A Chinese model for modernisation

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A Chinese model for modernisation
The scenic view of Guilin is printed on the back of a 20 yuan banknote.

China is promoting Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which lies on the border with Vietnam, as a gateway to the mainland for businesses and tourists from the Asean region.

Guanxi’s location in southern China makes it well-suited to become a gateway to Southeast Asia. The region is connected to Vietnam by land, sea and air, and it is served by over 30 international cargo and passenger services which depart from its three international airports and three deep-sea ports.

Local authorities are hoping these facilities will attract more businesses and tourists from Southeast Asia to visit the region, and vice versa, according to Dong Changting, the deputy director of External Publicity and Exchange Department of Guangxi Zhuang Automomous Region.

Guangxi is also known for having one of the highest numbers of education institutions which provide Thai language courses to Chinese students.

A growing number of Chinese students are interested in taking up Thai lessons in Guangxi prior to leaving for Thailand. Similarly, a source said, an increasing number of Thais are also coming to Guangxi to learn Chinese.

The Chinese government is keen to facilitate language exchanges as it expands its reach in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the source said, noting such exchanges also boost the nation’s soft power capacity, which it needs to maintain its influence over its allies.

BRI is a major infrastructure push launched by the Chinese government, which Beijing envisions would ultimately link all major trade routes across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Prime location

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, has said Guangxi’s location and proximity to Southeast Asia makes it an ideal gateway for Thai agricultural exports to China, such as jasmine rice, durian, grapefruit and longans.

The reason, he said, is because the autonomous region is well equipped to handle land and marine cargo shipments, allowing Thai products to reach the markets faster than if they had gone through a different gateway.

Recently, authorities in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region hosted a China-Asean expo to boost cooperation between Chinese businesses and their Asean counterparts, in which they showcased the region’s rapid development and modernisation.

The trip was organised by the Propaganda Department of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Guangxi Branch of China News Service.

Known for Guilin

Before Guangxi became a modern and popular trade hub, it was first known for its natural attractions, chief among which is Guilin, which is world-famous for its beguiling limestone karst formations.

The landscape around Guiling is so renowned that it is featured on the 20-yuan banknote, said Ma Tieqiao, chairman of Guilin Junda Transportation Company, which offers leisure cruises along the Li Jiang River.

In the past, he said, most tourists would have to get on bamboo rafts, which are only big enough for about three people, or risk getting crammed into a small boat for larger groups.

As the number of tourists continue to grow, in 1985 the Guilin Sightseeing Shipping Co was founded to provide improved services for local and international visitors.

The move proved to be successful and now scores of leisure boats cruise along the Li Jiang River everyday, he said.

Home to high-tech industry

Now, Guilin is increasingly becoming known as a hub for high-tech industries.

The rapid transformation started in 1988, when Guilin High-Tech Industrial Development Zone was established. It was upgraded into a high-tech special development zone in 1991, becoming the first national-level high-tech zone across China’s five autonomous regions.

In just 30 years, Guilin has become one of the leaders in scientific innovation and industrial development.

One example of a successful company based in the region is Guangxi Guilin Zhishen Information Technology Company, which produces anti-shake tripods for cameras and other equipment for digital photography, as well as mobile phones.

The company has won several awards such as the iF Design Award, the Red Dot Award and the Excellent Design Award, according to the company.

In addition, Guigang, which is located in eastern Guangxi, has been designated as a hub for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. The city is home to more than 100 EV-related businesses, including e-bike producers, machine components and vehicle parts manufacturers.

Having an EV production base in Guigang will give China more opportunities to export its EVs to countries in Southeast Asia, said a representative of Guangxi Luyuan Electric Vehicle Company, which manufactures and distributes electric motorbikes and e-bicycles.

He said as the electric vehicle industry has become more popular in the world, the company expects to expand its reach to many countries in Southeast Asia.

EVs will be a solution for the green energy ecosystem, he said.

The Sun and Moon Pagodas are illuminated at night in the Fir Lake, one of popular tourism sites in Guilin. Photos by Penchan Charoensuthipan

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‘They keep me young’: Meet the OG bartenders in their 60s at Singapore’s top bars

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Having worked as bartenders for so long, what keeps both Ding and Foo working in such a demanding scene at their age? Both shared that it’s more rewarding now with awards such as 50 Best Bars giving them a sense of pride.

“When we won the Best Bar award in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017 and won a spot in World’s 50 Best Bars, we were filled with joy and pride,” said Ding. “I’m still working at this age, it’s tiring, but as long as I’m in good health and able to contribute, I would be happy to keep working.”

