Elections in Bangladesh, Massive arrests of opposition activists

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11 December 2023

National_Assembly_of_Bangladesh,_August_2013 — Mamun Ismail, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The government led by the Awami League is claiming to commit to free and fair general elections due to take place on 7 January 2024 while simultaneously the state authorities are filling prisons with members of the political opposition and are responsible for using excessive force, enforced disappearances, torture and extra-judicial killings.

The country’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have decided to boycott the election saying it will be rigged by the ruling Awami League (AL).

The opposition demands that the government resigns and transfers power to a neutral caretaker administration to oversee the polls, but it has been strongly rejected by the Awami League.

Table of Contents

Massive repression during the election campaign

Since the mass political rally organized by the BNP on 28 October against the ruling government, led by Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, at least 10,000 opposition activists have been arrested. Many others have fled their homes to avoid arrest and have gone into hiding. There is no more room left in the prisons, according to Human Rights Watch, which says that at least 16 people have been killed and over 5,500 people have been injured.

At the end of November, Nahid Hasan, a reporter for the news website Jagonews24.com was attacked in the capital Dakha while he was reporting on a clash involving students of the ruling Awami League. The aggressors were Tamzeed Rahman, a local leader of the Awami League’s Youth Wing with about 20-25 men. They grabbed him by the collar, slapped and beat him until he fell to the ground where they continued to kick and stomp on him. This was the latest episode so far of a series of attacks on media people by supporters of the 14-party alliance led by Awadi League.

Attacks, surveillance, intimidation and judicial harassment of the press over the past several years have led to widespread self-censorship in the media.

Over 5,600 cases related to freedom of expression, including those of prominent journalists and editors, are still pending under the much-criticised draconian Digital Services Act, according to the United Nations.

UN concerns about mass arrests

On 13 November, the UN Human Rights Council completed its periodic review of the human rights situation in Bangladesh during which dozens of NGOs complained about the egregious violations of human rights by the Awami-led government.

On the next day, 14 November, Ms. Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Mr.Clément Nyaletsossi Voule; Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and Ms. Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, denounced the severe crackdown against workers demanding fair wages and political activists calling for free and fair elections. They also condemned judicial harassment of journalists, human rights defenders and civil society leaders, as well as the failure to reform laws suppressing freedom of expression.

The statement of the UN Special Rapporteurs was in line with another UN declaration on 4 August 2023 denouncing pre-election violence, calling for police “to refrain from excessive use of force amid recurring violence and mass arrests ahead of general elections.” According to a UN spokesperson, “Police, alongside men in plain clothes, have been seen using hammers, sticks, bats and iron rods, among other objects, to beat protestors.”

Concerns of the United States

In September 2023, the United States began imposing visa restrictions on Bangladeshi officials found responsible for “undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.” The US could also consider additional sanctions against those with command responsibility for the abuses being carried out now. The principal target of these sanctions is the ruling Awadi League party, the law enforcement forces, the judiciary and security services.

With this measure, the Biden administration remains consistent with its policy towards the Awami-led ruling government. In 2021 and 2023, it left Bangladesh out of the two “Summit for Democracy” events, although it had invited Pakistan (ranking lower than Bangladesh on various democracy indexes, including Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Index and the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index).

On 31 October, US Ambassador Peter Haas declared “Any action that undermines the democratic elections process – including violence, preventing people from exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and internet access – calls into question the ability to conduct free and fair elections.”

In early November, Awami League leaders repeatedly threatened to beat or kill Haas.

Concerns of the European Union about the elections

On 13 September, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, delivered a speech on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell about the human rights situation in Bangladesh stressing that “the EU remains concerned over the reports on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.”

She stressed that the EU joins the United Nations’s calls for an independent mechanism to investigate enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Bangladesh should also allow a visit by the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances.

On 21 September, the European Union decided not to send a full team of observers during Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections citing budgetary constraints.

On 19 October, the EU officially informed the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh that it will send a four-member team to observe the upcoming national election, according to The Business Standard. According to the letter sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team will visit Bangladesh from 21 November 2023 to 21 January 2024 to observe the polls.

The EU did not send any observers in the last two national elections in 2014 and 2018 won by the Awadi League. In 2014, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the largest opposition party, boycotted and will do it again in January 2024.

