Zigong’s lanterns enjoy high reputation around world

By Li Kaixuan, People’s Daily

In a workshop of Zigong Longteng Culture and Art Co., Ltd. based in Zigong, southwest China’s Sichuan province, the skeleton of a loong-shaped lantern was completed amid flying sparks from welding.

Loong, or Chinese dragon, the fifth sign in the traditional Chinese zodiac animal cycle, represents a totem of the Chinese nation. This year’s Chinese Spring Festival coincides with the Year of the Loong.

On the other side, a worker meticulously pasted and colored the scales of the “loong,” gradually revealing the enchanting charm of the lantern.

The lantern production process is complex, including designing, drafting blueprints, selecting appropriate materials for shaping, arranging lighting and drive systems, gluing, and painting, which requires many skilled workers.

During festivals, the lantern industry in Zigong can drive 100,000 people employment, including temporary labor, said Deng Peilin, chairman of Zigong Longteng Culture and Art Co., Ltd.

Lanterns are a symbol of Zigong and a crucial driver of local economic development. As early as the Spring Festival in 1964, the first lantern festival of the city was held, which bonded the city with lanterns.

After years of development, the lantern industry in Zigong today, including design, manufacturing, exhibition and other segments, has become increasingly specialized, with the industrial chain being continuously improved.

Nowadays, there are over 1,000 lantern-related companies in Zigong, with an annual output value of about 6 billion yuan ($830 million) and a share of 85 percent in the domestic lantern exhibition market.

Many of the orders received by Deng’s company were from overseas. “Thanks to the popularity of the Zigong lantern festival, lantern products are widely showcased at important exhibitions and major international sales platforms such as the Canton Fair. This ensures sales channels for our lantern products,” said Deng.

On Feb. 2 this year, the 30th Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival officially kicked off. A group of lanterns featuring “nian” (year in Chinese), a mythical beast thought to have preyed on people and livestock at the turn of the year in Chinese myth, attracted many visitors. These giant mechanical monsters swayed their heads and roared from time to time.

Weighing over 10 tons, these “beasts” can flexibly complete more than a dozen moves, said Zhong Yi, chief planner of the lantern fair. Zhong noted that these “beasts,” made by colorful lamp craft combined with simulated dinosaur mechanical drive, were equipped with “AI brains,” enabling them to “talk” with visitors.

The Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival hosted each year is a feast of excellent craftsmanship, materials, and design concepts.

For instance, a lantern set for the first time used water-soluble resin molding, making the characters’ faces almost lifelike.

Design concepts of lanterns are also updated. Popular game and trendy toy characters have been made into lanterns, and the lantern fair used spray guns and airbrushes to depict color gradients, creating a visually dazzling effect.

It is learned that Zigong’s lantern industry holds over 160 patents and 7,000 lantern copyrights. In 2023, Zigong’s lantern companies undertook over 200 colored lantern projects.

Continued innovation relies on the support of talent. Sichuan University of Science and Engineering established China’s first lantern school. Zigong Vocational and Technical College has set up a colored lantern major. Every year, over 2,000 “lantern craftsmen” are cultivated in Zigong.

On Feb. 11, a Chinese lantern festival was hosted in Montauban, France, which received a total of more than 300,000 visits. Huang Mingshu, who heads an overseas engineering team of Zigong Lantern Group and participated in organizing the lantern festival, said he was proud as a part of the event.

Last September, Huang and his team went to France for the preparation of the lantern festival. “We had a team of over 80 people, including all the necessary trades for designing, producing, and installation,” he said.

The materials and semi-finished products for making the lanterns were transported by China-Europe freight trains or by sea, and then further processed by the team on-site. It took about three months to complete the installation.

In 1990, Zigong lanterns made their first appearance overseas in Singapore. Since then, they have been exhibited in over 80 countries and regions, capturing 92 percent of the overseas lantern exhibition market.

In 2023, lantern enterprises in Zigong launched 90 overseas projects, achieving a cultural export value of $50.61 million.

Zigong has also established a lantern metaverse research and development center, which extensively applies technologies such as holographic projection and laser water curtain films to overseas lantern festivals.

Culture becomes more colorful because of communication. At the lantern festival held in France, visitors could enter a fantasy world composed of scenes such as the vast starry sky and mysterious forest, guided by a “magical hat.” Chinese elements such as landscapes and giant pandas were interspersed with Western cultural elements.

“We have introduced cartoon characters like Snoopy and Peter Rabbit at the lantern festival, and also used lanterns to interpret picture books by foreign authors. These exhibits were highly appreciated by foreign visitors,” said Li Zhongwen, general manager of the international market department of Zigong Lantern Group.