As for Foo, he reckoned the changes in the industry has certainly enhanced his social skills. But while he takes great pride in being an integral part of the team, he jokingly embraced the idea of taking a break soon.

“I now work behind the scenes more. It has been a good ride, but a change in environment and some rest would definitely be welcomed!”

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HM Queen awards trophy to King’s Cup winners

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PUBLISHED : 10 Dec 2023 at 04:00

HM Queen awards trophy to King's Cup winners
best wishes: Her Majesty the Queen is greeted by onlookers at Kata Beach while walking to the race.

Phuket: Her Majesty the Queen yesterday represented His Majesty the King in presenting the trophy to the winners of the 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta at Beyond Kata hotel in Muang district.

HM the Queen also participated in the race as a crew member on Vayu THA72 in the IRC Zero class which involved four boats from three countries — Australia, the US and Thailand. Vayu THA72 finished first in the two races yesterday, the last day of the Dec 4-9 tournament. The internationally renowned competition began on Dec 4 at Kata Beach.

Thomas Arthur Whitcraft, chairman of 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee and a member of Vayu, said HM the Queen showcased flawless sailing skills and talents comparable to those of professional athletes.

He said her abilities in navigating impressed him because she had practised about two years before attaining the prestigious title of Yacht Master.

HM the Queen’s participation in the annual international sailing competition was to honour and preserve the legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great who was known for his passion and support for sailing.

Her participation was also to inspire and foster a new generation of enthusiasts in the sport.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was held for the first time in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of the late king. It has been held every year since, during the first week of December.

This year, teams from 14 countries (Australia, Germany, the US, Belgium, Estonia, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, the UK, the Netherlands and Thailand) took part in the competition, which concluded yesterday.

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Kaathal: When Malayalam superstar Mammootty plays a gay character

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Mammootty and Jyothika in KaathalMammootty Kampany
By Meryl Sebastian
BBC News, Kochi

Three weeks ago, the teaser for Kaathal: The Core, a Malayalam-language film starring Indian actor Mammootty, dropped on YouTube.

It revealed little about the film’s main conflict but sparked discussions in the southern state of Kerala, the film’s home state. A superstar portraying a gay character became the buzz among fans, critics, and commentators.

No Indian star with a legacy spanning half a century and three National Film Awards, and a massive fan following, had taken on such a role.

Directed by Jeo Baby, known for the 2021 hit The Great Indian Kitchen addressing patriarchy, Kaathal quickly ignited conversations among his fans and followers.

The film tells the story of a closeted gay man in a heterosexual marriage. As Mathew (played by Mammootty) prepares to contest a local election, his wife Omana (played by Jyothika) files for divorce, alleging her husband is gay. The film explores the ripple effects the case has in their family and community.

“I wanted to make this film about living together with the LGBTQ community and how this works within our families,” Baby told the BBC.

The film demanded the performance of a talented actor like Mammootty, who also produced it, he says. “He understood the film immediately and was willing to do it.”

The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, and shows sold out throughout Kerala.

Mammootty, Jyothika and RS Panickar in a scene from the film

Mammootty Kampany

But social media posts of Kaathal’s posters and trailer, including those shared on Mammootty’s accounts, also invited comments by anti-LGBT groups asking people to boycott the film and criticising the actor for his role. Muslim clerics criticised its representation of homosexuality, saying it would “brainwash the youth”.

Such a backlash would not be unexpected for the makers and for Mammootty, says Athul PV, an organiser of the Kerala Queer Pride.

“He’s an actor that people admire a lot, so when he plays this character it makes you think how much thought he put into picking this role and making the film,” Athul says.

Many in the state’s LGBTQ community embraced the film’s “sensitive” portrayal of a married gay man’s experience.

“The film is not above criticism but it’s a daring attempt,” says Prijith PK, founder of Queerythm, a community-based organisation.

Despite being a state with high development indicators and the highest literacy rate in India, Kerala still remains patriarchal and conservative in many areas.

Actor Dileep with Gopika in Chanthupottu

Lal Jose

The state is well-known for its vibrant film industry and hosts an annual film festival that attracts worldwide audiences.

However, Roshni Prabhakaran, an academic who has worked on gender representations in films, notes a scarcity of “sensitive films depicting the LGBTQ community”.

Although Malayalam cinema has had queer-coded characters from the 1970s, one of the first mainstream portrayals was in the 2005 film Chanthupottu.

