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Fireworks show co-organized by Arc’teryx and artist Cai Guoqiang in Xizang’s Himalayas draws backlash over ecology and cultural disrespect

Cai Guoqiang stages a fireworks display in the Himalayas of Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on September 20, 2025. Photo: from web
Internationally renowned Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang staged a fireworks display in the Himalayas of Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on Friday evening, raising concerns about violating fundamental principles of ecological conservation. Although the organizers had noted in advance that the fireworks were eco-friendly and would be cleaned up afterward, the performance nevertheless sparked controversy.
Many netizens criticized the event as absurd, questioning the decision to set off explosions in such an ecologically fragile region as the Himalayas. In response to the backlash, the brand behind the show has since deleted related videos online.
At dusk on Friday, Cai began the fireworks performance in Gyangze, an area located at an altitude of about 5,500 meters in the Himalayas. Footage from the site showed Cai igniting three sequences of fireworks along the mountain ridge through gunpowder blasts, creating a dynamic “rising dragon” scene, symbolizing the auspiciousness and vitality embodied in Eastern dragon culture.
Organizers of the event had stated beforehand that all fireworks used biodegradable, eco-friendly materials, herders’ livestock would be relocated and small animals guided away with salt bricks prior to the display, and that residue would be cleaned up and vegetation restored afterward to avoid ecological risks.
Some netizens argued that the so-called eco-friendly materials were only “less polluting” compared with conventional products, but by no means zero-impact. Others pointed out that the plateau’s ecosystem is extremely fragile, “even a tire mark can take decades or centuries to heal, let alone such large-scale smoke and noise pollution,” according to media reports.
Critics also denounced the performance as an act of cultural arrogance, noting that local traditions include reverence for mountain deities and taboos against loud explosions.
Some further warned that the massive blasts could generate sound waves posing potential risks to glaciers already vulnerable due to climate change, possibly destabilizing ice masses, while also severely disturbing plateau wildlife, which violates basic principles of ecological protection.
In the wake of the mounting backlash, Cai and Arc’teryx, the brand that sponsored the fireworks show, have deleted related videos, though they are yet to issue an official response.
An official from the Ecology and Environment Bureau of a branch of the Gyangze County told media on Saturday that the event had been filed with the bureau and all procedures were compliant. “Since environmentally friendly materials were used for the fireworks, an environmental assessment was not required, and approval from township, village, and county-level governments was sufficient. The government had held multiple meetings in advance to study the site selection, assess what wildlife might be nearby, and eventually chose a location outside ecological protection zones with no residents in the vicinity. So far, there has been no observed damage to the local environment, and follow-up monitoring will continue,” the official said, bjnews.com reported.
An Arc’teryx customer service staff later on Saturday responded to media that the event was carried out under scientific assessment and strict guidance, noting that the artistic creation used environmentally friendly materials. The colored powders selected were biodegradable, and the emissions met environmental standards, according to Jimu News.
Responding to why the well-known outdoor brand chose Himalayas as the site for a fireworks display, the staff noteed that the brand’s original intention was “to pay tribute to nature, culture, and the environment.”
According to public records, Cai, born on December 8, 1957, in Quanzhou, East China’s Fujian Province, is a fireworks master and contemporary artist, and one of the most internationally renowned Chinese contemporary artists. He rose to fame with his gunpowder explosion works and has explored installation art, performance art and multimedia art. His representative works include Venice Rent Collection Courtyard, “Sky Ladder,” and the giant “footprints” shown at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph Serves Beauty And Body In A Bikini While In Jamaica

Could 69 be the new 49? Looks like it!
Sheryl Lee Ralph, 69, is aging like fine wine and slaying the last year of her 60s. The actress blessed Instagram with a picture of herself stunning in a two-piece bikini while visiting Sandals Dunn’s River in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
“I am home in JAMAICA 🇯🇲 😎” the Emmy award-winner wrote in a caption under the video. Her green two-piece bikini and colorful cover-up stole the show.
