awards 2022 opens for submissions

Submissions for the 15th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards are now open. Entry is free.

Source: Sony World Photography Awards. Copyright: © Majid Hojjati, Iran, Winner, Professional, Landscape, 2021 Sony World Photography Awards. Series name: Silent Neighborhoods.

Series description: Everything in life is made up of impressions from the past and whatever befalls us today. The fabric which took one form yesterday takes on a new form now. All creatures still fight for their survival. Nature is the battlefield. The forces of the world are as they have ever been; the waves of the sea, storms, the earth itself. But ultimately it is humanity, marching everywhere, claiming everything, proving to the world that it will endure. We strove to live, to take and to control, before even knowing what to call ourselves. We think we will last forever so we hunt, build, wear clothes and consume, changing our ideas and our tools over the years but never changing our ways. We chased after more and more and something was always left behind. Homes were abandoned, chairs left empty and clothes unworn, even the buttons of a shirt were lost. We have raced to eternity, knowing life is fleeting, leaving the lights on behind us as if to say that once upon a time we were alive. Here are the silent neighbourhoods: those places free of the presence of humanity. The noise of their silence can be heard everywhere – but here in these places we are condemned to hear nothing.

Created by the World Photography Organisation, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the best contemporary photography from the past year, and provide exposure as well as opportunity to photographers worldwide.

There are four categories:

- Professional, outstanding bodies of work between five to 10 images across 10 categories;

- Open, rewarding the world’s best single images across 10 categories,

- Youth, a monthly brief for those aged 12-19, and

- Student, for photography students.

A National Awards programme will also reward local photographic talent.

All category winners of the Professional, Open, Youth and Student competitions will receive digital imaging equipment from Sony. In addition, cash prizes of US$25,000 will be presented to the Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 to the Open Photographer of the Year. All winning and shortlisted photographers’ works will be exhibited at the annual Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition in London and will then be toured internationally. Winning images will also be published in the annual Awards’ book.

Details:

Deadlines for submission are:

Professional: 13 January 2022, 13:00 GMT

Open: 6 January 2022, 13:00 GMT

Student: 30 November 2021, 13:00 GMT

Youth: Monthly competitions with a changing theme running to 31 December, 2021

Get full competition and categories descriptions.

View 2021 finalists.

Put together a team for GeForce Cup Pacific

GeForce Cup, the pinnacle of NVIDIA-owned e-sports competitions, will kick off next month in GeForce-certified iCafes across the Asia-Pacific region.

GeForce Cup Pacific by NVIDIA and Colorful will kick off in October and feature Counter-Strike:
Global Offensive (CS:GO) battles in Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar,
New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As the successor to the well-known GeForce Xtreme Tournament (GEXT), GeForce Cup Pacific is expected to draw thousands of gamers from the region, with winners taking home more than US$20,000 in prizes from the regional finals in January 2020.

Source: NVIDIA. The GeForce Cup Pacific kicks off in Asia in October.

“GeForce Cup Pacific will take regional gamers to another level. The tournament will be
streamed live to allow gamers and e-sports enthusiasts around the world to follow the
development online,”  said Raymond Teh, VP of sales and marketing for APAC at NVIDIA.


“The cooperation with Colorful and NVIDIA in 2018 was a great success and Colorful is thrilled to
join GeForce Cup again in 2019. We dedicate to build a great platform for e-sports qualifiers, to
help them become professional e-sports players and win pride and honour. On behalf of Colorful
Group, I give my best wishes to GeForce Cup to achieve success again in 2019!” said Wan Shan,
CEO of Colorful Technology.

GeForce Cup Pacific is sponsored by Colorful and supported by AOC, Kingston, NZXT, and
Thermaltake.

Details:

Registration is now open at select GeForce-certified iCafes.

Locate an iCafe

Hashtag: #FRAMESWINGAMES

Entries for Sony World Photography Awards 2019 to close January 2019

Photographers worldwide have under a month left to enter the 12th annual Sony World Photography Awards’ Professional, Open and Youth competitions, which are one of the most important fixtures on the global photographic calendar. The awards recognise the best contemporary photography from the past year and celebrate a wide variety of photographic genres. 

