CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Connecting with Art through the eyes of a cuddly companion
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Connecting with Art through the eyes of a cuddly companion
Art galleries can be an intimidating space, but is it possible for fluffy plush toys to soften the experience? At ARTualize's 'The Bear is in the Gallery', these plushy companions are here to bridge the gap between the gallery-goers and visual art, creating a warm and welcoming place, even for first-timers. Cheryl Goh speaks with Low Sok Leng, owner of the Artualize art gallery to find out more.
16 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - Leveraging AI for a Fresh Grad's job search
As they step into one of the most competitive job markets in recent years, the job hunt has become tougher for fresh graduates. How can AI help them with their job search, and even unearth jobs that they would have not otherwise considered? Cheryl Goh speaks with Serla Rusli, a Career Expert at LinkedIn, about the new AI tools to help graduates navigate their first steps in the working world.
18 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - High Quality Omakase Delicacies at Ganko Sushi
Hailing from Osaka, Ganko Sushi promises the freshest ingredients and the finest delicacies on the plates of Japanese-food-loving Singapore diners. Cheryl Goh speaks with Kurokawa Masaya, Head Chef and Li Xing, Manager at Ganko Sushi about how they ensure their quality seasonal give diners an affordable and authentic Omakase experience.
15 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Main takeaways from 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue
The annual Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) wrapped up on Sunday (June 1) which saw the participation of 47 countries, including 40 minister-level delegates. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng look at the main takeaways from this 22nd edition of SLD with Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, Research Fellow, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
14 mins
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CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Why Bangkok-born hospitality group Anantara could be Asia's most interesting hotel brand
When the third season of The White Lotus, HBO's cult-favourite dramedy about the darkly entangled lives (and deaths) of guests and staff at an ultra-luxury resort, premiered earlier this year, viewers across Asia, including Singapore, took notice. Sure, much of the initial buzz revolved around Kpop megastar Lalisa Manobal aka Lisa of Blackpink making her acting debut. But let's be honest, we travel junkies were just as excited to recognise the sun-drenched backdrop of iconic Thai tropical escape Koh Samui, popular among long-weekend warriors and barefoot luxury aficionados alike. Spotting familiar sights like the Big Buddha Temple Wat Phra Yai or playing 'Guess the Resort' during each hotel set became something of a jetsetter's pastime. As expected, many scenes were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. No surprise there, given that the first two seasons were also set at Four Seasons properties in Hawaii and Sicily. But in a plot twist worthy of show creator Mike White, a lesser known but very strategic player in luxury hospitality quietly stole the show. Enter Anantara. The Bangkok-born luxury hotel brand, part of the ever-expanding Minor Hotels portfolio, might just be the breakout star of the season. Three of its properties — Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas — were featured prominently in the series as part of the fictional White Lotus Thailand hotel. (Fun fact: Minor Hotels also owns the Four Seasons Koh Samui.) The timing could not have been better for William 'Bill' Heinecke, the 75-year-old American-born, naturalised Thai billionaire founder behind Minor Hotels. With luxury travel in Asia booming globally, Heinecke shows no sign of slowing down. He stepped down as chief executive officer of Minor International five years ago but continues to be deeply involved in the company's hotel expansion strategy with a strong focus on growth and post-pandemic recovery. He started his company even before he turned 18 (hence its name Minor) dabbling in advertising and cleaning services before finding his passion in hospitality. Today, Minor Hotels is a global hospitality group operating over 560 hotels, resorts and residences in 58 countries with brands including Anantara, Avani, Oaks and Tivoli. In 2018 he bought over the Madrid-owned NH Hotel group of premium and luxury hotels, tripling the group's portfolio and solidifying its European footprint. This acquisition, while visionary, also meant that when the pandemic hit just two years later, there was much more at stake. The group racked up losses of over US$1 billion (S$1.29 billion) in 2020 and 2021 due to lockdowns and travel restrictions. But he held firm and now that travel is in full swing once again, the company's increased presence has led to even more brand name recognition around the world. At the same time, he has also always believed in playing to his strengths, reinforcing the group's presence in Asia, which already includes properties across various hospitality brands in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, China, Maldives and the Middle East. The group plans to add 200 more hotels by the end of 2026, of which about 100 will be in Asia. 'We are already pretty well covered in Asia, with the exception of places like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan,' he said. 'So, it is obviously a major focus for us to try to get some of those other areas that we are not yet in.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel (@anantarajaipur) In fact, Minor Hotels recently debuted in India with Anantara in Jaipur and aims to have 50 properties in the next 10 years. The company is also growing in China where it plans to open two more hotels to add to its current five. A new Anantara is also opening in Kota Kinabalu this December and the group is inching closer to that elusive goal: A hotel in Japan. 