Month: June 2019

The Iranian film Castle of Dreams was the big winner at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival, winning for best actor, best director and best feature film at the awards ceremony in Shanghai Grand Theatre on Sunday night.

Iranian director Reza Mirkarimi spoke in Persian of his gratitude for the audiences of Shanghai and the festival, chairman of the jury, Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and everyone who helped him in his film career.

Castle of Dreams tells the story of a father who comes back to his children after long years of absence. He has to take his son and daughter away from their mother who is terminally ill at the hospital. Though reluctant, he still tries every means to fulfill the children’s fantasy of building a dream castle that was drawn by their mother.

The jury praised the film for its accurate and profound revealing of the truth of life and the description of details, without losing consistency or honesty.

Hamed Behdad shared the best actor award, playing the returning father in Castle of Dreams, with Chinese actor Chang Feng. The 96-year-old veteran played the leading role in The Return, the first direction project by actress-turned-director Qin Hailu.

The film Inhale-Exhale, a coproduction of Georgia, Russia and Sweden, won the Grand Jury Prize, with its leading actress Salome Demuria taking the best actress award.

The 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival, one of the largest celebrations of the film industry in Asia, was held from June 15 to 24. It showcased 522 films shown in 47 cinemas throughout the city.

The festival witnessed new and enhanced exchanges and connections between the Chinese film sector and those in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Belt and Road Film Week, a program of the festival, presented eight outstanding films. On June 19 the Belt and Road Film Night took place at the Walt Disney Grand Theatre.

Russian director Lyubov Borisova’s The Sun Above Me Never Sets won the most beloved film of the Belt and Road Film Week, and Hungarian filmmaker Arpad Bogdan and Wang Lina from China took the award for attracting the most media attention during the Belt and Road Film Week.

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The Brazil international may be allowed to leave PSG if the Ligue 1 club receive a suitable offer for his services, with former club Barcelona linked

The time is now for Neymar to make a decision over his future with Paris Saint-Germain, says former Barcelona defender Juliano Belletti.

The Brazilian, who has spent two seasons with the Ligue 1 outfit since his world-record transfer from the Blaugrana in 2017, has reportedly been made available for a move should the club receive a suitable offer.

Both former home Barca and key La Liga rivals Real Madrid have been linked with the forward, and Belletti, who played for the Catalan club between 2004 and 2007, has acknowledged that the Olympic gold medallist faces a major call over his next steps.

“A lot has been said about Neymar. I know hardly anything about this,” the 43-year-old stated.

“For him, it is the moment to decide. He has to be very calm with his family to take the best decision.”

Upon his arrival at PSG, having claimed a Champions League title and two domestic crowns in Spain, Neymar was widely tipped to spearhead the French outfit’s challenge for European glory.

However, such success has failed to materialise, with consecutive round-of-16 knockouts in 2018 and 2019 against Madrid and Manchester United curtailing their hopes of continental success.

PSG’s inability to challenge for such silverware has contributed to a difficult mood at the club that has seen Neymar reportedly clash with team-mates, leading to speculation that he will depart this transfer window.

Speaking on whether he would prefer a return to Camp Nou for the Selecao star or for Barca to make a move for outgoing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, Belletti admitted that his fellow countryman was his personal pick.

“I am Brazilian and I have played during all my life with the best Brazilian players of my generation: Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo,” he added.

“So, imagine, I am more about these kind of things.”

A return to Catalonia could see Neymar link up with international compatriot Philippe Coutinho, who has struggled since making a big-money move from Liverpool, though Belletti believes his poor performances boil down to a lack of self-belief.

“When he gets more confidence, he will do much better,” he added.

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The Mexico forward is expected to change clubs this summer but is open to staying if a deal can’t be worked out

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is hoping to leave West Ham this summer as the Mexican forward says his agents are working on a possible departure.

The 31-year-old striker joined West Ham in 2017 for a reported fee of around £16 million ($20m), signing a three-year contract with the London club.

He’s gone on to make 61 appearances during his time at the London Stadium, scoring 16 goals in total across all competitions.

