Latest news with #WorldExpo2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Pakistan Pavilion shines at Expo 2025 Osaka': Jam Kamal
OSAKA (Japan): 'The theme of Pakistan pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka is inspired by unique natural treasure Pink Rock Salt, found only in the Salt Range of Pakistan', said Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce, while talking to media at Expo 2025, Osaka. During the media briefing, he outlined the vision of Pakistan's participation in World Expo 2025, Osaka; which encapsulates Pakistan's goals for sustainable growth, cultural harmony, and economic prospects. The event was attended by both Japanese and international media. Sharing insights on the broader vision of participation, Jam emphasized that Pakistan cannot remain absent from global platforms like Expo 2025 Osaka, where the world comes together to exchange ideas and to address challenges collectively. He stated that Pakistan has made its presence felt with a bold and unified theme that reflects the country's commitment to sustainability, creativity and exemplary craftsmanship. He narrated that with the theme 'Universe in a Grain of Salt,' Pakistan's pavilion presents a compelling narrative rooted in nature. Highlighting the Pavilion's symbolic use of pink rock salt—one of Pakistan's most iconic natural resources, the minister explained, 'Salt, in its purity and strength, represents our timeless connection to the earth. Through it, we are sharing a vision of sustainability and nature-centric progress with the world.' The media talk also offered a closer look at the growing impact of the Pakistan Pavilion, which has become one of the most visited pavilions at Expo 2025. Drawing attention with its architectural references to pink rock salt and natural materials, the Pavilion tells a story of wellness, nature, and cultural reflection. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan focuses on sustainability in Osaka
The minister emphasised that Pakistan cannot remain absent from platforms like the Expo 2025, where the world comes together to exchange ideas. photo: file Listen to article "The theme of Pakistan pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka is inspired by unique natural treasure Pink Rock Salt, found only in the Salt Range of Pakistan," said Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Commerce, while talking to media at the exhibition on Tuesday. He outlined the vision of Pakistan's participation in the World Expo 2025, being held in Osaka, Japan, which encapsulates the country's goals for sustainable growth, cultural harmony and economic prospects. The minister emphasised that Pakistan cannot remain absent from global platforms like the Expo 2025 Osaka, where the world comes together to exchange ideas and address challenges collectively. He stated that Pakistan has made its presence felt with a bold and unified theme that reflects the country's commitment to sustainability, creativity and exemplary craftsmanship. He stressed that with the theme "Universe in a Grain of Salt," Pakistan's pavilion presents a compelling narrative rooted in nature. Highlighting the pavilion's symbolic use of Pink Rock Salt, the minister explained, "Salt, in its purity and strength, represents our timeless connection to the earth. Through it, we are sharing a vision of sustainability and nature-centric progress with the world." "The pavilion was built on 100% energy conservation and minimal carbon emissions, aligning perfectly with the broader theme of Expo 2025: 'Designing Future Societies for Our Lives,'" he added. "Our message is simple – future societies must be born from nature and must remain linked to it." The minister spoke about Pakistan's potential in sectors like textiles, food and agriculture, minerals, digital services and clean energy. He encouraged the international business community to explore investment and joint venture avenues while pointing to Pakistan's young workforce, strategic location and ongoing policy reforms.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Plague of flying pests adds to Osaka World Expo's woes in Japan
Japan 's 2025 World Expo in Osaka has been bugged by a string of mishaps since its opening in mid-April – the latest being a plague of mosquito-like insects known as midges. Swarms of these insects have been attracted to the wooden walls and pillars of the 'Grand Ring', a centrepiece of the expo and its main thoroughfare. Visitors have been forced to fend the flying insects off to avoid swallowing or inhaling them, raising concerns about potential health risks. 'They landed on the bread I was eating. There are so many of them around and it's disgusting,' said Toma Masatani, a 23-year-old graduate school student visiting the expo with friends from Saitama, near Tokyo, as quoted by Kyodo news agency. Expo organisers have identified the insects as chironomids, a species that does not bite or suck blood, according to The Japan News. However, their dead bodies can pose a health hazard: inhaling or ingesting them can trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. 'Wearing a face mask is advisable for those with asthma,' said Koichiro Kawai, a professor emeritus at Hiroshima University specialising in the species, in an interview with Kyodo. Experts predict the infestation will persist until late autumn. The bugs are believed to have spawned in the Water Plaza, a large seawater storage area on the expo grounds, which is built on reclaimed land over a former landfill.
