分类: society

  • Documentary on ‘Delivery Poet’ resonates in Italy

    Documentary on ‘Delivery Poet’ resonates in Italy

    The Italian literary community has warmly received a documentary celebrating an extraordinary Chinese delivery worker whose poetic talents have transcended occupational and national boundaries. “Three in the Afternoon: The Global Echo of a Delivery Poet,” which profiles the remarkable journey of Wang Jibing, recently enjoyed a special screening at the prestigious Italian Writers Association in early March.

    Wang, who delivers food in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, has developed an unconventional creative process: transforming his daily experiences and observations into poetry during brief pauses in his demanding delivery schedule. His verses, often initially scribbled on scrap paper or even his own palm, capture the essence of ordinary Chinese life with striking clarity and emotional depth.

    The documentary chronicles how Wang has composed over 6,000 poems throughout his career, with many appearing in poetry journals and literary publications across China and internationally. His growing global recognition is evidenced by translations of his work into multiple languages and publication in five countries.

    This screening marked the second European showcase for the documentary, following its successful premiere last December at the Sino-Italian Economic and Cultural Exchange Center in Rome. Both events have demonstrated the universal appeal of Wang’s story and creative output.

    Adding to his international literary presence, Wang’s poetry collection “Flying Low” is scheduled for publication in English and French translations later this year, further expanding the global reach of his unique artistic voice.

  • Driver stops out of control SUV with his own vehicle

    Driver stops out of control SUV with his own vehicle

    A remarkable act of roadside heroism was captured on cellphone video in Texas, where a quick-thinking motorist averted potential catastrophe by using his own vehicle to stop an out-of-control SUV. The incident unfolded when an SUV was seen moving erratically without a driver in apparent control, creating a dangerous situation for other road users.

    The vigilant truck driver, recognizing the imminent threat, positioned his vehicle to safely intercept the runaway automobile. With precise timing and calculated maneuvering, he made contact with the stray SUV, gradually bringing it to a complete stop through controlled resistance. This intervention prevented what law enforcement officials later suggested could have developed into a multi-vehicle collision with potentially severe consequences.

    Eyewitness accounts describe the SUV as having been moving at moderate speed but without directional control, creating a hazardous scenario particularly given Texas’s typically busy roadways. The footage shows bystanders reacting with a mixture of alarm and relief as the situation resolved without injury or significant property damage. Local authorities have commended the driver’s actions as exemplifying exceptional civic responsibility and presence of mind in an emergency situation.

  • China’s first domestically bred meat goat breed becomes key engine of prosperity

    China’s first domestically bred meat goat breed becomes key engine of prosperity

    The Nanjiang yellow goat, China’s inaugural domestically developed meat goat breed, has emerged as a powerful economic catalyst, transforming from a struggling local specialty into a prosperity engine for Bazhong, Sichuan province, over the past twenty years. This remarkable transition stems from the visionary efforts of Wang Qide, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress and chairman of the Wulang Yellow Goat Breeding Cooperative. Wang made a pivotal decision in 2006 to abandon his successful catering enterprise in Fujian province upon discovering a significant price discrepancy for Nanjiang yellow goats during Spring Festival celebrations. Despite commanding premium prices in distant markets, the local farmers raising these goats remained trapped in poverty. Upon returning to his hometown, Wang encountered a critical challenge: years of unregulated crossbreeding had severely depleted the purebred goat population, pushing the distinctive genetic lineage to the brink of disappearance. In collaboration with the Nanjiang Yellow Goat Research Institute, Wang established a comprehensive breeding facility and a scientific innovation center. This initiative created a dual conservation framework that has successfully preserved 5,000 core breeding goats alongside 3,000 superior genetic samples, ensuring the breed’s long-term viability and genetic diversity. The project has fundamentally revolutionized local agricultural practices, providing sustainable livelihoods for regional farmers while establishing a model for rural economic development through specialized animal husbandry and genetic preservation.

  • Video captures Guizhou’s transition from winter to spring

    Video captures Guizhou’s transition from winter to spring

    A visually captivating video showcasing Guizhou province’s remarkable transition from winter dormancy to spring vitality has taken social media by storm, demonstrating the region’s breathtaking natural beauty and cultural richness through innovative digital presentation techniques.