Fear grips Igala, Bassa people as Fulani Herdsmen Take Over Omala LG, Kogi State

Palpable fear has engulfed the whole of Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State following the large scale influx of Fulani herdsmen into the area.

The herdsmen, in their thousands, have almost outnumbered the original inhabitants of the towns and villages. A visit by our reporters to Abejukolo, the Local Government headquarters revealed that they (the herdsmen) have occupied all the public places, including schools, mosques and markets.
Similar visits to other villages in the local government like Agbenema, Echa, Ogoh, Ibado, Icheke, Ajokpachi, Bagaji, Akpacha, Ogodu, Olla indicated that most of the indigenous people were moving out to Similar communities out of fear of attacks, as the herders are never known for peaceful coexistence.

Indigenes who on the condition of anonymity said they were apprehensive because of the sheer number of strange people who had besieged their villages in the last few days and had been challenging anyone to dare ask them to leave.
They also cited the example of villages like Bagana and Iyade where the indigenes had been sacked and their villages and farms forcefully occupied by Fulani herdsmen for over a year now. Another case is the recent attack on Agojeju-odo during which a number of indigenes were killed, including a prominent political leader in the area.

Investigations revealed that the invading Fulani herdsmen were encouraged by the recent olive branch extended to them by the recently appointed Caretaker Chairman of the local government who saw rapprochement as a way of ensuring peaceful coexistence between them and local farmers.

However, it was also discovered that the herdsmen who had hitherto approached the Chairman to be allowed to settle in the local government with a commitment to be law-abiding, took advantage of the gesture to invite their colleagues who had been attacking villages in Benue State to come into Omala Local Government. This has also created some mistrust between communities in the local government and their neighbours in Benue who fear that the herdsmen could launch attacks on them from their new base.

To lend credence to the fears being expressed by the local farmers, it has been alleged that the arms-bearing herdsmen now invade farms where they destroy crops at will without any repercussion As a result, the people have abandoned their farms and are now appealing to the authorities, especially the security agencies to ensure their safety and security.

Echoing the appeal for the authorities to take the Omala case serious, a prominent indigene of the local government, Dr James Odaudu challenged the security agencies to rise up to the occasion and secure the people and their properties.

According to Odaudu, the issue of incessant attacks by the herdsmen has been toyed with by the immediate past government of the state.

It is also being suspected that the influx into Omala Local Government Area is a precursor to a full-scale invasion of the whole Kogi East Senatorial District, as Omala LGA is at the boundary with both Nasarawa and Benue States.

Omala Local Government, and parts of Dekina Local government have been on the receiving end of attacks by Fulani herdsmen for some time, leading to the sacking of Bagana, a major commercial centre on the banks of River Benue, and Iyade, fully occupied by the herdsmen.

The Oganenigwu community in Dekina LGA has also had a fair share of attacks by the herdsmen.
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Singapore Mandates Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Departing Flights, Impacting Ticket Prices

Starting in 2026, flights departing from Singapore will be required to use sustainable aviation fuel as part of the country’s efforts to progressively decarbonize airline operations. The initiative is outlined in Singapore’s sustainable air hub blueprint developed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). The move comes with an associated levy on the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel, and passengers can expect ticket prices to rise based on factors such as distance traveled and class of travel.

The initial target is a 1% sustainable aviation fuel uplift in 2026, with the goal of providing a demand signal to fuel producers and encouraging investment in sustainable aviation fuel production facilities. The target is set to increase to between 3% and 5% by 2030, contingent on global developments and the wider availability and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat stated that the cost impact of the 1% target is deemed manageable, and stakeholders have been consulted in the decision-making process. The levies introduced to achieve this target could lead to increased ticket prices, with specific amounts depending on factors such as the destination and class of travel. Premium class passengers are expected to face higher levies.

CAAS will continue to engage with stakeholders and plans to announce further details in 2025 closer to the implementation date. The move is aimed at fostering sustainable growth in the aviation industry, balancing economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

Nigerian Agricultural Colleges Committee Urges Government Against Leasing Institution Lands

The National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD) has appealed to the Nigerian federal government to reconsider its plan to lease lands within their institutions for food production.

During its 65th Regular Meeting in Abuja, the committee acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s (FMAFS) request for information on available lands for food production in the colleges. However, NACHCARD stressed the importance of the ministry providing funds and inputs to the colleges instead of leasing their lands to external parties, to prevent potential encroachment by land grabbers.

The committee also advised FMAFS to collaborate with and support the colleges for training in agriculture, as well as the execution of farmers’ and extension workers’ programs.

