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New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Indian classical rhythms to grace DFP stage
FRESH from its presentations of Mek Mulung Putera Cahaya Bulan, Randai Mudo Pak Belalang, Jit Sin High School's Chinese Orchestra and Sanggar Seni last year, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) will present soul-stirring rhythms and colours of Indian performing arts by the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) at 8pm on Sept 6. The highly anticipated showcase promises an immersive journey into the heart of Indian culture. MELODIES Audiences will be transported to a unique experience through the soulful melodies of Hindustani and Carnatic classical music. Adding a vibrant visual splendour to the evening, the DFP stage will come alive with exquisite presentations of four classical Indian dances, 'bharatanatyam', 'odissi', 'kathak' and 'kuchipudi'. The theme "Ragas and Mudras" is specially curated for this performance at DFP. FRAMEWORK 'Ragas' is essentially a melodic framework or a "mode" in Indian classical music, a combination of notes ('swaras') along with phrases and nuances ('gamakas'). 'Mudras' is a symbolic ritual gesture, primarily performed with the hands, fingers, the entire body or even eye movements. The word 'mudra' is a Sanskrit word which means 'mark' or 'gesture'. YOUTH Founded in 1981, TFA is an organisation dedicated to the development and inculcating Indian arts and culture among the youth. It has presented more than 20 major productions and 300 short works, including explorations of different cultural themes. TFA has staged its productions in tours around the world, including Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has also received recognition and support from the government, and has performed at many major official events, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the Commonwealth Cultural Festival, all in 1998. It has also won many accolades at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards. GRATEFUL The special performance by TFA is part of the DFP Seni Festival extravaganza which includes Mistik Pura Masyrik (a performance of enticing East Coast legendary folktales on Aug 9) and Sanggar Seni (a collection of music, dance and songs at the DFP foyer presented free from Sept 5 to 7). In a recent interview, the show's music director, Prakash Kandasamy, said: "We are very grateful to DFP for bringing our dancers and musicians centrestage. "Our show has two parts for classical music and dance, each section is 45 minutes." Prakash added that the four dance styles were taught in TFA, and each will have 20 dancers. "All students learn different things and do not confine themselves to one genre." MPYO The TFA musicians are aged from 20 to 55, and the dancers are aged from 18 to 35. Prakash said TFA first performed in DFP in 2012 with the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra or MPYO. "We've got 20 musicians and dancers, and they are all rehearsing daily." VOCALISTS Music director Jyotsna Nithyanandan said: "The DFP is greatly helping promote our work and we are delighted to perform in this state-of-the-art venue." She added that there will be six musical instruments in the showcase, as well as two main solo vocalists and five supporting vocalists. "They will show audiences the beauty of Indian classical music and dance, in ensemble and solo acts." Jyotsna said one of the less-known but stylishly beautiful classical instruments featured was the 'veena', a traditional string instrument. "All of us have had a lot of fun working on this and discovering new things to perform," she said, adding that there will also be a piano accompaniment to give the concert a modern touch. VIBRANT One of the main dancers, Kishore Krishnan, said each item was 10 minutes long, and there will be six to 10 dances. "What we teach is what is presented, and it will be a vibrant and colourful evening," he said. "Best of all, our performances are Malaysianised, combining Indian cultural elements with Malay and Chinese ones." MALAYSIA DAY DFP head of business and strategic relations management Effendy Khalid said it was an honour to have the TFA perform in DFP. "We focus on culture and heritage including cross cultural performances. "It is our aim to give a platform for such performances, especially in September, the month of Malaysia Day," he said, adding that the concert hall could accommodate 920 people.
Korea Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
AmCham, MOFA director discuss public-private ties for APEC summit
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea announced Wednesday that it hosted a policy gathering with Kim Ji-hee, Director-General for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to explore avenues for public-private cooperation ahead of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Korea, scheduled for October. The event was part of the institution's policy talks series, aimed at providing a valuable platform for senior policymakers and industry leaders to engage in dialogue on pressing issues affecting the US-Korea economic alliance. 'The government's ongoing efforts to engage the business community are crucial,' Kim said, 'to ensure Korea's APEC agenda delivers tangible results across the region.' She emphasized Korea's commitment to inclusive public-private collaboration through APEC's unique mechanisms, such as the APEC Business Advisory Council, while detailing a range of initiatives spanning digital transformation, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, health care and SME development. US business leaders in sectors including IT, biotechnology and energy voiced strong support for Korea's APEC initiatives, particularly those focused on artificial intelligence and demographic change. While outlining the Korean government's strategic vision and key priorities for the upcoming APEC Summit, Kim also shared updates on the Third Senior Officials' Meeting and Economic Leaders' Week. AmCham Chairman and CEO James Kim remarked that the summit would allow Korea to demonstrate global leadership amid rising geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change. 'With digital innovation, supply chain resilience, and regulatory reform emerging as top priorities, this year's APEC platform presents a powerful opportunity to strengthen public-private collaboration,' he said. 'As a proud member of the APEC CEO Summit Task Force, AmCham is committed to working closely with the Korean government and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to ensure Korea's host year delivers meaningful outcomes that advance the shared interests of both the US-Korea economic partnership and the broader Asia-Pacific region,' he added.