'We are working very hard on it, and it is high on our priorities. I hope by this time next year, we will at least have something announced,' he shared. A hotel is under construction in Singapore too. 'It will be an Avani located close to Chinatown and will be a bit more lifestyle-focused, which will suit the market well. There will be a rooftop dining venue, and it promises to be a fun destination,' he said. One of the global trends driving growth is the rising demand for meaningful, immersive experiences. 'Anantara has become an experiential brand. After COVID-19, we are seeing so many people who want to experience different cultures in foreign lands and we are honoured that they have chosen Anantara,' he said. For instance, at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, guests get to sleep under the stars in transparent bubble lodges and participate in encounters with rescued elephants. The Anantara Ubud Bali Resort offers a traditional Balinese ritual called Melukat that can be performed at a 1,000-year-old temple while guests may go snorkelling with manta rays at the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas. 'These are all very special to me, because each experience has been created to bring alive the culture of the various countries we are in,' said Heinecke. This is all part of what Heinecke calls 'soft power'. He said: 'Everybody has adopted what South Korea pioneered and are finding storytelling and experiences a great way to hook travellers on a destination.' The lifelong entrepreneur credits his longevity to passion and play — fun is as much a business strategy as it is a personal credo. His pursuits include dining, collecting vintage and supercars and flying planes and helicopters. These have ultimately led to varied business ventures such as MJets, an aircraft charter company and Minor Beverages, the food and beverage arm of the company that owns Thai-based The Pizza Company as well as global franchises like Benihana teppanyaki, Swensens and Sizzler. His love for cool wheels and frequent participation in car rallies also inspired him to spearhead the Anantara Concorso Roma, the revival of a 100-year-old car parade that used to take place in Rome. It was initially slated to happen in April this year but had to be postponed to 2026 because of Pope Francis' death. Acknowledging some disappointment, he said: 'The outpouring of grief for the Pope was just so much that it did not seem appropriate to do anything except postpone the concorso.' But true to his never-say-die spirit, he added, 'You cannot worry about the things you cannot control so I only look forward with enthusiasm and optimism for the event next year.' Ever the maverick, he does not shy away from left-field investments that raise eyebrows at the boardroom table. Case in point: His decision to bring Pop Mart, the wildly popular Chinese toy brand, to Thailand in 2023. He was fascinated by the concept of blind box toys but at that point, the brand had yet to explode in popularity. 'I don't think our board was very excited about the prospects at the time,' he said with a laugh. But he knew he was on to something because of the devoted collectors he met. By the time Blackpink's Lisa popularised the brand's Labubu bag charm, setting off an international craze for Pop Mart's products, his stores in Thailand were well positioned to take advantage of the frenzy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LISA (@lalalalisa_m) Next, he is off to check out the Anantara property in Ubud — and knowing him, he is already dreaming up his next unexpected move.
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Commentary: US speech at Shangri-La Dialogue hit the right notes – but talk is cheap
SINGAPORE: Since the first Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in 2002, every sitting United States Defense Secretary has delivered an address at the summit to explain their strategic vision for the region and reassure US allies and partners. Pete Hegseth continued this long tradition with his speech on Saturday (May 31) at this year's edition of the security forum. Taken at face value, his speech hit all the right notes. But talk is cheap. His domestic talking points, his insistence that Asia spend more on defence, and inconsistencies between his statements and US actions may raise more questions than answers. BRINGING MAGA TO ASIA 'America is proud to be back in the Indo-Pacific – and we're here to stay,' Mr Hegseth proclaimed. Yet many points hinted at him not just addressing audiences in Singapore, but back in Washington too. On one hand, talking about how the US defence establishment is improving its capabilities, from raising the defence budget to over US$1 trillion to investing in American shipbuilding, supports his assertion that America is 're-establishing deterrence around the world' by building 'credible deterrence' at home. His proclamation that Washington is shunning its past 'moralistic and preachy approach' was even likely welcomed by some Southeast Asian officials in the room, given past efforts to tout liberal values were met with a mixed response. However, not all these domestic references were welcomed by international audiences. References to an 'invasion of 21 million illegals' and US President Donald Trump's electoral victory, for example, are targeted at the MAGA (Make America Great Again) crowd. An allusion to 'taking back the Panama Canal' was likely met with concern by smaller countries. Dismissing climate change as something that was 'preached' by previous governments, while politically popular with the MAGA base, underplayed what many regional governments consider an existential security issue. Perhaps the clearest sign that Mr Hegseth had his mind on a domestic audience were the worrying statements made about China. In years past, Washington has claimed to engage the region on its own merits, refraining from calling out China directly. In the Biden era, China was generally framed as a 'serious competitor' with whom cooperation was necessary, with the term 'threat' reserved for North Korea and more recently, Russia. Even under Trump 1.0, officials tended to criticise 'threatening' policies and actions. Yet, Mr Hegseth seemingly discarded this