The communiqué issued by NACHCARD expressed concern about the recent decrease in student enrollment in agricultural colleges. This decline was attributed to the lowering of JAMB cutoffs for universities and the increasing number of polytechnics offering agricultural courses. The committee warned that if this trend persists, it could undermine the purpose of establishing the colleges and jeopardize the government’s efforts to encourage youth participation in agriculture, impacting overall food security initiatives.

Additionally, NACHCARD called for the swift inauguration of the NADFUND board to enhance the effectiveness of the emergency declared on food security. The committee advocated for agricultural colleges at federal and state levels to be given top priority in fund allocation, highlighting their exclusion from TetFund intervention since 2010 as an oversight.

Lastly, NACHCARD observed that some government agency application portals, especially in the military and paramilitary sectors, do not include Monotechnics in the list of tertiary institutions. This omission denies qualified graduates from agricultural colleges the opportunity to participate in recruitment exercises, prompting an appeal for inter-ministerial dialogue to address the issue.

OpenAI Unveils Sora: AI Text-to-Video Generation Tool with Broad Applications

OpenAI has introduced Sora, a groundbreaking AI tool designed for generating videos based on text commands. With potential applications in entertainment, education, and simulation, Sora marks a significant leap in AI’s ability to produce audiovisual content from textual prompts, bringing us closer to achieving ‘Artificial General Intelligence’ (AGI).

Key Features of Sora:

  1. Realistic Video Generation: Sora can create lifelike and imaginative scenes with detailed backgrounds, intricate motions, and expressive personas based on text instructions. It excels in handling complex scenarios involving multiple characters and diverse types of motion.
  2. Understanding of the Physical World: The model demonstrates a deep understanding of language and the physical world, accurately analyzing prompts to generate convincing characters with vibrant emotions. Sora can seamlessly create multiple shots within a single video, ensuring consistency and visual coherence.
  3. Video Extension and Animation: Sora can animate existing still images and extend videos by filling in missing frames, showcasing its versatility in video production.
  4. Safety Measures: OpenAI is implementing safety precautions before making Sora widely available. Collaboration with red teamers is underway to assess potential harms or threats, and tools are being designed to identify misleading content. Safety measures from DALL·E 3, such as text and image classifiers, will be applied to block inappropriate content.

Significance and Considerations:

Sora’s development signifies a major stride in AI’s capability to generate audiovisual content, opening up diverse applications. However, limitations include challenges in recreating complex physics, understanding specific cause-and-effect examples, and accurately preserving spatial details.

OpenAI is adopting a prudent approach to Sora’s launch, considering safety, ethics, and the potential for misuse. The tool is currently accessible to red teamers for critical review and a select group of designers, visual artists, and filmmakers for specific feedback. This phased approach aims to refine Sora and ensure responsible and trustworthy AI development before a general release.

5 Compelling Reasons to Embrace a Social Media Cleanse

While social media serves as a valuable tool for staying connected, informed, and even making money, the incessant notifications and platform-switching can leave many feeling overwhelmed and mentally drained. If you’ve experienced such sentiments, a social media cleanse might be the solution.

What is a social media cleanse?
A social media cleanse, also termed a digital detox, involves taking a break from social networking sites for a designated period, allowing individuals to disconnect from the virtual world and prioritize their mental well-being.

Here are five benefits of a social media cleanse:

  1. Reduced stress and anxiety:
    Frequent exposure to social media can induce stress and anxiety, contributing to a fear of missing out (FOMO) and feelings of inadequacy. A social media cleanse offers respite, helping individuals alleviate stress and regain a sense of calm.
  2. Improved mental health:
    Excessive use of social media has been linked to increased rates of depression, loneliness, and low self-esteem, particularly among young adults and teenagers. Stepping away from these platforms enables individuals to focus on activities that enhance mental well-being.
  3. Enhanced productivity:
    Breaking the cycle of mindlessly scrolling through social media during work or study hours, a social media cleanse improves productivity by eliminating distractions. With fewer temptations to check notifications or browse news feeds, individuals can channel their time and energy into more meaningful tasks.
  4. Better sleep quality:
    The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, impacting the ability to fall asleep at night. Additionally, late-night social media use can heighten arousal and anxiety, further compromising sleep quality. Disconnecting from social media promotes better sleep hygiene and a more restful night’s sleep.
  5. Increased presence and connection:
    In an era of hyper-connectivity, real-life interactions can be overshadowed by virtual engagements. A social media cleanse encourages individuals to be present in their everyday lives, fostering deeper connections with those around them. Whether spending quality time with family, engaging in face-to-face conversations with friends, or exploring new hobbies, a social media cleanse encourages meaningful offline connections.

