Latest news with #Amis
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
Across the Pacific: Palauan Voyagers Renew Austronesian Bonds in Taitung
TAITUNG, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Taitung County Government invited the Palauan-led multinational crew of the traditional sailing canoe Alingano Maisu, which brought together sailors from across the greater Micronesia region and Taiwan. The crew has recently completed a remarkable cultural voyage from Palau to Taitung, Taiwan, as part of a broader Austronesian exchange. With their return voyage now underway, the journey served not only as a reaffirmation of shared heritage but also as a fresh chapter in the living story of oceanic kinship. The crew was welcomed with a traditional ceremony led by the Dulan Youth Group, featuring ceremonial chants and protective dance performances—an expression of ancestral ties and mutual respect among Austronesian peoples. At the Taitung County Government Hall, a Voyaging Culture Sharing Forum was held, where the navigators shared their experiences crossing the Pacific and their traditional knowledge of celestial navigation. In return, local boatbuilders engaged in dialogue, sharing insights into their own seafaring culture and strengthening a shared reverence for the ocean. During their stay, the guest voyagers visited several Indigenous communities along Taiwan's eastern coast. In the Amis community of Duli, they took part in hands-on workshops exploring traditional cigarette rolling, fishing techniques, and even rice wine brewing—experiences that offered a deeper appreciation of Indigenous craftsmanship and knowledge passed down through generations. The journey also included a scenic ride on the antique 'Breezy Blue' express train, which hugs the coastline between Taitung and Jinlun. This allowed the visitors to soak in the spectacular sea-and-sky vistas, through open windows, and gain further insight into the region's history and lifestyle. Cultural exchange extended to the table as well. Besides enjoying meticulously prepared Indigenous meals, the crew also experienced Taiwan's signature hotpot culture. Sitting around the steaming pot, guests and hosts shared stories, laughter, and flavors—reminding all that food is one of the most powerful ways to build bridges between islands. Local Amis hosts presented the voyagers with betel nuts, hand-carved wooden badges, and even ukuleles—symbols of friendship and cultural pride. The crew also participated in the opening of the Kavulungan Cultural Park, a major cultural event celebrating the traditions of the Paiwan people. The visit concluded with a joyful farewell banquet filled with music, dance, and heartfelt connection—bringing the entire journey full circle. Through this voyage centered on voyaging culture, traditional maritime skills were not only honored but reawakened. As the Palauan canoe sets sail homeward, the enduring spirit of Austronesian solidarity continues to ripple across the Pacific, reminding us all of the powerful stories carried by wind, waves, and kinship.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Across the Pacific: Palauan Voyagers Renew Austronesian Bonds in Taitung
TAITUNG, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Taitung County Government invited the Palauan-led multinational crew of the traditional sailing canoe Alingano Maisu, which brought together sailors from across the greater Micronesia region and Taiwan. The crew has recently completed a remarkable cultural voyage from Palau to Taitung, Taiwan, as part of a broader Austronesian exchange. With their return voyage now underway, the journey served not only as a reaffirmation of shared heritage but also as a fresh chapter in the living story of oceanic kinship. The crew was welcomed with a traditional ceremony led by the Dulan Youth Group, featuring ceremonial chants and protective dance performances—an expression of ancestral ties and mutual respect among Austronesian peoples. At the Taitung County Government Hall, a Voyaging Culture Sharing Forum was held, where the navigators shared their experiences crossing the Pacific and their traditional knowledge of celestial navigation. In return, local boatbuilders engaged in dialogue, sharing insights into their own seafaring culture and strengthening a shared reverence for the ocean. During their stay, the guest voyagers visited several Indigenous communities along Taiwan's eastern coast. In the Amis community of Duli, they took part in hands-on workshops exploring traditional cigarette rolling, fishing techniques, and even rice wine brewing—experiences that offered a deeper appreciation of Indigenous craftsmanship and knowledge passed down through generations. The journey also included a scenic ride on the antique "Breezy Blue" express train, which hugs the coastline between Taitung and Jinlun. This allowed the visitors to soak in the spectacular sea-and-sky vistas, through open windows, and gain further insight into the region's history and lifestyle. Cultural