The EU had sent a full-fledged mission in the 2008 elections when it deployed the largest international observation mission in Bangladesh with 150 observers from 25 EU Member States, plus Norway and Switzerland.

Several foreign governments have repeatedly called for free and fair elections in Bangladesh.

Trade relations between the EU and Bangladesh as a tool of possible soft power

Due to the commercial privileges granted to Bangladesh, the EU has the capacity, beyond its formal hopes and wishes, to urge its government to guarantee free and fair elections.

The EU works closely with Bangladesh in the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement, concluded in 2001. This agreement provides broad scope for cooperation, including human rights.

The EU is Bangladesh’s main trading partner, accounting for around 19.5% of the country’s total trade in 2020.

The EU imports from Bangladesh are dominated by clothing, accounting for over 90% of the EU’s total imports from the country.

The EU exports to Bangladesh are dominated by machinery and transport equipment.

Between 2017 and 2020, EU-28 imports from Bangladesh reached on average €14.8 billion per year, which represents half of Bangladesh’s total exports.

As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Bangladesh benefits from the most favourable regime available under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), namely the Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement. EBA grants the 46 LDCs – including Bangladesh – duty-free, quota-free access to the EU for exports of all products, except arms and ammunition. Human Rights Without Frontiers urges the EU to energetically use its soft power to put in balance Bangladesh’s respect of human rights ahead of the elections and its commercial privileges.

Historic Visit, European Sikh Organization Gains Support for Recognition within the European Union

By

Juan Sanchez Gil

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10 December 2023

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In a groundbreaking event on December 6, history was made as a Sikh delegation, accompanied by members of the European Sikh Organization, was extended a warm welcome at the European Parliament. This significant development marked the first time Sikhs were officially invited to the European Parliament, where promises of support for the recognition of Sikhs within the European Union were made.

The Sikh delegation, with its registered office in Vilvoorde, was acknowledged by some members of the European Parliament as exemplary residents and citizens of Europe. This recognition, in part, can be attributed to the efforts of Member of the European Parliament Hilde Vautmans from the Open VLD party. Vautmans, who resides in Sint-Truiden—a region with a notable Sikh population—has emerged as a champion for the Sikh community, pledging her assistance in securing recognition for Sikhi not only in Belgium but across the entire European Union.

Vautmans’ commitment to the cause was underscored by her supporting of the Sikh community in gaining recognition for their faith in Belgium and throughout the European Union. Her connection with Sint-Truiden, a city where many Sikhs have chosen to call home, has further fueled her determination to champion their cause on the European stage.

The Sikh community’s spokesman and chairman, Binder Singh, expressed satisfaction with the positive reception they received at the European Parliament. Singh, at 40 years old, emphasized the importance of continued support for the Sikh community in various areas, enabling them to practice peacefully the teachings of Guru Nanak Saab while preserving their unique identity in European countries.

“We continue to look forward to support in all areas so that we can spread the message of Guru Nanak Saab in the European countries with our own identity. Our purpose is not change noboddy’es religion, but to contribute to the enrichemnt of the societies where we live” remarked Singh. This statement encapsulates the broader aspiration of the Sikh community—to share the profound teachings of their Guru while maintaining their distinct cultural and religious identity.

The recognition and support from the European Parliament represent a significant step forward for the Sikh community’s efforts to establish a more prominent presence within the European Union. It not only validates their contributions as residents and citizens but also acknowledges the richness of Sikh culture and the importance of integrating it into the diverse fabric of Europe.

Sikhs have a long history of migration and settlement in various parts of the world, contributing significantly to the cultural tapestry of the regions they inhabit. The European Sikh Organization‘s visit to the European Parliament signifies a desire for deeper integration and recognition, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of Sikhism and its values.

As Europe continues to embrace its multicultural identity, acknowledging and celebrating the diversity of its residents becomes paramount. The support extended by MEP Hilde Vautmans and her colleagues is not just a political gesture; it reflects a commitment to inclusivity and a recognition of the positive impact the Sikh community has on European society.

While Sikhs have been an integral part of European communities for many years, the recent visit to the European Parliament opens new avenues for dialogue and collaboration. It provides an opportunity for lawmakers to gain a deeper understanding of Sikh values, fostering an environment where the Sikh community can thrive while staying true to its heritage.

