Latest news with #Kayan
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Young Thug's SP5DER steps in the Thai boxing ring for new collection
Young Thug's recent release to the free world creates an almost surreal backdrop to his clothing brand's latest drop. SP5DER, the American streetwear brand established in 2019 operating from Los Angeles with Atlanta roots, has always embodied freedom and controversy in both his personal narrative and fashion story arc. But today we're dissecting the fashion move that dropped just days ago. The new collection comes with a lookbook video titled 'CAMPERS THAILAND' positioned literally inside a Thai boxing ring. The visual surely hits hard: no studio gloss, no sanitised aesthetics, with Muay Thai fighters, skin inked in sacred sak yant tattoos, every line whispering stories of power and protection in sweaty gyms, battered pads, cracked tiles under bare feet – a move that inevitably can be read as either respectful contextualisation or calculated exoticism. The aesthetic punch is undeniable, though the cultural calculus is way murkier in today's climate where authenticity and appropriation exist in increasingly narrow margins. Many applause, many raised eyebrows. Beyond Thailand's fight culture, the lookbook also incorporated traditional Kayan neck coils and ceremonial elements heavily inspired by the heritage of Myanmar and the Karenni ethnic group. Given that in 2025 fashion moments demand transparency around cultural engagement, the operative questions are not aesthetic but operational. Did SP5DER establish partnerships with Thai culture and Southeast Asian community representatives? Are there revenue streams flowing back to the community whose heritage drives this campaign? These details separate cultural celebration from cultural extraction. SP5DER's approach either demonstrates how streetwear can engage respectfully with global traditions or becomes another case study in the fashion industry's cultural borrowing patterns. SP5DER's established success means the stakes are higher when they venture into cultural territory. Whether this represents genuine cultural bridge-building or another 'exotic' trend wave remains to be seen. It's not the lookbook's visuals under fire – those land incredibly fine. It's the business behind the campaign that's got people talking. The stakes go way beyond one brand's campaign. Fashion's relationship with non-Western cultures faces intensified scrutiny as heritage symbols increasingly become commercial assets. The brand inevitably forces the industry conversation: can fashion meaningfully celebrate diverse heritage within commercial frameworks, or does profit motive inevitably reduce cultural traditions to aesthetic trends?
Argaam
5 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
Saudi Kayan says accumulated losses reach 35.59% of capital
Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. announced that its accumulated losses reached 35.59% of its capital of SAR 15,000 million, based on the unaudited financial results for May 2025, which were closed on June 15, 2025. In a statement on Tadawul, the company said that the amount of accumulated losses reached SAR 5,338.5 million, explaining that the main reasons behind these losses are the decline in profit margins due to lower average product prices, which were impacted by the slowdown in global economic growth and the increase in input costs. Kayan refinanced on March 16, its Islamic Murabaha loans, amounting to SAR 8.1 billion, with several local banks. The refinancing agreement involved replacing the existing debt with new financing. This agreement is aimed at achieving several strategic goals, most notably sustainable financial planning by maximizing cash liquidity, strengthening the financial position, and providing greater financial flexibility. This will also contribute to improving financial solvency, thereby enhancing returns for shareholders. The company will continue working on improving production efficiency and reducing costs through the initiatives and programs that have been approved. These efforts will help lower expenses and increase revenues in order to achieve the company's objectives and strategies. Procedures and instructions applicable on companies listed in Saudi capital market whose accumulated losses reach 20% or more out of the capital will apply, the statement added.
