Latest news with #Chu
Calgary Herald
17 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
The 10 best ways to explore Edmonton's river valley this summer
Article content According to Kowalchuk, world-famous paleontologist Dr. Philip Currie has noted that dinosaur fossils can be found along the riverbanks, if one knows what to look for. These quiet, wooded paths might seem like simple trails, but they're part of a much older story, shaped by prehistoric life and glacial forces. Article content There's also rich Indigenous knowledge embedded in the landscape, Kowalchuk added. Papaschase Cree professor Dr. Dwayne Donald, along with his friend Dale Saddleback, has spoken about the deeper meaning behind the Cree name for the North Saskatchewan River: Kisiskâciwani-sîpiy. While often translated as 'fast-paced river,' it more accurately means 'river that moves at the speed of a fast-paced walk.' Article content 'And it's true: if you walk next to the river, you will see that this describes it perfectly,' she said. Article content Beyond these stories, the City of Edmonton shared even more reasons to be amazed. Spanning more than 20,000 acres, Edmonton's river valley system is the largest urban park network in Canada, Chu noted. You can travel from north to south using only trails, bike paths, or footbridges, connecting places like Northeast River Valley Park to Terwillegar Park without ever leaving green space. Article content Article content 10. Caring for Edmonton's river valley Article content Edmonton's river valley is a treasured natural space, one that both locals and visitors are encouraged to enjoy, while also helping to protect. Article content Kowalchuk said the simple but crucial steps everyone can take is to stay on established trails, practice 'leave no trace' principles, and keep dogs on-leash to help preserve the delicate ecosystems within the valley. Article content 'It is so important that we protect the river valley and ensure our use of it respects the river valley's ecological integrity,' Kowalchuk said. Article content Meanwhile, guided by frameworks like the River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) and the Ribbon of Green strategy, the City sets policies to protect the environment while providing diverse recreational and cultural experiences, Chu said. These strategies focus on regulating development to maintain the valley's natural integrity, while offering strategic direction to safeguard the river valley and ravine system for future generations. Article content Article content The goal is for everyone to appreciate the valley's accessibility and free recreational opportunities, while understanding it's a community treasure that requires collective care. Article content 'Crucially, the City would want visitors to understand that this is a community treasure – a space everyone shares and has a responsibility to cherish and protect,' she said. 'By recreating safely and respecting the environment, these spaces are kept beautiful for all.' Article content Just sit and be Article content Finally, one might consider the simplest way to enjoy Edmonton's river valley might be the best way – grab a coffee, find a bench, and just let the wind rustle through the cottonwoods. Article content Because in a city always moving forward, locals or tourists alike, the river valley reminds us to slow down and love where we live.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Timing of JS-SEZ a lot more promising than some previous attempts: CIMB
[KUALA LUMPUR] The timing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is 'a lot more conducive' today than some of the previous attempts to do something similar, said Chu Kok Wei, CEO of group wholesale banking at CIMB. Chu said there are not many good global examples of successful cross border special economic zones, 'simply because you need good timing' for them to succeed. 'In partnership, it's very easy for us to say, we must be win-win on both sides, but it's often not easy to really craft out a win-win proposition,' Chu said at a panel on Monday (Jul 21). The panel was part of CIMB's media day held in Kuala Lumpur. Also with him on the panel were Haniz Nazlan, CEO of group consumer banking, and Lawrence Loh, co-CEO of group commercial & transaction banking. From a cost perspective, Chu noted that the cost divergence between Singapore and Malaysia has become a lot bigger, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. It has reached a point where it is no longer just a cost issue, but a capacity constraint, he said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'It's not about how much you can pay; the supply is just not there.' Attracting foreign investment While Johor might not be the cheapest state in Malaysia to operate in, the cost differential continues to make a viable business case between Malaysia and Singapore, he said. Furthermore, Chu noted the SEZ is not just about relocating from the industrial zones of Singapore into Johor, but also attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) from around the world. 'Geopolitical developments globally have prompted a lot of FDI inflows into Asean, and naturally, the SEZ becomes one of the attractive potential destinations for that,' he said. A bright spot would be outbound flows from China flowing into the special financial zone within the JS-SEZ, he added. Meanwhile, Chu is optimistic that most activities in the JS-SEZ today are from private sector business enterprises, since private sector players are more inclined towards optimal decision-making than public sector players. In April, CIMB announced that it would commit RM10 billion (S$3 billion) in funding facilities to drive economic integration and unlock cross-border opportunities in the JS-SEZ. In a separate session, CIMB group CEO Novan Amirudin said the commitment will cover all market segments – apart from data centres, which is the sector that is currently receiving one of the largest FDI. He noted other opportunities, including family offices in the special financial zone, real estate development, and people movement after completion of the Rapid Transit System link.