The recognition of Sikhi in Belgium and the broader European Union is not just a legal or administrative matter; it is about acknowledging and respecting the rich cultural and religious tapestry that Sikhs bring to the European mosaic. The European Parliament’s promise of support signifies a step toward ensuring that Sikhs can practice and promote their faith freely, contributing to the diversity that defines Europe.

As the Sikh community continues to navigate the path towards recognition, the engagement with the European Parliament serves as a catalyst for broader conversations about diversity, religious freedom, and the importance of preserving cultural identities within the European Union. The positive response from parliamentarians sets a precedent for future collaboration and understanding between the Sikh community and European institutions.

In conclusion, the historic visit of the European Sikh Organization to the European Parliament, accompanied by a supportive Sikh delegation, marks a significant milestone in the journey toward recognition within the European Union. The promises of support from MEP Hilde Vautmans and her colleagues signal a positive shift, fostering an environment where Sikhs can proudly practice their faith and contribute to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Europe. As the dialogue continues, this event paves the way for a more inclusive and diverse European Union that cherishes and celebrates the richness of its multicultural communities.

EU-China summit, 7 December 2023

By

officialinstitutions

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10 December 2023

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EU-China summit, 7 December 2023 — © consilium.europa - Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming President Michel and President von der Leyen

The 24th EU-China summit took place in Beijing, China. This was the first in-person EU-China summit since 2019.

President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Josep Borrell, represented the EU. They met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang at two separate sessions.

The summit was an opportunity to engage with China at the highest level and to pursue constructive and stable EU-China relations.

The EU and China have a shared interest in a stable and constructive relationship based on respect for the international rules-based order.
President Charles Michel

Discussions at the summit revolved around the state of EU-China relations , including the trade and economic relationship, and international issues.

Trade and economy

The EU and China are major economic partners. However, the EU’s trade deficit with China is almost €400 billion.

The EU therefore stressed to China the importance of achieving a more balanced economic relationship with a level playing field and reciprocity.

The EU expects China to take more concrete action to improve market access and the investment environment for EU investors and exporters.

The EU aims to strengthen resilience by addressing critical dependencies in specific sectors, in full compliance with the World Trade Organization rules.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

Hand holding a sunflower. — **Infographic – EU solidarity with Ukraine** See full infographic

The leaders discussed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

EU countries are committed to continuing their strong support for the people of Ukraine.

During the summit, the EU:

reiterated that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has a special responsibility in upholding the UN Charter’s core principles
strongly encouraged China to engage on Ukraine’s peace formula
insisted that China should refrain from supplying lethal weapons to Russia
reiterated how important it is that China help to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions

Middle East

EU and Chinese leaders also discussed the tragic events unfolding in the Middle East.

The EU condemned in the strongest terms the indiscriminate and brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel.

The EU reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law.

The EU and China agreed that getting life-saving aid to the most vulnerable must be a top priority.

Since the start of the war, the EU has quadrupled its humanitarian aid to over 100 million euro.

As global players, we agreed that the European Union and China have a special responsibility to work for peace.
President Charles Michel

Both the EU and China support the revival of a political process based on the two-state solution.

European Council conclusions on Middle East, 26 October 2023

Global challenges

The infographic explains how the EU delivers on the Paris Agreement on climate change. — **Infographic – Paris Agreement: the EU’s road to climate neutrality**
See full infographic

EU and Chinese leaders discussed areas of shared interest such as climate change and health.

The EU acknowledged recent progress on the expansion of renewable energy and China’s intention to tackle methane emissions.

The EU encouraged China to:

triple renewable energy capacity
double energy efficiency by 2030
join the global methane pledge
Climate goals and the EUʼs external policy (background information)

The EU and China are cooperating to improve global health. This includes work on an international pandemic treaty.

An international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness (background information)

Human rights

The EU welcomed the resumption of the human rights dialogue.

For the EU, human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal. They are non-negotiable.
President Charles Michel

During the summit, the EU nevertheless reiterated its deep concerns about the human rights situation in China, in particular about:

systemic human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet
forced labour
the treatment of human rights defenders and persons belonging to minorities

Asian region

The EU reaffirmed its ‘one China’ policy and expressed its concerns about the growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas.

