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Today — 23 December 2024News

特朗普为何要收回巴拿马运河?中国身影曝光

By: 何平
23 December 2024 at 04:47

美国当选总统特朗普日前公开威胁要重新控制巴拿马运河,指责巴拿马对使用这条连接太平洋和大西洋运河的美国海军和商贸运输企业收取过高费用。

特朗普在周六晚间通过“真相社交”(Truth Socia)警告说,他不会让该运河落入“错误的手中”,并明确表态运河“不应由中国管理”。

特朗普在贴文中表示,美国为修建巴拿马运河付出了巨大的生命和财富代价,运河后被“愚蠢地”交给巴拿马管理,但这不是“让巴拿马去向美国、美国海军和与美国做生意的公司收取高昂的通行费”。特朗普指出,“美国是巴拿马运河的头号用户,超过70%的过境货物驶往或来自美国港口”;“巴拿马运河对美国经济和国家安全起着关键作用,被认为是美国重要国家资产”。他强调,“巴拿马收取的费用太荒谬了”,“这种对我们国家的彻底‘敲诈’将立即停止”,否则“我们将要求巴拿马运河全面且无条件地归还给我们”。

那么,巴拿马运河背后究竟隐藏着什么样的中国影响力呢?

路透社12月22日披露,虽然中国并不控制或管理运河,然而总部位于香港的长江和记实业子公司却长期管理着位于运河加勒比和太平洋入口的两个港口。这条水道每年允许多达14,000艘船只通过,占全球海运贸易的2.5%,对美国从亚洲进口汽车和商业货物以及美国出口商品至关重要。此外,中国国有企业也在投资运河周边的一些基础设施项目。

外界注意到,特朗普历来在与对手打交道时并不回避事先向对方发出明确警告,而上述表态很可能预示了特朗普上任后的美国外交政策转变。显然,在收费高低的经济问题之外,巴拿马运河对于美国的战略地位更为重要,而特朗普点名该运河“不能由中国管理”似乎揭示了问题的关键所在。

网编:伍檫愙

© 路透社

美国当选总统特朗普日前公开威胁要重新控制巴拿马运河。

【CDT周报】第200期:“如何让女人老老实实、服服帖帖生孩子”

23 December 2024 at 03:25

上期周报:【CDT周报】第199期:“给吃给喝十几年,怎么就是拐了”

过去两周中国数字时代【404文库】新增文章11篇,【每日一语】新增网语5条,【大事记】收录热点事件2件,刊登读者投稿2篇,投稿请点此

编者的话:

12月14日—21日 这一周。

中国人民大学重阳金融研究院微信公众号“人大重阳”发布的一篇文章引发了全网围观,文章记录了哈萨克斯坦共和国国务顾问叶尔兰·卡林来人民大学演讲后与现场观众的互动。其间,一位名为王宪举的教授向刚结束演讲的叶尔兰·卡林提出了一个问题,他先是描述了自己在哈萨克斯坦首都阿斯坦纳访问时的一些见闻,说看到当地的小孩非常多,而政府也极其鼓励生育,这使得整个国家的生育率维持在较高水平。

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王宪举还提到,自己听说哈萨克斯坦的女大学生毕业以后就生孩子,一个一个地生。然而,与中国相比,现在的中国女性都不愿意生育,也不相应政府的动员。最终,王宪举抛出了一个令人无比震撼的提问“你们国家的女大学生怎么能相信你们的话,老老实实、服服帖帖的早生、多生孩子呢?”有网友如此形容听到这个粗鲁问题时的感受 —— “感觉像是刚‘收留’了女大学生,立马就来咨询怎么生孩子的话术”。

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据人大重阳院长王文的介绍,提问的王宪举教授是著名的俄罗斯问题、中亚问题的研究专家,也是中国人民大学-圣彼得堡国立大学俄罗斯研究中心研究员。王文在转交该问题时,顺带也询问了叶尔兰·卡林自己有几个孩子,对方的回答是6个孩子。人大重阳微信公号编辑遂将其作为了现场最有价值、最为亮眼的花絮,把整篇文章标题命名为了《当这位高官说有6个孩子时,在场都会心大笑》。(目前原文已被删除)