facade, explicitly calling China a threat. Mr Hegseth also claimed that an invasion of Taiwan 'could be imminent,' even as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said – on the same day after his speech – China does not want a war. While not surprising, this stridently anti-China stance raises concerns about how the US might engage Southeast Asia. The apparent gulf between what Southeast Asian governments and Washington consider important, including a confrontational approach to China and dismissal of climate change, may hinder cooperation going forward. INSISTENCE THAT ALLIES AND PARTNERS DO MORE ON DEFENCE US officials have traditionally called on European counterparts to bear a greater portion of the financial burden for their security. This time, YetMr Hegseth called for US Asian allies and partners in Asia to follow suit with 5 per cent of their gross domestic product. No country in Asia currently spends that much on defence. According to the SIPRI military expenditure database, most ASEAN countries spent less than 1.5 per cent of their GDP on defence in 2024. Even Japan and South Korea which have been actively modernising their militaries spent 1.4 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Singapore is the outlier with roughly 3 per cent, still well below Mr Hegseth's expectations. This is not to say that Asian countries are neglecting their defence capabilities. SIPRI data show that ASEAN military expenditures rose from US$20.3 billion in 2000 to US$48.3 billion in 2024. But it is unlikely that Washington's demand for 5 per cent will ever be achieved. Doing so would require a dramatic reworking of government budgets and legislation, along with potential political unrest trouble asif guns are seen to be prioritised over butternecessities and infrastructure. The flipside is that Washington may pressure Asian allies that do not spend enough – including with the pledge of US protection itself. After all, as US President Donald Trump remarked on the election trail, he would encourage Moscow to do ' whatever the hell they want ' to NATO members who do not spend enough on defence. WHAT AMERICA SAYS AND WHAT IT DOES There are also inconsistencies between Mr Hegseth's words and the US' recent actions. Most leaders in the region would welcome his acknowledgment of the 'geographic necessity' of economic cooperation with China, for example. Or promising to work with regional governments as 'partners, not dependents.' Yet, Washington has levied tariffs universally on its 'partners', including countries with whom America has signed free trade agreements. Washington is also pressuring countries such as Malaysia to Vietnam to enforce rules of origin to cut down on transshipments of Chinese goods. The inconsistencies deepen the more you look. Mr Hegseth criticised China for a 'lack of respect for neighbours' but offered no explanation for how this is different from US ambitions in Greenland and Canada. He raised, as he did in Manila and Munich, that the Indo-Pacific is America's 'priority theatre,' but did not address concerns that munitions are being redirected to the Middle East to support US strikes on the Houthis. At the core of many of these concerns is the question: Is the US serious about its pivot to Asia? The idea of a pivot was first mooted in the Obama administration, but Washington has struggled to make this concrete amid crises in the Middle East and Europe. Just as Mr Hegseth invoked Singapore's founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, in his speech, it would be helpful for US officials to recall Mr Lee's thoughts on America's strengths and weaknesses from a decade ago. While America's 'creativity, resilience and innovative spirit' allow it to confront and overcome its core problems, the US cannot simply treat Asia like a movie that it can pause and resume at will. 'It does not work like that,' he said. 'If the United States wants to substantially affect the strategic evolution of Asia, it cannot come and go.' Yes, talk is cheap. It is now up to the US to practise what it preaches and convince the region of its credibility.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
'I'll sleep like a baby': Emotional Kohli fulfils 17-year dream with IPL triumph
AHMEDABAD, India :Virat Kohli's carefully crafted image of a snarling warrior melted away as the 36-year-old was reduced to an emotional wreck after Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their 17-season wait for a maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title on Tuesday. Bengaluru were effectively assured of victory in the final against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad after Josh Hazlewood began the final over with two dot balls. As the broadcasters' camera panned, it caught a teary-eyed Kohli covering his mouth with cupped hands in disbelief. As Bengaluru sealed a six-run victory, Kohli hunched over the turf and punched it in delight before being mobbed by teammates. "It's been 18 long years," an emotional Kohli, still with bloodshot eyes, told the broadcasters. "I've given this team my youth, my prime and my experience, and I've tried to win this every season... "To finally have this moment come true, it's an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotions as soon as the last ball was bowled." Kohli has been with Bengaluru since the inaugural edition of the league in 2008, including nine seasons as captain of a franchise that made the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but lost on all three occasions. The relief was palpable as he hugged former Bengaluru teammate AB de Villiers. "I've stayed loyal to this team no matter what," Kohli said. "I've had moments when I thought otherwise, but I stuck to this team. I stood behind them and they stood behind me. "I always dreamt of winning it with them, and this is far more special than winning it with anyone else... "This is the team I'm going to play for till the last day in IPL." Kohli has won multiple World Cups with India but the IPL had remained an unticked box, until Tuesday. "I'm someone that wants to win the big tournaments, the big moments, and this one was missing. Tonight, I'm going to sleep like a baby," he said.