Scott Gray, CEO and founder of the World Photography Organisation commented: “Each year, the Sony World Photography Awards uncovers emerging photographic talent and gives established artists a global audience for their work. I look forward to seeing the entries and our esteemed judges’ selection.”

Submitted by photographers from around the world, the images cover a wide variety of topics taken from the 10 categories of the Open Competition, which is judged on a single image. Prizes include US$25,000 for the Photographer of the Year and US$5,000 for the overall Open competition winner.

Portuguese photographer Edgar Martins, who won in both the 2009 and 2018 Sony World Photography Awards said: “The media response to the awards was overwhelming, with extensive press and TV coverage all over the world. Apart from providing my work a huge international platform it has also brought my images to the consciousness of collectors, curators, galleries and museums… As a direct result of being part of the Sony World Photography Awards, my work was acquired by several private and public collections.”

British photographer Amanda Harman won the Professional Competition’s Still Life category in 2014, and her series A Fluid Landscape was shortlisted in the Professional Landscape category in 2018. Harman said, “Taking part in the Sony World Photography Awards has led to great things for me. I feel that being shortlisted for the 2018 awards - and receiving a book deal - for a series that I took with the Sony camera that I won at the 2014 awards has nicely completed a circle.

"The awards have undoubtedly helped me in my career, and I am excited for the next steps.”

British artist Alys Tomlinson won Photographer of the Year, which has led to her being represented by HackelBury Fine Art. "It has been fantastic to gain representation by a prestigious contemporary photography gallery and to see my work exhibited with them at fairs across the world. Adding to this, since winning the award I've also found a publisher for the series, and my book is due to be published by GOST Books in spring 2019," she shared.

The World Photography Organisation is a global platform for photography initiatives. Working across up to 180 countries, its aim is to raise the level of conversation around photography by celebrating the best imagery and photographers on the planet. The organisation hosts a year-round portfolio of events including the Sony World Photography Awards, the world's largest photography competition, and PHOTOFAIRS, international art fairs dedicated to photography around the world.

Sony Imaging Products & Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation that is responsible for its imaging products and solutions businesses, from consumer camera, solutions with a focus on broadcast- and professional-use products, to the medical business.

Details:

Open to all, submissions to these global and prestigious awards are free to enter. There are four categories, of which only one may be chosen:

Professional - Recognising outstanding bodies of work (closes January 11, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Open - Rewarding the world’s best single images (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Youth - Best single images by photographers aged 12-19 (closes January 4, 2019 - 1300 GMT)

Student - For photography students worldwide (submissions closed)
Key dates

• February 5, 2019 - Open and Youth shortlists

• February 26, 2019 - Open and National Awards winners

• March, 2019 - Outstanding Contribution to Photography revealed

• April 2, 2019 - Professional and Student shortlists

• April 17, 2019 - Photographer of the Year, Professional category winners and overall Open, Youth and Student winners

All category winners will receive the latest Sony digital imaging equipment and the overall competition plus Professional category winners will be flown to London, UK to attend the Sony World Photography Awards dinner on April 17, 2019. The awards’ winning and shortlisted images will be exhibited in London. Running April 18 – May 6 2019, the exhibition will also include exclusive new works by the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award, to be announced March 2019. 

Canon PhotoMarathon XVI 2018 winners announced

The winners for the 16^th  Canon PhotoMarathon XVI 2018 in Singapore have been announced.

The region’s largest annual photo competition challenges photography enthusiasts to push their boundaries in photography skills, all under time pressure. A new ‘dusk’ challenge has enabled participants to capture a mix of both day and night scenes as well.

The winners are:

Source: Canon. Winning entry for Best Of Show - Student for the Glow category.

Best Of Show - Student

Timothy John Low Wen, Nanyang Polytechnic

Source: Canon. Winning entry for Best Of Show - Open for the Solitude category.

