Tag: world

Ai Weiwei Beijing studio demolished ‘without warning’

Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Mr Ai posted photos of the demolition on social media

The dissident Chinese Language artist Ai Weiwei says the government in Beijing have demolished his studio there.

In a sequence of clips on Instagram appearing the former factory being torn down, Ai said that he were given no notice of the decision.

Another of his studios in Shanghai was destroyed in 2011. He also mentioned at that point he had received no warning.

The 66-12 months-antique has lived in Germany given that leaving China in 2015. he’s a powerful critic of China’s government.

On Instagram Ai mentioned “farewell” to the space, which he had used considering that 2006.

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As Of Late,they started to demolish my studio “zuo you”in Beijing with out a precaution .which I Have as my major studio considering that 2006.it is a East German taste socialist manufacturing unit development.farewell.

A publish shared via Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:36am PDT

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One In All Ai’s assistants, Gang Ra, told the AFP new company that the condominium contract for the construction had ended closing year however that it “merely wasn’t imaginable” to move out on the time because of the quantity of works still present.

He stated that they have been informed that the transfer would need to take place inside of an issue of days, but brought that they had now not been warned whilst the demolition may begin.

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Maintains….

A post shared through Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Aug 4, 2018 at 1:06am PDT

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The son of 1 of China’s most renowned poets, Ai designed Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium for the 2008 Olympics however has in view that become an outspoken critic of the Chinese Language government.

He was once arrested for a couple of months in 2011 and had his passport confiscated. He then moved to Berlin in 2015.

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A publish shared through Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Aug 4, 2018 at 1:48am PDT

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August 4, 2018
Violence as troops installation in Ethiopia’s Somali area

Violence has broken out in an japanese town in Ethiopia after federal troops took over key positions together with the native parliament.

Soldiers had been deployed in Jigjiga, the capital of the Somali area, after an apparent rift among local government and the nationwide executive.

Protesters set fireplace to a church and looted shops and centered non-Somalis.

The executive not too long ago accused regional officers of carrying out human rights abuses.

There has also been confrontation over the distribution of the area’s oil wealth.

what is behind Ethiopia ethnic clashes? Ethiopia u . s . profile

consistent with Reuters, squaddies arrived within the city on Friday night time, where they fought nearby paramilitary forces.

These forces have been in part chargeable for ethnic violence with the neighbouring Oromia area, which has claimed masses of lives.

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Replace: Smoke bellowing from a few portions of Jigjiga marketplace, citizens record assaults on a few businesses and homes belonging to a couple neighborhood participants. It ’s no longer clear who’s accountable of town ’s Security at this time. #Jigjiga #Ethiopia #SomaliRegion #DDSI pic.twitter.com/DzVGz2Br39

— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) August 4, 2018

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August 4, 2018
Three Moscow sisters accused of murdering abusive father

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Angelina Khachaturyan, 18, and her sisters were in court on Thursday

Russian police are keeping three teenage sisters accused of getting stabbed their father to demise in a Moscow rental block.

The Khachaturyan sisters, aged 17, 18 and 19, have confessed to the homicide, Russian media document. they say their father Mikhail tormented them.

The sisters are quoted as saying he stopped them studying, threatened them with weapons and saved them like slaves.

They are in custody until 28 September. The father’s frame was discovered on 27 July.

The FIFTY SEVEN-year-old had approximately 40 knife wounds, Russia’s Vesti information web site studies. His body was once lying in the hallway of an rental block.

Investigators consider the 17-yr-antique, Maria, stabbed him approximately 35 occasions even as her sisters – Angelina (18) and Kristina (19) – struck his head many times with a hammer and squirted pepper spray in his face.

Maria’s lawyer, quoted by means of Russian RBC news, mentioned it did not seem that the father had raped any of them, however there’ll be a scientific check for any proof of that.

If found in charge the sisters face lengthy prison sentences – however no longer life. The longest that Maria may just serve, as a minor, is 10 years.

August 3, 2018
Zimbabwe election: Zanu-PF ‘has so much seats’, incomplete effects show

Image copyright AFP/Getty Pictures Image caption Zanu-PF supporters delay footage of President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a pre-vote rally

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF celebration has gained the most seats in parliament, in line with incomplete respectable effects.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party is poised to win a considerable parliamentary majority in Monday’s poll – the primary elections because lengthy-serving ruler Robert Mugabe was once ousted.

The results of the presidential vote are but to be released.

