Sharing Four Seasons And Bonds Of Tohoku With World: "Tohoku Four Seasons & Tohoku Kizuna Festival" At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan
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Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Musical cocoon': In Polish mountain town where Chopin first played abroad, music lovers return for 80th festival
DUSZNIKI ZDROJ (Poland), Aug 5 — A few hundred people gather in front of a large white tent in the peaceful spa town of Duszniki-Zdroj, nestled on the Polish-Czech border. Inside, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra is preparing to open the 80th edition of the International Chopin Piano Festival. 'I've loved Chopin for so many years!' said Erin Gao, a 33-year-old from China, who travelled to hear the composer's works while vacationing in Europe. Mike Righton, a 73-year-old from Texas, shared that enthusiasm. Mike Righton (2nd left), 73, a retiree from Texas, waits in his seat in the audience for the opening concert to begin on the first day of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, south-western Poland, August 2, 2025. — AFP pic 'This is my fifth year here. I love this festival — there are lots of concerts, and the place is very pretty,' he said. Organisers expect around 2,000 spectators over the nine-day event that runs until August 9 in this town of just 4,000 residents, where Frederic Chopin's legacy is visible everywhere. 'Above all, this festival brings together true enthusiasts of Chopin's music,' said Piotr Paleczny, the festival's artistic director. Streets are adorned with posters and statues of the composer and shops welcome tourists with souvenirs bearing his image. The chairs are arranged to welcome the audience under a portrait of Frederic Chopin in the concert hall of the so-called Chopin Manor on the second day of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, southwestern Poland, August 2, 2025. In 1826, when the town was part of Germany and known as Bad Reinerz that a 16-year-old Chopin gave here his first concert abroad. That performance inspired the founding of the festival in 1946. — AFP pic It was here in 1826, when the town was part of Germany and known as Bad Reinerz, where a 16-year-old Chopin gave his first concert abroad. That performance inspired the creation of the festival, which has attracted many of classical music's biggest names since its founding in 1946. One of this year's performers is Warsaw-born pianist Julia Lozowska, 23. Julia Lozowska, 23, Warsaw-born pianist, plays piano during her concert on the second day of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, southwestern Poland, August 2, 2025. — AFP pic 'I grew up with Chopin. I love many other composers, of course, but he's the one I understand best,' she said. Among the festival's headliners is Aristo Sham, 29, a prodigy from Hong Kong and winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition. He is launching his world tour in Duszniki-Zdroj. Aristo Sham, 29, from Honk Kong, winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition, pose for the pictures after rehearsal session before his concert on the second day of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, southwestern Poland, August 2, 2025. — AFP pic 'To play in the same venue as him, to follow in his footsteps — it's a huge honour and privilege,' Sham said after a rehearsal, his eyes resting on a bust of Chopin. 'Here, we're in a musical cocoon, just playing music in an enchanting setting for an incredibly enthusiastic audience.' — AFP People in the park outside the concert tent listen to the music and watch the live broadcast on a giant screen during the opening concert of the 80th Duszniki International Chopin Piano Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, southwestern Poland, August 2, 2025. — AFP pic
Focus Malaysia
19 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
What is so special about tourism investment zones?
