Latest news with #Afterlife
Malaysian Reserve
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
Travel Trailblazers: Top Global Finalists Shortlisted for Trip.com Group's Tourism Innovation Awards
Shortlisted nominees include Las Vegas' the Afterlife show at the Sphere, London's ABBA Voyage, Giza's Grand Egyptian Museum and Tokyo's teamLab Borderless Final top ten award winners to be announced end July, with a total prize pool of USD $1.4 million SINGAPORE, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ — Meet the future of travel – Group has released the top contenders for its Tourism Innovation Awards, as the selection process enters the final stages to select outstanding projects driving tourism growth globally. Notable international projects in the running include the Afterlife show at the Sphere (Las Vegas), ABBA Voyage (London), Azabudai Hills teamLab Borderless (Tokyo) and the Grand Egyptian Museum (Giza). First announced at the Group's Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference, the global awards aim to honour and spur outstanding innovation in tourism across fields like sustainability, technology and cultural heritage. Based on Group data, the top nominated projects have been a strong catalyst for tourism, driving an average of 51% increase in destination orders and 42% increase in destination search volume, measured year-on-year within the first three months of opening. Trailblazing the Path of Tourism Innovation One of the top-voted international projects on the list is the Afterlife show at the Sphere in Las Vegas, widely popular for its immersive audiovisual experience that has redefined the boundaries of live entertainment. Using the Sphere's unique 16K LED dome screen as well as state-of-the-art technology, audiences are immersed in a sensory experience that transcends reality. Likewise, the ABBA Voyage concert in London has earned a spot on the nominated list for blending ABBA's classic music with virtual technology to create an immersive performance for music fans. Also making the list is the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which has attracted global visitors since its soft opening last year. The museum's vast collection of over 100,000 ancient artifacts, innovative architectural design and use of holographic technology make it a strong contender for the awards. Other noteworthy projects on the nominated list are teamLab Borderless, an immersive digital art museum in Tokyo's Azabudai Hills and the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, which has attracted many gaming enthusiasts to explore its interactive showcase of the evolution of video games. Innovative, Impactful and Potential for Sustainable Growth Shortlisted projects are assessed using an evaluation framework consisting of three components, the first being data that demonstrates the project's driving effect on destination popularity. This includes the project's social media influence, as well as bookings made on The second is public voting, which took place from May 26 to June 30. Lastly, the projects will be scored by a panel of judges consisting of industry experts from international tourist organisations and authorities such as the European Travel Commission, Global Sustainable Tourism Council and World Travel & Tourism Council. Public voting and expert scoring will evaluate the shortlisted projects across these three core criteria, a reflection of the award's objective to support innovation and development in the tourism industry: Innovation – breakthroughs in technology application, travel experiences, local cultural expression and cross-sector collaboration Sustainability – positive contribution to environmental impact, employment and community development Scalability – potential and feasibility of replicating the project's model in other destinations 'Travellers seek authentic, meaningful experiences and are increasingly aware of their environmental footprint. These projects show how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand to drive growth while preserving culture and the environment. By spotlighting them, we aim to inspire others across the sector to bring forward bold, transformative ideas that will shape the future of Travel & Tourism,' said Virginia Messina, Executive Vice President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and one of the expert panel judges. More details on the top nominated projects can be viewed here. Winners will be announced at the end of the month and the final ten outstanding contributors will each receive a USD $60,000 prize. About Group Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission 'to pursue the perfect trip for a better world'. Find out more about Group here: Follow us on: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Cision Canada
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Travel Trailblazers: Top Global Finalists Shortlisted for Trip.com Group's Tourism Innovation Awards