However, nearly half of those appearances have come off the bench with Hernandez starting just 36 of those 61 matches.

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And, this summer, the Mexican international is ready to push for a move away as he says he is  “is searching for a new club”, although he is prepared to stay at West Ham should no suitable options arise.

Chicharito has an agent in Mexico as well as a second representative as he looks to secure his future, wherever it may be.

“The team is working with us. [My agent] is the one more involved,” he said on the first episode of a Youtube series Naked Humans. “He is Spanish so has more connections here.

“He’s searching for a club, if we can move. If not I will stay with West Ham easy, happy. I have one year left, but West Ham and I have decided it would just be easier to go out.”

Prior to joining West Ham, Hernandez made his name at Manchester United after joining the Red Devils from Chivas in 2010. 

He went on to make 157 appearances at Old Trafford, while winning two Premier League titles and a Community Shield during his time with the club.

A loan stint to Real Madrid followed before the forward made a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, where he scored 39 goals across 76 matches for the Bundesliga side before moving to West Ham.

Internationally, the forward has earned 108 caps for El Tri, scoring 51 goals during his time with the Mexican National Team. 

The striker is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer, with Jared Borgetti in second place with 46 career finishes.

Hernandez is not a part of Mexico’s Gold Cup roster this summer, though, as he opted not to take part to focus on the expected birth of his child this summer.

Philippe Coutinho and Arthur are in favour of the Brazil star returning to Camp Nou and he has had some kind words for his former team-mate

Neymar has wished Lionel Messi a happy birthday on social media amid growing rumours the Brazil superstar will return to Barcelona.

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly willing to sell Neymar with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi warning in a rare interview that the Ligue 1 champions will no longer tolerate “celebrity behaviour” in what was widely speculated to be a barb at the 27-year-old.

Real Madrid have long been linked with the forward but their capture of Eden Hazard from Chelsea, coupled with a spending spree that has seen Luka Jovic, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy join, may scupper a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Barca are reportedly considering bringing Neymar back to the club with talisman Messi said to be among those pushing for the deal to happen.

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And on the Barca captain’s 32nd birthday, Neymar posted a message to his former team-mate on social media.

“Happy birthday, brother,” Neymar wrote on his Instagram Story. “May God bless you always.”

Brazil team-mates Philippe Coutinho and Arthur have said they want Neymar, ruled out of the ongoing Copa America by an ankle injury, to return to Barcelona.

But a Monday report in UK newspaper the Independent claimed Neymar has been offered to Manchester United.

According to the report, PSG were keen to discuss a potential swap deal involving Paul Pogba, but the Premier League club were not interested.

Al-Khelaifi’s condemnation of “celebrity behaviour” came after Neymar was given a three-match ban for punching a fan following PSG’s Coupe de France final defeat to Rennes.

The Brazil star has also since been interviewed by police after he was accused of rape by 26-year-old Najila Trindade.

Neymar has been at PSG since 2017, having reportedly moved away from Camp Nou in order to be the main forward at a club – a ploy he believed would increase his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. 

After becoming the Oranje’s all-time top-scorer at just 22 years old, the Arsenal striker has been backed by one Gunners legend to set more records

Former Arsenal defender Faye White believes Vivianne Miedema can be one of the greatest strikers ever – backing her to reach the level of USWNT legend Abby Wambach.

Miedema scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists in just 20 FA Women’s Super League games for the Gunners this season, as they lifted the title for the first time since 2012.

She has carried that form into the Women’s World Cup too, scoring a double against Cameroon to surpass Manon Melis as the Netherlands all-time top-scorer – taking her tally to 60 goals on her 77th cap, all at 22 years old.

It has been some year for the striker and so it is no surprise to see her earn such high praise from White, who won 31 trophies in her 17 years with Arsenal.

Speaking at a William Hill World Cup event, White said: “She’s such a good player. I do think she’ll go on to be one of the greats.

“You look at her goalscoring record for the country and Arsenal now, it’s ridiculous.