exchange extended to the table as well. Besides enjoying meticulously prepared Indigenous meals, the crew also experienced Taiwan's signature hotpot culture. Sitting around the steaming pot, guests and hosts shared stories, laughter, and flavors—reminding all that food is one of the most powerful ways to build bridges between islands. Local Amis hosts presented the voyagers with betel nuts, hand-carved wooden badges, and even ukuleles—symbols of friendship and cultural pride. The crew also participated in the opening of the Kavulungan Cultural Park, a major cultural event celebrating the traditions of the Paiwan people. The visit concluded with a joyful farewell banquet filled with music, dance, and heartfelt connection—bringing the entire journey full circle. Through this voyage centered on voyaging culture, traditional maritime skills were not only honored but reawakened. As the Palauan canoe sets sail homeward, the enduring spirit of Austronesian solidarity continues to ripple across the Pacific, reminding us all of the powerful stories carried by wind, waves, and kinship. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Taitung County Government Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Local France
6 days ago
- Health
- Local France
Spike in road deaths in France involving ‘voitures sans permis'
'For the second year, the number of people killed on the roads [in metropolitan France] remains below 3,200,' the Interior Ministry's François-Noël Buffet said in a statement. 'These results are to the credit of all road users who respect the rules and all professionals committed to ensuring their safety and maintaining the roads, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.' In France, 3,193 people died on the roads (2,465 men and 728 women) last year - excluding deaths in France's overseas territories - 26 more than in 2023, while the estimated number of serious injuries remained stable at around 16,000. Compared to 2019 – the reference year for 2020-2030 – the number of deaths is down 1.6 percent. Advertisement More than three-quarters of those killed and seriously injured in 2024 were men, the figures showed, with speed and alcohol cited as the leading causes of fatal accidents. Authorities are calling on road users to exercise 'the utmost caution' as the summer vacation season approaches. Beneath the headline figures, the data revealed a sharp increase in the number of deaths involving small voitures sans permis, sometimes known as voiturettes . These are small, lightweight vehicles that are subject to strict restrictions on size and speed, and cannot be used on motorways or high-speed roads that do not require the driver to hold a full driving licence. READ ALSO Meet France's tiny cars that you don't need a licence to drive The figures remain small – a total 34 deaths involving voiturettes were recorded in 2024, an increase of 48 percent year on year. And the increase in the number of deaths involving voiturettes coincides with a marked rise in the number of vehicles on France's roads. These 'cars' – technically they are quadricycles, or four-wheel mopeds – have gained something of a following among young people in towns and cities, in part because it's legal to drive them from the age of 14. Since January 1st, 2017, these vehicles are limited to an empty mass of 425kg, must have a small fuel engine or an electric engine limited to 6 kW, and can carry no more than two people, including the driver. Their maximum speed is limited to 45km/h, and they cannot be more than three metres in length. READ ALSO Swearing, honking and tailgating: French drivers ranked among worst in Europe An increasing number of city-dwellers who just need a runaround for local trips are attracted to them because of their price and also because they're easy to park. Between January and July 2024 alone, more than 15,400 license-free cars were registered in France – driven by the popular electric Citroën Ami, of which some 4,720 vehicles were sold in the first half of last year alone. Advertisement In 2023, some 9,556 new Amis were bought in France. The kooky little vehicle made up 36 percent of all new voitures sans permis on the roads, and 82 percent of electric-powered ones. The Aixam S10 was the second most-popular such vehicle in the first half of 2024, selling 4,661 cars. READ ALSO 'They have a death wish': The verdict on French drivers in rural France These vehicles used to be quite big in rural France, but because they have a roof, and windows, and four wheels, they are considered safer than mopeds for young people looking to get around in urban environments, so you are likely to see them taking up car parking spaces in and around lycées, for example. The Ami sells in France for €8,990 – though you can arrange a location longue durée deal from €44.99 per month with a €2,000 first payment – a price point that also makes them popular with younger road users.
The Guardian
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Do we really need more male novelists?