Best Of Show - Open

Azril Azam Bin Abdul Rahim

Source: Canon. ORBIGUD was the Team Category Winner.

Team Category Winner

ORBIGUD

School Challenge Winner

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Theme 1: Solitude

Student Category

1st Myo Thi Ha Kyaw, Nanyang Technological University

2nd Evita Lee Ann Hwee, Christ Church Secondary School

3rd Ong Yi Feng Jayden, Edgefield Secondary School

Open Category

1st Aht Yomyai

2nd Zhang Dongli

3rd Ahmad Iskandar Bin Abdullah

Theme 2: Simplicity

Student Category

1st Jessie Chia, National University Of Singapore

2nd Timothy John Low Wen, Nanyang Polytechnic

3rd Teo Xu Kai, Temasek Polytechnic

Open Category

1st Ong Kah Hong

2nd Azril Azam Bin Abdul Rahim

3rd Siyuan Ma

Source: Canon. Winning entry for the Canon Challenge Winner category.

Canon Challenge Winner

Shrirang Rajaram Nirgun

Theme 3: Glow

Student Category

1st Lester Thomas Daniel, Singapore Polytechnic

2nd Mikaela Gn, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

3rd Benjamin Tay Tze Min, Hwa Chong Institution

Open Category

1st Nursanto Soeradi Somo

2nd Gerdie Hutomo

3rd Mai Hung Son

Asia Miles introduces Facebook travel game for Hong Kong travellers

Hong Kong Asia Miles members could win 100,000 Asia Miles in a Facebook game this month just by creating a travel itinerary for Taipei, Taiwan.

On Facebook, check out social media guru Ming Jai (Ming 仔)’s recommended itinerary for a trip to Taipei. Name two of the Asia Miles categories in which you can earn through his itinerary, then plan an extra day's itinerary on top of Ming Jai’s trip within a budget of HK$5,000 with at least three different categories for miles accrual.

Add your planned itinerary under the Asia Miles Facebook game post and tag three of your favourite travel buddies to stand a chance of winning the game.

The game runs till 21 July 2018. Winners will be decided by the itineraries that earn the most miles and are the most creative. The top-earning itinerary will win 100,000 Asia Miles while the next five will each get 20,000 miles.

*Note: The Asia Miles Facebook page appears to be location-specific. Visitors from outside of Hong Kong will not see this post.

Chase light from day to night on 28 July in Singapore

Source: Canon. The Canon PhotoMarathon XVI will feature day-to-night assignments.

Back for its 16th year, the Canon PhotoMarathon XVI is slated for 28 July in Singapore. This year, Canon is taking a step further by giving back to the community and also introducing new elements in the competition format.

In line with Canon’s ongoing support of the local sporting scene, Canon recently announced a partnership with Olympian Joseph Schooling. In support of Canon PhotoMarathon which seeks to inspire and bring the photography community closer, Schooling will be at the event to unveil one of the competition themes.

Kyosei (共生), which means "living and working together for the common good", lies at the heart of Canon’s corporate philosophy. In the spirit of this belief, all registration fees collected from Canon PhotoMarathon this year will be donated to The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF), a community project to fund school-going children from low-income families.

“This year, we would like to encourage the photography community to test their creative mettle and at the same time, contribute back to the community,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Domestic Operations, Canon Singapore.

“Canon PhotoMarathon is not just a competition of photography skills and creativity, it is also a test of one’s endurance and stamina. With Joseph Schooling present at this year’s competition, we hope that participants will be inspired by his tenacity and rigour to achieve big dreams, much like how he attained Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal.”

True to its name, Canon PhotoMarathon is a blend of photography and sports. Both mental and physical endurance are required for the full-day competition. While the format of the competition remains the same with three competition themes announced at intervals throughout the event, this year’s event will kick off at a later timing of 11am. 

This allows photographers working on the third and last theme to take advantage of a mix of day and night lighting when they put their photography skills and creativity to the test.

The ‘dusk’ challenge will be announced at 5pm and the closing submission time for this final theme will be at 8pm. Sunset is typically after 7pm.