In the EU, we are opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
President Charles Michel

Background

EU-China relationship

At the June European Council, EU leaders held a strategic discussion on the EU’s relations with China.

In their conclusions, they reaffirmed the EU’s multifaceted approach towards China, and the continued engagement with China:

to tackle global challenges such as climate change, pandemic preparedness and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
to ensure a level playing field for a balanced economic and trade relationship

US vetoes resolution on Gaza which called for ‘immediate humanitarian ceasefire’

By

EuropeanTimes

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9 December 2023

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UN resolution — Screenshot from UN video

The United States on Friday once again vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

On Friday 8 December, for the second time, the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, “as civilian casualties mount in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas”.

Thirteen of the fifteen members of the Security Council voted in favour of the resolution, with the United Kingdom abstaining. The draft resolution had been co-sponsored by 97 UN member states.

Robert Wood, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, said after the vote: “We do not support a resolution that calls for an unsustainable ceasefire that will simply sow the seeds of the next war”, he explained, also denouncing the “moral failure” represented by the absence in the text of any condemnation of the Hamas

UN Secretary-General António Guterres thanked ambassadors for their response to his invocation of Article 99 following his urgent letter – one of the most powerful tools at his disposal – saying he had written because “we are at breaking point” in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Article 99, contained in Chapter XV of the Charter: says that the UN chief “may bring to attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”

It was the first time ever that Mr. Guterres had used the rarely invoked clause.

“Facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, I urge the Council to help avert a humanitarian catastrophe & appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared,” Mr. Guterres wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after dispatching the letter.

He urging the body to help end carnage in the war-battered enclave through a lasting humanitarian ceasefire.

“I fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region”, he said, adding that the Occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, had already been drawn in to the conflict to varying degrees.

There is clearly, in my view, a serious risk of aggravating existing threats to the maintenance of international peace and security”.

The Secretary-General also reiterated his “unreservedly condemnation” of Hamas’ brutal attacks on Israel on 7 October, stressing that he is “appalled” by the reports of sexual violence.

“There is no possible justification for deliberately killing some 1,200 people, including 33 children, injuring thousands more, and taking hundreds of hostages,” he said, adding “at the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

“While indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas into Israel, and the use of civilians as human shields, are in contravention of the laws of war, such conduct does not absolve Israel of its own violations,” Mr. Guterres said.

“This is a sad day in the history of the Security Council”, but “we will not give up”, lamented the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour.

The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, thanked the United States “for standing firmly by our side”.

Council and Parliament reach deal on proposal to revise energy performance of buildings directive

By

officialinstitutions

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9 December 2023

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Council and Parliament reach deal on proposal to revise energy performance of buildings directive — Sean Pollock on Unsplash

Table of Contents

The Council and the Parliament today reached provisional political agreement on a proposal to revise the energy performance of buildings directive.

The revised directive sets new and more ambitious energy performance requirements for new and renovated buildings in the EU and encourages member states to renovate their building stock.

Buildings are responsible for over one third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. Thanks to this agreement, we will be able to boost buildings’ energy performance, cut emission and tackle energy poverty. This is one more big step closer to EU’s objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Today is a good day for citizens, our economy and our planet.Teresa Ribera, Spanish third vice-president of the government and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge
Teresa Ribera, Spanish third vice-president of the government and
minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge

The main objectives of the revision are that by 2030 all new buildings should be zero-emission buildings, and that by 2050 existing building stock should be transformed into zero-emission buildings.

Solar energy in buildings

The two co-legislators have agreed on article 9a on solar energy in buildings which will ensure the deployment of suitable solar energy installations in new buildings, public buildings and existing non-residential ones which undergo a renovation action that requires a permit.

Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)

When it comes to minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) in non-residential buildings, the co-legislators agreed that in 2030 all non-residential buildings will be above the 16% worst performing and by 2033 above 26%.

Concerning the renovation target for residential buildings, member states will ensure that the residential building stock will reduce the average energy consumption by 16% in 2030 and a range between 20-22% in 2035. 55% of the energy reduction will have to be achieved through renovation of the worst performing buildings.