On Tuesday, the competition MDC Alliance mentioned that vote were rigged and that its candidate Nelson Chamisa had gained.

Overseas election tracking groups are to factor their experiences on the parliamentary and presidential poll later on Wednesday.

Africa Reside: Extra in this and other tales Can post-Mugabe vote heal Zimbabwe?

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has introduced 110 seats for Zanu-PF to this point, and FORTY ONE for MDC Alliance, ZBC state media reported.

There are 210 seats within the Nationwide Assembly’s decrease house.

Monday’s polls attracted a high turnout of 70%.

August 1, 2018
Airliner crashes in Durango after take-off in Mexico

Symbol copyright Protección Civil Durango/Twitter Image caption The airplane was destined for Mexico Town, and had a capacity of ONE HUNDRED

A plane has crashed in Mexico’s town of Durango, television pictures show, with 97 passengers and four crew aboard.

Aeroméxico flight AM2431 was flying from Guadalupe Victoria International Airport to Mexico City.

Native media file the crash happened five mins after take-off, and that passengers have been observed strolling to a nearby highway to seek lend a hand.

Durango state governor José Aispuro wrote on Twitter that there have been no reliable figures on casualties.

Aeroméxico also wrote on Twitter, pronouncing that it was once operating to get more information.

July 31, 2018
German heatwave reasons beer bottle scarcity as gross sales surge

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Prost! The sweltering warmth has boosted German beer gross sales from a low point closing year

Germany has baked in one of its warmest months considering information started in 1881 – and breweries had been toasting a boost in beer sales as a result.

June was once 2.4C warmer than reasonable, whilst July hopped up 3.3C – and chilly beer was a lot in demand.

But the gross sales success is hanging brewers under pressure, with many running out of bottles.

Breweries have appealed for individuals to go back their empties as quickly as imaginable in order that they can handle supply.

Glass bottles, used by many beermakers, have a small deposit on them in Germany, and beer drinkers are expected to carry them back to the shop whilst getting their subsequent spherical.

Symbol copyright EPA Image caption Guests to the traditional Gautrachtenfest in Murnau eat and drink at the festival in early July

German day-to-day Die Welt stories that the 2010 and 2014 International Cups – the place Germany was way more a success – each and every drove beer sales up by means of 4%.

This 12 months’s performance, alternatively, is something the trade continues to be looking to get over, brewing affiliation chief Holger Eichele instructed the newspaper.

While headlines point to boosted summer season gross sales and bottle shortages, the actual business enlargement is solely 0.6% in the first half of the yr, consistent with professional information released on Monday.

While that can no longer look like so much, overall beer gross sales at the moment are 47.1 million hectolitres – almost 9.4bn British pints – in only six months.

The modest building up is enough to push breweries to their capacity – and is all the more vital after years of decline.

Last 12 months was the worst for beermakers due to the fact German reunification, and prices are approximately 4% upper this year than closing summer. However Germans have been buying extra beer anyway.

Chip scarcity

While the general public have quenched their thirst, an extended-standing drought in the country has put power on the country’s crops.

The nationwide vegetable growers’ affiliation, BOGK, warned that the national potato crop was once under risk – and could be “considerably lower… in amount and quality” than remaining yr.

Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Those potatoes, unearthed on Monday in Rheinberg, are much smaller than anticipated

It expects plants to be down through as a lot as 25% with a big shortage of extra-large potatoes, which might be regularly used to make chips.

“In portions of Europe, the vegetable harvest is significantly broken by hail and thunderstorms, in Germany it’s a lot too dry,” the group stated.

“So local weather change might be felt in the pockets.”

Luckily for beer makers and drinkers, regardless that, a tremendous German trader in hops – a key beer component – mentioned the harvest have to be about moderate this year.

July 31, 2018
Russia lambasts Poland over bikers ban

Symbol copyright EPA Image caption Night Time Wolves participants describe their highway commute as a “Victory rally”

Russia has summoned the Polish envoy in Moscow to protest in opposition to a ban on Russian bikers from getting into Poland as a part of International Conflict commemorations.

Russia’s foreign ministry stated it used to be a “cynical” transfer geared toward intentionally harming bilateral ties.

Poland said it acted to verify “the protection of public order”.

The bikers – together with the professional-Kremlin Evening Wolves workforce – need to experience through Poland as a part of a Moscow-Berlin travel to mark the end of WW2.

In a press release (in Russian), the Russian international ministry stated Warsaw’s decision “mocked the reminiscence of those killed preventing towards fascism” through the war.