Details:

Register

Participants will have three hours from the announcement to submit a photo which demonstrates a unique perspective in picture composition according to the assigned theme. Adding an additional element of surprise to the mix, participants will have a say in voting for one of the competition themes this year.

There will be a total of more than S$50,000 worth of Canon products to be won. In addition, all registered participants will stand a chance to win a pair of Lufthansa air tickets to Munich, Germany in the lucky draw segment.

Apart from category prizes, the Best of Show winners from the Open and Student categories will win an exclusive spot each in the Canon PhotoMarathon Asia Championship held in 2019, which is valued at more than US$5,000. 

The all-expenses paid trip will bring participants on an exclusive scenic journey to explore various facets of photography under the tutelage of a professional photographer. The championship will involve further theme challenges to select the champion among winners.

In addition, a charity sale of limited edition prints, specially curated by The Straits Times photo desk and The Schooling Company, will be held from 20 to 26 July via shop.canon.com.sg/charity.All proceeds will be donated to the STSPMF.

Win a Huawei P20 in Pink Gold in Singapore Mother's Day contest

Source: Huawei Mobile Singapore
Facebook page. Watch the video

The Singapore Huawei Consumer Business Group is running a contest for Mother's Day (13 May) that ends on 24 May.

Singapore consumers need only answer what lengths their mother will go for them as a comment to the video on the Huawei Mobile Singapore Facebook page, with the hashtag #SeeMooore, for a chance to win the HUAWEI P20 in Pink Gold, and a W Singapore Sentosa Cove experience for two*.

The video, which was launched on 11 May, had over 19,000 views at the time of writing.

The Singapore Huawei Consumer Business Group's latest phone is the HUAWEI P20 Pro. The HUAWEI P20 Pro comes with the world’s first Leica triple camera and artificial intelligence. With a 40 megapixel RGB sensor, a 20 megapixel monochrome sensor, and an 8 megapixel sensor with telephoto lens, the HUAWEI P20 Pro is widely considered to have the best phone camera today.

A Twilight version of the phone reached Singapore stores on 21 April 2018. For the Twilight phone chassis Huawei used advanced optical coating techniques and materials to achieve a gradient effect that is inspired by the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

Details:

Watch the video

*Terms and conditions apply

Sony launches Picture This Festival for the Planet competition

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPTN), in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, has announced the opening of the Picture This Festival for the Planet, a short-film competition for emerging filmmakers, everyday storytellers and changemakers worldwide to showcase the positive future they see for our planet.

People from over 70 countries are invited to submit videos inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of global goals agreed upon by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and promote prosperity for all.

In mid-2018, eight regional winners will be flown to Los Angeles, US to attend the Picture This Festival for the Planet for a day of networking and training alongside industry leaders and social impact partners at the Sony Pictures Studio lot, followed by a screening of the regional winners’ films. Regional winners will receive airfare and accommodations for two nights in Los Angeles, along with a Sony RX0 Camera and a one year WeTransfer Plus account. The grand prize winner honored with a Sony A6500 camera and a SEL1670 lens. In Asia, the first 100 successful entries will receive a one-year WeTransfer Plus account worth US$120 each.

Andy Kaplan, President, Sony Pictures Television Networks, said: “At Sony, we are proud champions of the intersection between storytelling and innovation and are incredibly excited to spearhead Picture This. With the support of the United Nations Foundation and our other partners, we look forward to elevating and amplifying these important development goals through the voices of emerging creatives and acknowledge their good work in a meaningful way.”

SPTN launched a similar contest in 2016 across its channel portfolio worldwide, including its flagship brands in Asia, AXN, Sony Channel, GEM, ONE and Animax and those same channels will participate in this year’s festival.

In addition to Kaplan, the judges include: Megan Boone, environmental advocate and actress from the TV series The Blacklist; Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, United Nations Foundation; Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks; Tom Bernard & Michael Barker, Co-Presidents, Sony Pictures Classics; NP Singh, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India; Glenn Gainor, President of Physical Production, Screen Gems; Debbie Levin, President & CEO, Environmental Media Association; and Damian Bradfield, President and Chief Marketing Officer, WeTransfer.