Phasing out fossil fuels in buildings

Finally, in relation to the plan to phase out fossil fuels boilers, both institutions agreed on including in the National Building Renovation Plans a roadmap with a view to phase out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040.

Next steps

The provisional agreement reached today with the European Parliament now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions.

Background

The Commission submitted to the European Parliament and the Council a proposal for a recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive on 15 December 2021. The Directive forms part of the ‘Fit for 55 ’ package, setting the vision for achieving a zero-emission building stock by 2050.

The proposal is particularly important because buildings account for 40% of energy consumed and 36% of energy-related direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. It also constitutes one of the levers necessary for delivering on the Renovation Wave Strategy, published in October 2020, with specific regulatory, financing and enabling measures, with the objective of at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate of buildings by 2030 and fostering deep renovations.

The existing EPBD, last revised in 2018, lays down minimum requirements for the energy performance of new buildings and of existing buildings that are being renovated. It establishes a methodology for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings and introduces an energy performance certification for buildings.

Human Rigths Day, Do not forget the thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped and deported by Russia

By

Willy Fautre

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8 December 2023

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On UN Human Rights Day, 10 December, thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped and deported by Russia, whose parents are desperately searching for a way to get them home should not be forgotten by the international community, said the Brussels-based NGO, Human Rights Without Frontiers, in a press release issued today.

On 6 December, President Zelensky announced in his daily address that 6 children deported to Russia from Ukraine’s Occupied Territories had been released with the mediation of Qatar.

All in all, less than 400 Ukrainian minors have been rescued in various separate and individually designed special operations, according to The platform “Children of War” created on behalf of the Office of the President of Ukraine by various official Ukrainian institutions.

The same platform has posted the pictures, names and dates of birth with the place of disappearance of 19,546 deported children and their number continues to grow.

Table of Contents

Statistics: 20,000? 300,000? 700,000?

It is impossible to establish the exact number of deported children given the ongoing full-scale aggression, difficult access to the temporarily occupied territories, and the failure of the Russian side to provide reliable information on this matter.

Daria Herasymchuk, Adviser to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Children’s Rehabilitation, notes that the aggressor country, Russia, could have illegally deported up to 300,000 children from Ukraine during the war.

As of June 2023, the Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response indicated in its statement that since 24 February 2022, 307,423 children have been taken from Ukraine to the territory of Russia.

Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova said that the number of such Ukrainian children is more than 700,000.

Russia cynically calls the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children an “evacuation,” but the UN panel of inquiry concluded that none of the cases it examined was justified on safety or health grounds, nor did they meet the requirements of international humanitarian law.”

Russian authorities are creating obstacles to prevent Ukrainian children from being reunited with their families.

In its report on the issue, the OSCE notes that the Russian authorities began working on the “transfer” of Ukrainian children for adoption or care by Russian families since 2014, after the occupation of Crimea.

According to the Russian program “Train of Hope“, anyone from any part of the country could adopt Ukrainian children from Crimea, who were then granted Russian citizenship.

At the end of September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the “accession” to the Russian Federation of the partially occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and the occupied region of Luhansk in Ukraine. After that, children from these newly occupied regions also began to be enrolled as citizens of the Russian Federation and forcefully adopted.

On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children.

Recommendations

Human Rights Without Frontiers supports the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General, who urges

Russia to ensure that no changes are made to the personal status of Ukrainian children, including their citizenship;
all parties to continue to ensure that the best interests of all children are respected, including by facilitating family tracing and reunification of unaccompanied and/or separated children who find themselves outside borders or control lines without their families or guardians;
parties to the conflict to grant child protection authorities access to these children to facilitate family reunification;
his Special Representative on “Children and Armed Conflicts’, together with United Nations agencies and partners, to consider ways to facilitate such processes.

Human Rights Without Frontiers, Avenue d’Auderghem 61/, B – 1040 Brussels

Website: https://hrwf.eu – Email: [email protected]

Liège, a green city: parks and natural spaces to recharge your batteries in the great outdoors

By

NewsdeskTET

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8 December 2023

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Liège, a green city: parks and natural spaces to recharge your batteries in the great outdoors

Located in the heart of Belgium, Liège is a city full of parks and natural spaces, offering many opportunities to recharge your batteries in the great outdoors. Whether you are a lover of green spaces or simply looking for a quiet place to relax, Liège offers a variety of choices to satisfy all tastes.

