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Paddles up! Hong Kong marks 50 Years of international dragon boat thrills

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Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 June 2026 – With top teams from around the world gearing up for the hotly contested Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races this weekend (June 27-28), participants and spectators can expect a bumper programme of action, fun and entertainment along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui – one of the city’s most vibrant districts known for its iconic skyline views and tourist attractions.

There is much to celebrate. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races as well as 35th anniversary of both the co-organiser, Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, and the sanctioning body, International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). The IDBF added to the occasion by announcing earlier this year the relocation of its headquarters back to Hong Kong.

Riding on the wave of excitement, the organiser, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), extended the annual Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival period to 13 days (June 19 – July 1), beginning on the historic Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) and concluding on July 1, which is the 29th anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

As the headline international flagship event of “Hong Kong Summer Fun”, Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the HKTB, said the Festival not only ran over a longer period, but also featured a stronger race line-up and more vibrant entertainment programmes than in previous years, offering an experience found only in Hong Kong for locals and visitors, while showcasing Hong Kong’s position as the Events Capital of Asia.

More than 220 teams from 16 countries and regions will compete for top honours in the world‑renowned setting of Victoria Harbour. This year’s event also introduces the special 50th Anniversary Fishermen Invitational Cup and the 50th Anniversary Championship, paying tribute to the traditional spirit of dragon boat racing.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a series of thematic activities along the Avenue of Stars, including a 22-metre traditional wooden dragon boat, a dragon boat-themed installation in collaboration with the new film Minions & Monsters, live music performances and a line-up of intangible cultural heritage performances, including martial art Wing Chun, Chinese juggling diabolo, traditional musical instruments ruan and guzheng.

Highlighting Hong Kong’s reputation as the birthplace of modern international dragon boat racing, as well as its strengths as a global hub city, the IDBF has taken a significant step in its long‑term global strategy with the formal incorporation of International Dragon Boat Federation Limited in Hong Kong on 29 April 2026.

“Incorporation in Hong Kong is not a conclusion, but a beginning. It anchors our Federation in the city where our international story started and strengthens our ability to serve our members and the global dragon boat family,” said Claudio Schermi, President of the IDBF.

As part of this new chapter, the IDBF has applied for funding under “the Pilot Scheme to Strengthen the Presence of Hong Kong in Asian and International Sports Associations”, which was recently introduced by the HKSAR Government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. The Pilot Scheme is an initiative designed to support Asian and international sports associations establishing their headquarters or regional headquarters in the city.

The Dragon Boat Festival has a long and colourful history dating back more than two thousand years. Held each year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the day commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.

According to legend, Qu committed suicide for his beliefs by throwing himself into the Luo River. The villagers nearby raced out on their dragon boats, banging gongs and drums to scare away fish and other underwater creatures to stop them from eating Qu’s body. The tradition continues to this day, with dragon boat competitions taking place at locations across Hong Kong, each reflecting the unique characteristics of its neighbourhood.

Traditional dragon boat treats feature prominently during the festival, notably zongzi. These glutinous rice dumplings, traditionally wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed or boiled, are widely available during the festive period.

 

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

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Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Energy

Africa’s Leading Energy Companies and Projects Shortlisted for African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Awards

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AEW has unveiled this year’s award nominees, recognizing the companies, projects and individuals driving investment, innovation and development across Africa’s energy sector

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 4, 2026/APO Group/ –The nominees for the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 recognize the companies, projects and individuals driving innovation, investment and growth across Africa’s energy sector. Featuring 12 categories spanning the full energy value chain, the awards celebrate the achievements shaping the continent’s energy future.

 

Winners will be announced during the AEW 2026 Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, taking place on Tuesday, October 13, in Cape Town. The ceremony will bring together ministers, industry leaders, investors and technology providers to recognize excellence in upstream, downstream, gas, power, local content, technology and corporate leadership.