    The trending content employs a sophisticated palette-transition effect that artistically documents the seasonal metamorphosis occurring across southwestern China’s mountainous landscapes. This technological approach highlights the dramatic visual contrast between winter’s monochromatic scenery and spring’s vibrant explosion of color across Guizhou’s diverse terrain.

    Among the most striking transformations featured are the vast expanses of golden rapeseed flowers that now blanket previously barren fields, creating spectacular seas of yellow that attract photographers and nature enthusiasts alike. Equally impressive is the resurgence of Huangguoshu Waterfall, Asia’s largest waterfall, which now demonstrates its full power with surging white cascades as winter ice melts and spring runoff intensifies.

    The viral phenomenon coincides with the beginning of the tourism season, with the province’s renowned attractions experiencing significant visitor influxes. Local tourism authorities note that such digital content has substantially increased interest in Guizhou’s natural wonders, potentially boosting regional tourism following the winter months.

    This social media trend represents a growing intersection of technology, nature appreciation, and cultural promotion, demonstrating how digital innovation can enhance public engagement with environmental transformations and regional tourism development.

  • Italy buys Caravaggio painting for about $35 million, one of its largest payouts for a single work

    Italy buys Caravaggio painting for about $35 million, one of its largest payouts for a single work

    In a landmark cultural acquisition, the Italian government has successfully purchased a rare Baroque-era portrait by master painter Caravaggio for €30 million (approximately $35 million), marking one of the most significant state investments in a single artwork in the nation’s history. The Culture Ministry announced the acquisition on Tuesday following more than a year of delicate negotiations with private collectors.\n\nThe artwork, created circa 1598 and formally attributed to Caravaggio in 1963, portrays Maffeo Barberini during his nobleman years prior to his ascension as Pope Urban VIII. The portrait captures Barberini in his thirties, adorned in clerical garments of the Apostolic Chamber during a pivotal period of his political and religious career.\n\nCulture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the purchase as \”a work of exceptional importance,\” emphasizing its crucial role in Caravaggio’s modern rediscovery and its contribution to strengthening the presence of the artist’s works within Italian public collections. The acquisition forms part of Italy’s broader strategic initiative to enhance its national cultural heritage, following recent purchases including Antonello da Messina’s \”Ecce Homo\” masterpiece.\n\nThe painting gained scholarly recognition through art historian Roberto Longhi’s seminal 1963 article, which identified the work as a genuine Caravaggio creation. Longhi celebrated the portrait as \”one of the founding moments of modern portraiture,\\” highlighting Caravaggio’s revolutionary approach to psychological intensity and emotional depth.\n\nCaravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi, transformed European painting at the dawn of the 17th century through his innovative chiaroscuro technique—a dramatic interplay of light and shadow that became fundamental to Baroque aesthetics. Despite being among the most extensively studied artists globally, the number of authenticated Caravaggio works remains exceptionally limited.\n\nThe newly acquired masterpiece will join the permanent collection at Rome’s Palazzo Barberini, where it will be exhibited alongside other Caravaggio masterpieces, including the renowned \”Judith Slaying Holofernes\” acquired by the state in 1971. This placement creates one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Caravaggio’s work, making these artistic treasures accessible to both scholars and the public.

  • Innovative courses enrich seniors’ lives in Shanghai

    Innovative courses enrich seniors’ lives in Shanghai

    Shanghai’s senior education system has entered a new era of innovation as the Shanghai University for The Senior launched its 2026 spring semester with groundbreaking courses tailored to modern interests. The institution unveiled an ambitious curriculum featuring cutting-edge disciplines including artificial intelligence applications, drone operation technology, and artisanal coffee brewing alongside traditional offerings.

    The semester commenced with a dynamic opening ceremony on March 9, 2026, featuring live online broadcasts, choral performances of the school anthem, and ceremonial transitions of class leadership roles. This term marks a significant expansion with over 28,000 enrollment opportunities available across Shanghai, supported by nearly 40 newly established educational centers strategically positioned in suburban regions to enhance accessibility for elderly residents.

    Among the most notable innovations are two specialized digital literacy programs designed specifically for senior learners. The first course focuses on social media content creation, guiding participants through the complete process of video production—from conceptualization and filming to editing and publication. The second program offers practical training in live-stream commerce, covering product curation, broadcasting techniques, and regulatory compliance within professional studio environments.

