Lotus Root Reaps Harvest in Linyi, Shandong Province

Douling Village, located in Hedong District, Linyi City, is currently experiencing a lotus root harvest season. In recent years, Hedong District has been exploring the core value of its local characteristics and cultivating lotus flowers in a multi-dimensional manner. Established cooperatives include lotus root production, related tourism, and construction of lotus industrial chain, all bringing a revitalization of this rural area. Douling Village has the advantage of enjoying a unique clay soil which is rich in humus, providing the necessary conditions for lotus growth. This advantage helps cultivate lotus which is more than 30 years now. Over 10,000 mu of…


Eggshell Facial Masks Inject New Vitality into Chinese Traditional Opera

An ordinary plain eggshell, after a series of steps such as tracing, painting, and coloring, can make a big difference. Traditional opera figures like the red-faced Guan Yu (Avalokiteśvara), the black-faced Bao Zheng, and the green-faced Cheng Yaojin… each one appears to come to life, given new vitality by the eggshell. Ms Zhao Limei is the master behind the creation of these eggshell facial masks. Born in Fei County, Shandong’s Linyi City, she is now a representative inheritor of the city’s intangible cultural heritage. The eggshell opera facial masks of Fei County, with a history over 200 years, embody the cultural characteristics…


Note on EU-USA Data Transfer Decision on 10.July 2023

Information note on data transfers under the GDPR to the United States after the adoption of the adequacy decision on 10 July 2023 On 10 July 2023, the European Commission (‘the Commission’) adopted its Implementing Decision of 10.7.2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the adequate level of protection of personal data under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (‘the Adequacy Decision’), which contains in its annex the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (‘DPF’). By doing so, the Commission decided that the United States (‘the US’), for the purpose of Article 45 of Regulation…


The 70th Session of UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation

The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) just concluded its 70th session, with more than 150 scientists from 30 State Members of the Committee and 11 international organizations, which was held at the Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 19-23 June 2023. The Chair, Jing Chen (Canada) highlighted the significant progress made by the Committee since the 69th session, including the ongoing scientific work on second primary cancer after radiotherapy; public exposure to ionizing radiation; epidemiological studies of radiation and cancer; diseases of the circulatory system from radiation exposure and the launch of the new…


Invitation to the Open-Air “Human Rights Fair” in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights invite you to a series of events in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier on 5 and 6 June. This series is open to visitors free of charge and without registration. In cooperation with the United Nations in Vienna, the open-air “Human Rights Fair” provides a space for interested visitors to find out about the human rights engagement of (inter)national organisations based in Vienna: How can crime and human trafficking be effectively tackled? How…


Austrian Politician Optimistic about Chinese Medicine Market

Austrian politician Dr. Peter Wittmann plans to establish a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) center to offer traditional Chinese medical therapies and herbal treatments to the Austrian public. Dr. Wittmann stated that TCM has a history of several thousand years and a rich theoretical system in China. By opening a TCM center, Austria can learn from the experience and wisdom of Chinese medical culture, and provide more economical, comprehensive, and diverse medical services for local people. In addition, with the global development and application of TCM, there will also be a wider market demand and commercial value for TCM in Austria….


Review of the online Forum on “Human Security in the Post-Pandemic Digital Era”

On 20. February 2023, the online forum “Human Security in the Post-Pandemic Digital Era” took place via ZOOM, an event co-organized by URBAN FORUM and SINOPRESS. At the backdrop of this year’s Munich Security Conference, this forum aimed at an extended discussion of security issues, including human security at the AI era, Ukraine war, international cooperation in the post-Pandemic time concerning digital security, governmental use of malware, geopolitics and global economic development, observation of human security during the Pandemic time under the respective measures and policies, etc. The panelists included Dr. Eva Sobotka (Human Rights Expert), Dr. iur. Constantin Weinstabl…


Announcement of Online Forum on “Human Security in the Post-Pandemic Digital Era”

We are proud to announce the upcoming forum on Monday, 20. February 2023 on the topic of „ Human Security in the Post-Pandemic Digital Era”, an event co-organized by URBAN FORUM and SINOPRESS.   Venue: ZOOM Conference  (Meeting ID: 841 4008 5397  Passcode: 167079) Time: 7.30pm -9.00pm, 20. Feb. 2023 CET Organizers: URBAN FORUM, SINOPRESS Moderator: David Kainrath, BSc, MSc   Urban Forum is a non-profit association in Austria with the objective of enhancing the meaning of urban, municipal local affairs. It is about raising the awareness of the strength of city economy, promotion of the idea of regional and…


When Religion Becomes a Political Tool of Discourse

When Religion Becomes a Political Tool of Discourse All religions strive for peace with good will, but the way to the goal is diverse. While Buddhism normally finds it no obstacle to assimilate into a new culture to bloom, some others stick to the orthodox teachings to survive. For the latter, a new environment might be a big challenge for them, sometimes at the border of toleration. During the course of human civilization, however, mutual influences of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam have never ceased to take place, via global trade routes, immigration, official visits or localization of holy…


UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ Message for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust 2023

On 27 January 2023, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a message for the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust Today, we honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. We remember the six million Jewish children, women, and men, as well as the Roma and Sinti, the people with disabilities, and countless others who perished. We reflect on the millions of individual lives cut short; the millions of futures stolen away. As we mourn the loss of so many and so much, we also recognize that the Holocaust was not inevitable. No…