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Trilingual book on Kayan folklore launched in Miri
Dennis (seated centre) with (seated, from second left) Yasuka, Yuhki, Roselind and others during the launch of 'Lung Lebui: A Kayan Folktale Collection'. MIRI (June 12): A Kayan folklore book titled 'Lung Lebui: A Kayan Folktale Collection' written in Kayan, English and Japanese was launched in Miri yesterday. The 28-page book revolves around Lebui and his wife and features four folk tales well-known to the older Kayan generation. It will be making its way into schools, libraries and universities. Sarawak Kayan Association president Datuk Dennis Ngau officiated the launch of the book, which is a Curtin University Malaysia community project. 'What makes it even more meaningful to me personally is because this 'Lung Lebui' is my generation's version of today's Netflix to kids. 'There are many versions of Lung Lebui, but I recall one told my father as particularly spine-chilling, especially as we lay down in our makeshift farm-house smack in the middle of the Borneo jungle during farming season,' said the Telang Usan assemblyman when met at the Forum Cultural Centre here. Dennis hoped with the launch of the book, more Kayans would be encouraged to research and write about their own community, including the publication of more Kayan folklore. The project was organised by Curtin University Malaysia in collaboration with linguistics lecturers from Kyushu University and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. It is a collaborative effort between Dr Roselind Wan from Curtin University Malaysia; Dr Yasuka Fukaya from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Kyushu University; Yuhki Takeuchi, an independent artist affiliated with Studio Ghibli and Sony Interactive Entertainment; and Usun Anyi, a storyteller from Long Panai, Baram. Yasuka, who was researching Kelabit language grammar, first met Roselind in Singapore – kick-starting the journey which led to the publication of the book. According to Curtin University Malaysia's acting pro vice-chancellor and dean of learning and teaching Tang Fu Ee, the book is both a scholarly milestone and heartfelt tribute to Sarawak's rich cultural heritage. 'This is more than a book – it is a bridge between generations, cultures, oral tradition and written legacy. It brings the voices of the Kayan people into the hands of children, educators and readers across the region and beyond. 'It affirms that indigenous stories, which are rich with wisdom, values and imagination, belong not only to the past but also our shared future,' he said. Also present were Kayan paramount chief Temenggong Elizabeth Deng, community leaders, teachers and academicians. Dennis Ngau Kayan folklore book lead Lung Lebui miri
HKFP
08-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Chinese firm's lead mine plan weighs heavily on Myanmar tribe
Hundreds of protesting Myanmar tribespeople march up a hillside to a cavernous facility where a Chinese joint venture's giant milling machines stand ready to grind up the rocks of their ancestral homeland for lead ore. Demand for the heavy metal is forecast to rise, driven by its use in the batteries needed for the global energy transition. But its extraction can pollute the environment and the Pradawng tribespeople carry banners reading: 'No transparency, no responsibility'. 'We don't have any plan to exchange this inheritance from our ancestors for money or riches,' said 24-year-old protest leader Khun Khine Min Naing. 'This land is the dignity of our tribe.' Since a 2021 coup, Myanmar has been riven by civil war and shattered into a patchwork of loosely governed territories ripe for exploitation by unregulated miners. And neighbouring China is keen to scoop up the minerals and metals Myanmar can supply. The Pradawng — a little-known subtribe of the Kayan ethnic group — claim around 3,000 members and a 381-year lineage in Shan state, in Myanmar's east. Embed from Getty Images They say Myanmar firm Four Star Company and a Chinese partner have planned a mega-project mining lead upriver from their village, Thi Kyeik, in Pekon township. Heavy machinery began to be installed in February, but the tribe say they were not consulted on the scheme and fear it will taint the area with hazardous chemicals. Locals have blockaded roads to turn back vehicles, and threatened to seize mining equipment, defying possible violent backlash in a country where the right to assemble often depends on the whims of armed guards. 'We are only asking for Indigenous rights that we should own,' Khun Khine Min Naing told AFP, demanding mine plans are rolled back until the war is over and they can be scrutinised by a civilian government. Natural resources Lead is a toxic metal, most commonly mined for use in lead-acid batteries. Extracting it can pollute local soil and water supplies, with children particularly vulnerable to exposure, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 'We don't want to leave this land environmentally damaged for the next generation,' said Khun Khine Min Naing. 'We don't want to be regarded as historical criminals.' Embed from Getty Images The Pradawng say Four Star Company has been active locally for two decades and is linked to the local ruling Kayan New Land Party, whose armed wing maintains a ceasefire with Myanmar's military. The firm could not be reached for comment. Their Chinese partner company is harder to identify, and locals say its involvement was only revealed when its representatives attended a joint event with Four Star Company intended to address community backlash. China shares a 2,100-kilometre (1,300-mile) border with Myanmar and has long been a lucrative market for the country's natural resources, including jade, gemstones, teak logs and metal ores. It accounts for nearly 98 percent of Myanmar's lead ore and concentrate exports, according to 2023 World Bank data. The figures say 49,000 tonnes worth $20 million were exported to China that year, but that is likely far short of the true amount. The lack of a central authority means tracking the real scale of mining operations across Myanmar is difficult. But satellite imagery analysis of one hotspot on the Myanmar-China border by the Britain-based Centre for Information Resilience showed the expanse of mining operations there nearly doubled in size between 2018 and 2024. 'Only stones for our children' Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are widely used in vehicles, including EVs where they provide auxiliary power, as well as for storing power generated by renewable technologies such as wind and solar. The metal — identified by the WHO as 'one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern' — sells for around $2,000 per refined tonne on the global market. Embed from Getty Images But the Pradawng people suspect they will see none of the profits. Along with health risks, locals fear environmental damage, with villagers saying increased mining in recent years has led to more flooding and mudslides that carried off entire homes. Mu Ju July, 19, ekes out a living picking through mine slag heaps for scraps of lead to sell. A flurry of prospecting could be a windfall for her, but she worries it will squander the livelihoods and homes of future generations. 'If we allow them, we will be okay for only one or two years,' she said. 'It will leave only stones when the time comes for our children.'
