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Chinese animation series gains popularity on global stage

(Xinhua)09:34, August 20, 2020

Leading Chinese online streaming platform iQIYI said Wednesday that it will continue to produce the CG-animation series Deer Squad Season II.

The cartoon has received gratifying response from international viewers since it was aired on Aug. 3 on Nickelodeon, a U.S. entertainment brand for kids.

Deer Squad is an animated adventure rescue series about four loveable, enthusiastic and heroic young deer friends — Kai, Lola, Rammy and Bobbi, who protect the animals of Central Forest and the humans who inhabit Platinum City, a futuristic metropolis surrounding their woodland home.

When there is trouble, the deer summon their planetary powers and transform into a team capable of solving problems.

We are very glad that such a platform airs our story Deer Squad to international audience, said Yang Xiaoxuan, vice president of iQIYI.

According to Yang, iQIYI has adopted a new way of making cartoons to ensure international broadcasting. When the company drew up the outline of the story in 2017, it introduced Nickelodeon to the team for creative guidance and supervision.

Yang said it is the first time that a Chinese animation producer has taken the route in order to show its works to global audience.

It is also the first time that Nickelodeon has introduced an original Chinese animation from the conception phase.

When we cooperate with an international network from an early stage, the misunderstanding and divergence that may appear in the process of international broadcasting can be handled in advance, said Yang.

Deer Squad premiered first on iQIYI on July 15, before its launch on Nickelodeon in Asia in August. Nickelodeon also plans to roll it out internationally later this year.

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Dunhuang-themed products a hit on livestream

(Xinhua)09:39, August 20, 2020

Speaking in front of a live camera, Du Yongwei presented a blue guitar with exquisite patterns of phoenix and peonies, woven into the instrument as cultural elements from Dunhuangs Mogao Grottoes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest Chinas Gansu Province.

The images imitate elements from the murals of the Mogao Grottoes, which imply their specific meanings in the Chinese culture, Du, a 60-year-old inheritor of Dunhuang-painted sculpture craft, told the audience.

Tmall, Chinas internet giant Alibabas online marketplace, collaborated with the Dunhuang Museum on Sunday to hold a livestreaming activity at the replicated grottoes in the museum.

The two-hour livestream, which attracted more than 10,000 online viewers, introduced the Dunhuang culture, and unveiled the stories and background of the Dunhuang-themed cultural and creative products.

Weve found that young people are keen on Dunhuang culture and theyre also willing to contribute their own power to cultural inheritance, said Liu Chang, manager of the online flagship shop of the Dunhuang Museum on Tmall.

According to Liu, since the shop opened on Tmall on May 18, it has received some 500,000 visits, with 40 percent of visitors younger than 30.

T-shirts and skateboards with patterns of flying apsaras, mooncakes in the shape of the nine-colored deer, as well as other featured products, including phone cases and key chains, won their favor with new fashion elements.

I couldnt imagine this millennium-old culture presented on products in fashionable designs, read a real-time comment.

As museums, monuments and historical sites across China embrace the digital age, a new upsurge in online exhibitions and livestreaming has added popularity to cultural and creative products. Many have joined hands with livestreaming platforms to offer online sales of their products to the public.

So far, more than 60 museums and cultural and creative stores, both at home and abroad, have opened online shops on Tmall with more than 700 million collective visits, said Liu Qian, who is in charge of the cultural and creative business on Tmall.

Dunhuang culture is a treasure for the world, and 200 million users of Tmall are from Generation Z, so we hope to create more opportunities for young people to know about Dunhuang, she said.

The Mogao Grottoes are home to collections of Buddhist artwork — more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals — in 735 caves carved along a cliff by ancient worshippers.

They were first constructed in 366 A.D. For more than 1,000 years, the site was a popular travelers stop and a religious shrine on the ancient Silk Road.

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More Chinese graduates settle down in second-tier cities newspaper

(Xinhua)16:21, July 14, 2020

BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — A growing number of Chinese university graduates are leaving first-tier cities for second-tier ones for lower living costs and easier access to local hukou, or household registration status, Tuesdays China Daily reported.