One of the most emblematic parks in the city is undoubtedly the Parc de la Boverie. Located on the banks of the Meuse, this park offers a magnificent view of the river and the surrounding landscape. With its vast green spaces, walking trails and play areas, Boverie Park is an ideal place for a family walk or a picnic with friends. In addition, the park also houses the Liège Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, offering the possibility of combining a cultural visit with a walk in the great outdoors.

If you’re looking for a wilder place, head to Citadelle Park. Perched on a hill, this ancient fortress not only offers breathtaking views of the city, but also vast wooded spaces ideal for relaxation and contemplation. The Citadel Park is also known for its terraced gardens, fountains and statues, providing a romantic and peaceful ambiance. Additionally, the park is also home to a zoo, where you can admire a wide variety of animals, from pandas to lions to giraffes.

If you are a sports and outdoor enthusiast, don’t miss the Sauvenière park. Located in the heart of the city, this park offers many sports activities such as tennis, football and basketball. Additionally, the park also has an artificial lake where you can go pedal boating or simply relax by the water. With its vast lawns and century-old trees, the Sauvenière park is also an ideal place for a leisurely walk or a family picnic.

Apart from parks, Liège also offers many natural spaces for hiking and nature lovers. Along the Meuse, you will find numerous hiking trails that will allow you to discover the beauty of the river landscapes. Additionally, the surrounding region of Liège is full of hills and valleys, offering plenty of opportunities for nature hikes. Whether you prefer a leisurely stroll along the rivers or a more intense hike in the mountains, you will surely find what you are looking for in Liège.

In conclusion, Liège is a green city which offers numerous parks and natural spaces to recharge your batteries in the great outdoors. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to relax or a sports field to exercise, Liège has everything you need. In addition, the proximity of the Meuse and the surrounding landscapes offers numerous opportunities for hiking and discoveries in the great outdoors. So, don’t hesitate any longer and come and enjoy nature in Liège!

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

“Women dress women”: Metropolitan Museum shows 80 outfits by 70 designers

By

Gaston de Persigny

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8 December 2023

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A symbol of the exhibition is a muslin dress decorated with silk roses and taffeta by designer Anne Lou (1898-1981), who pioneered fashion created by African-American women.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – the largest institution in the United States for the presentation and study of all types of art – is dedicating an exhibition to fashion created by women for women, reported AFP.

The exhibition is entitled “Women dress women”. A symbol of the exhibition is a muslin dress decorated with silk roses and taffeta by designer Anne Lowe (1898-1981), who pioneered fashion created by African-American women. Lowe is often ignored as a designer, although the pattern for Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress (1953) was her work.

Three decades earlier, a now forgotten French fashion house – “Premet” – launched the “La garconne” dress. The success of this model preceded by three years the similar fashion idea of Gabrielle Chanel.

The museum has collected 80 outfits by 70 designers from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. Gabriela Hearst’s clothes are featured, using contemporary fashion to send environmental messages.

The history of women in fashion begins with sewing work in fashion ateliers. Most designers in France appeared at the beginning of the 20th century – Madeleine Bionne, Jean Lanvin, Gabrielle Chanel. Between the two world wars, women in fashion now outnumbered men.

To be able to present the designer creations of Elsa Schiaparelli, Nina Ricci or Vivienne Westwood, the Metropolitan Costume Institute searches among its collections containing 33,000 models from the entire history of seven centuries of clothing.

The exhibition was originally slated for 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the suffragette movement in the United States. Its delay is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Costume Institute’s next major exhibition will be in 2024 under the title Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.

Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia: VMRO-DPMNE inculcates Bulgarophobia, Europhobia and Albanophobia

By

Newsroom

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8 December 2023

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According to him, there is no other way to the EU than changes in the Constitution

VMRO-DPMNE instills Bulgarian, Europhobic and Albanian phobia and thereby scares the citizens of North Macedonia, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani in an interview with Channel 5.

He expressed hope that the changes to the constitution, which are a condition for the European path of the country, can be voted in this parliamentary composition, but even if this does not happen, it must be worked on until the last moment to be convinced the citizens of North Macedonia that there is no alternative to the European path for the country.