Shortlisted nominees include Las Vegas' the Afterlife show at the Sphere, London's ABBA Voyage, Giza's Grand Egyptian Museum and Tokyo's teamLab Borderless Final top ten award winners to be announced end July, with a total prize pool of USD $1.4 million SINGAPORE, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- Meet the future of travel – Group has released the top contenders for its Tourism Innovation Awards, as the selection process enters the final stages to select outstanding projects driving tourism growth globally. Notable international projects in the running include the Afterlife show at the Sphere (Las Vegas), ABBA Voyage (London), Azabudai Hills teamLab Borderless (Tokyo) and the Grand Egyptian Museum (Giza). First announced at the Group's Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference, the global awards aim to honour and spur outstanding innovation in tourism across fields like sustainability, technology and cultural heritage. Based on Group data, the top nominated projects have been a strong catalyst for tourism, driving an average of 51% increase in destination orders and 42% increase in destination search volume, measured year-on-year within the first three months of opening. Trailblazing the Path of Tourism Innovation One of the top-voted international projects on the list is the Afterlife show at the Sphere in Las Vegas, widely popular for its immersive audiovisual experience that has redefined the boundaries of live entertainment. Using the Sphere's unique 16K LED dome screen as well as state-of-the-art technology, audiences are immersed in a sensory experience that transcends reality. Likewise, the ABBA Voyage concert in London has earned a spot on the nominated list for blending ABBA's classic music with virtual technology to create an immersive performance for music fans. Also making the list is the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which has attracted global visitors since its soft opening last year. The museum's vast collection of over 100,000 ancient artifacts, innovative architectural design and use of holographic technology make it a strong contender for the awards. Other noteworthy projects on the nominated list are teamLab Borderless, an immersive digital art museum in Tokyo 's Azabudai Hills and the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, which has attracted many gaming enthusiasts to explore its interactive showcase of the evolution of video games. Innovative, Impactful and Potential for Sustainable Growth Shortlisted projects are assessed using an evaluation framework consisting of three components, the first being data that demonstrates the project's driving effect on destination popularity. This includes the project's social media influence, as well as bookings made on The second is public voting, which took place from May 26 to June 30. Lastly, the projects will be scored by a panel of judges consisting of industry experts from international tourist organisations and authorities such as the European Travel Commission, Global Sustainable Tourism Council and World Travel & Tourism Council. Public voting and expert scoring will evaluate the shortlisted projects across these three core criteria, a reflection of the award's objective to support innovation and development in the tourism industry: Innovation – breakthroughs in technology application, travel experiences, local cultural expression and cross-sector collaboration Sustainability – positive contribution to environmental impact, employment and community development Scalability – potential and feasibility of replicating the project's model in other destinations "Travellers seek authentic, meaningful experiences and are increasingly aware of their environmental footprint. These projects show how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand to drive growth while preserving culture and the environment. By spotlighting them, we aim to inspire others across the sector to bring forward bold, transformative ideas that will shape the future of Travel & Tourism," said Virginia Messina, Executive Vice President of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and one of the expert panel judges. More details on the top nominated projects can be viewed here. Winners will be announced at the end of the month and the final ten outstanding contributors will each receive a USD $60,000 prize. Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. Across its platforms, Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission "to pursue the perfect trip for a better world". Find out more about Group here:
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Philomena Cunk star calls for farms to be licensed like zoos to protect animals
Best known for role of Philomena Cunk, Diane has teamed up with organisation Animal Equality to demand a licence scheme for farms to give better protection to chickens, cows, pigs and sheep After Life, Motherland and Mandy have helped turn Diane Morgan into one of our best loved actors. Now the Bolton-born comic is using her platform to give animals a voice after backing a campaign calling on the Government to introduce a zoo-like licensing scheme for farms to protect chickens, cows, pigs and sheep. We meet at The Retreat, a sanctuary near Ashford, Kent, which rescues ex-farm animals, where Diane, 49, tells me about the most important animal in her life - her rescue dog. She said: 'When I first got Bob I was doing Afterlife and took him on set. He was incredible. It was like he'd been on set his whole life. He was like Judy Garland. He would be quiet the minute they shouted action and he'd go and sit behind the cameras. 'He's a toy poodle, so they're very intelligent. It's almost like having a small, furry man, like Ronnie Corbett following you around.' READ MORE: Moby shares the reason why he went back on tour - and it's incredibly on-brand Diane, perhaps best known for role as Philomena Cunk, now lives in London with her partner Ben. She told how they are both completely obsessed with Bob, who was rehomed by the Blue Cross after his previous owners kept him in a cage for 10 hours a day. She said: 'We got him just after my dad had died and he really helped with the grief. If I was sad, he'd pick up on it and come over to me. He is our best friend. I think if you have a pet and you have that connection, it means you look at other animals and think "oh they're not that different.' In 1998, the UK became the first country to ban experiments on animals for cosmetics products and their ingredients. But some brands still sell products made