In 2019, 20 percent of college graduates chose to work in first-tier cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, down six percentage points from 2015, the newspaper cited data from the Chinese Four-Year College Graduates Employment Annual Report (2020).

While the proportion of college graduates who chose to work in one of the top 10 second-tier cities, such as Hangzhou in east Chinas Zhejiang Province and Chengdu in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, rose to 26 percent in 2019 from 22 percent in 2015.

A similar trend was also spotted among Chinese vocational college graduates, the newspaper said, citing a separate Chinese Three-Year Vocational College Graduates Employment Annual Report (2020).

While graduates from first-tier cities had the highest job satisfaction rate, with Shanghai topping the list with 76 percent and Beijing ranking second with 75.8 percent, second-tier cities like Hangzhou also had a high job satisfaction rate of 75.2 percent, figures from the report show.

The reports, released by MyCOS, an education consulting and research institute in Beijing, were based on a survey of 274,000 graduates from 30 provincial-level regions.

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AU chairperson condemns unconstitutional change of government in Mali

(Xinhua)10:15, August 20, 2020

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union (AU) Chairperson, on Wednesday condemned the unconstitutional change of government in Mali.

In a statement, Ramaphosa voiced concern over the developments in Mali, which have led to the forced resignation of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Keita, currently detained by mutinous soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisses government. Cisse and some other senior government officials were also detained by the soldiers.

Ramaphosa demanded that the Malian military release from detention the president, the prime minister, ministers and other government executives.

Ramaphosa called for an immediate return to civilian rule and for the military to return to their barracks.

He urged the people of Mali, political parties and civil society, to observe the rule of law and engage in peaceful dialogue in order to resolve their challenges.

Ramaphosa further urged African leaders and the entire international community to denounce and reject the military-led unconstitutional change of government and to assist the people of Mali to return to civilian and democratic rule.

For months, opposition parties have been organizing demonstrations to demand Keitas resignation, accusing him of being responsible for the worsening security situation in the northern part of the country and Malis economic recession.

Keita was first elected president of Mali in 2013 and re-elected for another five-year term in office in 2018.

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Mali to reopen land, air borders after mutiny CNSP

(Xinhua)08:49, August 21, 2020

BAMAKO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), a transitional governing body set up by mutinous Malian soldiers, informed Thursday night that the land and air borders of Mali are to reopen on Friday.

In a short press release signed by its vice-president Colonel Malick Diaw, the CNSP announced the reopening of Malis land and air borders from zero oclock this Friday.

The new governing body of Mali said that all security measures have been taken in order to assure the good circulation of people and their goods.

A few hours after the forced resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday, the CNSP made its first public statement. Colonel-Major Ismael Wague, as spokesman for the CNSP, announced a series of measures, including the immediate closure of the countrys land and air borders until further notice, and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Strongly condemning the overthrowing of Keitas democratically elected government, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided Tuesday evening to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade and financial flows and transactions between the ECOWAS member states and Mali, until the effective reinstatement of the constitutional order in Mali.

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France, Germany and UK do not support U.S. in seeking to reimpose sanctions on Iran joint statement

(Xinhua)09:04, August 21, 2020

LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Thursday saying that they cannot support the United States in seeking to reimpose sanctions on Iran.

The U.S. sent a letter to the UN Security Council on Thursday requesting to initiate the snapback mechanism, which allows a participant to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) to seek the reimposition against Iran of the multilateral sanctions lifted in 2015 in accordance with resolution 2231, adopted by the UN Security Council.

The U.S. ceased to be a participant to the JCPoA following their withdrawal from the deal on 8 May, 2018… We cannot therefore support this action which is incompatible with our current efforts to support the JCPoA, the statement noted.

France, Germany and the UK said they are committed to preserving the processes and institutions which constitute the foundation of multilateralism. We remain guided by the objective of upholding the authority and integrity of the United Nations Security Council. We call on all UN Security Council members to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work.

