Canadian vlogger aims to present beautiful, vibrant Chongqing to world

Alex Reporterfy, a Canadian vlogger who has lived in China for decades, has been sharing videos online that showcase the fascinating scenery and vibrant economy of Chongqing, dubbed a "cyberpunk city" by many netizens for its unique landscape and futurist architecture.

Reporterfy's story with China began 30 years ago when he visited the Canton Fair, the country's largest trade fair held in the southern city of Guangzhou. As a journalist and blogger, he likes to share glimpses of his daily life in China on social media and has garnered a substantial following on popular video-sharing platforms including YouTube and Bilibili.

"In my 30 years here in China, I've seen a remarkable change in the country. The government has invested trillions of dollars in infrastructure. Also, the investment in education, the investment in healthcare, the investment in even battery technology, for example, has helped their new energy vehicle markets prosper here. This helps the environment," he said.

Reporterfy has decided to settle in Chongqing, a southwestern city built on mountains, featuring a cityscape of ups and downs and scattered buildings. Over the years, he has been deeply captivated by the city's awe-inspiring natural sceneries, glassy skyscrapers, bustling streets, delicious food and an inclusive local culture.

"And this is a city that has a lot of famous parts about it, not just Chaotianmen or Jiefangbei, also the [outskirt] districts like Dazu, or there's Wuxi County, or there's Wulong. One of the largest monorail lines in the world go through here," said Reporterfy.

Now apart from vlogging, Reporterfy has worked with his local friends in Chongqing to make a film "China's Cyberpunk Futuristic MegaCity 2024."

Featuring ultra-high-definition drone footage, the video takes viewers on a journey through towering skyscrapers, busy commercial centers, neon-lit alleyways and high-tech hubs that define Chongqing's unique character, highlighting a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, ancient culture and futuristic technology.

Stressing that the video is made up of real drone footage instead of AI-generated pictures, Reporterfy said he and his team captured what they feel the Western countries will see when they come to the city and welcome people from across the world to experience this fantastic place in person.

Canadian vlogger aims to present beautiful, vibrant Chongqing to world

Fertilizer and food-related costs are expected to rise significantly, with fertilizer prices projected to increase by between 15 and 20 percent, while food costs could rise by around 8 percent, given Malaysia's heavy reliance on imported inputs, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said on Monday.

This is in part due to 63 percent of the country's fertilizer being imported, leaving the country's agricultural sector particularly exposed to global disruptions, Akmal told parliament.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been identified as highly vulnerable due to limited financial buffers, with cash flow pressures expected to intensify as input costs rise sharply, he said, adding that the government is working to ensure the security of essential goods, control the prices of basic goods and improve the efficiency of distribution channels in order to reduce the impact of price increases.

Akmal said the government has set out a broad policy response to what it describes as a prolonged global supply crisis. Current rice stocks, including buffer reserves, are sufficient for five to six months, while supplies of essential food items such as chicken, eggs, fish, milk and fruit are adequate for at least one month.

The government's strategy is structured around four pillars: protecting citizens, stabilizing supply and prices, supporting SMEs and industry, and strengthening long-term economic resilience with targeted cash aid and fuel subsidies expected to continue.

Malaysian food prices expected to rise by 8 pct, says Malaysian official