African Service Provider of the Year

  • GeoEnergy Group – for advancing digital transformation through the Egypt Upstream Gateway while strengthening local technical expertise across Africa.
  • One Titanium – for delivering specialized services supporting Africa’s energy industry.
  • KAESO – for expanding indigenous engineering and technical services across African markets.
  • SONILS – for strengthening logistics and supply chain services for integrated energy projects.
  • NIPEX – for enhancing procurement and local supplier participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

International Service Provider of the Year

  • NOV – for supporting major energy developments with advanced engineering and equipment solutions.
  • Geoex MCG – for nearly two decades of supporting Equatorial Guinea’s offshore exploration through seismic data acquisition and licensing support.
  • Africa Global Logistics – for expanding integrated logistics solutions supporting energy projects across Africa.
  • Technip Energies – for delivering engineering expertise across major African energy developments.
  • SBM Offshore – for advancing offshore production through industry-leading FPSO solutions.
  • SLB – for deploying advanced technologies and technical services across Africa’s upstream sector.

Local Content Champion (African Companies)

  • Seplat Energy – for maintaining a 98% Nigerian workforce while investing in local talent development and procurement.
  • Copia Group of Companies – for strengthening indigenous participation across Angola’s energy value chain.
  • Renaissance Africa Energy – for expanding Nigerian ownership and local participation in upstream operations.
  • Cabship – for growing Angolan maritime and offshore services through locally driven operations.

Local Content Champion (International Companies)

  • TotalEnergies Uganda – for developing the Tilenga Academy to train Uganda’s future oil and gas workforce.
  • NOV – for supporting local skills development and supplier participation across African markets.
  • Woodside Energy – for advancing local workforce development through its African operations.
  • Africa Global Logistics – for building African logistics capacity through local employment, training and supplier development.

E&P Leader of the Year

  • Shell – for the Merlin-1X discovery in Namibia and the Velox-1X discovery offshore Egypt, reinforcing its exploration leadership.
  • Renaissance Africa Energy & NNPCL – for the JK-004 discovery in Nigeria’s OML 74, confirming multiple hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs.
  • Murphy Oil – for the Bubale-1X light oil discovery offshore Côte d’Ivoire in Block CI-709.
  • Eni – for major discoveries in Côte d’Ivoire and Angola that expanded Africa’s offshore resource base.
  • OMV & Libya’s National Oil Corporation – for the Eassar commercial oil discovery in Libya’s Sirte Basin.

Downstream & Infrastructure Leader of the Year

  • Dangote Refinery – for transforming Nigeria’s refining capacity and reducing dependence on imported fuels.
  • Cabinda Oil Refinery – for expanding Angola’s domestic refining capacity as part of its downstream growth strategy.
  • East African Crude Oil Pipeline – for advancing one of Africa’s largest cross-border energy infrastructure projects.
  • African Atlantic Gas Pipeline – for progressing a strategic regional gas corridor linking West Africa with Morocco and Europe.

Deal of the Year

  • Trafigura – for its $1 billion oil prepayment agreement with the Republic of Gabon.
  • Levene Energies – for acquiring a 30% stake in Axxela through the Bluecore consortium, strengthening indigenous ownership.
  • Heirs Energies – for acquiring a 20.07% stake in Seplat Energy in a landmark African-led transaction.
  • UTM FLNG – for advancing Nigeria’s first floating LNG project through a major multi-party development agreement.

CSR Project of the Year

  • Mozambique LNG – for supporting flood recovery efforts benefiting approximately 190,000 people in southern Mozambique.
  • South African National Petroleum Company – for expanding STEM education through its Axium STEMI initiative in the Eastern Cape.
  • Kosmos Energy Ghana – for empowering entrepreneurs through the Kosmos Innovation Center.
  • Sonangol – for supporting youth entrepreneurship through its SonaJovem program.
  • Eni – for expanding clean cooking initiatives across Africa.
  • Oando Foundation – for improving education through its Adopt-A-School Initiative in Nigeria.