The film depicts the story of an effeminate man who eventually adopts more masculine traits. It faced sharp criticism from activists and members of Kerala’s LGBTQ community for spreading dangerous misconceptions, even as its filmmaker denied that the character was gay. Activists said the film’s title was a term often used to insult transgender persons – chanthupottu literally means a red bindi, a bright dot applied in the centre of the forehead.

“Chanthupottu’s impact was entirely negative,” says Athul. “It left behind the idea that this is what queer people are like.”

In recent years, well-known Kerala film stars have played gay characters on screen.

Nivin Pauly’s 2019 film Moothon garnered attention at film festivals but struggled to connect with the broader audience, says Prof Prabhakaran. On the other hand, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s 2013 film Mumbai Police, despite its mainstream appeal with a star lead, faced criticism for its “problematic representation, with a focus on shame and homophobia”.

Sudhi Kozhikode seen driving a car in the film

Mammootty Kampany

In that sense, Kaathal is entirely different, say many. “We’ve not seen this difficult phase – of a closeted man coming out of a heterosexual marriage – in Malayalam cinema,” says Prof Prabhakaran.

Gay men who’ve watched Kaathal say it’s clear the film was made with the involvement of the community.

The film is not “queerphobic” in the way most mainstream films with the LGBTQ community representation are, says Prijith, who works as a diversity and inclusion manager at the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission.

“Kaathal is almost like an apology for the history of queer indignity and misrepresentation in Malayalam films.”

Mammootty’s commanding presence influences both the film and its reception. Despite the actor’s reputation for infusing his characters with gravitas and depth, his filmography also has its fair share of regressive ideas and misogyny.

In 2016, the actor was pulled up by the state’s women’s commission for his film Kasaba and its dialogues that “insulted women”. The commission said the delivery of “sub-standard dialogues” by an actor like Mammootty could lead to a “dangerous acceptance” of such behaviour by the public.

“With Kaathal, it’s almost like he’s himself undoing the hyper-masculine, powerful, arrogant on-screen persona we’ve seen in his films so far,” Prijith says.

Activists and supporters of LGBTQ community walk a pride parade in Chennai on June 26, 2022

Getty Images

In recent years, Mammootty has been looking to shore up his legacy by producing films under his banner and experimenting with ideas outside the limits of commercial success.

“Every new film [in Malayalam] is an experiment driven by the interests of the audience in new actors, new subjects and new films,” he said in a recent interview.

“I think this is the main reason why the Indian film industry looks to Malayalam cinema. Naturally, I also want my films to be a part of this journey.”

Kaathal tells the story of “many men in our society,” Prijith says.

“The film shows these are people in our own homes.”

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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld performing in Singapore for the first time in June 2024

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Jerry Seinfeld, a comedian, is traveling to Singapore for his first-ever stand-up performance below. On June 14, 2024, he will only perform for one day at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. On his journey of Australia, Singapore is his only cease in Asia.

On December 15, at 12 p.m., cards go on general sale. On the Ticketek website, fans can also sign up for pre-sale exposure, with sales beginning on December 14 at 11 a.m.

The 69-year-old is best known for co-creating and starring in the enduring show that bears his brand. The television series Einfeld lasted nine months starting in 1989 and won many Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice prizes. It is regarded as one of the greatest Television programs of all time.

I just saw that Singapore has some of the happiest people on earth, according to a statement from the artist. Therefore, I do n’t think my comedy will be able to significantly enhance that. But I’ll give it a shot. I’m but eager for my first visit. I appreciate it, Singapore.

Additionally, Seinfeld has appeared in 23 Hours To Kill, Bee Movie, and Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. The funny Unfrosted: The Pop Tart Story, which he also directed, co-wrote, and produced, actors him next.

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Huawei Thailand wins ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards 2023’

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Huawei recognized as a leader at the forefront of accelerating competitiveness and sustainably steering Thailand towards the digital era

PUBLISHED : 29 Nov 2023 at 16:27

Huawei Thailand wins 'Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards 2023'

Mr. David Li, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., receives the prestigious HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Trophy, in front of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s image, as Huawei is named the winner of the ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards 2023’ for the ‘Product/Service Excellence’ category.

Bangkok, 29 November 2023 – Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was honored today with the prestigious HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Trophy at the ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards 2023’ in the ‘Product/Service Excellence’ Category by the Thailand Management Association in collaboration with the Sasin Graduate Institute of the Business Administration (Sasin School of Management) at Chulalongkorn University. The presentation of the royal award was arranged in front of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s image and made to Mr. David Li, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Thailand. On this occasion, Privy Councilor Jirayu Isarangkul na Ayudhya presided over the ceremony, together with Mr. Nithi Patarachoke, President of the Thailand Management Association (TMA), and Professor Ian Fenwick, Ph.D., Director of the Sasin School of Management. This honorary award reflects Huawei Thailand’s decades of devotion to product and service research and development, contributions towards improving Thailand’s infrastructure, and digital talent cultivation and inclusivity initiatives, with the aim of steering Thailand towards a fully realized and sustainable ICT ecosystem that will establish Thailand as a future digital hub of ASEAN.