Cousens said: “The Picture This Festival for the Planet is an innovative new platform to connect global audiences to what is happening on the ground as people put the SDGs into action in their daily lives. The United Nations Foundation appreciates Sony’s deep commitment to sustainability and its willingness to leverage its creativity and reach to bring the SDGs to new audiences. By celebrating individual stories of people around the world actively working to protect people and planet, Picture This will help inspire others to join the effort to realise these ambitious – and achievable – goals."

Sony Pictures Television Networks is a division of Sony Pictures Television Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. The Picture This Festival for the Planet is Sony Pictures Entertainment’s  latest project to bring awareness to the SDGs. In 2016, the United Nations and Sony Pictures Entertainment launched Angry Birds for a Happy Planet, a global youth outreach campaign that leveraged online and social media platforms to encourage action to protect the planet and fight climate change. Centered on the Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 – to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, the campaign featured Red and other characters of The Angry Birds Movie. In 2017, supported by the cast of the Smurfs: The Lost Village, audiences were encouraged to join Team Smurfs for the Small Smurfs Big Goals campaign that inspired everyone to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Details:

The contest is open to entrants from Brunei, Cambodia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Fiction or non-fiction are welcome, and the film can be of a wide range of genres, new or existing. Videos should be between one and eight minutes in length. Submissions for the Picture This Festival for the Planet close April 30, 2018. Entry is free. Register

Explore:

Watch the video introducing the Picture This Festival for the Planet 

Scale innovative initiatives in nutrition, water or rural development with Nestlé

Submissions for Nestlé's 2018 Creating Shared Value (CSV) Prize, accepted till the end of October from anywhere in the world, offer all social and commercial enterprises, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) prizes totalling RM2.2 million for innovative business initiatives that address challenges in nutrition, water or rural development which can be scaled up or replicated.

Nirmalah Thurai, Executive Director, Group Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia said, “There are many innovative socially-conscious projects run by amazing Malaysians. This is a wonderful opportunity showcase these initiatives on a global platform and we strongly encourage Malaysian change makers to submit their ideas.”

This is the 8th edition of the Nestlé CSV Prize, which is held every two years. This year, it celebrates Nestlé’s 10 years of Creating Shared Value, a philosophy which is embedded throughout the group. CSV is based on the belief that for a company to be successful in the long term and create value for its shareholders, it must also create value for society.


Since the Nestlé CSV Prize was established, Nestlé has supported nine initiatives, helping them unlock their potential and create a greater impact.

Details:

Online applications for ideas on nutrition, water or rural development are accepted until October 31, 2017. Shortlisted entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to participate in the 2018 World Water Forum in Brazil to pitch their initiatives live to the Nestlé CSV Council.

Singapore National Award winners announced for 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

 World’s largest photography competition announces that Lester Koh Meng Hua has won the Singapore National Award 

 Full list of National Award and Open competition category winners announced

Source: Sony. Singapore at dawn won the Singapore National Award for the Sony World Photography Awards 2017.

The judges of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards have announced that Singapore at dawn by Lester Koh Meng Hua has won the Singapore National Award.

The Sony World Photography Awards is the world’s largest photography competition, and the
National Awards is a global programme open to photographers of all abilities. It aims to find the best single photograph taken by a local photographer in 65 countries. This year's winners were selected from 80,408 images made by 5,034 photographers from 126 different countries.

Koh is a photography enthusiast interested in different genres, such as abstract, nature, sports, architecture, people, street photography, and cultural events. His winning image captures the rustic charm of one of Singapore’s oldest public housing blocks, with residents displaying the Singapore flag outside their apartments.

“The very simple geometric design of squares and circles somehow intrigued me”, Koh said. He was not satisfied with the shots taken on his first attempt, which led to him deciding to explore taking the shot at dawn on 14 August 2016, during Singapore’s 51st National Day celebration month. This resulted in the discovery of the perfect combination of warm and cold corridor lighting.

