Qiandaohu, China | The caviar on the menu of Michelin-starred restaurants may come from an unexpected place: China.

The country has endured embarrassing food scandals in recent years, but its sturgeon eggs have gained the respect of caviar connoisseurs around the world.

It has also become pricier for US buyers as Chinese caviar is among the slew of products hit with 25 percent tariffs in the US-China trade war.

The bulk of China's production comes from a picturesque lake ringed by mountains in eastern Zhejiang province where industry leader Kaluga Queen breeds the giant fish.

The brand was created in 2005 by experts who worked for the ministry of agriculture and it now produces more than a third of the world's caviar, making China the global leader.

The company's sturgeon farm is a 20-minute boat ride away from the shore in Qiandaohu, or Thousands Islands Lake.

Qiao Yuwen, a breeder, stood at the edge of the pools where the animals live until they are between the ages of seven and 15. 

The biggest sturgeons can grow to be four meters (13 feet) long and weigh 300 kilos (660 pounds).

"They're like our babies. We see them from when they're very young, so it's hard when they are sent to be slaughtered," Qiao said.

"But there's also, of course, the satisfaction of having contributed to making an exceptional product," he said before throwing pellets containing shrimp, peas and vitamins to the fish.

- 'Price of a Ferrari' -

For a long time, Iran and Russia fished sturgeon in the wild in the Caspian Sea.

But the fish population was nearly decimated by overfishing and poaching after the Soviet Union, which had regulated fishing, fell in 1991.

Sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea was banned in 2008 while sturgeon farms have sprung up everywhere, with Italy, France and China among the world leaders in the industry.

Kaluga Queen has 300 employees looking after some 200,000 sturgeons.

Once they reach sexual maturity, females are fished out and taken to a laboratory where they are stunned before their bellies are sliced open to extract the black eggs.

The roe is then washed, sorted, salted and placed in boxes.

Kaluga Queen produced 86 tonnes of caviar last year, most of it destined for exports, with half going to the European Union, 20 percent to the United States and 10 percent to Russia.

Depending on the species, the price per kilo varies between 10,000 and 180,000 yuan ($1,420 to $25,600). 

Sturgeons producing the most expensive caviar can carry as much as two million yuan worth of eggs.

"It's the price of a Ferrari," said Xia Yongtao, the company's vice president.

- 'Very good caviar' -

Kaluga Queen has walked a "long road" to win the trust of customers since the company produced its first jar in 2006, Xia said.

Chinese caviar had to overcome scepticism from foreign clients who were used to headlines about food scandals, from contaminated milk powder to soy sauce containing arsenic and rice tainted with cadmium.

"A few years ago, customers were reluctant when we talked about Chinese caviar," said Raphael Bouchez, president of Kaviari, a Paris-based supplier to renowned restaurants.

Bouchez convinced customers by explaining how Chinese producers raise fish and use methods that respect the environment.

"Chinese caviar, it must be said, is a very good caviar," Bouchez said.

"That said, many of the chefs still do not want it. They prefer to have caviar from France, Uruguay, or elsewhere," he said.

Today, Kaluga Queen has an annual turnover of 220 million yuan and counts among its customers German airline Lufthansa and L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, a two Michelin stars restaurant in Shanghai.

Distributors supply other restaurants around the world, and one buyer said he had delivered one shipment to Kim Jong Un, according to Xia.

French chef Guy Savoy, whose Paris restaurant has three Michelin stars and is rated the best in the world, uses Chinese caviar with skate wings and scallops.

"The label 'made in China' does not matter," Savoy told AFP. "The important thing is the quality of the breeding. Those supplied to us are of remarkable quality."

Lily Liu, Kaluga Queen's marketing manager, hopes someone else can try her company's caviar.

"We hope that Donald Trump will taste our caviar and say: 'I like it! Let's reduce tariffs and help Chinese caviar conquer America!"

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© Agence France-Presse

Vancouver, Canada |The world's first fully electric commercial aircraft took its inaugural test flight on Tuesday, taking off from the Canadian city of Vancouver and offering hope that airlines may one day end their polluting emissions.

"This proves that commercial aviation in all-electric form can work," said Roei Ganzarski, chief executive of Seattle-based engineering firm magniX.

The company designed the plane's motor and worked in partnership with Harbour Air, which ferries half a million passengers a year between Vancouver, Whistler ski resort and nearby islands and coastal communities.

Ganzarski said the technology would mean significant cost savings for airlines -- not to mention zero emissions.

"This signifies the start of the electric aviation age," he told reporters.

Civil aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon emissions as people increasingly take to the skies and new technologies have been slow to get off the ground.

At 285 grammes of CO2 emitted per kilometre (mile) travelled by each passenger, airline industry emissions far exceed those from all other modes of transport, according to the European Environment Agency. The emissions contribute to global warming and climate change, which scientists say will unleash ever harsher droughts, superstorms, and sea-level rise.