Privy Councilor Jirayu Isarangkul na Ayudhya delivered a speech during the ceremony: “The ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards’ by the Thailand Management Association, in collaboration with the Sasin Graduate Institute of the Business Administration (Sasin School of Management) at Chulalongkorn University, is a prestigious accolade presented to Thailand’s leading corporations for their exemplary dedication to excellence. The awards do not only serve to recognize standout corporations for their achievements, but also to encourage other organizations to steer towards more effective business development and management strategies. At its core, the awards reflect the commitment from Thailand’s leading organizations towards comprehensive business management and will inspire all organizations to further develop their businesses and accelerate their overall competitiveness, thereby creating better standards and sustainable growth for organizations in Thailand.”

Mr. Nithi Patarachoke, President of TMA, also spoke during the ceremony: “Due to the rapid changes and advancements in technology that are directly impacting businesses around the world, it is more important than ever for Thai organizations to leverage their competitiveness. The TMA Excellence Awards were initially started by the TMA, with the ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards’ being established 21 years ago. The awards signify TMA’s commitment towards supporting the private sector in developing a solid foundation that can drive the country’s economic growth in both a tangible and sustainable way. The winning organizations were selected by an honorable committee and showcase perspectives on corporate excellence and business management that will help the country accelerate its competitiveness in the future”.

Mr. David Li, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Added: Huawei Thailand is honored to receive a royal award at the ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards 2023’ for the ‘Product/Service Excellence’ category. This award reflects our commitment to propel Thailand and Thai society towards digital transformation in line with our mission to ‘Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand’. Over the past 23 years, Huawei has remained steadfast in its commitment to ‘quality as the lifeblood of our enterprise’. This has subsequently won us the trust of our customers and partners, building Huawei into the success it is today. Facing the future, Huawei is committed to providing customers with high-quality products and services by strongly investing in the development of new and advanced products and services through cutting edge technologies such as 5G, Cloud, AI, IoT, Digital Power, and Cybersecurity. Huawei continues to work with its partners to develop industry-friendly solutions and stands as one of the country’s leading partners for digital, intelligent, and green transformation across all industries and helping our customers achieve their business successes.”

This year marks another successful year for Huawei Thailand as the company has been named the winner of the royal ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Awards’ for the second consecutive year: the winner in the ‘Product/Service Excellence’ category in 2023 and the winner of ‘Thailand Corporate Excellence Award’ in the ‘Innovation Excellence’ category in 2022. These prestigious awards stand as proof of Huawei’s dedication to supporting new and intelligent technologies, digital power, and digital transformation around the world. With regards to Thailand, Huawei is also fully committed to its mission to “Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand” to drive Thailand towards becoming a sustainable future digital hub in ASEAN.

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Rashmika Mandanna: India actress urges women to speak up on deepfake videos

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Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna attends the launch of Crunchyroll, an anime streaming application in MumbaiGetty Images

Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, who was recently targeted with a deepfake video, has urged people to not share such material.

She particuclarly urged young women to speak up if somebody bullied them with such material.

Ms Mandanna shared the message weeks after a deepfake video about her went viral on social media.

The star’s face was morphed onto an Instagram video posted by a British-Indian woman.

She had described the incident as “extremely scary” at the time.

On Monday, the actress, 27, said the support from her film industry colleagues made her realise that sharing of such videos shouldn’t be normalised.

“It [the support] made me feel safe, and secure,” she told the media on Monday.

“So I want to tell all girls out there that this is not normal. When something is affecting you, you don’t have to keep quiet.”

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) soon after her deepfake went viral, Ms Mandanna wrote, “If this happened to me when I was in school or college, I genuinely can’t imagine how could I ever tackle this.”

The actor said she was grateful for the support of her family and friends and called for the issue to be addressed with urgency “before more of us are affected by such identity theft”.

India’s Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called such deepfake videos a “new threat to democracy”.

Last week, Mr Vaishnaw chaired a meeting with social media platforms and artificial intelligence companies where he said the federal government would soon come up with a “clear, actionable plan” to tackle deepfakes.

The actress has worked in several langauges, including Hindi, Telugu and Kannada, and has also won a number of awards for her roles.