Gas Monetization Award

  • Levene Energies – for advancing gas commercialization and infrastructure-led industrial development.
  • NOV APL Norway – for supporting the Nguya FLNG project and expanding offshore LNG production in Congo.
  • Congo LNG – for advancing the Tango and Nguya FLNG projects to strengthen the Republic of Congo’s LNG industry.
  • Amufert – for developing Angola’s flagship ammonia and urea project utilizing domestic natural gas.

Technology Innovator

  • TotalEnergies – for developing the SUBLIIM digital platform to optimize subsea field layouts.
  • SOLA Group – for reaching financial close on South Africa’s largest private hybrid solar and battery storage project.
  • Shearwater – for deploying its Pearl ocean-bottom node technology during its first commercial survey in Angola.
  • TGS & Starlink – for redefining seismic data transfer through satellite-enabled connectivity.

Power Africa Developer

  • TotalEnergies – for inaugurating Africa’s largest hybrid renewable energy project.
  • Siemens Energy – for expanding gas turbine and grid infrastructure supporting Africa’s growing power demand.
  • Globeleq – for growing its renewable energy portfolio across wind, solar, geothermal and battery storage.
  • Infinity Power – for expanding one of Africa’s largest renewable energy development portfolios.E

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Energy

Mining Investment Leaders from Guinea, Egypt and Nigeria to Headline African Mining Week (AMW) 2026

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Senior government officials will highlight the strategies driving exploration, mineral beneficiation and investment across three of Africa’s most dynamic mining jurisdictions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 4, 2026/APO Group/ –Senior government officials leading mining reform and investment initiatives in Guinea, Egypt and Nigeria have been confirmed as keynote speakers at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, where they will outline the policies, projects and opportunities reshaping Africa’s mineral sector.

Taking place October 14-16 in Cape Town, AMW 2026 – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will convene government leaders, mining executives and investors to examine the strategies driving the continent’s next phase of resource development.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Daouda Diakite, Senior Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Mines and Geology, Republic of Guinea; Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA); and Martins Imonitie, Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Mining Corporation. Their keynote presentations will highlight national strategies to expand exploration, strengthen mineral beneficiation and attract investment across three of Africa’s most dynamic mining jurisdictions.

AMW 2026 comes as African governments accelerate reforms, expand exploration and prioritize value addition to unlock greater economic returns from the continent’s vast mineral resources. The conference will provide a platform for policymakers and industry leaders to discuss how these strategies are creating new opportunities across the mining value chain.

Guinea represents one of Africa’s most ambitious mining growth stories. Through its Simandou 2040 strategy, the government is leveraging its world-class iron ore and bauxite resources to drive industrialization, infrastructure development and economic diversification. Earlier this year, Guinea introduced its Planning Law and Program Law, reforms designed to strengthen long-term economic planning and improve the investment climate across the mining sector and wider economy. With more than 122 strategic projects seeking investment and an estimated $200 billion required to deliver its national development agenda, Guinea is positioning mining as a catalyst for broader economic transformation.

Egypt is also accelerating efforts to position mining as a key pillar of economic growth through expanded exploration and mineral beneficiation. In March 2026, the MRMIA launched the country’s first nationwide airborne geophysical survey in more than four decades through a partnership with Xcalibur Smart Mapping, supporting a new phase of mineral exploration and resource development. Egypt is also expanding downstream processing capacity through initiatives such as a proposed gold refinery with Afreximbank and new investments targeting value addition across gold, iron ore, phosphate and other strategic minerals.

Nigeria, meanwhile, is strengthening its mining industry as part of a broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas. The country has attracted more than $2.6 billion in mining investment over the past two years, supported by major mineral discoveries including a world-class polymetallic province in Kaduna State containing platinum, gold, nickel, copper and rare earth elements, as well as an estimated 3.3 million metric tons of lithium resources near Abuja. With 44 identified mineral commodities and a renewed focus on attracting private capital, Nigeria is positioning mining as a major engine of long-term economic growth.

By bringing together senior policymakers from three of Africa’s fastest-evolving mining markets, AMW 2026 will offer delegates first-hand insight into the reforms, investment priorities and development strategies shaping the future of the continent’s mining industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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