Image copyright AFP / getty photographs Image caption The Night Time Wolves have gained lively reinforce from President Putin

The nationalist Night Wolves staff has shut links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has taken phase in their rides.

The Night Time Wolves are subject to US sanctions for alleged energetic involvement in Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and for helping to recruit separatist fighters for Russian-sponsored rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Russian TV outrage – BBC Monitoring

The story options prominently on the entire main Russian TELEVISION channels.

State-owned Rossiya 1 TELEVISION leads its main afternoon bulletin with the summoning of the Polish ambassador.

It highlights the Russian foreign ministry’s commentary announcing the ban is a “particularly cynical and sick-intentioned gesture”.

State-owned rolling information channel Rossiya 24 additionally pegs its report to the overseas ministry’s “robust protest” over the ban.

Different TELEVISION channels – state-managed Channel One, Gazprom-owned NTV and privately owned REN TV – file that some 30 bikers have already left Moscow for Berlin.

The hashtag “Dorogi Pobedy” (“Roads of Victory”) is among the top 10 trending on Russian Twitter for the reason that mid-afternoon.

Members Of The Family between Poland and Russia are lately difficult, the BBC’s Adam Easton in Warsaw reports.

Poland has strongly criticised Russia’s movements in Ukraine in latest years.

the former Polish executive known as remaining year’s planned bike rally a planned provocation via the Kremlin, and greater than 10,000 Poles signed up to a petition in opposition to it on social media, our correspondent says.

In latest months, Moscow has also complained to Warsaw about the dismantling in Poland of a couple of WW2 Pink Military memorials.

July 31, 2018
World Cup fails to quell Russian anger over pension reform

Image caption A Few Of The slogans was one directed at President Putin: “You provide him 76% within the election, and at SEVENTY SIX you get to retire”

Euphoric Russians took to the streets while their staff complicated to the quarter-finals of the world Cup by means of beating Spain.

But hours before Sunday’s fit, in 38 Russian towns and towns, there have been protests at government plans to raise the retirement age for men and girls.

In the Siberian city of Omsk THREE,000 folks became out, in step with the organisers.

“Lend A Hand the state, die prior to your pension,” learn one house-made placard. “the government should cross,” learn another.

You would not have seen them in any of the ELEVEN International Cup cities, because of a ban on demonstrations for the duration of the event.

Symbol copyright EPA Symbol caption The scenes were very different within the centre of Moscow hours later while Russians celebrated their knockout victory over Spain

Unusually for Russia, protesters in Omsk had been from either side of the political debate.

Communist Birthday Celebration red flags and nationalist banners flew facet by means of facet, and opposition supporters joined in too.

Learn extra Russian World Cup tales

Russians protest over pension age hikes Is it okay to strengthen Workforce Russia? Russian media mock International Cup ‘husband-hunters’

“I Am right here because the govt is stealing from us,” said Ivan Vasilievich, a pensioner in his 70s who dietary supplements his pension with a task as a security protect.

“My granddaughter and her kids couldn’t live to tell the tale without the money I usher in.”

Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption “Enough” reads a placard held by a protester in Ivanovo north-east of Moscow

That a few Russians are prepared to tear themselves clear of the football, and take to the streets in a summer time warmth wave, is an indication of the way offended they feel.

It isn’t simply because their government wants to boost the pension age for the first time considering that Stalin, but in addition because of how it has all been handled.

Burying unhealthy information?

The televised declaration by High Minister Dmitry Medvedev coincided with the outlet of the tournament on 14 June, prompting grievance that the government was once burying bad news.

Image copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Russia’s prime minister (second proper) used to be all smiles, unlike Spain’s King Felipe VI (left), as they watched Russia qualify for the quarter-finals on Sunday

And it came regardless of past promises from President Vladimir Putin that the pension age may never be raised on his watch.

The prime minister says the verdict was once prompted via the truth that Russians are living longer and top more lively lives.

“There are more opportunities to continue their careers,” he instructed a cupboard assembly. “we have now 12 million working pensioners: that’s nearly 1 / 4 of all pensioners.”

Why Russia needs to boost the pension age

Most economists and lots of Russians agree there’s an issue. The inhabitants is getting older and the state is spending extra and extra on pensions.

After the commercial chaos of the early nineteen nineties, Russia’s population plummeted. The birth fee has due to the fact shown some signs of development, however it is not happening fast enough.

according to current traits, 20% of Russians will be over 65 via 2050, says the UN.