    Zheng Yueqi, assistant to the president of Shanghai Oriental-pearl Intelligent Shopping Co, Ltd, emphasized the practical nature of these courses: ‘Our curriculum empowers senior learners to master contemporary digital skills through hands-on experience and professional guidance, effectively bridging the technological gap for the silver-haired demographic.’

    The university’s comprehensive enhancements include upgraded network infrastructure, optimized faculty resources, and demand-driven course development, collectively transforming the landscape of senior education in China’s most populous city.

  • US, China chart clashing courses to make more babies

    US, China chart clashing courses to make more babies

    In March 2026, the world’s two superpowers unveiled strikingly divergent strategies to combat declining fertility rates, creating a natural experiment in demographic policy with global implications.

    China launched an ambitious five-year plan committing 180 billion yuan ($25.8 billion) to create a “childbirth-friendly society.” The comprehensive package includes free prenatal care, full IVF coverage, childcare subsidies, and housing support for families. Simultaneously, Beijing is developing a “silver economy” to address its aging population, projected to reach 400 million citizens over 60 by 2035—roughly equivalent to the combined populations of the United States and Italy.

    Across the Pacific, the Trump administration pursued a different path, combining modest financial incentives including a $1,000 “baby bonus” and discounted IVF drugs with restrictive measures that reduced contraceptive access and family-planning funding. The approach included defunding Title X services, stripping Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding, and ordering the destruction of nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives destined for developing countries.

    The policy divergence occurs against the backdrop of East Asia’s unprecedented demographic crisis. Japan recorded just 705,809 births in 2025—its tenth consecutive annual decline. Taiwan now claims the world’s lowest fertility rate, while Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to a record low of 0.87 in 2025. South Korea’s modest rebound to 0.80 still places it among the lowest in OECD nations.

    Research suggests pro-natalist policies typically yield limited results, at best raising fertility by 0.1–0.2 births per woman. Experts note that declining fertility represents a rational response to rising education levels, economic opportunities, unaffordable housing, and the staggering costs of childrearing in modern economies.

    The most constructive approach for Asian governments may lie in decoupling demographic resilience from coercion and cultural warfare, instead focusing on restructuring pension systems, labor markets, and immigration policies for a future where below-replacement fertility becomes the permanent norm.

  • Learning the art of seeing beyond limitation

    Learning the art of seeing beyond limitation

    In February 2026, an extraordinary journey through Fujian province revealed profound insights about perception and social inclusion. Accompanying Wang Yongcheng—the National People’s Congress’s sole visually impaired deputy among nearly 3,000 representatives—journalist Cao Yin discovered that true vision extends far beyond physical sight.

    Wang, 58, demonstrated exceptional awareness despite his blindness, knowing intimate details about every disabled resident encountered during their travels. In Nanjing county, his conversation with blind massage therapist Wu Bojie uncovered an unexpected challenge: Wu and his colleagues struggled to create promotional videos due to inability to focus smartphone cameras. Wang immediately pledged to organize specialized training, declaring, “If we can master smartphones and computers, short videos won’t be a problem either.”

    The deputy’s approach reflects a deeper philosophy: “It’s not that people are inhumane, but unaware; not that they don’t understand, but lack knowledge; not that they don’t care, but issues are overlooked.” This perspective has driven tangible solutions—advocating for large-print textbooks for visually impaired students and working with civil authorities to make nursing homes accessible for blind seniors.

    Wang’s heightened sensitivity to unspoken needs—developed through attentive listening to pauses, tones, and silences—challenges conventional reporting methods. His ability to perceive what sighted observers miss demonstrates how navigating the world differently can become a unique strength. As Auguste Rodin noted about beauty, society’s problems aren’t hidden but require attention, patience, and will to address—qualities Wang embodies in his legislative work.

  • At the convent of Leonardo’s ‘Last Supper,’ Dominican friars still live, pray and welcome visitors

    At the convent of Leonardo’s ‘Last Supper,’ Dominican friars still live, pray and welcome visitors

    Within the hallowed walls of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, a living Dominican community maintains its spiritual practices just steps away from one of art history’s most celebrated masterpieces. While Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” draws countless visitors to the former refectory, twelve priests and nine novices continue their monastic traditions in the adjacent basilica and convent.