Said Koh: "I did not expect that my simple architectural image would have caught the attention of the panel of distinguished judges. I was pleasantly surprised, elated and deeply honoured when I was notified that my image had won the prestigious National Award. This award will definitely inspire me to pursue my photography hobby with even greater passion.”

Other winners for the Singapore National Award included:

 2nd place: Albert Tan for Mongolia Yurt

 3rd place: William Chua for the image Kazakhs

Koh's winning work will be shown alongside the awards’ other winning and shortlisted images at the Sony World Photography Awards & Martin Parr – 2017 Exhibition in London, UK  and published in the annual winners’ book.

Produced by the World Photography Organisation, 2017 sees the 10th anniversary of the Sony
World Photography Awards. A total of 227,596 images were entered into the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards across all competitions. The awards recognise and reward the best contemporary photography captured over the last year. The overall winners of the 2017 Sony World Photography Awards will be announced on 20 April.

Interested?

View the winners

posted from Bloggeroid

Dubai Chamber launches Dubai Smartpreneur Competition for 2017

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with the Smart Dubai Office has launched the second edition of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE VP and PM, and Ruler of Dubai to transform Dubai into a smart city.

Source: Dubai Chamber. A panel discussion was held during the event, 
focusing on the progress achieved by the UAE government on smart 
city and innovation-focused initiatives, as well as the initiatives and 
engines are expected to drive sustainable growth in the future. Panelists 
included Essa Al Zaabi, Senior VP, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai 
Chamber, and General Coordinator of Tejar Dubai; Younus Al Nasser, 
Assistant Director, Smart Dubai Office and CEO of Dubai Data; Kushal 
Shah, Partner, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and Founder of 
Dubai Angel Investors; and Raed Hafez, Chairman, ElGrocer. 

The competition gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to become part of Dubai’s transformation into a global benchmark smart city, supporting the vision of Smart Dubai to make Dubai the happiest city on earth through technology innovation. It is open to all entrepreneurs based in the UAE.

In his welcome address, HE Hisham Al Shirawi highlighted that the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition has become a key platform for recognising and developing innovative ideas that have the potential to improve the local business environment and the wider society. “The benefits of this competition go far beyond financial rewards. Participants also get a unique chance to network with industry influencers, interact with mentors, and gain valuable feedback needed to improve and grow their businesses,” he said.

HE Dr Aisha bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, said: “The Smartpreneur Competition is an important annual event that demonstrates the positive impact we can have when we work together. I applaud Dubai Chamber for leading this impressive event.

“These bright young entrepreneurs are essential to the success of our smart city ambitions. The second cycle of (the) Smartpreneur competition will not only be an opportunity to discover the best products and services improving city experiences. It will be an engagement platform to support local entrepreneurs to actively contribute to and lead our citywide transformation.” 

Last year, Dubai Chamber received 350 innovative ideas during the first cycle of the Dubai Smartpreneur Competition. The competition this year will take place under the umbrella of Dubai Start Up Hub, the official online hub of the Dubai startup and technology ecosystem, managed by the Dubai Chamber in collaboration with IBM. Participants are required to submit their business ideas in line with Smart Dubai dimensions such as smart economy, smart living, smart mobility, smart governance, smart environment, and smart people.

The entries will be critiqued by a judging panel. Participants who qualify will attend two full-day workshops on sector-specific training, mentorship, building relationships, and developing a full business plan. The first three winners will get a cash prize and the opportunity to join the Tejar Dubai entrepreneurship development programme for a year to help them turn their business ideas into reality. The programme is designed to support nascent entrepreneurs by providing them with training, mentorship and access to new opportunities, helping them to take their first steps into the business world.

Nongsa Point Marina & Resort hosts international regatta this January

Source: Nongsa Point Marina & Resort. Banner for the 2nd Wonderful Indonesia Nongsa Regatta.