Joeboy Reveals Impact of Pure Water Factory Job on His Career in Recent Podcast Interview

In a recent conversation on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, Joeboy shared insights into a pivotal period in his life during university when a three-month strike led him to seek employment at a pure water factory.

Recalling the challenging times, the artist, who studied Human Resources and Personal Management, narrated, “I had no choice but to go hard or go home. I remember searching for a job for three months across Lagos during the university strike. Unable to secure any position, I eventually found myself working as a marketer in a pure water factory, distributing flyers and promoting products to make ends meet.”

Joeboy emphasized that this experience became a turning point, motivating him to strive for success in his musical career. “I questioned if this was the path my life would take after finishing school. It was a trigger for me to tell myself, ‘You really have to make sure you make it,'” he shared.

The artist further revealed the impact of being discovered and signed by Mr Eazi, describing it as a “scary” experience. He emphasized the increased responsibility that came with others investing their time, energy, and money in his career. “It wasn’t a joke anymore or something I did for fun. It was scary, but you go hard or go home,” Joeboy concluded.

Olu of Warri, Dangote, and Elumelu Acknowledged at 2023 Sun Man of the Year Awards

The 2023 Sun Man of the Year Awards ceremony witnessed the gathering of distinguished individuals from various spheres, celebrating their notable achievements and contributions to society.

The event, an annual tradition, aimed to recognize iconic figures, business leaders, traditional rulers, impact creators, industrialists, and entrepreneurs, among other categories.

His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, received the prestigious Most Impactful Royal Father of 2023 award, presented by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

The organizers highlighted the exceptional qualities of Olu of Warri, attributing his recognition to his remarkable efforts in modernizing the institution of Olu of Warri, promoting peace, unity, and prosperity within the Kingdom. Notably, his initiative in hosting the Iwere Economic Summit, a groundbreaking event aimed at charting the future course of the Itsekiri nation, showcased his visionary leadership.

Furthermore, the Olu of Warri’s commitment to fostering harmonious relationships with neighboring kingdoms and traditional rulers has significantly contributed to peaceful coexistence among communities.

Representing the Olu of Warri at the prestigious event were Chief Gilbert Temisan Grant, popularly known as Agubusinbiro, the Agura Otiri of Warri Kingdom, Chief Mrs. Teresa Ikimi, the Ejumotan of Warri Kingdom, alongside other prominent chiefs.

The Sun Man of the Year Awards served as a platform to honor individuals who have made indelible marks on society, inspiring others to emulate their exemplary leadership and service to humanity.

Nasarawa Lawmaker Hon Hudu doles out N20m empowerment, scholarship for constituents.

“… as he receives applause from State Dep, Governor, Speaker, traditional ruler, others…”

Member Representing Awe North constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon Hudu A.Hudu, has distributed N20,000 each to 147 students of his constituency studying in various institutions as scholarship.

He also distributed N10,000 each to 33 students of his constituency to registered for JAMB.

The Lawmaker and Chairmen House Committee on Finance and Appropriation equally presented 7 vehicles to groups and individuals in his constituency.

Hon Hudu made the distribution today in Awe, Awe Local Government Area of the State.

He said that the gesture was born out of his desire to improve on the lives of the people of his constituency.

The lawmaker said that the scholarship and JAMB was to complement government efforts in improving on the standard of education.

” To also reduce the burden of their education on their parents,” he said.

The legislator assured the people of his constituency of more dividends of democracy.

” I will continue to initiate more projects and programmes that will have direct bearing on the lives of my people

” By God’s grace, I will continue to do my best in providing the much needed dividends of democracy to my people,” Hon Hudu said.

Hon Hudu promised to provide sound and quality representation at the state legislature

The lawmaker solicited for the support of all and sundry to enable him succeed just as he urged his constituents to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and give their maximum support to Gov. Sule to succeed.

Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the Nasarawa State Deputy Governor lauded Hon Hudu for putting smiles in the faces of his people.

Akabe assured the people of more projects that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.

” The time of election is over as it is now time for governance that is why His Excellency is providing more dividends of democracy to the people of the state,” he said.

The Deputy Governor appreciated the State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt.Hon.Danladi Jatau for giving the government of Engr Sule all the necessary support to succeed and called for its sustenance.

He said that the state government has procured food stuff to be distributed to the people in order to tackle the present hardship facing the people.

Akabe urged the people of the state to go back to farm for food sufficiency and for the overall development of the state.

The deputy governor called on the people of Awe to continue to support Hon Hudu and Engr. Abdullahi Sule to succeed.

“When there is peace, there is development, let’s continue to live in unity and peace,” the Deputy Governor said.