The e-plane -- a 62-year-old, six-passenger DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver seaplane retrofitted with an electric motor –- was piloted by Greg McDougall, founder and chief executive of Harbour Air.

"For me that flight was just like flying a Beaver, but it was a Beaver on electric steroids. I actually had to back off on the power," he said. 

McDougall took the plane on a short loop along the Fraser River near Vancouver International Airport in front of around 100 onlookers soon after sunrise. 

- Environmentally-friendly flying -

The flight lasted less than 15 minutes, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

"Our goal is to actually electrify the entire fleet. There's no reason not to," said McDougall.

On top of fuel efficiency, the company would save millions in maintenance costs, as electric motors require "drastically" less upkeep, McDougall said.

However, Harbour Air will have to wait at least two years before it can begin electrifying its fleet of more than 40 seaplanes.

The e-plane has to be tested further to confirm it is reliable and safe. In addition, the electric motor must be approved and certified by regulators.

In Ottawa, Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters ahead of the maiden flight that he had his "fingers crossed that the electric plane will work well."

If it does, he said, "it could set a trend for more environmentally friendly flying."

Battery power is also a challenge. An aircraft like the one flown on Tuesday could only fly about 100 miles (160 kilometers) on lithium battery power, said Ganzarski.

While that's not far, it's sufficient for the majority of short-haul flights run by Harbour Air.

"The range now is not where we'd love it to be, but it's enough to start the revolution," said Ganzarski, who predicts batteries and electric motors will eventually be developed to power longer flights. 

While the world waits, he said cheaper short-haul flights powered by electricity could transform the way people connect and where they work.

"If people are willing to drive an hour to work, why not fly 15 minutes to work?" he said.   

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© Agence France-Presse

“Tis the season to gather n celebrate!”

With only a few days left just before the most wonderful time of the year, ease your plans with special Holiday deals where it’s a lot better at Novotel Manila Araneta City.

Bring the whole family to gather around Holiday spreads of joy to share delectable dishes,  scrumptious desserts and  delightful conversations at Food Exchange Manila for either or both Christmas Eve dinner feast from 6PM to 9PM at Php 2,588 nett per adult and Noche Buena Buffet from 11PM to 1AM at Php 1,988 nett per adult.

Now, who says, you have got to stay alone on Christmas Day? If you have nowhere to be, prepare that outfit and jointhe Friendsgiving Table where you can meet new acquaintances and cheerful hotel staff who are also celebrating on duty at the Food Exchange Manila.

After filling yourself with the best of the season, why not take the fun by the 6^th Pool Bar or at Sabor Bar de Vinos with a few more yuletide cocktails or local drinks. You may opt to cozy in at your own room with their package deals with buffet breakfast starting at Php 6,550.00 nett. As a brand promise, children 15 years and below also gets to stay and have breakfast with you for free!

The end of this decade deserves to be celebrated! So raise your glass when you Party N Celebrate at the NYE Countdown at the Monet Grand Ballroom for only Php 2020 nett.

Go on, leave your Holiday stress behind. For inquiries and reservations, please call (02) 8990 7888 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information about Novotel Manila Araneta Center, its facilities and services are available via www.novotel.com, www.accorhotels.com, or www.novotelmanilaaranetacenter.com.

Another First this Christmas at Araneta City

To give you and your loved ones a personal first experience of a heart-stopping show with daring and thrilling performances, Araneta City is set to bring the China National Acrobatic Troupe for a Christmas show entitled “The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus.

One never-to-missed act is the Rose Bud contortionist, a mythical fox in a trance of contortion and coquetry. Another jaw dropping act is the Peking Opera’s Huadan (heroines) in Diabolo where performers in majestic suits intrinsically play the Chinese Yo-yo.

The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus will run from December 25, 2019 to January 4, 2020 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Enjoy a 25% discount on every purchase of ten (10) tickets by using a Mastercard Debit, Credit, and Prepad card in any Ticketnet outlets. The promo can also be availed via www.ticketnet.com.ph and the Araneta City Mobile app by using the promocode MCARANETA25.

Interested buyers may also call 8911-5555.

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can ‘press pause’ and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand’s wide array of hotels, suites and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

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This year, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar went beyond glitz and glamour and opted to celebrate deeper sense of the Yuletide season through two major initiatives -  tree-making contest and chorale group competition.

Unlike traditional tree lighting ceremony, the heritage hotel and destination nestled in Bagac, Bataan, put a spotlight on two important aspects – creativity and sustainability – through an environmental-friendly inter-municipality Christmas Tree-making contest.

The grand reveal and lighting ceremony was held last December 7, 2019, at the familiar grounds of Plaza Tobias at Las Casas.

