London (AFP) – British sound artist Stuart Fowkes has launched an online project to save “disappearing” sounds, with audio submitted by users from around the world kept in the archives of the British Library.
Lumajang (Indonesia) (AFP) – Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupts and spews hot ash clouds a mile into the sky, prompting authorities to raise the volcano’s alert status to the highest level. The eruption of the highest mountain on Indonesia’s main island of Java around 800 kilometres southeast of capital Jakarta sparked evacuations of nearby villages.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – A $60 price cap set on Russian oil agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia is not “serious” because it is “quite comfortable” for Moscow, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Brussels (AFP) – EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says that the bloc must act to address “distortions” created by Washington’s $430-billion plan to spur climate-friendly technologies in the United States. The European Union must “take action to rebalance the playing field where the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) or other measures create distortions”, von der Leyen says in a speech at the College of Europe in the Belgian city of Bruges. SOUNDBITE
Lviv (Ukraine) (AFP) – As many cities experience both planned and unannounced blackouts in the aftermath of Russian strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, locals in Lviv carry on with life as best as they can.
Istanbul (AFP) – In October, Turkey’s parliament passed a contested 40-article ‘disinformation law’ as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who is often accused of muzzling the free press — faces his most challenging elections, in June next year, since he came to power two decades ago. Now referred to as the “censorship law” by the opposition and journalists’ groups, the sweeping legislation, that could see journalists and social media users locked up for three years for spreading disinformation.
Mariupol (Ukraine) (AFP) – Maxar satellite images of the city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, taken in March 2022 and November 2022, show the numerous changes that have occurred since the Russian siege of the city in March and the extensive damage that was caused by weeks of airstrikes and artillery bombardments. Across the city, dozens of destroyed or damaged high-rise apartment buildings are now being demolished and large stockpiles of construction supplies are seen near several of the shopping centers. A new Russian military compound has been built in the centre of the city and the city’s main cemetery, Starokrymske, has had a significant expansion in its number of graves.
Doha (AFP) – The Torch Doha next to Khalifa International Stadium, which hosts the last-16 World Cup match between the Netherlands and the United States, displays an image of Pele as the Brazilian football legend, in fragile health in recent years, was hospitalized Tuesday in Sao Paulo. IMAGES
Rosario (Argentina) (AFP) – A grand mural honouring Argentine professional footballer player Lionel Messi has appeared in his childhood neighbourhood in Rosario – while the player performs in the Qatari World Cup. Artists Marlene Zuriaga and Lisandro “Lichi” Urteaga of the “Imagina Pintura Mural” group painted the football star on the walls of his childhood home in Argentina. Messi has become a source of pride for local residents, who hope he will one day come back to visit them.
Manila (AFP) – The bodies of 70 inmates from the Philippines’ largest prison were laid to rest Friday in a mass burial after their bodies were left unclaimed for months. They were among 176 corpses found by police in October during an investigation into the death of an inmate accused of being involved in the killing of a journalist. The bodies began piling up in the funeral home in December 2021 after their families did not claim them. Most of the deaths were due to “natural causes”, a prison official said.
Paris (AFP) – His restaurant has just been named best table in the world by La Liste 2022. Chef Guy Savoy opens the doors of his kitchen and confides his “physical approach to taste” and his passion for “the French art of living”.
Washington (AFP) – US actress and activist Jane Fonda calls for US President Joe Biden to “declare a national climate emergency” at a rally in Washington DC. “If ever there was a time for a president to take advantage of his full power, this is it. Delay is the enemy,” says the social campaigner. The 84-year-old Oscar winner is back in Washington for the first in-person Fire Drill Friday rally since 2019, when the activist used to take part in non-sanctioned protests outside the US Capitol over the climate crisis.