Nongsa Point Marina & Resort by Nongsa Resorts is hosting the 2nd Wonderful Indonesia Nongsa Regatta from 20 January to 22 January 2017.

This event will be held at the peak of the monsoon season (north wind) which features strong winds for sailing boat races. It is estimated that more than 300 participants will follow the race, including participants from Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Nongsa Point Marina & Resort will host dinghies and traditional boat races by the local communities as a side event.

"We aim for more participants and enthusiasm for the 2nd Wonderful Indonesia Nongsa Regatta 2017. With the support from the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, we foresee this international event will heighten tourism to Batam, particularly to the Nongsa region," said Erhard Rueber, GM, Nongsa Point Marina & Resort.

The three-day regatta will see over 60 varied sailboats and an estimated 600 international and domestic professionals, participants, spectators, thought leaders and boating sports community at Nongsa Point Marina & Resort.

As part of the resort’s corporate social responsibility, there will be a dedicated new race in a popular one design small Olympic one-man sailing dinghy – Optimist and Laser – for juniors at the Riau Yacht Club’s Sailing School.

The resort will once again showcase an Indonesian traditional boat race for local boating enthusiasts. The traditional boat race allows corporate sponsors and VIPs to experience first-hand navigating in a traditional boat in monsoon conditions.

Interested?

Watch the video from the inaugural Nongsa Regatta in 2016
Check out the teaser video for the 2nd Wonderful Indonesia Nongsa Regatta

posted from Bloggeroid

Win a trip to Barcelona with UberHOLIDAY and Qatar Airways

Source: Uber Malaysia. Qatar Airways will fly three lucky winners and their partners on a whirlwind trip to Spain.

On 12 January 2017, Uber users in Malaysia stand a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience in Barcelona, Spain with UberHOLIDAY. This promotion is brought to Uber users in conjunction with the Qatar Airways Travel Festival 2017.

In partnership with Qatar Airways, three winners and their partners will be picked up and driven straight to the airport to fly to Barcelona on the same day, provided they have valid passports and meet visa requirements for Spain*. Hotel stays will be provided, as will VIP tickets to watch an FC Barcelona match on 14 January 2017. The return flight from Barcelona to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will depart on Sunday, 15 January 2017.

There will be a total of 36 winners, including the three flying to Barcelona. The other winners will receive prizes such as return flight ticket vouchers (four available), Qatar Airways aircraft models (33 available) and limited edition Uber swag.

Interested?

Open up your Uber app on 12 January 2017 from 11am to 2pm
Move the slider to UberHOLIDAY and request.
Have the new Uber app? Just tap the UberHOLIDAY card at the bottom of the app to request.
On a successful request, your ride containing exclusive prizes will arrive at your doorstep.

Terms & conditions

• Only three grand prize winners will get a ride to the airport to fly to Barcelona, Spain with their partners on the day itself. 
• Please make sure you hold a valid passport and meet visa requirements before requesting. 
• Demand will be high and availability limited. 

*Malaysian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Barcelona, Spain, subject to immigration checks.

Singtel makes tickets available for Nathan Hartono showcase

Source: Singtel. Nathan Hartono recently performed live on Singtel's Facebook page.

More than 99,000 views and counting for the video of Nathan Hartono’s performance last week that was broadcast via Singtel’s Facebook page. The event continues Singtel’s Christmas tradition of giving back to the community and supporting the Singtel Touching Lives Fund.

Fans had the opportunity to interact with Hartono and ask him to perform song dedications to their loved ones at the event, organised by Singtel to celebrate the festive season and spread the joy of giving.

Three pairs of tickets to the Up-close with Nathan Hartono showcase at The Millian, St James Power Station on 21 January 2017 are now up for grabs. All fans have to do is to comment on the Nathan’s live performance video before 26 December (2359 hours) on Singtel’s Facebook page and say who they would like to bring to the showcase and why.

Singtel customers who purchase a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge at any Singtel shop from 17 December 2016, and sign up for a premium Singtel Music subscription with Spotify, KKBOX, Saavn or TIDAL will receive a pair of tickets for the showcase. Limited tickets are available.