    The current friars, including Reverend Paolo Venturelli, experience the famous mural from a unique perspective. Venturelli prefers to view the painting from across the room where it was originally created in the 1490s at the request of Milan’s ruler Ludovico Sforza. “From there, the painting looks as though it were painted in the middle of the refectory,” Venturelli observes. “It unleashes all kinds of human and spiritual reactions.”

    Historical circumstances have created a physical separation between the friars and the artwork that was originally created for their order. Following Napoleon’s suppression of religious houses in the 18th century, the refectory passed into state control. Today known as the Cenacolo Vinciano, it is managed by Italy’s Regional Directorate of Museums of Lombardy. “We don’t go often because we have to ask permission to enter,” Venturelli explains, noting that preservation rules limit visits to just 15 minutes for everyone, including friars. “It no longer belongs to us.”

    The Dominican community maintains an active religious presence despite the tourist crowds. Dressed in their iconic white robes or brown winter capes, the friars are regularly seen within the basilica. Many visitors who come specifically for Leonardo’s masterpiece also discover the spiritual significance of the adjacent church. “We came to see Leonardo’s Last Supper but we also wanted to see the church because it’s quite special,” noted Maria Teresa Bruzzi, a recent visitor from Genoa.

    The friars provide multiple services to both locals and tourists, including confessions in several languages. Reverend Llewellyn Muscat, prior of the community, explains: “Confessions are very much sought after and we maintain this service for the citizens of Milan but also for all visitors.” The friars accommodate speakers of Italian, English, Maltese, French, and German.

    The intellectual legacy of the Dominicans remains evident throughout the convent, where halls contain dozens of shelves filled with books. “Reading is part of our identity,” Muscat emphasizes. The friars follow a routine shaped by study, prayer, and ministry, with some teaching at local Catholic institutions or collaborating with the cultural center that organizes conferences and events.

    For the Dominicans, “The Last Supper” represents more than artistic achievement—it embodies their continuing spiritual connection. “For us, it does not awaken an emotion about something that belongs to the past,” Muscat reflects. “It is like a continuation in which we eat together with Jesus and his apostles, as though his words are also spoken to us.”

    The current refectory where the friars actually dine is located deep within the convent’s labyrinth-like structure, away from tourist traffic. It features several square tables rather than the long table depicted in Leonardo’s masterpiece. While appreciating their functional dining space, Muscat acknowledges the community’s historical connection to the famous painting: “Maybe one day the old refectory will belong to us again.”

  • Search called off after Indonesia landfill collapse kills seven

    Search called off after Indonesia landfill collapse kills seven

    Indonesian search and rescue teams have terminated operations following a catastrophic landslide at the nation’s largest open-air landfill, which resulted in seven fatalities. The incident occurred Sunday afternoon at the Bantargebang waste site, located merely 25 kilometers from Jakarta, after prolonged heavy rainfall triggered the collapse that buried multiple trucks and food stalls beneath tons of debris.

    Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of Jakarta’s search and rescue agency, confirmed the recovery of three bodies on Sunday and four additional victims on Monday. Six individuals were successfully rescued alive during the intensive operation that employed backhoes, canine units, and thermal drone technology to locate casualties. Authorities have verified that all missing persons have been accounted for.

    The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has initiated weather modification procedures to mitigate further rainfall intensity. This sophisticated technique involves dispersing sodium chloride particles via helicopter to induce premature precipitation over ocean areas rather than populated regions.

    The Bantargebang facility, spanning over 110 hectares and containing approximately 55 million tonnes of waste, represents one of the planet’s largest open landfills. The Jakarta metropolitan area and its satellite cities (collectively known as Jabodetabek), housing about 42 million residents, generate an estimated 14,000 tonnes of daily waste.

    President Prabowo Subianto recently warned that most Indonesian landfills would exceed capacity by 2028 as the nation phases out such facilities. The government has committed $3.5 billion to develop 34 waste-to-energy plants within two years, converting garbage into electricity through incineration processes.

    This tragedy echoes a 2005 landfill disaster in West Java that claimed 143 lives when methane gas explosions combined with heavy rains caused catastrophic collapse.