On chinadaily.com.cn

Biz: Track diamonds using blockchain

Tech giant Tencent has partnered with Russia diamond miner Alrosa Group to offer a blockchain-based in-app feature that provides full traceability for WeChat users' diamond purchases. The mini program will allow consumers to identify a diamond's authenticity and track the gem from the mine to the retail outlet. Alrosa is the world's largest diamond miner. Blockchain technology company Everledger in the United Kingdom was also involved in the partnership. Chinese demand for diamonds saw robust growth last year to about $10 billion, according to the Diamond Insight Report 2019 released by the diamond mining company De Beers.

People: Student wins top photo honor

Dong Shuchang, a 21-year-old junior student from the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, has gained recognition since he won the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2019 contest. Dong was given the Sir Patrick Moore Prize as Best Newcomer Joint Winner for his work Sky and Ground, Stars and Sand, which was taken at Pingluo county in Ningxia. "There is so much to enjoy about this picture: moonlight bathing the dunes in its silvery glow; the dramatic shadows seemingly sculpting the sand into cliffs and ravines; and the meeting of cosmic time and geological time," commented Melanie Vandenbrouck, curator of art at the Royal Museums Greenwich.

Film: Skyfire example of global cooperation

The latest effort to exemplify Chinese filmmakers' exploration of international cooperation, the disaster film Skyfire－which has crew members from 17 countries－hit Chinese screens last week. Under the helm of British director Simon West, best known for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Skyfire is a Chinese production which stars Wang Xueqi, Hannah Quinlivan, Jason Isaacs and Shawn Dou. Set on a tropical island, the tale follows a group's attempt to escape after they are trapped in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. The film is scheduled to be released in overseas market next year.

World: Gender workplace equality 257 years away

Women may have to wait more than two centuries for equality at work, according to a report on Tuesday showing gender inequality growing in workplaces worldwide despite increasing demands for equal treatment. While women appear to be gradually closing the gender gap in areas such as politics, health and education, workplace inequality is not expected to be erased until the year 2276, according to the World Economic Forum report. The organization in Geneva said that the worldwide gender gap in the workplace has widened further since last year, when parity appeared to be only 202 years off. Its annual report tracks disparities between the sexes in 153 countries across four areas: education; health; economic opportunity and political empowerment.