Interested?

Visit Singtel's Facebook page and watch the video

posted from Bloggeroid

Indonesia wins UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award

Indonesia has taken the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award for the third year running. The United Overseas Bank (UOB) revealed that 36-year-old Gatot Indrajati has won the award for Right or Wrong My Home, a relief acrylic painting. Indrajati also picked up the 2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Indonesia award.

Judges commended his innovative use of wood, a traditional art medium in Indonesia combined with paint to create a visually compelling and contemporary artwork. They said Indrajati’s treatment of composition and layering to create a range of perspectives in the painting emphasised a sense of space while reflecting a typical Southeast Asian cityscape. The judges further noted that his application of light-hearted iconography invites the audience to contemplate the artist’s intent.

Indrajati said, “ I was inspired by the passion that Indonesians have for their country and how that attitude is such an inherent part of the Indonesian identity. Indonesians also have a wry sense of humour and we often use humour as a way to demonstrate the love for our country. I wanted my painting to portray that passion and patriotism."

Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, UOB, said that the Bank remains committed to supporting the development of art in Southeast Asia for the long-term.

"We recognise the important role art plays in strengthening the fabric of a society. It connects people and communities, celebrates cultures and enriches lives. What is also distinctive about the UOB art programme is our focus on giving back. Beyond nurturing and profiling artistic talents, we also connect our artist alumni and our community partners to bring art appreciation to underprivileged and special needs children, " Wee said.

In the Established Artist category Carey Ngai, 49, won the UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award. Ngai's entry was an oil on canvas painting, Industry 2.0 III. The judges were impressed by Ngai’s use of shades and colours in his realistic art piece. His painting draws a parallel between the obsolescence of industrial machinery and that of human abilities as societies evolve and as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into daily life.

For the Emerging Artist category: Yoko Choi Chi Mei, 38, was named the Most Promising Artist of the Year (Singapore). Choi created a diptych piece, City Wandering. Using ink marker on Chinese ink paper to create intricate, overlapping and multi-directional patterns, the artist explores how the search for change can reshape one’s perception of order and certainty.

The annual UOB Painting of the Year competition is held across four Southeast Asian countries. In Singapore, it is the longest-running art contest and is also the Bank’s flagship art programme. UOB’s focus on championing art as a key pillar of its corporate social responsibility programme began in Singapore more than 40 years ago. Over the years, the UOB Painting of the Year competition has launched the careers of artists in Singapore and the region including Singapore Cultural Medallion winners Raymond Lau, Chua Say Hua and Hong Sek Chern.

The regional panel of judges comprised representatives from each of the four participating countries: Agung Hujatnika Jennong, an independent curator and lecturer at the Faculty of Art and Design at the Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia; Choy Chun Wei, an award-winning contemporary artist from Malaysia; Dr Bridget Tracy Tan, Director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts and Art Galleries, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore; and Amrit Chusuwan, an artist and Dean of the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University in Thailand.

Other winners of the 35th UOB Painting of the Year competition include:

+2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Malaysia: Yim Yen Sum, The Floating Castle 
+2016 UOB Painting of the Year, Thailand: Jongjit Moolmat, Awaiting Enlightenment 2

+Established Artist Category (Singapore), Gold Award: Tang Kok Soo, Elephants Crossing the +Water Established Artist Category (Singapore), Silver Award: Yeo Tze Yang, Ah Ma’s Kitchen
+Established Artist Category (Singapore), Bronze Award: Kobayashi Satoshi, The Producer 

+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore) Gold Award: Ariel Dong Zixin, Self-portrait 
+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore) Silver Award: Shirly Koh Li Qing, Gentle Shade of Blue Beyond... 
+Emerging Artist Category (Singapore) Bronze Award: Ryan Lim Ding Xuan, Smithereens


Interested?

The winning paintings from the 2016 Painting of the Year competition will be exhibited at the UOB Art Gallery, UOB Plaza 1 at 80 Raffles Place. The exhibition will run till the end of February 2017.