CNA
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Her dance video racked up 11m views on YouTube – now she's representing Singapore at Osaka World Expo
Seven years ago, Shruthi Nair and a friend performed a three-minute dance outside the Indian Heritage Centre on Campbell Lane. It had all the makings of a viral video. Music was blasting from the speaker. A crowd gathered. And the two young women danced barefoot on grey stone slabs. Their performance combined classical Indian, hip-hop and contemporary dance to Carnatic (South Indian classical music) adaptations of hit pop songs. An unexpected pairing. Unbeknownst to them, someone took a video and uploaded it on YouTube. It exploded: 11 million views in total. People from South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom messaged Shruthi to say how much they loved it. 'It was the first time I knew that so many people appreciate this,' Shruthi mused. Fast forward seven years. The 28-year-old freelance dancer and choreographer will be performing on a much bigger stage. She will be dancing at the Singapore Pavillion at the World Expo 2025, in Osaka, Japan, on May 31 and Jun 1, 2025. Featuring local artists, creatives and talents, the ongoing World Expo 2025 runs until Oct 13 this year, and is expected to welcome at least one million visitors. TELLING HER SINGAPORE STORY THROUGH DANCE Shruthi has performed at the National Gallery, Esplanade Theatre, Stamford Art Centre and Gardens by the Bay for River Hongbao. You may also find her grooving to modern hits and raps in front of Singapore's old HDB flats and futurist tunnels. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) Her feet beat out a mesmerising rhythm, her hands string together mudras, hand gestures that tell a story. Often referred to as Indo Contemporary, this dance style blends elements of Bharatanatyam – a form of Indian classical dance – with contemporary dance techniques. This is Shruthi's Singapore story. 'I feel like my movement vocabulary, a blending of something traditional and modern, sort of mirrors our nation, where the traditional and old, and the modern and new can all exist at the same time, and they all have a place,' she said. As a young Indian woman growing up in a small, globalised metropolis, she initially struggled to navigate her cultural experiences. One reason she cited was the lack of representation of Indian women on television, social media and other mainstream platforms. 'You question your place in the world and your place in the country,' she told CNA Women. Over time, Shruthi learned to embrace her differences and uniqueness, and this translated into this fusion of classical Indian and contemporary dance. 'Talking about your feelings and emotions can be really difficult. I find it so much easier to just dance it out. It just has so much more power to me,' she said. Through her dance, she also hopes to bridge the gap for audiences and immerse them in the rich beauty of her heritage. The hand gestures, facial expression and footwork of classical Indian dance may not be understood by all, she noted. 'But behind the technical language, I think the human connection and emotions are something that everybody can identify with and resonate with.' A 23-YEAR DANCE JOURNEY Dance has been nothing short of a lifetime obsession for Shruthi. At the age of five, her mother took her to a Deepavali show at a community club where she watched a Bharatanatyam dance for the first time. Something about the colour, facial expressions, footwork and music ignited a spark in her young mind. 'In between, even before the show ended, I dragged my mother to the office and said, put me in the class now. I was in the class the following weekend,' she laughed. She continued her training at Bhaskar's Arts Academy, an Indian performing arts school, and then at the School of the Arts, Singapore for her International Baccalaureate (a pre-university curriculum), taking dance as one of her higher-level subjects. Even though she went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in Sociology at the National University of Singapore, and began a career in marketing, it just felt natural to give it all up. In 2023, a little over a year after she started her corporate job, she left to become a freelance dance artiste and choreographer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) Some of her gigs as a freelancer have included Light to Night Festival at the National Gallery in January this year, ASEAN Festival of Arts 2024 in Malacca, F8 Festival Makassar 2024 and the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts 2023 in Jakarta. But passion does not pay the bills. As a freelancer, some months are packed with weekly gigs, others are unsettlingly quiet. 'The worst months are those without any gigs so there's no income at all, and I still have rehearsals or classes,' she said, adding that those days can start at 9am and not end until midnight. 