BANGKOK， Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --Thailand's social media has been flooded with controversies as the Thai Culture Ministry banned a music video "Travel in Thailand is Fun" that promotes Thai tourism via epic characters.


The video was released by the Thai Authority of Tourism earlier this month to promote domestic travel among Thais with a wacky depiction of traditional "Khon" characters having fun.


The ministry said scenes showing the Hindu epic character Ravana， the masked demon king， riding horse， a jet ski， a go-kart， and a tuk-tuk as well as taking selfie and cooking Thai sweetmeat were inappropriate.


The ministry asked the film's director to modify the video， which means almost 40 percent of the original one will be removed.


Authorities said the character of Ravana-- the demon king abductor of women -- should not be portrayed doing "undignified" activities such as go karting or taking selfies.


The Culture Ministry's move has caused an uproar in social media， with many netizens seeing nothing wrong in using Khon to promote tourism.


Many social media users shared a drawing showing the back of a sad-looking Ravana with a message reading "I can't do this. I can't do that. I can't even cook sweetmeat ... Oh， please! I am grown up already."


Some shared the picture of frozen-food box labelled "Frozen culture"， and called on friends to sign the petition.


There's been an outpouring of support for the video. A website posted Wednesday has already drawn more than 30，000 signatures requesting authorities to open mind.


Ravana or "Thotsakan" is a character from the epics， who fell in love with Sida (Sita)， wife of a human king. He kidnaps Sida， leading to a huge war between demons and humans.


Ravana is the king of demons with 10 heads， and with his 20 arms possesses innumerable weapons and stoutly believes in his invincibility.


In Thailand， Ravana is treated as a part of art， literature and culture. It is a character of an epic， rather than a religious figure. His masks and dramatic depictions can be found across various art forms in Thailand including temples and even the airports.


CHANGCHUN Nico Hischier Devils Jersey , Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force set up an aeronautical pentathlon team on Wednesday at the Aviation University in Changchun to improve the training of its cadets and air force officers.


As an effective way to train and measure the fighting capabilities of the air force, military aeronautical pentathlons first began in 1947 in France. Aside from flight competition, it also includes shooting, fencing, orienteering, basketball skills, an obstacle course and swimming.


A statement from the university said the sport can improve actual combat capacity of the air force and facilitate mutual exchange between Chinese and foreign troops.


Ma Xiaotian, Commander-in-chief of the PLA air force, attended the launching ceremony.


by Vladimir Putin


The 25th anniversary APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place in Danang very soon, on November 10 and 11.


We greatly value the APEC forum for the ample opportunities it affords all participants to engage in discussions and coordinate positions on a variety of economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues. Our countries strive to cooperate based on the principles of consensus and voluntary participation, mutual respect and willingness to compromise, regardless of the political situation. This is what APEC’s unique spirit of partnership is all about.


As a major Eurasian power with vast Far Eastern territories that boast significant potential, Russia has a stake in the successful future of the Asia-Pacific region, and in promoting sustainable and comprehensive growth throughout its entire territory. We believe that effective economic integration based on the principles of openness, mutual benefit and the universal rules of the World Trade Organisation is the primary means of achieving this goal.


We support the idea of forming an Asia-Pacific free trade area. We believe this is in our practical interest and represents an opportunity to strengthen our positions in the rapidly growing APR markets. I want to note that over the past five years, the share of APEC economies in Russia's foreign trade has increased from 23 to 31 percent, and from 17 to 24 percent in exports. And we have no intention of stopping there.


Of course, the large-scale project to create the APEC free trade area should be carried out with due account of the experience gained from implementing key integration formats in the Asia-Pacific region and Eurasia, including the Eurasian Economic Union, in which Russia cooperates with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Our union has been developing dynamically, and we are eager to build relations with all countries and associations that are interested in doing so. Vietnam, the host of this year’s Forum, was the first state to sign a free trade agreement with the EAEU. As a result, our trade grew significantly and became more diversified. Talks on a trade and economic cooperation agreement with China concluded a short while ago. Talks with Singapore have begun, and we are working on the possibility of signing a free trade agreement with ASEAN.


On a related note, I would like to mention our idea to create the Greater Eurasian Partnership. We suggested forming it on the basis of the Eurasian Economic Union and China’s Belt and Road initiative. To reiterate, this is a flexible modern project open to other participants.


Comprehensive development of infrastructure, including transport, telecommunications and energy, will serve as the basis for effective integration. Today Russia is actively modernising its sea and air ports in the Russian Far East, developing transcontinental rail routes, and building new gas and oil pipelines. We are committed to imple. Hockey Jerseys From China Cheap Minnesota Twins Jerseys Cheap Texas Rangers Jerseys Wholesale Rays Jerseys Wholesale Pirates Jerseys Wholesale Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys Wholesale San Diego Padres Jerseys Wholesale Washington Nationals Jerseys Wholesale New York Mets Jerseys Wholesale Seattle Mariners Jerseys