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不满人民大学正在“全方位堕落”的人大校友熊太行评论道,“生育率低的问题其实是有定论的。要么是社会发达百姓生育意愿过低,要么就是老百姓真的过不下去了。”而对于中国这种“未富先老”的特殊国家而言,实际上这两种情况都已存在了。叶尔兰·卡林在回答问题时提到哈萨克斯坦对于鼓励民众生育加大了政府投入,甚至专设了教育基金,这恰恰是值得中方认真学习的。另一方面,叶尔兰·卡林也提到,该国存在个别“不教育和养育女孩儿的习惯”,而这大概就是王宪举所谓的女性“老老实实、服服帖帖”之秘诀,若中方真想要效仿这点,只要坚持倒车就可以了。

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有网友感叹,按理说驻外记者出身的王宪举本应有最基本的国际视野,但他却在国际场合问出无异于“怎么给女人脖子套铁链”的问题,暴露出自己糟糕的知识水平和道德水平。还有网友指出,王宪举这类精英学者的提问,实际上揭示了一个真相,那便是涉及一国大政方针之时,这类人群潜意识中追求的正是“服服帖帖”,眼中没有人的权利,只有政治收益。其制定政策的目的就是要让老百姓听话、照做、服从,即便是受过高等教育的女大学生,在他们眼中也无非是生育机器罢了。

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在遭遇野蛮提问后,哈萨克斯坦的后续反应可谓相当激烈。两天之内哈萨克国际通讯社连发多条微博,多角度全方位介绍该国如何保障女性权益,隔空回应王宪举的奇葩提问。打脸力度之强,频率之高,堪称毫不留情。乍一看,就像是要为另一个中世纪国家指明方向,其“赶紧与野蛮言论撇清关系”的急迫心态,可见一斑。诚如网友所言,哈萨克斯坦目前可能还算不上是一个文明国家,但它至少知道“怎么对待妇女儿童才是文明的正确的”以及“在国际场合应该说什么话表什么态”,对于物化女性明确说不。因此,从这个角度来说,它已经算是“遥遥领先”,以自己为镜子,照出了愚昧与文明之别。

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12月16日,国家统计局发布11月份国民经济运行情况,新闻发言人付凌晖介绍称,11月份的经济运行呈现出“生产升、需求增、就业稳、市场暖、质量优”等特点。此言一出立马引爆了网络舆论,在央视新闻的一则微博下,不少网民纷纷批评官方美化糟糕的经济形势,评论在短时间内突破了1000条且呈一边倒态势。最终,央视新闻选择开启了评论精选,以应对舆论失控。目前,原微博总评论数已突破2000条,但评论区只显示了6条精选评论。

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有网友评论道“你告诉我15个字里哪一个是真的?”、“这么好的事情就6个人评论?”、“赶紧加息吧!”的确,如果中国经济现状真如这15字所言,那当前就不应该是防范经济衰退,而是担心经济过热了。还有网友讽刺“这么好的地方那一定很多人结婚然后生至少两个小孩吧”,算是隔空调侃了之前的王宪举之问。事实上,即便国家统计局发布的数据是完全真实的,也显示出消费增速明显放缓,至少低于预期,但官方却坚称“需求增、市场暖”。对此,有网友回应“骗骗别人就行了,何故连自己都要骗呢?”

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这番缺乏基本现实感的自欺欺人15字,或许也可以解释为何近期多地会出现“给树木穿毛衣”的现象。一开始先是北京某园区给胡同里的树木穿彩色毛衣过冬,之后便引来其他城市效仿,官方称这种毛衣树木丰富了街景“大大提升了社会人情味和温感度”。但一个显而易见的情况是,在民生凋敝、经济衰退的当下,尚有穷人衣不裹体、食不果腹,为何却要优先给路边的树木披上毛衣呢?

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有网友指出,给树木穿毛衣是一种奢靡之风,亡国之举。这种资源严重错配的唯一解释,大概就是“树的价值比韭菜高”或者说“穷人处境不及城市街景”。据《资治通鉴》记载,这种大国颜面压倒一切的荒诞,早在一千多年前的隋炀帝时期就有出现。当年,隋炀帝在洛阳大宴诸蕃,为向人展示中原的富足,遂以缯帛缠树。其中有蕃人发现了端倪,反问道“中国亦有贫者,衣不盖形,何如以此物与之,缠树何为?”仅9年之后,隋朝灭亡。

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一周荐读:

2024年,中国数字时代【CDT报告汇】栏目共报道了150篇报告,内容涵盖言论自由、新闻自由、民调、跨国镇压、维吾尔人权、西藏人权、宗教自由、中国数字极权、劳工权利、中国经济、女性及性少数群体权利、以及美中关系等多个方面。