'It seems very futile – as if I'm doing everything but not doing anything at the same time,' she said. Even when work is steady, as a freelancer, she struggles when payment is sometimes delayed. 'The lack of financial stability and unpredictability can be scary, especially if there's something that I really need to pay off, such as student loans and bills, or there's some immediate need that I need to get settled, such as groceries and transport costs,' said Shruthi, who is single and trying her best to support her parents. DANCING TOWARDS TOMORROW It was during a quiet month – and low point – when she was selected to represent Singapore at the World Expo. 'I had just come out of a few projects and didn't have any new freelance gigs lined up for maybe, one to two months. Financially, things were tight as well, with a few delayed payments,' she said. 'When I got the e-mail, initially, I was like, did they send this to the right person? It felt incredibly surreal,' she said. 'Being able to go on a global platform like the World Expo to represent my country as an independent artiste restored a lot of faith and hope for what my future can look like,' she reflected. With six performances over two days at the World Expo, Shruthi is looking to blend Bharatanatyam dance and contemporary movement with Japanese cultural elements through costume, music and storytelling. The dance narrative is inspired by a Japanese myth, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter's Daughter – Princess Kaguya. In this story, a bamboo cutter finds a glowing infant inside a bamboo stalk. She grows into a free-spirited young woman whose beauty attracts many admirers, including the emperor. She challenges her noble suitors with impossible tasks before finally revealing she is a princess from the moon and departing with celestial envoys. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shruthi Nair (@_shruthinair_) The opportunity to dance at the World Expo has been a huge turning point for the young dancer. 'Singapore is a melting pot. Being able to share a piece of Singapore's vibrant, multicultural identity through my art feels incredibly personal and profound,' Shruthi said. Reflecting on her journey, she said: 'I love dancing with all my heart but some days, you feel like it doesn't love you back.' 'But when I dance, those feelings dissipate,' she beamed. 'I am at my best self when I'm dancing – I'm confident, I'm sure of myself, I know what I'm doing. It's as if an alter-ego sort of takes over. 'The second I take off my shoes and feel the floor, I feel super connected to the ground beneath me, the space around me. That feeling is unparalleled. 'When words don't suffice and I cannot communicate something, dance helps me express myself and embody my feelings. 'I'm still trying to navigate this career path day by day – I think nobody has it all figured out. But over the past year, I realised that it's really up to you to carve your own path,' she said.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
MCE, Nanjing Chuhang Technology sign JV to produce driver assistance radar
KUALA LUMPUR: MCE Holdings Bhd has signed a joint venture (JV) with Nanjing Chuhang Technology Co Ltd (NCT) to produce driver assistance radar. In a statement today, MCE said the JV builds on the memorandum of understanding signed in November 2024 between its wholly owned subsidiary MCE Ventures Sdn Bhd and NCE. It said a new JV company will be formed where MCE will own 51 per cent and NCT will hold the remaining 49 per cent. MCE said the new JV company would develop, manufacture, and market automotive millimetre-wave radar, a key component of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving applications, for domestic and global markets, excluding China. "These sensors are essential to vehicle safety and serve as a core enabler of next-generation vehicles equipped with assisted or autonomous driving functions, allowing them to detect, interpret, and respond to their surroundings with precision and reliability. "The JV strengthens both parties' positions in these fast-growing segments and enhances their ability to meet rising global demand for intelligent mobility solutions,' it said. MCE group managing director Dr Goh Kar Chun said the joint venture with Nanjing Chuhang Technology is an important leap for the company as it expands its expertise and broadens offerings in advanced automotive electronics. "It prepares us to cater to the growing global demand for smart mobility technologies and reinforces our ambition to deliver high-value and sophisticated solutions from Malaysia for the domestic market as well as to the world,' he said. The signing of the JV took place at the Malaysia Pavilion during World Expo 2025 Osaka as part of the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute's (MARii) NxGv: Game Changer in Energy Transition and Mobility event. Meanwhile, in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, MCE said the JV is expected to contribute to the MCE Group's performance from the second quarter of the financial year ending July 31, 2026. - Bernama