Among the judges were Filipina actress-comedienne Kiray Celis, Man of the World 2018 First Runner-up Clint Karklins, Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Tee, Robert Joshua Camacho, and Marivent Resort Hotel Inc. President Paul Kerr.

In photo: Christmas Tree-making judges and Chorale group finalists.

Las Casas’”Christmas Tree-Cycle Competition” named Team Abucay’s spherical tree as the contest’s grand winner.

According to Engineer Vince Norman Izon, team leader and Sangguniang Kabataan of Abucay Chairperson, said that the tree’s concept is as if the balls are lifting each other until they reach the top.

Moreso, their abstract design symbolizes completeness, unity, equality, and acceptance.

The municipality’s existing “Palit Bote Para sa School Supplies” campaign also came in handy as it became their biggest step in completing their Christmas tree.

Participating municipalities include Abucay, Limay, Hermosa, Mariveles, Dinalupihan and the City of Balanga.

Marivent Resort Hotel Inc. President Paul Kerr said in his opening speech during the event, “This initiative aims to celebrate Christmas through showing off their creative and competitive spirits and in the long run unite the municipalities towards one goal.

“There’s much about community as it is about the environment and trying to create a better and cleaner Bataan for everyone.”

Team Abucay received PHP 200,000 while runners-up Balanga and Limay won PHP 

100,000 and PHP 50,000 respectively. Non-winners still took home PHP 10,000 each.

Meanwhile, Las Casas will also be launching its chorale competition that will feature the world-class talents of Bataeǹos.

Positioned as Bataan’s biggest amateur chorale competition, said initiative aims to not just promote performing arts to younger generations but also to become an avenue to showcase the locals’ undeniable singing prowess.

Finalists will have a final showdown in a Christmas concert titled “A Christmas Carol” on December 14, a night before the traditional “Simbang Gabi.”

For more information, visit www.lascasasfilipinas.com or Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar on Facebook and Instagram.

Bangkok, Thailand | At Bangkok's Reclining Buddha temple, Krairath Chantrasri says he is a proud custodian of an ancient skill -- the body-folding, sharp-elbowed techniques of Thai massage, which was added Thursday to UNESCO's prestigious heritage list.

Originating in India and practiced in Thailand for centuries, the massage was popularized when a specialty school opened in the 1960s to train massage therapists from around the world.

Nuad Thai's addition to UNESCO's list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage" practices "is historic," said the Thai delegate at the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization meeting in Bogota, Colombia. 

"It helps promote the practice of Nuad Thai locally and internationally," he said.

From upscale Bangkok spas and Phuket beach fronts to modest street-side shophouses, "nuad Thai" is ubiquitous across the kingdom, where an hour of the back-straightening discipline can cost as little as $5.

Krairath, who teaches at the Reclining Buddha School inside the famed Wat Pho temple, helps thousands of Thai and foreign students who flock to the centre each year.

The son of a masseuse, he takes great pride in his role sharing the ancient discipline at a temple whose certification is a proud banner for any massage shop. 

"I'm a continuation of our collective knowledge," the 40-year-old told AFP.

At Wat Pho's complex, trainees run through a catalogue of moves targeting the body's acupressure points with thumbs, elbows, knees and feet while also incorporating deep stretches and contortions. 

Doctors and monks were said to have brought these methods 2,500 years ago to Thailand, passing its secrets from master to disciple in temples and later within families.

Under Thailand's King Rama III in the nineteenth century, scholars engraved their knowledge of the field onto the stones of Wat Pho.

The nuad Thai school, which has trained more than 200,000 massage therapists who practice in 145 countries, first opened in 1962.

- Turning the tables -

Massage employs tens of thousands of Thais.

The school's director Preeda Tangtrongchitr says they usually see an uptick in interest from Thais when the economy is bad. 

"For many people who are disabled or in debt, this job is an opportunity because it requires no material -- only their hands and knowledge," he said.

Today, a therapist at a top-end spa can charge around $100 an hour in Thailand, and two or three times more in London, New York or Hong Kong where the Thai massage brand is booming.

But the training is "demanding", says Chilean Sari, a professional masseuse who travelled to Bangkok to learn the discipline. 

"The technique is very precise; there are so many things to be aware of," the 34-year-old told AFP, as she made rotations with her palm on a fellow student's skull. 

The teachings focus on directing blood circulation around problem areas to solve muscle aches -- sometimes drawing winces from clients unaccustomed to the force applied. 

Studies have shown it can help relieve back pain, headaches, insomnia and even anxiety.

For Matthieu Rochefolle, a nurse from Lyon, France, adding Thai massage techniques to his repertoire of skills could help his elderly patients aching for relief. 

"It could also allow me to earn a little more," he said. 

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© Agence France-Presse