President Putin has simply signed a brand new invoice on pension spending, envisaging a deficit of more than 265bn roubles (£3.1bn; $4.2bn) in 2018. That’s 1.6% of the entire state funds expenditure.

It is clearly now not a sustainable scenario, particularly in tough economic times.

Russia in numbers

Population: 143.5 million

Unemployment: 5.2%

Economic enlargement: 1.5% (in 2017)

Supply: OECD; Tass

Life in Putin’s Russia in charts

At The Same Time As economists agree the reforms can help stability the books, many question why they weren’t applied in advance whilst the financial system was once in better form.

“putting off an unpopular but inevitable measure… presentations an unforgivable lack of seriousness by the government,” say best economists from Moscow’s Higher Faculty of the Financial System, Ilya Kashnitsky and Vladimir Kozlov.

Even If the reforms may not come into full impact till 2028 for men and 2034 for women, unusual Russians fear about the affect.

“They haven’t given us extra years of labor, just extra years of poverty,” said one banner at the Omsk protest.

Is Russia equipped for a better retirement age?

Moscow accountant Larisa Grigorieva, 57, retired years in the past and has tried and failed to to find work ever on the grounds that, suffering to compete in a converting marketplace.

“i’m not getting any responses. They see you’re 57 and no-one’s interested,” she says.

Image copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption far from enjoying a world Cup leap, Mr Putin’s scores have long past down because the event started

And the unbiased Levada Centre published a survey on Tuesday appearing believe in the president had dropped underneath 50% for the primary time in five years.

“i would not make a large factor out of it,” mentioned his spokesman.

on the Omsk protest, many seemed reluctant in charge the president individually.

“Please stop Medvedev!” learn one placard. But now not everyone agreed. “Prosecute Putin and Medvedev,” said another.

When the world Cup ends, so does the ban on protests in host cities. that is whilst the following chapter on this row will spread.

(more…)

July 28, 2018
Spain custody battle sends mother Juana Rivas into hiding

Symbol copyright EPA Symbol caption This picture of Juana Rivas was taken at an unknown location and released on 15 August

In Spain, the slogan “Juana is in my house” has long past viral.

you notice it on social media and headlining weblog posts. It has additionally been revealed on posters in store windows and demonstrators have been chanting it within the street.

Juana Rivas, the subject of that expression of team spirit, has grow to be a cause celebre. But her whereabouts have been unknown for more than 3 weeks.

She was presupposed to hand over her two youngsters, elderly three and 11, to their Italian father, Francesco Arcuri, in Granada on 26 July.

That followed a courtroom order giving him custody of the men, after Ms Rivas had taken them back to Spain from Italy remaining year with out his consent.

Image copyright AFP Symbol caption Juana Rivas failed to turn up to the courtroom hearing on 8 August, however the children’s father Francesco Arcuri did

Ms Rivas and the youngsters didn’t turn up for the handover and she or he then did not seem for a courtroom summons on EIGHT August.

The judge ordered her arrest and he or she could face a prison sentence of as much as four years for abduction. She has no longer been noticed in public since the July handover date.

Fight against gender violence

Ms Rivas has said that in their relationship Mr Arcuri abused her bodily and psychologically and mistreated their older son, pointing to a 3-month jail sentence her former partner received for domestic abuse 8 years in the past.

“a girl working away from terror to give protection to her children can’t be deemed abduction,” stated a letter by means of Ms Rivas, learn out at a demonstration to give a boost to her in Granada on Monday. It added that “an abuser by no means offers you permission to leave”.

Spain’s feminine bodyguards who offer protection to abused women Spanish deal on violence in opposition to ladies

Campaigners have made Ms Rivas a logo of Spain’s struggle towards gender violence, which sees a standard of 60 ladies killed each year via their companions or ex-companions.

However Francesco Arcuri insists he’s the sufferer of a media frenzy that has distorted their relationship, solid him as the villain and disadvantaged him of seeing his kids.

How courting became sour

The couple met in 2004 in London the place, according to Spanish media, a 23-year-antique Ms Rivas was once finding out English and Mr Arcuri, who used to be 38, used to be handling a restaurant.

Image copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Juana Rivas took her kids back to Spain in Would Possibly 2016 from the circle of relatives house in Sardinia

She had their first child in Spain in 2006, however three years later Mr Arcuri used to be discovered responsible of beating Ms Rivas many times after she lower back to their house in the early hours one morning.