“You have an opposition (VMRO-DPMNE) that does not lead, but follows. Chairman (Hristijan Mickoski), who follows the polls every day and formulates his positions based on that, riding the wave of public opinion. He doesn’t have his strategic position,” Osmani said, recalling the words of US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien, who criticized the opposition’s behavior in an interview during his visit to North Macedonia.

“If someone tells you: I have a better offer (for the constitutional changes), but I won’t tell you what it is now, this is a person you wouldn’t buy a car from,” O’ said in an interview with “360 degrees” Brian, who in Skopje met with the chairman of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE Hristiyan Mickoski.

In his interview with Channel 5, Osmani pointed out that in the next six months a way must be found for the constitutional changes to be voted on, and the guarantees from the EU that the opposition talks about exist in the negotiation framework, which “is the filter through which the Bulgarian demands pass “.

“We did not work to convince Bulgaria, but to build a wall between Sofia and Brussels so that their demands could not break through in Brussels. (When the negotiations start) Bulgaria may not follow the rules of the game, but under the existing rules (Bulgaria) cannot block (North Macedonia) for something that is not on the road maps. The protocol is not part of the negotiating chapters. We got the guarantees through the negotiation framework, in which the Macedonian language became a European language for the first time, without any additions (remarks and clarifications). A guarantee is the way in which the negotiating chapters are opened, in which there are no bilateral issues except the action plan for minorities, i.e. human rights and constitutional amendments. The guarantee is the resolution of the German Bundestag, the guarantee is the statement of the Bulgarian government that there will be no new demands. So you can come up with the need for millions of other guarantees, but this is the way,” said Osmani, when asked if he had talked to Bulgaria about the guarantee that VMRO-DPMNE wants to get that North Macedonia will not receive a veto from Bulgaria in the negotiation period.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, the action plan for minorities, which is part of the road map for the rule of law, “which does not apply to Bulgarians, but to all ethnic minorities under 20 percent, as there are Albanians” is already being developed at the level of experts and will be presented within the specified time limits.

“There has never been a more polarized society on the subject of the EU, and in the upcoming elections the “European front” and anti-European parties will clearly crystallize, and it is possible for the presidential elections that all political parties who believe that the European path of the country should be accelerated, unite around one candidate,” Osmani said.

And when asked if, after the parliamentary elections, the largest Albanian party DSI, of which he is the vice-chairman, could become a coalition partner of VMRO-DPMNE, which polls show has the greatest probability of winning, he replied that DSI ” is the custodian of the agreements from Ohrid, Prespa and with Bulgaria” and whoever disputes even one of them cannot be a partner of the party” with leader Ali Ahmeti.

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered the oldest pieces of cloth

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Newsroom

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8 December 2023

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Illustration: Map of Turkey noting the location of Çatalhöyük (underlying map © Google)

In the city of Çatal-Huyük, which was founded about 9 thousand years ago on the territory of modern Turkey, archaeologists have discovered fossilized pieces of cloth.

Before that, the experts believed that the inhabitants of the country used wool or flax for the production of cloth. The study shows that the material has a very different structure, writes Phys.org.

Excavations in the ancient city ended in 2017. Archaeologists then discovered a few more pieces of ancient material. As a result, the scientists found that their age is approximately 8500-8700 years.

The research on the fabrics was commissioned by Lisa Bender Jorgensen, who works at the University of Norway, and Antoinette Rac Eicher of the University of Bern. To create clothes for themselves almost 9 thousand years ago, representatives of the Neolithic used a special fiber. This is the result shown by the analysis of the material performed by experts.

These samples, found at the site of the excavations, were made from the fiber of the oak. It is believed to indicate that this fabric is the oldest in the world that has survived to this day.

The fiber is found in trees such as oak, willow and linden between the wood and the bark. The wood was used to build houses, and the fibers were used to make clothes, which were quite strong and reliable.

The researchers also add that the natives did not grow flax and did not bring linen materials from other cities. They used only those resources that were at hand.

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In the city of Çatal-Huyük, which was founded about 9 thousand years ago on the territory of modern Turkey, archaeologists have discovered fossilized pieces of cloth.

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