Latest news with #SilkRoad
Gulf Today
16 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
China reports robust trade, investment with Belt and Road countries
China has seen robust trade and investment with countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation over the past years, Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang told a press conference on Friday. The combined trade between China and its related countries increased from US$2.7 trillion in 2021 to US$3.1 trillion last year, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7 per cent, Li said. The volume accounted for 50.7 percent of China's total foreign trade in 2024, up from 45.3 percent in 2021, according to Xinhua. From 2021 to the first half this year, two-way investment between China and Belt and Road countries had accumulated to more than 240 billion U.S. dollars, including over 160 billion US$ dollars flowing into Belt and Road countries and over 80 billion dollars into China. Li said Belt and Road cooperation projects had advanced steadily, enhanced infrastructure connectivity, improved people's lives and fostered talent for local development. From 2021 to the first half of this year, China's overseas engineering contracts had reached a cumulative turnover of nearly 600 billion U.S. dollars. To develop emerging industries and expand cooperation space, China has signed investment cooperation memoranda with more than 50 Belt and Road countries in key sectors such as the digital, green, and blue economies. The Silk Road e-commerce cooperation has expanded to 36 partner countries. WAM
Japan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Touring the Silk Road — without leaving Tokyo
Steps from Tokyo's Higashinakano Station, a pair of mural-like signs hang from the weathered wood facade of a tall, slender building fronting Yamate-dori Avenue. One features a fresco painting of Mount Fuji, flanked by the four auspicious beasts of Chinese mythology, alongside the visage of Mahatma Gandhi. The other, perched above an adjacent window, depicts several multicolored nymph-like figures mid-flight and interspersed with cryptic phrases in Japanese like 'food autonomy zone' and 'noncooperation with warring nation-states.' Although understated for street art across the globe, the signage is potent commentary in a country not known for overt political messaging. This is Pao Compound , a nine-story dining, shopping and entertainment complex in Nakano Ward dedicated to promoting exploration and understanding of countries lying along the historical Silk Road — including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey — while also serving as a gathering space for local residents. The structure has multiple entrances, each serving as something of a portal to the region. The door lying underneath the Mount Fuji mural, for example, opens to a staircase flanked by kitchenware from Afghanistan: enormous wooden ladles, goat milk jugs, earthenware serving dishes, iron tea pots and row upon row of teacups. Meanwhile, the intoxicating scents of spiced meats and handcrafted flatbreads waft out into the street from the compound's first-floor restaurant, which is accessible from both the building's front and the adjacent side alley. Pao Compound stretches for several floor into the Tokyo skyline. | KIMBERLY HUGHES You would be forgiven for thinking a Middle Eastern or Central Asian expat was behind Pao Compound. Instead, the complex is the brainchild of Tokyo native Takuji Yasunaka, who conceived of the business following a 1980 visit to Afghanistan in the immediate wake of the Soviet Union's invasion that kicked off the nearly decade-long conflict. Then just 24 years old, Yasunaka originally traveled to the country to meet up with an Afghan friend, who had previously worked as a university professor in Japan. 'It was an era of global change, when it felt like the whole world was in turmoil,' recalls Yasunaka, 69. 'I was a socialist then, and so I couldn't believe Russia's invasion of the country. I wanted to go and see for myself what was happening.' Arriving in Afghanistan on foot via its border with Pakistan, Yasunaka was overwhelmed by the experience of hiding in underground caves along with local villagers to escape bombs being dropped by Soviet and Afghan military planes. 'I filmed everything using an 8-millimeter camera, and the footage was later bought by major news networks,' he recalls. 'Being part of this experience, where humans were literally fighting for their survival, is what inspired my lifework here in Japan.' Takuji Yasunaka originally founded Pao Compound as a grilled meat skewer restaurant after years traveling to Afghanistan in the 1980s. | KIMBERLY HUGHES Yasunaka began fundraising in Japan to help reconstruct decimated Afghan villages, traveling several times to the country and once meeting the esteemed physician Tetsu Nakamura , director of the Peshawar-kai aid group, on an airplane in 1984. Yasunaka began importing rugs and household goods from Afghanistan around this time and also decided to open a restaurant on land owned by his friend, Katsusada Yoshida, in Higashinakano, where Pao Compound now stands. Bringing back a Turkmen-style yurt ('pao' in Japanese), the rounded structures used by Central Asian nomadic peoples, the pair launched their business in 1988 as a lamb skewer-grilling operation outside in the garden. 