“I’m sure she will go on to be one of the great strikers, on the level of Wambach, hitting records and all sorts. She’s a special player.”

Wambach currently holds the record for most international goals ever, having netted 184 times in 256 caps for the United States between 2001 and 2015.

She is being chased down by Canada’s Christine Sinclair, who is just two behind the record after scoring in her nation’s 2-1 defeat to the Oranje which secured top spot for Miedema’s side.

Considering Wambach had only one goal to her name at 22 and five when she turned 23, to suggest the Arsenal striker can chase down her record is not an excessive prediction.

“She’s not quick, but the amount of time she makes and her ability to deceive defenders and get a shot in from like half a yard… Or sometimes you think how’s she got that out with three defenders around her and still put it in the back of the net? And that’s happening, week in, week out in the WSL for Arsenal,” White said.

“I think she’s a very special player and someone of that calibre who can put away a header, can put away a long shot, can put away a ball running at players.

“She’s got a bit of everything in her game.”

Miedema helped lead the Netherlands to glory as they hosted the UEFA Women’s European Championships in 2017, scoring four times – including twice in the final.

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She also hit seven in qualification for this summer’s Women’s World Cup and, with two to her name in France, her contributions make the Dutch an outsider for another title.

“The favourites would be the USA, again, and France,” White, who won 90 caps for England, said.

“I don’t think England are favourites, purely because we haven’t got the history and the performances, although we’ve got the win, haven’t been emphatic.

“We do have the ability, don’t get me wrong, but at the moment England wouldn’t be favourites.

“The other one I would pick out on the other side of the draw would be the Netherlands,” she continued.

“Just because of the way the draw is, they could go all the way to the final and with their experience of the Euros and the team that they have as well.”

The Oranje face England’s Group D opponents Japan on Tuesday in the last 16, with Italy or China awaiting the winner in the last eight.

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Amid a nuclear deadlock between Pyongyang and Washington, DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un received a personal letter with “excellent” and “interesting” content from US President Donald Trump, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

“After reading the letter, the Supreme Leader of the Party, the state and the armed forces said with satisfaction that the letter is of excellent content,” the KCNA said in a report published on Sunday, referring to the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Appreciating the political judging faculty and extraordinary courage of President Trump, Kim Jong-un said that he would seriously contemplate the interesting content,” it added.

KCNA did not disclose when and how the letter was delivered to Kim. The front page of DPRK’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper also carried a photo of Kim holding Trump’s letter as he read it in his office.

Agence France-Presse said the White House declined to confirm whether Trump had sent a letter to Kim, but a statement from the office of Republic of Korea’s President Moon Jae-in said that he was aware of the correspondence through communication with Washington, and described the exchange as “positive”.

According to Zheng Jiyong, director of the Korea Research Center at Fudan University in Shanghai, the letter appears to be in answer to a letter Kim sent to Trump recently in time for the anniversary of their first-ever summit in Singapore last June.

Trump described Kim’s letter as “beautiful” and “very warm”, while he also emphasized that the relationship between the pair remains strong and that “something will happen that’s going to be very positive”.

Zheng said the exchange of correspondence between the leaders renewed hopes for a resumption of denuclearization talks which have stalled since the breakdown of their second summit in February.

The second summit between the two leaders in Hanoi collapsed as Pyongyang wanted sanctions relief as a corresponding measure in exchange for dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear complex, while Washington insisted that sanctions should remain in place until Pyongyang completely gives up its nuclear weapons program.

“The letter diplomacy shows they are communicating even though there is a pause in talks,” Zheng added.

It is not the first time the two leaders have opted for the traditional means of communication. Trump and Kim also exchanged letters in 2018 after their first summit. In September 2018, Trump told a cheering crowd at a campaign rally in West Virginia that Kim “wrote me beautiful letters and they’re great letters. We fell in love”.

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The first two official Indian pilgrim groups arrived in the Tibet autonomous region on Thursday as part of an annual pilgrimage that will last 9 to 12 days.