Ralph spent some time relaxing at the lush resort, which she thanked in the caption. While there, she was a guest of TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, who was broadcasting live from Ocho Rios in a partnership with Sandals Resorts and the Jamaica Tourist Board. When she wasn’t giving the hosts insights into Jamaican life and culture alongside the likes of musicians Shaggy and Sean Paul, she was turning the Internet on its head in her two-piece bikini.
Fellow celebs packed the praise in the comments, noting how stunning the actress is.
“ALL OF THIS!! GOAL!” Kelly Rowland commented, while Naturi Naughton remarked, “Yessss! ❤️❤️ you are Fiiinee Wiiiine okay!”
OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA – MARCH 26: Jenna Bush Hager, Sheinelle Jones, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Shaggy attend Sandals Dunn’s River Hosts “TODAY With Jenna & Sheinelle” on March 26, 2026 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Sandals Resorts) The Abbott Elementary star posted another video of her standing on the beach in a vibrant orange dress talking about how the characters she plays would spend a day in Jamaica.
90s babies may remember Sheryl played Dee Mitchell on the hit sitcom Moesha. The actress said that character, who was also from Jamaica, would likely “be spending time with her family up in the hills.”
Deena Jones from the original 1981 musical production of ‘Dreamgirls’ on Broadway would be hiding away in a villa surrounded by the best red wine and champagne she could find. Barbara Howard from Abbott Elementary would spend her day on the sea sipping on rum cocktails, according to the actress.
Ralph, who, of course, has deep roots in Jamaica, is loud and proud about her love for the picturesque island and continues to represent it well. Her patriotism and passion doesn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, she received the Honorary Order of Jamaica for her “sterling contribution as an actress, cultural ambassador of Jamaica and for contribution to the international film industry.”
OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA – MARCH 26: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends Sandals Dunn’s River Hosts “TODAY With Jenna & Sheinelle” on March 26, 2026 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Sandals Resorts) “Oh my God, I love the people, I love their resilience,” she told TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, commending her people for how they came together and pulled through the aftermath of hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Of course, the Jamaican food was another source of pride that the actress mentioned.
Sixty-nine looks fabulous on this queen, so we imagine her 70s will be equally glorious.
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Woodward Diversified Capital Boosts Stake in ProShares Ultra QQQ ETF
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Woodward Diversified Capital LLC, an Oklahoma-based investment management firm, significantly increased its position in the ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) exchange-traded fund during the fourth quarter of 2025. The firm grew its stake in the leveraged Nasdaq-100 ETF by 128.3%, adding nearly 15,000 shares to bring its total holdings to 26,519 shares worth approximately $1.87 million.
Why it matters
The ProShares Ultra QQQ is a popular leveraged ETF that aims to provide 2x the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. Woodward Diversified Capital’s increased stake in QLD suggests the firm has a bullish outlook on technology stocks and expects continued outperformance from the Nasdaq-100 in the near term.
The details
Woodward Diversified Capital LLC, an investment management firm based in Woodward, Oklahoma, grew its position in the ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) ETF by 128.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The firm added 14,901 shares to bring its total holdings to 26,519 shares, which were valued at approximately $1.87 million as of the most recent SEC filing.
- Woodward Diversified Capital increased its QLD holdings in Q4 2025.
The players
Woodward Diversified Capital LLC
An investment management firm based in Woodward, Oklahoma that manages a portfolio of equity and fixed-income investments.
ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD)
A leveraged exchange-traded fund that seeks to provide 2x the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index, which tracks the 100 largest non-financial domestic and international companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The takeaway
Woodward Diversified Capital’s significant increase in its QLD position suggests the firm has a bullish outlook on technology stocks and expects the Nasdaq-100 to continue outperforming the broader market in the near term. The firm’s decision to boost its exposure to this leveraged Nasdaq-100 ETF reflects its confidence in the strength of the technology sector.