'At the time, I was drinking often in Shinjuku Golden Gai ,' Yasunaka says, referring to the famous nightlife district, 'and a lot of the characters I met there started showing up to our restaurant. It was also the time of the 'ethnic food' boom, and we started to be covered by mainstream media like Pia magazine and NHK television crews.' The company continued expanding, with Yasunaka engaging his network to continue shaping the space over the ensuing decades as a reflection of his slow, DIY-style ethos. 'We have basically just been having fun,' he says with a laugh. The murals fronting the building were conceptualized by Yasunaka himself and painted by his artist friends, while the spiral staircase connecting the ninth-floor event space with the rooftop was crafted by artisans who first soaked the wood in warm water to make it bendable. With Pao Compound being an ever-evolving project, Yasunaka notes that plans in the works include reviving the previous iteration of an Iranian-style restaurant on the second floor, along with a tea house and traditional herb shop and an acupuncture clinic on the fourth floor — all slated to open this autumn. A nine-story yurt To go from Pao Compound's base to its roof may not be as extensive as Yasunaka's own travels, but it's enough to get just a taste. Much of Pao Compound's interior design is influenced by Central Asian motifs, including yurts. | KIMBERLY HUGHES The first of Pao Compound's nine floors is occupied by Caravan Sarai, a restaurant serving 'Afghanistan and Silk Road cuisine,' its name a variation on the historical caravanserai rest stops that provided lodging for Silk Road travelers. The menu features kebab skewers, stir-fries and the house special of karahi — meats simmered in deep cooking vessels and mixed with rich spices. The chicken variety comes accented with charred and salted roast tomatoes, ginger strips and crisp shishito peppers, while the minced lamb version is accompanied by tender eggplant and tomato (a vegetarian option features cauliflower and zucchini). For atmosphere, playlists feature artists such as renowned Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and the walls are covered with elaborately decorated flyers for film festivals, art exhibitions, lectures and workshops held around Tokyo on themes related to the Middle East and Central Asia — some current, others dating back decades. Some events also take place in the structure's ninth-floor 'polycentric space,' which is styled as a yurt and encompasses a bar named Romarakuda (a play on the Japanese for 'donkey-camel'). Visitors can take their pick of diversions across Pao Compound's other floors. Shops are bedecked in shelves of woven baskets, throw pillows and tables for sitting and perusing magazines and books on the region — some courtesy of Pao's onsite publishing company. There are rows of Afghan rugs, which Yasunaka explains are sold at around half price (¥15,000 rather than the standard ¥30,000) to make them accessible to young people. Also on the second floor is Pao Tour, a travel agency focused on trips to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the eighth floor houses Silk Road Bunko, a library and 'nomadic culture center' accessible via a thick, handcarved door in the style of Afghanistan's Nuristan Province with motifs said to ward off negative energies. Inside, the collection of Central Asian titles came courtesy of Kosuke Maeda, a researcher and close friend of Yasunaka's, who passed away in 2022. 'A kind of utopia' On Pao Compound's second level, the multipurpose bazaar-style space called Golab (Persian for 'rosewater') is overseen by Setareh Moattari, 29, a native of Tehran, Iran. A graduate of Tsukuba University, Moattari has a role that allows her to fulfill her dream of acting as a cultural liaison between her two homes of Iran and Japan — even as political realities make leisure travel between the countries unfeasible. Setareh Moattari is a native of Tehran, Iran, who now works in a shop in Pao Compound, where she hopes to expand people's perceptions of her home country. | KIMBERLY HUGHES A 10-person tour to Iran scheduled for September had to be canceled — with future prospects uncertain — so Moattari says she is now focusing on introducing her homeland through Pao Compound. 'Iran has a long history as a civilization, as well as incredibly gorgeous nature and travel spots,' Moattari says, gesturing toward items in her shop like ghalamkar (woodblock hand-printed tablecloths) and blue-tinged salt rocks inside a glass case. 'While Iranian people are familiar with Japanese culture, the same cannot be said in reverse — which is an imbalance that I am striving to address through my work.' The project that is perhaps dearest to Yasunaka's heart is the restoration of a community water well fronting Pao Compound, which he hopes to have functional by autumn. He explains that there was already a 40-meter-deep well on the grounds when the business first opened, and his dream is to fashion it into a space where local residents and visitors alike can stop by to draw up water in a manner similar to Japan's Shinto shrines. This, he hopes, will encourage a return to Japan's historical community-oriented lifestyle, while fostering an initiative to cultivate resources independently rather than waiting for third parties to provide them. 