Fifty-eight Indian pilgrims entered Tibet through Burang county and 36 via the Nathu La Pass in Dromo county.

Goel Ram Rattan, 67, the oldest member of the group entering via the pass, said she was making her second pilgrimage.

“It is a great pleasure to come to China again, and the hospitality of the Chinese government is appreciated,” she told Xinhua News Agency. “I would like to come again if I have the opportunity.”

Every year starting in May, Indian pilgrims make a religious trek to Tibet’s Mount Kailash, or Gang Rinpoche, and Mapham Yumtso Lake, also known as Lake Manasarovar, both in Ngari prefecture.

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Both sites are considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Tibetan Bon practitioners.

The foreign affairs office of Shigatse said the city is expected to receive 550 pilgrims, divided into 10 groups, this year. The entire pilgrimage lasts about 70 days.

Burang borders Nepal to the south and India to the west. Chungla Mountain pass, 23 kilometers from Burang, at an altitude of 5,334 meters, is the officially designated path for the pilgrims.

Kalsang Namgyal, head of the Burang entry-exit border inspection station, said there is snow cover all year and that the environment is harsh. Many of the Indian pilgrims get altitude sickness.

Emergency medical aid was provided by entry-exit officers, and support services – guides and porters – were provided to make things easier for the pilgrims, Kalsang said. “They’ll complete the journey despite all the discomfort brought by the altitude.”

Yang Fan, an official at the Dromo entry-exit border control station, said a special passage for pilgrims was opened from India to simplify procedures and improve the efficiency of customs clearance.

Nathu La Pass, which is more than 4,000 meters above sea level between Tibet’s Dromo county and India’s state of Sikkim, is another major passageway for pilgrims in the region.

Since the pass began receiving officially organized groups of Indian pilgrims in June 2015, more than 900 have entered Tibet through the pass.

Booming sector overflowing with opportunities in operational roles

As e-sports’ inexorable rise continues, there is no shortage of gamers vying to join its lucrative pro ranks. The industry, however, is still struggling to fill the type of operational and support positions that keep its ever-expanding wheels turning.

The dearth of manpower was highlighted in a report released at the Global E-sports Summit and Tencent E-sports Annual Conference last Thursday in Boao, Hainan province.

According to the 2019 Global E-sports Development Report, there are an estimated 150,000 job vacancies, covering over 100 occupations, waiting to be filled in the sector.

The report pinpointed a pressing need for talent in tournament organization, media content production, business operation, marketing and technology support.

“After two decades of development, the Chinese e-sports market is embracing its best opportunity of growth,” said Ren Yuxin, chief operating officer of Tencent.

“Now more and more people are joining the e-sports industry, and that’s why the sector is growing to be more solid and marching toward a brighter future.”

According to the report, about 71,000 people worked in the Chinese e-sports industry until the end of 2018, while only 26 percent of roles have enough manpower.

The talent shortage comes as the sector continues to boom. Last year, the Chinese market was worth 8.5 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), with that figure expected to exceed 13 billion yuan by the end of 2019.

E-sports’ fan base is also snowballing. In 2018, there were about 320 million gamers and fans in China, a figure that is projected to rise to 350 million by the end of this year. Globally, it’s estimated that e-sports fans will exceed 450 million by 2019.

“We have all witnessed the rapid development of e-sports in recent years, but we still recognize that there are stereotypes and biased opinions of e-sports,” said Kenneth Fok, president of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation. “So, there is a lot more work to be done to ensure the healthy development of the industry.”

Professional e-sports clubs these days are slickly run operations that require expertise beyond the nimble-fingered skills of their geeky stars.

Take top Chinese team Royal Never Give Up (RNG), for example. Players like Jian Zihao, aka Uzi, boast vast support teams comprised of match analysts, translators and therapists.

The club has its own logistics, marketing and public relations departments-based in Shanghai-and its own home stadium, in Beijing.

The vastness of its operation is remarkable considering that, when the club was formed six years ago, RNG players practiced in residential buildings and played competitions in internet bars or warehouses.