Arab Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
S. Korean, Vietnamese presidents hold phone talks on ties
SEOUL/HANOI, June 12, (Xinhua): South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday held phone talks with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, and both agreed to further advance bilateral ties by expanding cooperation in several areas. During the phone conversation, the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in strategic areas such as high-speed railways and nuclear power plants, according to Lee's office. Vietnam News Agency reported that during the talks, both presidents agreed to enhance cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, particularly in high-tech industries, identifying it as a key pillar of the bilateral relationship. They also agreed to carry out high-level exchanges through regional and international forums, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the reports said.
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea to launch welcome week for foreign tourists during peak travel season
South Korea will host a series of welcoming events for international tourists beginning this week, the culture ministry said Monday. The 2025 Korea Welcome Week will run from April 25 to May 16, coinciding with major holiday periods, such as Japan's Golden Week and China's Labor Day, and the senior officials' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit on South Korea's resort island of Jeju -- all peak times for foreign arrivals. The Welcome Week event is aimed at enhancing travel convenience and providing a positive experience for visitors, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Visit Korea Committee. Welcome booths will be set up in stages at Incheon, Gimpo and Jeju international airports, as well as the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal. The booths will feature displays of traditional Korean crafts and be staffed with multilingual guides offering travel information and assistance. A digital tourism guide map, created using Naver's multilingual map platform, will be made available at the booths and on the official Visit Korea website. The map includes locations for craft experiences, tourist sites by region, currency exchange offices, shopping centers and convenience facilities. In partnership with 26 companies under "the K-Tourism partnership program," the committee will offer discounts, vouchers and souvenirs to foreign tourists who visit the welcome booths. The Visit Korea Committee has hosted similar welcome events during peak tourist seasons since 2023. A second round of welcoming activities is planned for the fall, to coincide with the APEC Summit in Gyeongju from October to November. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
APEC Summit in Gyeongju to boost economy by W7.4tr: KCCI
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting, has projected that the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in October will generate an estimated 7.4 trillion won ($5.1 billion) in economic benefits. According to an analysis released on Tuesday, the short-term direct effects -- including economic stimulation and increased domestic consumption -- are expected to amount to 3.3 trillion won. Meanwhile, the medium-to-long-term indirect effects, encompassing economic and social benefits, are estimated to reach 4.1 trillion won. Additionally, the summit is expected to create about 22,634 jobs. To maximize APEC's economic impact and invigorate regional industries, KCCI is planning a series of events, including the Future Tech Summit, which will highlight cutting-edge technology; the K-Tech Showcase, where Korean companies will exhibit their technological capabilities; and a Learning Program aimed at fostering cultural exchange and networking. APEC, an international forum established to enhance economic cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region, comprises 21 member economies. During the APEC Summit, KCCI will host the APEC CEO Summit, a high-profile gathering of global business leaders and government representatives, as well as meetings of the APEC Business Advisory Council. To ensure the smooth execution of the events, KCCI has established the APEC CEO Summit Organizing Committee and the ABAC Korea Secretariat. KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, who is also chairman of SK Group, visited Gyeongju on Monday to oversee preparations for the 2025 APEC CEO Summit. Chey, who chairs the 2025 APEC CEO Summit, conducted a two-day inspection of the summit venues, accompanied by KCCI Vice Chairman Park Il-jun and Seoul Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Lee Hyung-hee. During a roundtable discussion on Economic Revitalization through the APEC CEO Summit, attended by North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo and Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young, Chey underscored the significance of the event. 'The APEC CEO Summit is a crucial platform where economic leaders of the Asia-Pacific region will gather to discuss future growth and cooperation strategies,' he said. He further stressed, 'I hope local governments and businesses will collaborate closely to ensure that the summit catalyzes a revitalization not only of Gyeongju and North Gyeongsang Province but also the broader regional economy.' Ahead of the meeting, Chey visited the Gyeongju Arts Center, one of the candidate venues for the APEC CEO Summit, where he conducted an on-site inspection of key facilities, including participant accommodations, the welcoming banquet venue and other auxiliary event locations. 'The APEC business event is a critical opportunity to showcase Korea's innovation capabilities and future vision. We will work closely with the government, local authorities, and businesses to ensure a successful and impactful summit,' a KCCI official said.