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
China lead mine plan weighs heavily on Myanmar tribe
AP image PEKON: Hundreds of protesting Myanmar tribespeople march up a hillside to a cavernous facility where a Chinese joint venture's giant milling machines stand ready to grind up the rocks of their ancestral homeland for lead ore. Demand for the heavy metal is forecast to rise, driven by its use in the batteries needed for the global energy transition. But its extraction can pollute the environment and the Pradawng tribespeople carry banners reading: "No transparency, no responsibility". "We don't have any plan to exchange this inheritance from our ancestors for money or riches," said 24-year-old protest leader Khun Khine Min Naing. "This land is the dignity of our tribe." Since a 2021 coup, Myanmar has been riven by civil war and shattered into a patchwork of loosely governed territories ripe for exploitation by unregulated miners. And neighbouring China is keen to scoop up the minerals and metals Myanmar can supply. The Pradawng - a little-known sub tribe of the Kayan ethnic group - claim around 3,000 members and a 381-year lineage in Shan state, in Myanmar's east. They say Myanmar firm Four Star Company and a Chinese partner have planned a mega-project mining lead upriver from their village, Thi Kyeik, in Pekon township. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Heavy machinery began to be installed in February, but the tribe say they were not consulted on the scheme and fear it will taint the area with hazardous chemicals. Locals have blockaded roads to turn back vehicles, and threatened to seize mining equipment, defying possible violent backlash in a country where the right to assemble often depends on the whims of armed guards. Lead is a toxic metal, most commonly mined for use in lead-acid batteries. Extracting it can pollute local soil and water supplies, with children particularly vulnerable to exposure, according to the WHO. "We don't want to leave this land environmentally damaged for the next generation," said Khun Khine Min Naing. "We don't want to be regarded as historical criminals." The Pradawng say Four Star Company has been active locally for two decades and is linked to the local ruling Kayan New Land Party, whose armed wing maintains a ceasefire with Myanmar's military. The firm could not be reached for comment. Their Chinese partner company is harder to identify, and locals say its involvement was only revealed when its representatives attended a joint event with Four Star Company intended to address community backlash. China shares a 2,100-kilometre (1,300-mile) border with Myanmar and has long been a lucrative market for the country's natural resources, including jade, gemstones, teak logs and metal ores. It accounts for nearly 98 percent of Myanmar's lead ore and concentrate exports, according to 2023 World Bank data. The figures say 49,000 tonnes worth $20 million were exported to China that year, but that is likely far short of the true amount. The lack of a central authority means tracking the real scale of mining operations across Myanmar is difficult. But satellite imagery analysis of one hotspot on the Myanmar-China border by the Britain-based Centre for Information Resilience showed the expanse of mining operations there nearly doubled in size between 2018 and 2024. Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are widely used in vehicles, including EVs where they provide auxiliary power, as well as for storing power generated by renewable technologies such as wind and solar. The metal - identified by the WHO as "one of 10 chemicals of major public health concern" - sells for around $2,000 per refined tonne on the global market. But the Pradawng people suspect they will see none of the profits. Along with health risks, locals fear environmental damage, with villagers saying increased mining in recent years has led to more flooding and mudslides that carried off entire homes. Mu Ju July, 19, ekes out a living picking through mine slag heaps for scraps of lead to sell. A flurry of prospecting could be a windfall for her, but she worries it will squander the livelihoods and homes of future generations. "If we allow them, we will be okay for only one or two years," she said. "It will leave only stones when the time comes for our children."