in regions where animal testing is still legal. While on set filming BBC two comedy series Mandy, Diane ensured the whole production used cruelty-free make-up and said she would like to see all sets follow. Another issue she would like to see fixed is clearer labelling on products. She explained: 'It is annoying that things like a handwash are labelled vegan but that just means it doesn't contain animal products. It doesn't mean it hasn't been squirted in the eyes of a rabbit. The labels are very confusing labels. There needs to be clearer messaging.' Asked whether drama and comedy shows should tackle more environmental issues, she said: 'Definitely. I mean, I had an episode of Mandy that was about a fatberg. I was surprised at how many people didn't know what one was. They are an absolute nuisance.' After being vegetarian for 10 years, she participated in Veganuary - a global campaign that encourages people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January - last year with Peter Andre.' I found it hard because I loved cheese so much but this year I said to myself, right I am going to put an end to this. Weirdly I have gone off cheese now.' Earlier this year she also contributed a voiceover to a TV advert which encourages people to choose compassion and move away from dairy products - the first of its kind to be aired in cinemas and on Sky and Channel 4. Her passion for animals has seen her team up with Animal Quality who are pressuring the government to bring in licensing for farms and slaughterhouses. She said: 'We are fed this story about all animals running around fields but the reality is most are kept in intensive conditions. Most are not checked and those are done infrequently. 'Anyone can just have a farm. I think if people knew that and knew how animals were treated, more would put pressure on the government to make change. 'I know most people don't want to look at horrible footage, and I understand that. It'll really put a crimp in your day. But I'd much rather be aware and try to do something about it.' A recent report by the The Animal Law Foundation found that fewer than 3% of the UK farms are inspected each year on average, while just half of complaints made against farms in the UK are investigated. When wrongdoing is found, most farmers receive little more than a written caution Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, said: "Pubs, taxis, beauticians, and many other sectors are required to have licences to operate - why not farms too? The animal agriculture industry breeds and slaughters over one billion animals every year – we expect far greater scrutiny, transparency, and meaningful consequences when laws are broken. It's the least these animals deserve.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex G Announces New Album Headlights , Shares Video for New Song: Watch
All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by Pitchfork editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Alex G, photo by Chris Maggio Alex G has announced a new album. His 10th studio LP, Headlights, arrives July 18 via RCA—marking his official debut on the major label. Leading the record is the new single 'Afterlife,' which comes with a music video directed by Charlotte Rutherford. Watch that below. The follow-up to 2022's God Save the Animals is billed as a collection of 'absurd twists and mundane milestones' that draw on the same Americana influences as Alex G's previous record. Later this year, Alex G heads out on a North American tour featuring support from Nilüfer Yanya. The two artists will play shows together in September and October, making stops in a lot of major cities. Before then, Alex G will also perform at summer festivals including Newport Folk Festival and Outbreak Festival. Revisit the interview 'Alex G Is Building a Mystery' and read about God Save the Animals in 'The 100 Best Albums of the 2020s So Far.' $27.00, Rough Trade Headlights: 01 June Guitar 02 Real Thing 03 Afterlife 04 Beam Me Up 05 Spinning 06 Louisiana 07 Bounce Boy 08 Oranges 09 Far and Wide 10 Headlights 11 Is It Still You in There? 12 Logan Hotel (Live) Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
Geek Feed
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Feed
Ricky Gervais Jokes About The Office Spinoff The Paper
We've known for a while that there was going to be a spinoff of The Office , and we just got out first look at The Paper which is set to come to Peacock this September. The story is said to be following the Dunder Mifflin documentary crew as they now focus on a dying newspaper and the people who run it. What's funny is, it's kind of borrowing the premise of another Ricky Gervais show, After Life. Even Gervais himself joked that maybe he should be paid twice for the series. Here's his post: It's like The Office but set in a dying local newspaper, like in Afterlife. Do I get paid twice 😂 — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) May 12, 2025 For context, Afterlife followed a character played by Gervais who worked at a local small town newspaper. Admittedly that show wasn't much about the newspaper, but more of Gervais' character dealing with the loss of his wife. I doubt that The Paper is going to be an existential exploration, but it has all the trappings of an Office reboot, from young new characters (like Domhnall Gleeson), plus the office essentially being a doomed business (a newspaper). And while it's set to focus on a completely new crew, some people are sure that Oscar Nunez from The Office is also in the first look image. Who knows, maybe they added Oscar just to make sure to audiences that this is the same world, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Watch out for The Paper when it premieres on Peacock sometime in September.