'Where have all the literary blokes gone?' is a question that has popped up in bookish discussions and op-eds from time to time in recent years. Who are this generation's hotshot young male novelists, the modern incarnations of the Amis/McEwan/Rushdie crew of the 80s? The question flared again this week as writer Jude Cook launched a new press, Conduit Books, which plans to focus, at least initially, on publishing male authors. Cook says the publishing landscape has changed 'dramatically' over the last 15 years as a reaction to the 'toxic male-dominated' scene of the 80s, 90s and 00s. Now, excitement in publishing circles centres on a 'new breed of young female authors, spearheaded by Sally Rooney et al'. While this is 'only right as a timely corrective', the side-effect is that male authors are 'often overlooked', their voices deemed problematic. Are male novelists actually in decline? Some metrics certainly say so: of all the writers to appear on the weekly Sunday Times bestseller lists for fiction hardbacks so far this year, just a third are men. However, there are multiple ways to cut the pie. Though women dominate the fiction charts, Richard Osman's novels took the top two spots for the most books sold in the UK last year. While the 2024 Booker prize shortlist featured five women and one man, the 2023 list had more people called Paul than women. In nonfiction the picture is clearer: men make up 63% of authors to feature on the Sunday Times nonfiction hardback bestseller lists so far this year and 70% of those on the nonfiction paperback charts, with titles such as Atomic Habits by James Clear continuing to sell well years after publication. Writers and publishing insiders disagree over the extent of the gender imbalance in fiction, and the extent to which that imbalance is a concern. 'It is indeed the case that publishers are finding it increasingly difficult to break out male writers, as [publisher] Hannah Westland noted a few years ago', said Neel Mukherjee, author of novels including The Lives of Others. In 2021, Westland told the Observer that the 'paths to success' are narrower for male writers. 'There is no doubt male voices talking about male experiences – in middle age especially – are not getting much traction among agencies and publishers at the moment,' said one male agent, who asked to remain anonymous. However, men are 'hardly underrepresented in the entertainment industry, and they need to earn their place as much as anyone else'. Men 'should make the work and let everyone decide if it's worth anyone's time, rather than pretend they are a minority in the arts', says Sheena Patel, author of I'm a Fan. 'I feel like men are doing just fine.' Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion Madeleine Milburn, who runs the leading literary agency of the same name, thinks we do need more male novelists. 'There was certainly a time when we needed more female novelists, particularly in the areas of crime and suspense, so I'm thrilled that female-led psychological suspense is still so popular, but the pendulum ultimately needs to land somewhere in the middle,' she said. While Milburn is 'excited' about Conduit Books, she believes 'we also need more male editors acquiring fiction in the areas men want to read'. The latest Publishers Association workforce survey suggests that 68% of publishing staff are women. Another female agent said that class may be a 'bigger issue than gender when it comes to what's being published'. Lacking racial representation also continues to be a problem: just one person of colour appeared on each of the Top 10 fiction and nonfiction hardback bestseller lists last week, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for fiction and Roxie Nafousi for nonfiction. Luke Brown, the author of My Biggest Lie and Theft, said he knows 'so many working-class men from my generation who got into reading fiction through Irvine Welsh, for example, because it spoke to a world they recognised'. Welsh himself says that 'men need to start reading before they start writing. My take is that men are becoming stupider because they over-rely on the internet and women are becoming smarter because they read more books.' Indeed, some suggest the decline of male novelists being commissioned is due to low demand from men. In 2024, 37% of fiction purchases in the UK were made by men, according to NielsenIQ BookData. While women buy more books overall, having made 58% of all book purchases last year, men buy more nonfiction (55% v 45% bought by women). 'Men need to read women and I think women should read men,' says Brown. 'It's one of the great ways we can come to understand each other better'. Cook's new venture met with some criticism online. However, Mukherjee said that the project comes from a position that is 'the opposite of Farage-ist grievance or misogyny-driven rabble-rousing.' 'No doubt there will be a lot of hand-wringing about this, and condemnation' he added. 'But writing and publishing are not zero-sum games.'
Trade Arabia
12-04-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Amis launches prime residential development in Dubai
Luxury real estate builder Amis Development has announced the launch of its premium project - Woodland Crest - located in the heart of Meydan Avenue in Dubai. The launch event took place at the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, drawing over 500 guests. An AED100 million ($27.2 million) project, Woodland Crest features luxury units with a variety of layouts, including one- and two-bedroom apartments, designed with modern elegance and timeless appeal. Each unit is built with intuitive design, eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge smart home technology, said the developer. Behind its clean lines, carefully curated colour schemes, and premium finishes, the latest in intuitive home automation will empowers residents with complete control over lighting, temperature, and security. With handover scheduled for Q2 2027, the project promises to elevate upscale living in one of the city's most sought-after locations, it added. Founder & CEO Neeraj Mishra said: "Woodland Crest reflects our vision to create a space that blends contemporary living with comfort and nature. With its unbeatable location in Meydan, innovative design, and top-notch amenities, we believe it's more than just a place to live—it's a community where people can truly grow and thrive." Residents will also enjoy a rooftop featuring a hitech gym, steam room and sauna, an alfresco lounge and library, an infinity pool, and a BBQ grill, he stated. "On the ground floor, Amis Café will be serving premium brews and bites, along with a grand reception lobby," he added. Woodland Crest boasts an outdoor theatre, an outdoor gym and yoga area, a zen garden, a kids' pool, and direct access to a park located in front of the building, creating a harmonious balance of relaxation and activity. Last year, Amis had secured significant investment from First Apac Fund VCC, a leading Singaporean investment fund, which signed an agreement to invest up to AED5 billion in Amis, further cementing its growth and innovation in the Dubai real estate market. "In a move that sets Amis Development apart, Woodland Crest has introduced a unique payment plan where 75% of the total payment is directly linked to the project's construction milestones," stated Mishra.