On his part, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly appreciated Hon Hudu for providing quality representation to his people.

” Hon Hudu A Hudu is making us proud in the House. He is a man that has his people at his heart,” the Speaker said.

He also commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his developmental strides in the state.

” Let’s all continue to support Engr. A A Sule to succeed and to enjoy more dividends of democracy, he said

He called on the people of the area to continue to support Hon Hudu to succeed and to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

The Speaker also called on the people of the area and the state at large to continue to support Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.

Also speaking, HRH Dr Isah Abubakar, the Emir of Awe said that election is capital intensive but people voted Hon Hudu not because of Money.

He appreciated Hon Hudu for the gesture and prayed God to bless him abundantly

The first class traditional ruler called on political class to look at the hardship facing the people, especially the rising cost of goods and services.

He called on his subjects and other Nigerians to continue to pray for leaders to succeed.

Earlier, Hon Shuaibu Hashimu Abdullahi, former member representing Awe/ Doma/ Keana federal constituency and Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the event said that Awe North constituency did not made a mistake for electing Hon Hudu to the House.

He appreciated Hon. Hudu for making a difference as member representing the constituency.

” Hon Hudu has just spent six months in office, he is making us proud by providing the much needed dividends of democracy to the people of the constituency.

He assured Hon Hudu of their readiness to advise and support him to succeed.

Highlights at the event included the official commissioning of Hon. Hudu A Hudu constituency office in Awe that will serve as liaison office with his constituents.

Desist from curating, spreading falsehood against Sen. Yayi- CSGGG warns Yewa/Awori Youth Network

…Says Senator Yayi’s purposeful representation has no equal

An assemblage of over 180 civil society organization in Nigeria, Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, CSGGG, has warned the socio-democratic group, Yewa/Awori Youth Network, against making false assertions, accusations and inflammable statements capable of denying their district, further benefits from the federal government.

Reacting to a statement made by the network, accusing the Senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi of allegedly personalising projects funded by the federal government; the group described the statement as an unsubstantial and baseless finding politically orchestrated and sponsored to bring disrepute to the commitment and milestones attained by Yayi.

The President of the group, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, in a press statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, equally faulted the allegations that the senator had connived with some federal government agencies to portray projects funded by the federal government as one done from his personal coffers. He emphasized that projects introduced or executed by Yayi, should serve as a source of pride not a source of political witch-hunting.

The statement reads: “As watchdog of the society and as first hand observers who were invited by the organizers of the three days empowerment programme of Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola aka Yayi, our attention has been drawn to the recent publications by Yewa/Awori Youth Network, against Senator Solomon Yayi. While it is obvious as usual that political traducers and co-travelers are on the verge of series of campaign of calumny against a performing steward and it may not be too necessary to dignify their action, it is also equally important to put the record straight to avoid the pitfall of a poor public perception of the good intentions of what can be described as the “Mother of all empowerment” as we cannot sit back and allow their fabricated tales gain momentum for even a second.

“Senator Yayi, has never taken personal credit for project executed, in fact if the network did their due diligence without bias or have the interest of Ogun West as they claimed, by keenly recording the empowerment schemes of Senator Adeola, they would have discovered that Yayi, has always, disclosed and given credit to the MDAs where Zonal Interventions Projects are domiciled or facilitated from. Also he openly stated that the projects were facilitated to enhance and improve the district that has suffered lack of major development for the longest time as a result of bad representation and incapable leadership.

“For deeper understanding, in the scholarship and bursary schemes as alleged by the network, Senator Yayi indicated that it was in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), for the ICT training on security, he facilitated for traditional rulers in Ogun West, he mentioned it was done in collaboration with the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), and in the area of empowerment of artisans and various vocational trainings, he categorically disclosed that it was in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research.

“We believe that the Yewa/Awori Youth Network, are just fault finders and puppets to shadow parties, that are invested in diagnosing loopholes in political positions they have interest in. May we reiterate that Senator Yayi’s empowerment programs are unprecedented in annals of National Assembly empowerment initiatives, because it takes only a transparent, committed, visionary and accountable leader like Yayi to carry out such massive initiatives. The network should take pride in the achievements not fight or work to condemn it, because such as we all know can bridge further initiative or benefits.

“Yewa/ Awori Youth Network attack on Senator Yayi, is very inconsequential and also a sheer display of ignorance because the people have come to realize the benefits of complete entrenchment of dividends of quality representation first hand through the Adeola aka Yayi’s empowerment schemes across the five local government areas in the senatorial district. From their watery accusations, it is now a known fact that the network, lack an understanding of the workings of the National Assembly and Zonal Intervention Projects as domiciled in the MDAs.” It added.