'People today are ruled by their smartphones, so I want to provide a way for them to interact with things directly in a tactile manner while meeting with others face to face,' Yasunaka says. 'That's why I have a gallery and bazaar here, and why I am also planning to revive the water well. Rather than political ideology, what I hope to leave behind for future generations is something tangible.' Referencing the nymph-like mural out front depicting a Shinto concept of the heavens, Yasunaka adds: 'In a way, I guess I am hoping to create a kind of utopia.' For more information on the Pao Compound, visit
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Other Georgia: 4 Things I Want You To Know About My Homeland
Georgia's economy is diversifying. Tourism is booming. Winemakers are exporting globally. Tech, logistics, and education are expanding. And young people are stepping into leadership roles that would have seemed impossible a generation ago. When I tell people I'm from Georgia, they might picture peaches and southern charm. But that's not my Georgia. As CFO of CBS Group, a holding company working across various industries to help build a stronger, more modern society in my homeland, I represent Georgia worldwide—in boardrooms, conferences, and global summits. Yet I often find myself explaining the most basic facts about my origins. So today, I want to share four things I wish everyone knew about the Georgia I call home. Nearly 6,300 miles east of the U.S., the country of Georgia sits at the intersection of Europe and Asia, covering an area slightly smaller than South Carolina, with a population of 3.7 million people. It's a land of dramatic mountains, seaside resorts, and cities that have stood for thousands of years. Because we're located on the Silk Road—the ancient trade route that linked China to the Mediterranean—Georgia emerged as a crossroads of commerce and culture before Western civilization even existed. People from across the globe passed through, leaving a profound, multicultural legacy you can see in our food, language, and architecture. Georgia is a truly ancient society. We're one of the oldest wine-producing nations in the world, with a tradition dating back over 8,000 years. Over the centuries, we've seen kingdoms rise and fall, survived invasions, and been shaped by Persian, Ottoman, Russian, and European influences. And through it all, we've kept our language and our identity. For most of the 20th century, we were part of the Soviet Union, which initially brought industrial development, education, and economic growth. But it also brought totalitarianism and a loss of freedom, so in the late 1980s, when inflation soared and shelves emptied, nationalism swept through our part of the world, and the USSR started to unravel. Things came to a head in Georgia on April 9, 1989, when Soviet troops attacked a peaceful protest in Tbilisi and killed 21 people, mostly young, mostly women. That day galvanized the nation and marked the dawn of a new Georgia. Two years later, we declared our independence, becoming the first non-Baltic republic to leave the USSR. So in a way, my very ancient country is two years younger than I am. When a government falls, it takes essential things down with it—institutions like banks, courts, utilities, and more that people rely on to live their lives. When the Soviet Union fell, Georgia lost all of those systems. Our economy collapsed overnight. Wages bottomed out while prices skyrocketed. People were given coupons that they traded for basic food like bread and milk, often standing in line all day to get it. Georgia fell into chaos. Civil war broke out. Armed gangs roamed the streets. Many people, especially educated people, left the country in search of stability. But my parents, both doctors, stayed behind. I remember candles during power outages, food shortages, and the fear of never knowing what might happen next. But they both believed in the future of Georgia, and today, I'm proud to carry that belief too. The Georgia I help lead today is not the Georgia I grew up in. We've come through war, economic collapse, and political upheaval, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. Our economy is diversifying. Tourism is booming. Our winemakers are exporting globally. Tech, logistics, and education are expanding. And young people are stepping into leadership roles that would have seemed impossible a generation ago. Yes, we are still pulled between East and West—between two different ideas of governance and power. That tension is real, but so is our determination. Regardless of politics, most Georgians want a country that offers fairness, opportunity, and freedom for all. I travel the world for work, but my heart is always here. I am part of the generation building Georgia's future—honoring our past without being limited by it. This is the Georgia I want you to know. Not just the name, but the story.
