Latest news with #Hui
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Atelier Hermes in Seoul shows art as a personal turning point
The exhibition 'The Second Life' runs through Oct. 5 at Atelier Hermes in Seoul. In its second group exhibition, 'The Second Life,' Atelier Hermes in Seoul has gathered six artists who explore how individual lives are shaped beyond social and political discourse, drawing on personal stories. Curator Ahn So-yeon said Thursday that the participating artists — Bek Hyun-jin, Lee Yona, Han & Mona, Kim Bo-kyung and Park Min-ha — each took a "slice of life" approach to create new work for the exhibition. 'These days, an overwhelming number of exhibitions are being produced around socio-political issues such as the environment and the climate crisis," Ahn said. "In my case, I wanted to take a different perspective — rather than focusing solely on socially or politically 'correct' themes or collective ideas, I sought to explore how deeply personal issues can expand and evolve within those contexts." Han & Mona, a duo based in Seoul and Edinburgh, uses flashes of Morse code to express the situations of conflict and negotiation they encounter in cross-cultural engagement. 'During the pandemic, I was stuck indoors and when I looked outside there was a light blinking as though it was crying out to me,' the duo's Yoo Mona said of her inspiration for the piece. Her partner Ma Hanqing said he was from the Hui community, composed of Chinese-speaking adherents of Islam. Most of them reside in northern China, while some of them live in metropolitan cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. 'You might feel Morse code is a bit slow, which was intentional as we wanted to reflect elements from our own way of communication in the work like the tone and glances when we talk,' Yoo said. "As we have different cultural backgrounds and grew up speaking different languages, small cracks or misunderstanding emerge time to time. That is, however, how our communication expands." Kim, a Berlin based artist who uses knitting, paper weaving and drawing, confessed she almost abandoned her career as an artist, but was able to continue when she came up with her profuse acanthus leaf motif, drawing inspiration from the plant's tenacious hold on life. Park shows the media installation 'Ghost Anatomy,' where she incorporates a virtual character, Noa, created with AI, into her daily life. The piece looks at the way the character explores its own subconscious. Lee, who left Busan to live in New Zealand at age 11, translates the tension that she feels between traveling and rootedness with a stainless-steel installation. Bek, who is a singer, composer, actor and director as well as an artist, presents paintings that depict moments of his current life, now marked by shoulder pain and a changed rhythm as a result.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
18 arrested over forged degree in Hong Kong's talent scheme
HONG KONG, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Wednesday that 18 people have been arrested for using forged degrees to apply for Hong Kong's Top Talent Pass Scheme. It was the first time that the department uncovered a criminal syndicate assisting mainland residents in submitting false qualifications for the scheme. The criminal syndicate had been operating for around one and a half years, arranging at least 22 applications. According to preliminary estimates by the department, each application, including follow-up services, was charged up to 2.5 million HK dollars (about 318,471 U.S. dollars), involving a total of 55 million HK dollars. Among those arrested were five Hong Kong residents, aged 42 to 56, believed to be members of the criminal syndicate. The remaining 13 individuals, aged 27 to 47, were mainland residents. Hui Chi-kin, an assistant principal immigration officer of the department, said that the criminal syndicate monitored and tracked posts on mainland social media platforms that shared information about Hong Kong. They then proactively sent private messages to individuals interested in relocating to the city and promoted a "one-stop service package" which included forging overseas university degrees, and providing fake employment certificates to assist with application submissions. Hui said that the department will strictly vet each endorsement and entry permit application, and step up random inspections. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.85 HK dollars)
RTHK
6 days ago
- RTHK
Eighteen arrested over forged talent scheme documents
Eighteen arrested over forged talent scheme documents A criminal syndicate is suspected of forging documents such as overseas university qualifications to help people secure the right to live in Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK Eighteen people have been arrested on suspicion of providing or using forged documents for applications to Hong Kong's top talent scheme which comes with residency rights. The Immigration Department on Wednesday said five of the 18 are Hong Kong residents suspected of running the scam operation, while the rest are mainlanders who made applications under the scheme. At a press briefing, the department said a syndicate used social media to contact people interested in securing Hong Kong residency, claiming they could provide a "one-stop service". "The syndicate would first charge a fee of around HK$1.5 million and then forge documents including overseas university qualifications, students visas, immigration stamps and an employment certificate for visa applications," said Assistant Principal Immigration Officer Hui Chi-kin. "After the applicant receives permission to enter Hong Kong, applicants are then charged another HK$1 million for follow-up services, which include applying for identity cards for the applicant's dependants, false rental contracts and payrolls." Hui said the syndicate is thought to have been operating for 1.5 years and filed at least 22 applications, involving some HK$55 million. The five people suspected of being part of the gang are also believed to have taken part in money laundering activities, the department said. It added that the authorities will be stepping up checks on talent scheme applications.