Reiterating that they remain committed to the JCPoA despite the significant challenges caused by U.S. withdrawal, the three countries said they believe that we should address the current issue of systematic Iranian non-compliance with its JCPoA obligations through dialogue between JCPoA participants, including through the Joint Commission and use of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism.

In order to preserve the agreement, they urged Iran to reverse all measures inconsistent with its nuclear commitments and return to full compliance without delay.

The three countries also pledged to continue to work with all UN Security Council members and stakeholders to seek a path forward that preserves space for further diplomacy.

Our efforts will be guided by the need to uphold the authority and integrity of the UN Security Council and to advance regional security and stability, they noted in the statement.

The JCPoA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was inked by Iran in July 2015 with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. However, the U.S., under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the deal on May 8, 2018, and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, despite objections from the international community.

A year after the U.S. unilateral exit, Iran stopped implementing some of its commitments under the deal and set a 60-day deadline for the Europeans to help the Islamic republic reap the economic benefits of the deal.

The European signatories still support the deal and have vowed to sidestep U.S. sanctions re-imposed after its withdrawal.

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UN condemns killing of 2 civil society activists in Iraqs Basra

(Xinhua)09:25, August 21, 2020

BAGHDAD, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday strongly condemned the killing of two civil society activists in Iraqs southern province of Basra.

The killing of Dr. Reham Yaqoub last night and Tahseen Oussama a week ago presents a serious threat to security and stability in Basra, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, said in a statement.

The citizens of Basra should not live in such an atmosphere of terror and threat, and greater action by the authorities is urgently required to hold the perpetrators accountable, and to put an end to this cycle of violence, said Hennis-Plasschaert, who also heads the UNAMI.

On Wednesday, unknown gunmen opened fire on a sport utility vehicle (SUV) carrying four women on a street in the city of Basra, some 550 km south of Baghdad.

The attack resulted in the killing of Yaqoub, a female doctor who works in Basra Hospital and also a civil society activist who supports the anti-government protests in Iraq which demanded comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services, and more job opportunities.

The attack also resulted in the killing of another woman and the wounding of the two others in the vehicle.

Two days ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi sacked the police chief of Basra province, as well as the head of the National Security Service, due to repeated security violations and assassinations in the province recently.

Last Friday, unknown gunmen assassinated another civil society activist, Tahseen Oussama, with silenced weapons in Basra, said the provincial police.

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AU says unconstitutional change of govt in Mali further complicates security situation

(Xinhua)11:05, August 21, 2020

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — The African Union (AU) Commission said the unconstitutional change of government in Mali further complicates the situation on the ground, particularly the implementation of the peace and reconciliation agreement as well as the current efforts in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in the country.

The statement was made by the the Peace and Security Council of the AU Commission, which also on late Wednesday suspended Mali from the AU membership during its latest meeting that dwelt upon the situation in the western Africa country.

The Council strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of government in Mali, which took place on August 18, 2020, which further complicates the situation on the ground, particularly the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Mali emanating from the Algiers process, signed in 2015, as well as the current efforts in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime in the country, the Council said in a statement issued on late Wednesday.

The Council had also decided to immediately suspend the participation of Mali in the activities of the AU until the restoration of normal constitutional order in the country, in line with the relevant AU instruments, particularly the AU Constitutive Act, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the 2000 Lome Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Governments and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as the 2009 Ezulwini Framework for the Enhancement of the Implementation of AU Measures in Situations of Unconstitutional Changes of Government.

Noting the urgent need for a rapid resolution of the current crisis based on respect for constitutional order and reflecting the aspirations of the people of Mali within the framework of the relevant AU instruments, the council further appealed to the Malian people to remain calm and to work together to resolve the crisis in their country.

It also called on the Malian defence and security forces to respect the countrys constitution, uphold their professionalism, stick to their constitutional mandate and to unconditionally return to the barracks, as well as to refrain from interfering in the countrys political processes.

It also demanded the unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister H.E. Boubou Cisse, and that defence and security forces to ensure creation of a conducive environment for an unimpeded return to civilian rule.

