标签： Asia

Dubai is set to host an extraordinary automotive spectacle as Indian industrialist Yohan Poonawalla, renowned as the ‘Rolls-Royce Man,’ brings his exceptional collection of vintage Phantom models to the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE rally. The event, scheduled from November 30 to December 4, 2025, will showcase seven historically significant vehicles from Poonawalla’s collection of 22 Rolls-Royce automobiles.

The highlight of this exhibition celebrates the centenary anniversary of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, featuring vehicles with remarkable provenance including a 1928 Phantom I previously owned by the Maharaja of Kashmir and a 1979 Phantom VI that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. Poonawalla described these vehicles as “living expressions of history, art and legacy” rather than mere transportation.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Poonawalla represents India at the prestigious UAE rally, which will feature approximately 120 collector cars traversing 1,600 kilometers across iconic locations including Sharjah Safari Park, Jebel Jais, and Hatta Fort. The event will also display the world’s most expensive car, a Mercedes 300 SLR valued at $140 million, specially transported from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany.

The Poonawalla family, with an estimated net worth of $27 billion, sees this participation as significant recognition of India’s growing presence in global motoring circles. Two of Poonawalla’s Phantoms will actively participate in the rally while the entire collection forms part of a curated ‘Phantom Centenary Exhibition’ commemorating 100 years of the iconic model series.

A transnational initiative dedicated to safeguarding Asia’s cultural treasures is capturing worldwide interest as it expands its global footprint and deepens international collaboration. The Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, initially established in 2021, has evolved into a significant force in heritage conservation, attracting participation from diverse nations beyond the Asian continent.

During its recent second general assembly and third council meeting in Chongqing, the alliance convened over 200 specialists and representatives from 33 countries and international organizations. The gathering served to evaluate progress and chart future directions for the collaborative framework.

Rao Quan, Director of China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, emphasized the alliance’s growing influence: “We are pleased to observe how the alliance has transcended geographical limitations and amplified its global impact. It facilitates not only intra-Asian cultural exchange but also fosters genuine dialogue between Asia and other world regions.”

The alliance has generated substantial practical outcomes since its inception, enabling advancements in ancient civilization research, collaborative archaeological excavations, historical site rehabilitation, and museum professional development. China alone has implemented 11 heritage preservation and restoration initiatives with nations including Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, and Kenya, while conducting 49 joint archaeological investigations with 28 countries internationally.

Notable projects include the Sino-Uzbek collaboration restoring Khiva’s ancient city to its former vitality and ongoing archaeological research between China and Saudi Arabia at al Serrian, a port ruin site near Mecca that reveals new insights about the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Myanmar’s Vice-Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture, Nu Mra Zan, highlighted the tangible benefits of international cooperation, citing Chinese assistance following earthquake damage to Mandalay’s historical monuments. “This demonstrates how international collaboration helps address our challenges,” she noted. “Our experiences confirm that cooperative efforts yield optimal outcomes.”

The Chongqing Consensus emerged from the assembly, advocating enhanced regional cooperation to address shared risks, increased application of scientific and technological solutions, and mutual learning to advance collaborative development.

Significantly, the alliance welcomed new participants including Greece, Kenya, Cuba, and Malaysia, bringing total membership to 16 member states, four partner states, and four observer states. Despite its European location, Greece recognizes shared values with the alliance, as articulated by Despoina Zernioti of Greece’s Corfu Museum of Asian Art: “Greece—a culture with global influence—shares the alliance’s commitment to protecting, understanding, and promoting cultural heritage.”

Concurrently, Egypt and China signed agreements strengthening collaboration in world heritage nomination, management, and conservation, signaling deeper future cooperation in heritage documentation, artifact preservation, site management, capacity building, and risk mitigation.

BANGKOK — Catastrophic flooding across twelve southern Thai provinces has resulted in at least 145 confirmed fatalities, according to official statements released Friday. The devastating deluge, triggered by torrential rainfall, has impacted approximately 1.2 million households and 3.6 million residents throughout the region.

Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed during a Bangkok news conference that the majority of casualties occurred in Songkhla province, which alone recorded 110 deaths. The death toll saw a significant increase as receding floodwaters enabled rescue teams to access previously submerged residential areas, particularly in Hat Yai, the south’s largest urban center.

While flood levels have subsided across most affected zones, certain locations continue to experience elevated water levels. The Meteorological Department reported decreased rainfall but issued ongoing thunderstorm warnings for specific areas.

The scale of destruction became increasingly visible as waters retreated, revealing overturned vehicles, collapsed infrastructure, and extensive debris accumulation. Powerful currents had swept away automobiles, leaving them stacked atop one another, while damaged roads and fallen power poles rendered many areas inaccessible. Household appliances and personal belongings lay scattered throughout flooded neighborhoods, illustrating the overwhelming force of the floodwaters that stranded thousands of residents and submerged low-rise buildings.