Condé Nast Traveler
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
Where to Shop in Chengdu, China's Original Creative Capital
As it was in the time of the Silk Road, Chengdu, the massive capital of Sichuan Province, is a shopping mecca—these days because of a proliferation of innovative fashion and design spaces. Gleaming shopping malls sit beside converted Qing-dynasty-era factories that now peddle cutting-edge streetwear. Tiny storefronts in mostly residential neighborhoods sell ceramic tea sets and bespoke paper fans. But history is everywhere, from Song Xian Qiao Art City, one of China's largest antiques markets, in central Chengdu, to the eternally cool Temple House, with its contemporary black-and-cream rooms and suites, in the Jinjiang District. It overlooks Taikoo Li, a shopping haven for both homegrown and international designers and a destination unto itself. Tibetan and Mao-era objects on display at Song Xian Qiao Art City Chris Schalkx Chengdu's Anshun Bridge Chris Schalkx Next gen The Cosmo mall is an eight-story jumble of pint-size boutiques that carry some of China's most promising talent. Be sure to visit the streetwear brand Randomevent; the Beijing-born label Yoikadakada, which produces punk-inspired, elaborately silhouetted clothes; and the Location concept store, a cornucopia of Y2K-era secondhand finds. At Lanqing Pang's Vapour Blue, seek out gender-neutral cuts referencing qipao dresses and silver jewelry by store manager Xing Yulei. Eastern Suburb Memory's brick exterior Chris Schalkx Aaron Lee, the shop manager at L0cat10n concept store Chris Schalkx Cabinet of curiosities Song Xian Qiao Art City market draws shoppers for traditional art, one-off curios, vintage Mao-era paraphernalia, bronze Buddhist figurines, and mammoth porcelain vases. The second floor is filled with shoebox-size ateliers where artists create works of calligraphy on paper and hand-carved stamps from jade; come weekends, the courtyard echoes with click-clacking mah-jongg tiles as sellers load their foldout tables with Tibetan prayer beads, family heirlooms, and rare stones. An illustrator working in her studio at Song Xian Qiao Art City Chris Schalkx The light-filled House of Elements Chris Schalkx Hiding in plain sight Sandwiched between auto shops in southern Chengdu, a nondescript residential building contains the House of Elements, an airy natural-wine bar, teahouse, and concept store. Browse its selection of handmade clothes and accessories from Chinese ateliers, including buttery leather footwear by Heng Shu; monochrome womenswear by Zhang Da; and cloud-soft knitwear spun from Tibetan yak khullu (down wool) by Norlha, a textile workshop in the Gannan prefecture. Minimalist to the max
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Uni dropout lived life of luxury before dark web crimes were uncovered
Thomas White operated a site worth millions before he was caught by the National Crime Agency. A university dropout profited from a dark web black market to live a life of luxury before a National Crime Agency officer investigating him stole cryptocurrency from him. Thomas White, 30, operated the Silk Road site, worth millions, under a pseudonym "Dread Pirate" before police raided his flat in Liverpool. Paul Chowles, 42, who was on the NCA team which stopped the former student's operations, took 50 Bitcoin from White - only worth £60,000 at the time, with the value since skyrocketing to over £4million. The former intelligence analyst initially believed he had "gotten away with" his theft for years, only spending his illegal earnings on everyday expenses rather than luxury items. His scheme was only exposed when White was released from prison and told police about the missing coins, resulting in the officer being jailed himself. The original Silk Road site was shut down by the FBI in 2013, but White set up Silk Road 2.0 just a month later, with transactions worth over £71million, the Liverpool ECHO reports. Despite having no legitimate income, the former accounting student, who had quit his course after a single term, could pay the £10,700 rent for his plush flat in the Mann Island development upfront, and buy high-spec computer equipment. Users could secretly buy and sell drugs via the site, but investigators tracked packages of drugs he had ordered and had delivered to a rented mailbox to ultimately bring him down. When NCA investigators searched his address, they also found a device containing hundreds of images showing children being abused. He was discovered to have told admins of the site he intended to use it as a secure platform for paedophiles "because there was money to be made from these people". Other devices also contained hacked data from high-profile organisations including the FBI, NASA, the database of the US Fraternal Order of the Police, and customer information from broadband provider TalkTalk. However, it is not thought that he was personally responsible for obtaining the data. Following his initial arrest in November 2014, coinciding with FBI raids concerning US-based operations, his case took years to reach sentencing. Having ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and making indecent images of children, he was ultimately jailed for five years and four months in April 2019. Ian Glover from the NCA said following the sentencing: "Thomas White and his online associates believed they could use the dark web to anonymously commit crimes with impunity. But this case shows that those who try to hide behind the apparent security of anonymising software will be identified and brought to justice. "White was a well-regarded member of the original Silk Road hierarchy. He used this to his advantage when the site was closed down. We believe he profited significantly from his crimes. Close working with American partners in the FBI, Homeland Security and the Department of Justice has resulted in the take down of global illegal drug empires and the targeting of associated money laundering, primarily involving cryptocurrencies. "This has been a complex, international investigation and follows previous investigations led by the NCA into dark web