She will be next seen with actor Ranbir Kapoor in the Bollywood film Animal, which is due for release on 1 December.

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Taiwan’s Golden Horse film awards sees return of Chinese stars

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Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse, dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars, after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island’s independence in an acceptance speech in 2018.

China claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has long blacklisted its stars over any perceived backing for the island’s independence.

There were no mainland films in the 2019 nomination list and several Hong Kong movies dropped out that year, while big commercial productions were conspicuously absent at both the 2020 and 2021 awards.

But on Saturday, the red carpet was graced by Hu, nominated for best actress in the education drama Carp Leaping Over Dragon’s Gate.

Dressed in a shimmering gown holding a pineapple in her hands, she was accompanied by Chinese film director Yan Xiaolin and some of the film’s cast.

“Our film’s (Chinese) name is Pineapple and Taiwan’s audiences have told me that pineapple means good luck” in Taiwanese culture, Hu said in a brief televised interview.

Hu lost to Taiwan’s 12-year-old Audrey Lin (Trouble Girl), the night’s biggest dark horse who became the youngest ever best actress winner in Golden Horse history.

Lin also saw off Hong Kong’s Jennifer Yu (In Broad Daylight) and Chung Suet-ying (The Lyricist Wannabe), who both attended Saturday’s event.

Taiwanese Hsiao Ya-chuan bagged best director for his family drama Old Fox, while compatriot Wu Kang-ren claimed best actor for playing a mute man in the Malaysian film Abang Adik.

The award for best documentary short film went to The Memo, a video diary of the pandemic lockdown made by a filmmaker couple trapped in a small Shanghai apartment.

Attendance by the mainland Chinese actors was a departure from previous years.

In 2022, Chinese star Cya Liu – nominated for best actress for Hong Kong crime thriller Limbo – gave the ceremony a miss, with no reasons given.

Chinese director Huang Shuli collected the best documentary short film award in person last year – a rare appearance by a mainland filmmaker since the fallout.

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The bars you must visit the next time you’re in Delhi

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The accolades took many by surprise but instilled a new confidence in the bar community. Minaskhi Singh of Sidecar found the industry has grown because of the awards. “You get a lot of attention… it’s great for attracting new people. It’s a whole lot of pressure too, but good pressure as well.”

Priyanka Blah, founder and editor of Dram Attic and Academy Chair of 50 Best, attributed Delhi’s burgeoning bar scene to high disposable incomes, buoyant tourism, and affordable commercial property rents compared to other Indian cities.

Both sides of the counter ‒ the cocktail lovers and bartenders ‒ drive innovation. The deep-pocketed and well-travelled cocktail-guzzling consumer is looking to replicate international bar experiences from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Europe in their neighbourhood. “They are interested in what goes into their drink, where it comes from and are happy to pay top dollar for something unique and exciting,” said Priyanka.

“At the same time, Indian bartenders, bar managers and bar owners are also travelling,” added Santanu Chanda of Home Bar. “There are a lot of (guest) shifts happening between Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore, which encourage an exchange of culture, ideology and drink philosophy, which is helping Indian bars.”

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Singaporean photographer clinches top prize at global competition with image of mollusk and plastic bag

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His photograph was selected among 21,474 entries from 96 countries submitted in 2023, with the winners announced during the award ceremony in the Netherlands on Saturday. The winner of each category receives a cash prize of €500 (US$543).

In his acknowledgement video screened at the awards, Toh said that the sobering truth was “like a man with a torn poncho, this cartoonish-looking creature is unable to escape the consequences of man-made ecological disaster and the wrath of nature”.

“I observed the creature for a while, noticing its fearful, uncertain, and sorrowful demeanour.

“Its distress was probably due to its confusion on realising the lifeless nature of this desolate vessel it is clinging onto for survival.”

The nature lover noted in the press release that nautili are known to latch onto passing jellyfish as a form of travel or to leach on their food.

“I found out from the locals that families would dump trash at a nearby mountain, which would then be scattered into the ocean during the typhoon season,” he said.

“I hope this photo conveys the impact of human behaviour on nature and the urgent need for proper sanitation for this community to bring about the much-needed change to protect our environment,” Toh said in the video.

Following his win, Toh said that he will be launching a new company, Ugly Diving, which will offer underwater photography workshops, freediving courses and underwater portrait photography. 

The award is not Toh’s first. He also won the Photo of the Year prize at the Asia Dive Expo (Adex) Voice Of The Ocean Competition – an underwater photography and videography competition – in 2022 and 2023.

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