Mr Arcuri now denies having dedicated any abuse, insisting he most effective pleaded in charge in order to avoid a lengthy criminal fight and to be able to look his son. His responsible plea additionally meant he did not go to prison, as sentences of under two years in Spain do not regularly result in jail.

Symbol copyright AFP Image caption While Ms Rivas has attracted widespread toughen, Francesco Arcuri has additionally attracted protests in favour of joint custody

The couple subsequently reunited and moved to the small Sardinian island of San Pietro, where they ran a bed and breakfast. they had a second son, but their courting fell aside again.

Ms Rivas has defined herself as being trapped within the Italian nation-state, living in worry of an abusive partner. In Might 2016, she took the youngsters back to Spain and their father has not observed them because. She then filed any other family abuse claim.

‘i am no longer the terrorist’

As well as sparking several demonstrations calling for Ms Rivas to be given sole custody of her youngsters, the case has observed the highest quality of the southern region of Andalucía, Susana Díaz, get involved by means of providing prison improve to her.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy additionally perceived to take her facet. “One has to take into consideration what has came about,” he informed journalists. “She needed to visit Italy, had to go back, she has been attacked two times, her husband has been convicted via the courts.”

But Mr Arcuri, who claims his ex-partner was constantly out partying in San Pietro and leaving him to do such a lot of the parental duties, says Spanish public opinion has unjustly turned in opposition to him.

A Swiss lady, identified as S.M, who was Mr Arcuri’s spouse for 10 years, has said she does “not consider for one 2nd that he has mistreated his wife and kids”.

Mr Arcuri has informed Spanish media: “i’m now not the terrorist who is being mentioned.”

“i am a father with two judicial rulings in his favour, who for greater than a 12 months has no longer noticed his youngsters who were illegally abducted.”

Domestic violence: Useful contacts

In UNITED KINGDOM: Domestic violence helpline – 0808 2000 247 Women’s help In Spain: 24-hour household violence helpline 016 e mail address: 016-online@msssi.es 24-hour helpline for mistreated ladies – (0034) 900 19 10 10

July 27, 2018
Greek fires: Aerial pictures display devastation

Image copyright AFP

Aerial pictures of scorched towns and villages have revealed the dimensions of the devastation resulting from this week’s fatal wildfires in Greece.

Flames tore thru pine forests round Athens on Monday night time, killing a minimum of 83 folks. Many more are lacking.

The speedy-moving flames engulfed the houses of terrified residents and vacationers, in addition as those looking to flee in cars or on foot.

Burnt-out houses and cars will also be observed around the east Atica towns and villages of Mati, Neos Voutzas and Rafina, with entire groups devastated.

A map produced via ECU satellite carrier Copernicus unearths the devastation of residential areas.

Mati

In the coastal village of Mati, one resident described the arrival of the fires as “an evening of hell”.

Interactive See how fire left trail of destruction in Mati, Greece

After

Ahead Of

Many survivors had been stored by way of fleeing to the sea, but a big collection of the sufferers had been trapped on the subject of a cliff-edge, unable to reach the water.

Mati, an hour’s pressure east of Athens, is made up of small villas, standard amongst Greeks as a weekend getaway destination.

Symbol copyright Reuters

It’s also home to a big group of retirees, and, all the way through school holidays, many babies arrive to spend time by means of the coast with their grandparents.

Symbol copyright Reuters

Grandmother Sophia Tsaganou Profitou described driving at prime velocity round fallen burning tree branches to get her 88-year-old husband Yannis and her nine-year-old granddaughter Katerina to protection.

“all of it took place so speedy,” she said. “nobody warned us. Yannis instructed us to get our stuff but we didn’t even have time for that, the flames have been already here.”

Neos Voutzas

The all of a sudden advancing inferno additionally engulfed local Neos Voutzas, a village nestled among the rolling hills lined via pine trees.

Theofilaktos Logothetic defined his get away: “the fireplace was chasing after us, whoever managed to go away in time, did so. the person who was once right at the back of me whilst I drove to the principle road did not make it, the hearth took him and melted him.”

Symbol copyright AFP/GETTY

Rafina

The flames additionally reached Rafina, the place citizens fled to the ocean to flee.

Symbol copyright Getty Pictures

As volunteers now accumulate meals and garments for the survivors, the hunt goes on for many still missing since the evening of the fire.

.

July 26, 2018