Nowadays, RNG’s allure even extends beyond the on-screen action.

In May, the club hosted an e-sports-themed debate tournament in Beijing, which it claimed was the first of its kind in history. The 28-day event attracted 15 domestic and international university debate teams.

“It’s actually a very cool experience to debate e-sports-related topics at RNG’s stadium,” said Guo Hangchu, a debater for Fudan University.

“Through the tournament, I improved my knowledge of the e-sports sector and it also challenged stereotypes of the sport.

“When I graduate, I will look for opportunities to work in internet companies. Maybe one day, I will join the e-sports sector myself, not as a gamer but as someone who supports the stars behind the scenes.”

Meanwhile, e-sports continues to receive support from local governments in China, with Hainan the latest to get on board.

The island province announced at Thursday’s summit that it will launch a ‘Thousand Talents Program’ to provide preferential policies for e-sports talents to base themselves in Hainan.

Xi’an in Shaanxi province also offers similar policies, with the city this year hosting two grand finals for domestic and international competitions of Tencent mobile hit Honor of Kings.

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Guangdong province is responding to the Belt and Road Initiative in its own unique way.

The “Southern Guangdong Ancient Post Route” refers to the passages used to transfer mail, men and material in Guangdong province before 1913.

Waterways, official and unofficial roads are part of this route in Guangdong.

The Southern Guangdong Ancient Post Route epitomizes Guangdong’s historical development and is a continuation of its cultural context.

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El Tri’s attack remains the same with the defense undergoing several changes ahead of Sunday’s match

Edson Alvarez, Andres Guardado and Raul Jimenez were all named to Mexico’s starting lineup for El Tri’s final Gold Cup group stage match.

Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s side will take on Martinique in Charlotte on Sunday night, having already topped Cuba and Canada in their first two matches of the group stage.

Martino’s squad feature six total changes from the team that topped Canada 3-1, with Alvarez, Jimenez, Jesus Gallardo, Uriel Antuna, and Roberto Alvarado the lone holdovers in the El Tri XI.

Guardado returns to the starting XI, having come off the bench in the win over Canada to replace Erick Gutierrez, who could miss the rest of Mexico’s Gold Cup run after suffering an injury against Canada. Guardado stepped in and provided two goals off the bench, including the clinching goal in the 77th minute just two minutes after Puebla’s Lucas Cavallini brought Canada within a goal.

The match marks the return of Rodolfo Pizarro, who is fit for the first time since suffering an ankle knock ahead of the tournament. Hector Moreno is also fit once again, having been injured in a pre-tournament friendly against Ecuador, but the defender has not been named to the starting lineup as well.

In defense, Gallardo returns at fullback with Cesar Montes and Carlos Salcedo, the latter of which has been dealing with a knee issue recently.  Fernando Navarro is also set for his tournament debut with Jonathan Orozco spelling Guillermo Ochoa in goal for the final match of the round.

Guardado and Alvarez lead the midfield unit with Monterrey’s Carlos Rodríguez also involved. Alvarez was the lone midfielder to play all 90 minutes in the Canada victory, while Rodriguez joined Guardado in coming off the bench in that victory.

The attack remains the same, with Martino having opted for the attacking unit of Jimenez, Alvarado and Antuna through the first two matches. Antuna, on loan with the LA Galaxy from Manchester City, scored his first, second and third international goals in the opener against Cuba. Jimenez netted a brace in that win, with Alexis Vega and Diego Reyes adding the other two. Alvarado, meanwhile, scored Mexico’s first two.

Martinique appear set to respond with a 4-4-2, led by Kevin Paresemain and Kevin Fortune while midfielder Stephane Abaul will captain Mario Bocaly’s side.

Mexico XI: Orozco, Navarro, Montes, Salcedo, Gallardo, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Guardado, Antunes, Alvarado, Jimenez 

Martinique XI: Chauvet, Babin, Delem,Thimon,Camille, Marveaux, Herelle, Abaul, Bartheley, Fortune, Parsemain

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