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Nixon doesn’t look so bad after all – Daily Freeman
It’s hard for me to describe how much I once loathed Richard Nixon.
As a college student during the Watergate scandal, I celebrated when he quit on the cusp of impeachment. I firmly believed, along with millions of others, that Nixon was the lowest human being ever elevated to our highest office, and his track record of anti-constitutional crimes would never be surpassed.
Jeez, were we naive.
Despite his serial abuses and aberrant behavior — bugging his own office, ordering the Watergate coverup, ranting on tape about “the Jews” will stain him for eternity — when you compare Nixon to the current vile authoritarian, the former looks so good I’m tempted to wallow in nostalgia and give the guy his due.
Think about it: At least Nixon wasn’t stupider than a slab of cement. At least he wasn’t a useful idiot of the Russians. At least he didn’t send people to storm the Capitol after narrowly losing the 1960 presidential race. When the Supreme Court ruled against him in 1974, forcing him to release the Oval Office tapes, he quickly complied. When fellow Republicans told him there were sufficient House votes for impeachment and it was time to go, he went. He actually went.
But that’s just for starters. Check out these points of comparison:
* Unlike he who shall not be named, Nixon didn’t work to destroy the mandate of the Environmental Protection Agency. Quite the contrary. He created the EPA, signed the Clean Water Act, and signed the Endangered Species Act. In 1972, he praised America’s “environmental awakening” and said, “the federal government must provide leadership.”
* Unlike the current saboteur of NATO, Nixon worked to keep it strong. In 1969, he called NATO “one of the great successes of the postwar world.” He said “the American commitment to NATO will remain in force, and it will remain strong” because it is “more than a military alliance,” it “represents a moral force.”
* Unlike the current enemy of affordable health care, Nixon repeatedly sought to enact sweeping health reforms — “to ensure,” he said in 1971, “that no American family will be prevented from obtaining basic medical care by inability to pay.” Indeed, Nixon’s provisions — employer-mandated insurance, increased federal subsidies — were actually more generous than today’s Obamacare. (They failed because Democrats, led by Sen. Ted Kennedy, didn’t think they were liberal enough.)
* Unlike the current guy’s quest to rig the judiciary for the rich and favored, Nixon created the Legal Services Corporation Act. Today, the LSC — a federal nonprofit entity — still provides legal aid to low-income people. When he signed it into law in 1974, he called it a “constructive way to help (the poor) help themselves,” to “protect and preserve a basic right for all Americans.”
* Unlike the current addled warlord, whose ignorant blunderings in Iran will likely accelerate a regional nuclear arms race, Nixon prioritized non-proliferation. He sat down with the Russians to negotiate nuclear arms treaties; for the first time, America and the Soviet Union placed limits on their nuclear weapons arsenals.
* Unlike the current entitled brat, Nixon didn’t have a racist rich daddy to grease his ascent. He grew up poor with no connections in a rural California dust town. His father had a lemon farm that failed. Notwithstanding Nixon’s abundant character flaws, it’s beyond dispute that he worked his rear off to get to Duke Law and beyond, to wind up in places like the Great Wall of China, forging an historic detente with a communist power.
I say all this without minimizing the traits so many of us despised — his lies, his paranoia, his willingness to enlist aides in criminal schemes that landed them in jail. He was ultimately destroyed by his own treachery and taught a generation of Americans to distrust their government. He also ended the draft, championed college loans for the poor, and created the OSHA workplace safety agency. The complexities never cease.
And as loathsome as he often was, he never inspired eight million Americans to flood the streets against him on a single day in all 50 states. That alone tells the tale.
Some 30 years ago, I covered an event at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. Walking the grounds with a colleague, I said, “Hey, isn’t he buried around here somewhere?” My companion said, “You’re standing on him.” I leapt as if my feet had been scorched. I looked down and, yes, there he was. Today, acknowledging his upside, I owe him a semi-salute.
Dick Polman’s column is distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.
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