LAST Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled in Parliament the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with RM611 bil earmarked to be spent from 2026 to 2030. What caught my eye was the heading of a Bernama report 'Malaysia tourism growth under 13MP with new investment zones'. Those who have attended the Travel and Tours Enhancement Course (TTEC), rolled out after I have conducted the Training-Of-Trainers in February 2022, may be able to recall that one of the six transformation strategies in the National Tourism Policy of 2020-2030 is to create 'Special Tourism Investment Zones'. Undoubtedly, the many grand master plans unveiled by the federal government over the years have always been world-class, but not so when it comes to implementation and execution. By the end of this year, six years would have elapsed in the 11-year National Tourism Policy. And now, the narrative on STIZs seems to have shifted with the latest announcement that they will be established from next year, and four states have been identified viz. Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak for preserving heritage sites and enhancing rural homestays. According to Anwar, these zones will be the catalyst for new tourism products based on artistic, cultural, and heritage assets, as well as environmental areas like the Sungai Batu archeological site, the Lenggong Valley, and the Niah Caves which are recognised by UNESCO. He added that homestays will be upgraded to spur rural economies, aligning with Visit Malaysia 2026 preparations. Additionally, the Kuala Lumpur Heritage Initiative will restore landmarks such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square, blending modernity with cultural preservation. When conducting TTEC from 2022 to 2024, I informed participants that special tourism investment zones have yet to be established. But their potential will be immense if modelled after free trade zones (FTZs), such as those in Sungai Way and Ulu Klang in Selangor. FTZs were created after a huge piece of land was allocated and many factories built. Before commencement of manufacturing, the entire area is fenced up and the customs will ensure that materials are brought in from entry points and goods sent out to exit points directly without duty. Hence, I imagined that new zones will be created for STIZs with incentives to attract substantial investments on new tourism goods and services. But from the recent announcement, STIZs will now be used as the banner to rehash, upgrade or revitalise existing tourism products. When STIZ was first proclaimed in 2019, four areas were identified for pilot projects, specifically in Langkawi, Putrajaya-Sepang, Port Dickson and Tuaran-Kota Belud. Incentives such as tax reduction, grants, and infrastructure development were still in the works. That year, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad spoke at the World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur that the STIZ will focus on infrastructure and technology-based investments. The aim was to stimulate and develop new and alternative tourism areas and products. Since then, the STIZ has not progressed beyond vision and mission statements to pragmatic ideas and concrete actions. But the latest announcement has won praises from various tourism industry leaders, either afraid of offending the government or being left out in future dialogues. One of the most effective new ways to develop and promote international and domestic tourism is to set up one-stop centres in cities and major towns all over the country. These tourism centres are to assemble all the best local foods, goods and services under one roof, making each one a unique experience for visitors. They can be a massive shed using the ground floor only or multi-stories like shopping centres. Success is assured if they are professionally managed like commercial malls. But they will fail if operated like government-built food courts where vendors are given priority over customers. The foods, goods and services offered should not be limited to halal only as they must also cater to non-Muslim visitors. If such one-stop tourism centres offer a great variety of local specialities, visitors would be happy to spend many hours shopping, dining and being entertained. Since 2018, I have written numerous published articles on my concept of one-stop tourism centres. Essentially, they require the help of the federal, state and local governments to provide the land and facilitate, and the private sector to build and operate, efficiently and profitably. The catchy name of Special Tourism Investment Zone (STIZ) ought to be used for developing and offering new tourism products, such as one-stop centres, which can become a must-visit in every city and major town. STIZ should not be used to rebrand or hype up long existing products. ‒ Aug 4, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Bernama
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Russia's Krasheninnikov volcano erupts for the first time in 600 years
ISTANBUL/MOSCOW (Bernama-Anadolu): A volcano in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula erupted on Sunday for the first time in six centuries, authorities said, sending a massive ash plume eastwards towards the Pacific Ocean, Anadolu Ajansi reported. The regional office of Russia's Emergencies Ministry said the Krasheninnikov volcano, located in the country's Far East, saw an eruption plume rise to 6,000 metres (19,685 feet), citing data from the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT). "There are no populated areas along the path of the ash cloud,' the ministry said in a statement on Telegram, adding that no ashfall had been reported in nearby settlements and no tourist groups were currently in the area. The 1,856‑metre (6,089‑foot) volcano has now been assigned an "orange' aviation hazard code, signalling heightened risk to aircraft due to volcanic ash in the atmosphere. Authorities advised against travelling to the area or attempting to climb the volcano. "This is the first historical eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years,' said Olga Girina, head of KVERT, in comments to the Russian state news agency RIA. Girina said the eruption may be linked to a powerful magnitude‑8.8 earthquake that struck off Kamchatka's coast last Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific, including in Chile. The Russian Academy of Sciences said it was the strongest quake in the region since 1952. On the same day, the academy reported an eruption at the Klyuchevskoy volcano, one of the most active in Eurasia, located about 160 kilometres (99.4 miles) north of Krasheninnikov. - Bernama-TASS