It also encouraged all Malian political actors to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, within the framework of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Mali, as the only viable approach for addressing the current challenges facing the country.

The council further encouraged expediting the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, in order to reach a lasting solution to the crisis prevailing in the country.

It also commended and fully supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the sustained efforts being deployed in Mali, with a view to assisting the Malian stakeholders to find a consensual, peaceful and lasting solution to the current crisis in the country, and looks forward to the outcome of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled for August 20, 2020.

It also encouraged the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to continue supporting the Malian stakeholders, including in the implementation of the 2015 Agreement. It also called on partners to continue providing support to Mali.

Noting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the council also underscored the imperative for Africa Centers for Decease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to continue deploying its efforts in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease pandemic, as it emphasized the need to take the necessary steps to ensure enhanced support to Mali to enable the country to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on its population.

The council also decided to remain actively seized on the matter.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, currently detained by soldiers in the military camp in Kati, a town close to Bamako, announced late Tuesday night his resignation and the dissolution of the National Assembly and Prime Minister Boubou Cisses government.

Leaders of the military coup said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a reasonable time.

For months, the opposition coalition has been organizing demonstrations to demand Keitas resignation, accusing him of worsening the security situation in the northern part of the country and Malis economic recession.

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Xinjiang transmits more green energy in H1

(Xinhua)09:35, August 08, 2019

URUMQI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region transmitted a total of 28.56 billion kWh of electricity out of the region in the first half of this year, according to local authorities.

The State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. said Tuesday the amount of power transmitted out of the region increased by 16.76 percent compared to the same period last year, among which 41 percent was green energy mainly generated by wind and solar power.

The company said the power has been sent to central and eastern China provinces, including Henan and Anhui.

Last year, the outbound power transmission from Xinjiang reached 50,300 Gwh, with new energy power accounting for 35 percent, according to the company.

With abundant wind and solar resources, Xinjiang is a pioneer in using new energy in China.

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Shanghai, Sanya and Beijing ranked as top 3 Chinese leisure cities

(Peoples Daily Online)15:53, August 06, 2019

Shanghai City (Photo/Xinhua)

East China’s Shanghai Municipality, Sanya City of south China’s Hainan Province, and China’s capital Beijing were ranked the top 3 Chinese leisure cities in the Annual Report on China’s Leisure Development published Monday in Beijing, which evaluated the indexes of leisure in Chinese cities, China News Service reported on August 5.

Based on a system of indexes of leisure, the report, also called the Green Book of China’s Leisure, carried out comprehensive and individual analyses of 290 Chinese cities in terms of image and reputation, leisure space and environment, leisure economy and industry, leisure facility and service, leisure life and consumption, and tourism popularity from a regional perspective.

The analyses results showed that Shanghai, Sanya, Beijing, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Xi’an and Lhasa ranked the top 10 leisure cities among all evaluated Chinese cities.

As suggested by the report, 8 of the top 10 leisure cities were located in east China, while 2 came from western regions of China.

Cities located in eastern China have a better city image and reputation, leisure life and consumption, leisure facilities and service, leisure economy and industry, and tourism popularity than cities in other regions of the country, according to the report.

In terms of leisure facility and service, 5 of the top 10 scorers and 49 of the top 100 cities are from the eastern regions of the country, while the top 3 cities in terms of leisure economy and industry are all eastern cities, disclosed the report.

Eastern Chinese cities showed a better performance in leisure life and consumption, with the top 12 scores in leisure life and consumption all won by cities in eastern China, while 60 of the top 100 cities on the list for leisure life and consumption were eastern cities, said the report.

While superior in most indexes, eastern Chinese cities are inferior in regards to their leisure environment and space when compared with cities in central and north China, said the report. It revealed that 38 cities from the east of China were ranked lower than 200th place in terms of leisure environment and space, accounting for 32.76 percent of ranked eastern cities, while the proportion of western cities ranked after 200th place stood at only 20 percent.

The report was jointly released by the National Academy of Economic Strategy, Tourism Research Center, and Social Sciences Academic Press (China), all affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).