criminality. Working with our international partners, the UK is fast becoming an increasingly hostile environment for dark web crime." On Wednesday, July 16, Paul Chowles appeared in court. He was one of nine people on a digital forensics team which investigated White, and seized a USB stick containing 97 Bitcoin from White's flat during their operation, which was kept in their charge for over two years until May 2017. It was then that Chowles secretly transferred 50 Bitcoin into his own control, using a dark web "mixing service" allowing him to cover up the source of the funds before sending them to private accounts. The lead officer, described as "very technically minded and knowledgeable", spent around £140,000 of his proceeds in supermarkets, bars and restaurants, and on building work and nursery fees. Suspicions were raised in 2022 after White got out of prison. He had noticed during linked investigations in relation to the Proceeds of Crime Act that a quantity of Bitcoin was missing from his account. Part of the cryptocurrency was recovered from Chowles' personal computer, with more having been cashed in. He was arrested at work in May 2022, with notebooks found in his office drawers containing usernames and passwords for White's crypto accounts. He was ultimately sacked without notice from the force on Friday, July 11. Will Parkhill, defending, told the court Chowles was struggling with his mental health and undiagnosed autism. He said: "It is not a case where there is an obvious explanation. It is something that he struggles with. It is not something that I can elaborate on to provide a significant explanation for his behaviour. "Most of that Bitcoin has sat where it went and, over the course of a number of years, has been filtered into familial expenses. It is not a case of high living. It has simply been used to pay for things that they would ordinarily pay for. "It is not an offence where we can point to any significant life event, but he is someone who has strayed away from the way he lived his life up until that point. Now, he will deal with the consequences. It is a day he has known has been coming for some considerable period of time. The solicitor added that Chowles' marriage had broken up, and that his health and former profession would have a significant effect on any time spent in prison. He continued: "Mr Chowles is not a stupid man. It is likely that appreciation would not have been known to him at the time. It is incidental and unintended. While we have eyewatering figures at the upper end of the scale, we have further figures in relation to his usage of these funds. "He knew more than most. He did dishonest things with that. He did not do the right thing. He stuck with that for some time, but the figures that we are talking about were not of intentional design. "Mr Chowles has destroyed his life and had a serious impact on many other people's lives. We ask your honour to pass as low a sentence as you can in all of the circumstances." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Chowles admitted to theft, transferring criminal property and cocealing criminal property, receiving a sentence of five-and-a-half years in prison. Passing sentence, Judge David Aubrey KC said: "You were not only involved in that investigation, but you were the lead officer. You were involved in his arrest, and it was you who interviewed him. "You commenced employment with the National Crime Agency, an organisation which investigates those who are suspected of committing serious organised crime. You occupied a managerial position. It is trite to say that such a role requires, demands and expects trust, integrity and honesty. "You had much knowledge as to how to navigate through investigations concerned with digital data such as cryptocurrency. That was of great assistance to the agency in the fight against organised crime, provided that you did so with honesty and integrity and had the values of the agency in your DNA in the pursuit of justice. "Regrettably, you did not. Honesty should have been in your DNA, but it was not. Your knowledge was of great assistance to you as you set about stealing from your suspect. You weaved a sophisticated, intricate, dishonest web. The evidence shows that it was a dishonest web of deceit and guile." The judge added that Chowles had "abused his position of trust and responsibility", and "betrayed" the trust of his NCA colleagues and the general public. He said: "You were there to serve the public. You did not. You were serving yourself for your own ends, as is illustrated by that which you dishonestly did after you initially stole the 50 Bitcoin. The court accepts that it is most unlikely that you will see a court of law again." Chowles could now be ordered to repay the stolen funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A National Crime Agency spokesman said following the sentencing: "We understand and fully share the concern this case will cause the public we serve. "The former officer was sacked for gross misconduct. The NCA expects the highest standards of conduct and behaviour from all our officers, and we are committed to taking robust action against anyone who falls short of those standards, as we did in this case, resulting in an investigation fully supported by the agency's anti-corruption unit." Alex Johnson, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division, added: "Within the NCA, Paul Chowles was regarded as someone who was competent, technically minded and very aware of the dark web and cryptocurrencies. He took advantage of his position working on this investigation by lining his own pockets while devising a plan that he believed would ensure that suspicion would never fall upon him. "Once he had stolen the cryptocurrency, Paul Chowles sought to muddy the waters and cover his tracks by transferring the Bitcoin into mixing services to help hide the trail of money. He made a large amount of money through his criminality, and it is only right that he is punished for his corrupt actions. The CPS will not hesitate to bring charges against those who abuse their position in power for financial gain."