The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Why Ken Chu from F4 is selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband Wang Xiaofei
Ken Chu (left) was criticised for selling Wang Xiaofei's products during his live-stream sales. Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei divorced in November 2021. Photos: Ken Chu/Douyin, Barbie Hsu/Weibo Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has defended his decision to sell products made by the company of Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, the former husband of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Chu, 46, was a member of Taiwanese boy band F4, which also comprise Jerry Yan, 48; Vic Chou, 43; and Van Ness Wu, 46. The quartet reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 were brought together as a boy band in 2001 after acting in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), which also starred Hsu. The band members went their separate ways in 2009. Hsu, who died aged 48 in February, divorced Wang, 44, in November 2021 after 11 years of marriage. They have an 11-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. The former couple were then embroiled in a divorce battle and war of words on social media. Chu, who is now focusing on live-stream sales on Douyin, was criticised by netizens on July 16 after he continued to hawk hot and sour vermicelli from Chinese food brand Maliuji. This is a company under Wang and his mother Zhang Lan. 'Why can't I sell that?' Chu replied. 'To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei makes a lot of money. Otherwise, who will take care of his two children?' The artiste also mentioned Hsu, better known as Big S, in his live stream. 'She was the girl who was involved in the lives of the four of us,' he said, referring to the F4 members. 'I think all four of us loved her in our own way when we were younger.' Chu also disclosed that he was initially not keen on the F4 reunion on July 12, which was facilitated by Mayday's agency B'in Music. 'I asked their manager why they were so persistent on the reunion,' Chu said. 'She relayed (Mayday frontman) Ashin's words to me: 'Ashin feels that all the good things from the days when we were younger are slowly disappearing, and he wants to gather them back together, including F4.'' Chu admitted that it was not easy for him to return to the stage. 'I'm not as physically fit as I used to be,' he said. 'If you watch the video, you can see that I look a little older than the three of them.' Chu said that although he is 46, his physical condition is like that of a 60-year-old's. He suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that can lead to lasting muscle pain and fatigue. 'Compared with the three of them, I'll be more out of shape if we don't reunite this year or next year,' he said. 'So I'm working hard on it.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Why Ken Chu from F4 is selling products by Barbie Hsu's former husband Wang Xiaofei
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ken Chu (left) was criticised for selling Wang Xiaofei's products during his live-stream sales. Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei divorced in November 2021. Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has defended his decision to sell products made by the company of Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, the former husband of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Chu, 46, was a member of Taiwanese boy band F4, which also comprise Jerry Yan, 48; Vic Chou, 43; and Van Ness Wu, 46. The quartet reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 were brought together as a boy band in 2001 after acting in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), which also starred Hsu. The band members went their separate ways in 2009. Hsu, who died aged 48 in February, divorced Mr Wang, 44, in November 2021 after 11 years of marriage. They have an 11-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. The former couple were then embroiled in a divorce battle and war of words on social media. Chu, who is now focusing on live-stream sales on Douyin, was criticised by netizens on July 16 after he continued to hawk hot and sour vermicelli from Chinese food brand Maliuji. This is a company under Mr Wang and his mother Zhang Lan. 'Why can't I sell that?' Chu replied. ' To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei makes a lot of money. Otherwise, who will take care of his two children?' The artiste also mentioned Hsu, better known as Big S, in his live stream. 'She was the girl who was involved in the lives of the four of us,' he said, referring to the F4 members. 'I think all four of us loved her in our own way when we were younger.' Chu also disclosed that he was initially not keen on the F4 reunion on July 12, which was facilitated by Mayday's agency B'in Music. 'I asked their manager why they were so persistent on the reunion,' Chu said. 'She relayed (Mayday frontman) Ashin's words to me : 'Ashin feels that all the good things from the days when we were younger are slowly disappearing, and he wants to gather them back together, including F4 .'' Chu admitted that it was not easy for him to return to the stage. 'I'm not as physically fit as I used to be ,' he said. 'If you watch the video, you can see that I look a little older than the three of them.' Chu said that although he is 46, his physical condition is like that of a 60-year-old's. He suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that can lead to lasting muscle pain and fatigue. 'Compared with the three of them, I'll be more out of shape if we don't reunite this year or next year,' he said. 'So I'm working hard on it.'
The Star
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunite for surprise performance at Mayday concert
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited at Mayday's Taipei concert on July 12. Photo: Ken Chu/Instagram Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 – which made its debut in 2001 after the four members starred in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001) – delivered its hit song Meteor Rain (2001) and Mayday's The Song Of Laughter And Forgetting (2008) as guest performer. The group sang both songs with Mayday, which was staging its last Taipei show as part of its Mayday #5525 Back To That Day Live Tour (2023 to present). F4 comprises Taiwanese-American Van Ness Wu, 46, and Taiwanese stars Jerry Yan, 48, Ken Chu, 46, and Vic Chou, 44. Chu was quick to share photographs of the band's reunion, taking to Instagram on July 12 to post pictures of them singing and hugging. Netizens took the reunion positively, with comments on his Instagram post such as 'Is this really true?' and 'Full F4 Asian concert next please'. During the concert, Mayday's lead vocalist Ashin said the reunion took two years to arrange, and that many people were involved in making it happen. As Chu addressed the crowd, he said it was his first time attending a Mayday show. He added that he could finally heave a sigh of relief, as he had to keep the reunion a secret by claiming he was not in contact with the other F4 members. The quartet, which disbanded in 2009, last came together in 2013 to sing at Jiangsu Television's Spring Festival Gala in China. According to Wu, the foursome had experienced feelings of jealousy and unfairness before their disbandment. He revealed this in an appearance with Yan on the Chinese chat show Welcome Back To Sound in 2022. Taiwan's Mirror Media reported on June 4 that F4 had reached an agreement and would reunite for a concert to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2026. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
