Two Giant Rubber Ducks Debut in Hong Kong in Bid to Drive Double Happiness’ 

A woman poses for a photo as an art installation, dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is seen in the background at Victoria Harbor, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2023. (Reuters)
A woman poses for a photo as an art installation, dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is seen in the background at Victoria Harbor, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2023. (Reuters)
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Two Giant Rubber Ducks Debut in Hong Kong in Bid to Drive Double Happiness’ 

A woman poses for a photo as an art installation, dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is seen in the background at Victoria Harbor, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2023. (Reuters)
A woman poses for a photo as an art installation, dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is seen in the background at Victoria Harbor, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2023. (Reuters)

A pair of Rubber Ducks made a splash in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor on Friday, part of an art installation dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, who says he hopes the ducks will bring happiness to the city.

The inflatable yellow ducks, 18 meters (59 feet) high, will sail on the harbor for two weeks and come a decade after Hofman's "Rubber Duck" sculpture drew crowds in the Asian financial hub in 2013.

Hofman said his pair of ducks represent "twice the fun, double the happiness" and bring new excitement to Hong Kong.

"I hope it will bring as much pleasure as it did in the past and in a world where we suffered from a pandemic, wars and political situation, I think it's the right moment to bring back the double luck."

Curator AllRightsReserved (ARR) said the ducks were like the symmetrical Chinese characters "xi" for happiness and "peng" for friends.

Hofman, who was inspired by a world map and rubber duck to create his giant inflatable rubber duck installation, began a world tour starting from the Netherlands in 2007, making stops in harbors from France to Brazil.

Stationed near Hong Kong's central district and Tamar Park, the ducks swam across Victoria Harbor to the delight of dozens of bystanders.

Anna, a 40-year old woman, who was walking the promenade said she enjoyed seeing the ducks.

"We would like more installation art like the rubber ducks in Hong Kong. Right now there isn't much space for art in Hong Kong if we compare it to Macau or Shenzhen, they have more art installations."

A 40-year-old engineer named Kane said the ducks were positive for Hong Kong. "It's a silver lining when the society is in such low spirits. It's better for the government to spend public money on this than on other areas."



Saudi Space Agency Launches 'BioGravity' Initiative

The initiative is overseen by astronaut Rayyana Barnawi, the first Arab Muslim female astronaut. SPA
The initiative is overseen by astronaut Rayyana Barnawi, the first Arab Muslim female astronaut. SPA
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Saudi Space Agency Launches 'BioGravity' Initiative

The initiative is overseen by astronaut Rayyana Barnawi, the first Arab Muslim female astronaut. SPA
The initiative is overseen by astronaut Rayyana Barnawi, the first Arab Muslim female astronaut. SPA

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) has announced the of launch of the "BioGravity" initiative, aiming to empower scientists and researchers in the field of biomedical sciences to conduct innovative research in microgravity.

The initiative seeks to enhance scientific collaboration between local and international entities and establish the Kingdom's position in space research for the benefit of humanity.

According to the SSA, the initiative is overseen by astronaut Rayyana Barnawi, the first Arab Muslim female astronaut, and focuses on creating a specialized research community in biomedical microgravity studies. It includes a select group of scientists and researchers from various universities, scientific centers, and relevant private-sector organizations in the Kingdom. It aims to broaden local capabilities and build specialized scientists in the field of biomedical sciences.

The initiative, SSA said, intends to develop human capital, strengthen scientific and research capabilities, and inspire future generations in the Kingdom. It seeks to maximize business opportunities in the space sector by supporting space missions through advanced research, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's scientific standing on both regional and global scales.
The SSA, through this initiative, aims to contribute to improving global health by developing advanced biomedical technologies through microgravity research. Its commitment aligns with the Kingdom's efforts to foster a culture of innovation and to develop and enhance national capabilities, thus fulfilling its ambitious aspirations in space research as outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030.