Vancouver Sun
7 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Experts advise packing lightly on cash when travelling
When was the last time you pulled out cash to pay for something? Many Canadians might have to think long and hard, especially if they're younger. Canada has gradually moved toward becoming a cashless society, with most people paying for purchases with smartphones or credit cards. However, whether or not you should carry cash — and how much — can still be a point of contention when travelling abroad. 'The question shouldn't be whether cash is still worth it, but it's how to use it wisely, especially when every dollar counts,' said Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada Inc. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. She said the decision to carry cash and the amount depends on the destination, purpose of travel and how prepared a traveller wants to be. When Durakovic was travelling to Nicaragua, she knew the airport transfer cost and driver tips would likely be a cash-on-hand situation. For her Morocco trip not too long ago, she said she carried small bills in U.S. dollars when visiting local markets and to pay for taxis. Even if you're going on a cruise or to an all-inclusive resort, carry some cash for tipping staff, Durakovic suggested. 'We would recommend that you do carry a modest amount in bills, ideally in the currency that's most widely accepted locally,' she said. Durakovic said she personally takes at least US$100 in cash when travelling abroad, mostly in smaller bills. She also emphasized paying gratuities on all-inclusive trips in Canadian dollars ahead of time to avoid exchange rate surprises or finding out there are no ATMs on-site at the resort. Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts and cruises can include gratuities in a daily service charge, allowing travellers to account for tips in their budget ahead of time. Prepaid gratuities are typically broken down per night and per guest. For example, Disney Cruise recommends a prepaid gratuity of between US$16 and US$27.25 per night, per guest. When Nicole Hui was preparing to travel to Japan earlier this year, one of the first things she researched was whether it's a cash-reliant economy. The travel and lifestyle content creator said she brought some cash to cover the initial transit from the airport, meals and tipping. But she took out money she needed after that from an ATM at a Japanese 7-Eleven — with a better exchange rate than what she would have received at Canadian banks. But usually, Hui's go-to is her no-fee credit card. 'If it's a less cash-heavy place, I usually just stick with using (a credit) card, but still bring $100 to $200 of local currency for the trip, just in case it's needed,' Hui said. But experts say exchange rates should be kept top of mind when travelling abroad. 'My issue with cash going abroad is it's really expensive to exchange, depending on where you're going,' said personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi. Choi's turning point was when he travelled to Brazil and Argentina almost a decade ago and faced an exorbitant exchange fee at the bank. Ever since, Choi said he prefers either a no-fee credit or prepaid cards, or he will withdraw money at ATMs abroad, if needed. He advised looking for a travel card that allows charge-free ATM withdrawals, credit cards with no or lower exchange-rate fees or a multi-currency card, such as Wise. He does not recommend exchanging money at the airport. Choi's decision to carry cash and the amount comes down to researching what the acceptable currency is in the country he's visiting. He recalled travelling to the United States earlier this year and not using cash once during his trip. Another downside to getting cash is the leftover local currency you may never use, Choi said. 'Why I tell people to carry less cash is: Back in the day, you would keep exchanging all this money, you'd pay high fees to begin with, and then you're left with these random currencies that you may or may not use,' he said. There's a chance of losing money when exchanging leftover local currency for Canadian dollars, depending on the exchange rate fluctuations. But Choi said he still carries US$50 in local currency that can cover a meal or taxi ride, just in case. 'There are still a lot of stores that only take cash, so you could be in the middle of nowhere or even a country where you don't speak the language,' he said. 'You should always have some kind of backup cash, even if it's U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, or whatever.'
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Experts advise packing lightly on cash when travelling
When was the last time you pulled out cash to pay for something? Many Canadians might have to think long and hard, especially if they're younger. Canada has gradually moved toward becoming a cashless society, with most people paying for purchases with smartphones or credit cards. However, whether or not you should carry cash — and how much — can still be a point of contention when travelling abroad. 'The question shouldn't be whether cash is still worth it, but it's how to use it wisely, especially when every dollar counts,' said Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada Inc. She said the decision to carry cash and the amount depends on the destination, purpose of travel and how prepared a traveller wants to be. When Durakovic was travelling to Nicaragua, she knew the airport transfer cost and driver tips would likely be a cash-on-hand situation. For her Morocco trip not too long ago, she said she carried small bills in U.S. dollars when visiting local markets and to pay for taxis. Even if you're going on a cruise or to an all-inclusive resort, carry some cash for tipping staff, Durakovic suggested. 'We would recommend that you do carry a modest amount in bills, ideally in the currency that's most widely accepted locally,' she said. Durakovic said she personally takes at least US$100 in cash when travelling abroad, mostly in smaller bills. She also emphasized paying gratuities on all-inclusive trips in Canadian dollars ahead of time to avoid exchange rate surprises or finding out there are no ATMs on-site at the resort. Sometimes, all-inclusive resorts and cruises can include gratuities in a daily service charge, allowing travellers to account for tips in their budget ahead of time. Prepaid gratuities are typically broken down per night and per guest. For example, Disney Cruise recommends a prepaid gratuity of between US$16 and US$27.25 per night, per guest. When Nicole Hui was preparing to travel to Japan earlier this year, one of the first things she researched was whether it's a cash-reliant economy. The travel and lifestyle content creator said she brought some cash to cover the initial transit from the airport, meals and tipping. But she took out money she needed after that from an ATM at a Japanese 7-Eleven — with a better exchange rate than what she would have received at Canadian banks. But usually, Hui's go-to is her no-fee credit card. 'If it's a less cash-heavy place, I usually just stick with using (a credit) card, but still bring $100 to $200 of local currency for the trip, just in case it's needed,' Hui said. But experts say exchange rates should be kept top of mind when travelling abroad. 'My issue with cash going abroad is it's really expensive to exchange, depending on where you're going,' said personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi. Choi's turning point was when he travelled to Brazil and Argentina almost a decade ago and faced an exorbitant exchange fee at the bank. Ever since, Choi said he prefers either a no-fee credit or prepaid cards, or he will withdraw money at ATMs abroad, if needed. He advised looking for a travel card that allows charge-free ATM withdrawals, credit cards with no or lower exchange-rate fees or a multi-currency card, such as Wise. He does not recommend exchanging money at the airport. Choi's decision to carry cash and the amount comes down to researching what the acceptable currency is in the country he's visiting. He recalled travelling to the United States earlier this year and not using cash once during his trip. Another downside to getting cash is the leftover local currency you may never use, Choi said. 'Why I tell people to carry less cash is: Back in the day, you would keep exchanging all this money, you'd pay high fees to begin with, and then you're left with these random currencies that you may or may not use,' he said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. There's a chance of losing money when exchanging leftover local currency for Canadian dollars, depending on the exchange rate fluctuations. But Choi said he still carries US$50 in local currency that can cover a meal or taxi ride, just in case. 'There are still a lot of stores that only take cash, so you could be in the middle of nowhere or even a country where you don't speak the language,' he said. 'You should always have some kind of backup cash, even if it's U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, or whatever.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