在2024年即将落幕之际,中国数字时代第2篇年终专题《年度404文库》,为您呈现这一年中被屏蔽的声音。404文章的不断累积证明了对审查的反抗始终在发生,尽管有些集体抗议可能在未成形时就被压制,但反抗的声音依旧不懈地寻找突破口,试图在下次成功突围……

在2024年即将落幕之际,中国数字时代第3篇专题《年度敏感词》将呈现这一年中被压制的故事:从总理记者会的取消到“六四”的沉默,从经济挣扎到青年摆烂,试图突破控制的阴影,让低吼的真实得以被更多人听见。

青年志用24组词回顾了2024年。这一年,青年人在“没力气”和 “还有点力气”间反复横跳。闹剧、悲剧和喜剧交替上演,愤怒退场,接棒的是解构一切的抽象。我们用24组词回顾了2024年。这一年,青年人在“没力气”和 “还有点力气”间反复横跳。闹剧、悲剧和喜剧交替上演,愤怒退场,接棒的是解构一切的抽象。这是我们又度过的一年,能说的都说了。不能说的,就留在心里。

一周关注:

近期,中国多地出现“给树木穿毛衣”的现象,一些城市街道旁的树木披上了颜色丰富的毛衣,引来不少市民和游客打卡留念。据悉,一开始是北京某园区为胡同里的树木穿上彩色毛衣,其目的是给树木和灌木做冬季保护,以保暖材料加以覆盖。而给树木批彩色毛衣能够提升氛围、丰富街景。之后,此举引来其他城市效仿,官方称“这大大提升了社会人情味和温感度”。

日前,中国人民大学学者王宪举在公开场合询问哈萨克斯坦官员“如何让女大学生多生孩子”,引发网民怒批。哈萨克斯坦共和国国务顾问叶尔兰·卡林11月22日到访人民大学,以“哈萨克斯坦的改革和中哈永久全面战略伙伴关系”为主题发表演讲,人民大学重阳金融研究院微信公众号“人大重阳”发布的一篇文章详细记录了演讲互动部分,其中包括王宪举的提问和卡林的回答。

同性恋及性少数议题是一个事关2亿人的民生问题(7000万性少数+1.4亿家长=2.1亿老百姓)。这个群体当前面临的核心问题是“尊严贫困”问题,而新时代的社会治理,我认为需要从解决“物质贫困”到解决“尊严贫困”过渡,让人人活出尊严感,尊严感是人能享受美好生活的重要组成部分。性少数议题是涉及到健康、教育、法律、社会保障等方方面面的民生问题。需要通过推动反歧视立法、完善社会保障、提高公众接受度等措施,使我们的社会成为更加包容、和谐,美好的社会。

12月16日,国家统计局发布11月份国民经济运行情况。国家统计局新闻发言人付凌晖在新闻发布会上介绍,11月份经济运行呈现“生产升、需求增、就业稳、市场暖、质量优”等几个特点。央视新闻在微博上转发了这一消息,评论区有不少网民留言批评官方美化糟糕的经济形势,总评论数量突破了一千条。面对大量批评声音,央视新闻选择开启了评论精选,以应对舆论失控。

一周惊奇:

近日,因为存在“双火源”安全隐患,河北邢台新河县一村民家的柴火灶,被新河县中裕燃气有限公司贴上了封条,引发争议,同时,“燃气公司有无执法权”的问题也激起了网民讨论。12月16日,邢台市住建局双代办接受封面新闻记者采访时表示,事件引发关注后,昨天县级主管部门和乡镇工作人员到村民家中进行调查,将柴火灶的封条撤了。该村民也积极主动配合,将柴火灶拆了……

近日, “恶意讨薪”一词创始人,人大代表李宝忠被列入失信执行人名单!被执行总金额仅为48万元。据悉,全国人大代表,河北建设集团的董事长李宝忠曾在全国两会上提出:应当把恶意讨薪农民工列入征信黑名单。有网友查询发现,李忠宝董事长的企业在公开信息查询系统里,自身风险千条以上、关联风险也是千条以上。原来,李忠宝先生就是欠薪专家!他深受讨薪之苦,所以咬牙切齿地向国家提议:严厉打击讨薪者!将他们列入征信黑名单!

一位雷军的前手下,北京一家公司总经理邢燕军,被草原铁骑以「涉嫌开设赌场」的名义抓回草原,检方认为证据不足不予批捕,但铁骑继续关在自己的办案点,直到变成尸体。铁骑说是自缢,一份简单的尸检报告显示死因是突发性心脏病。人死了大半年,至今没个准确的死因。半年后,这起案件终于被撤销,被抓的14人无罪获释。差不多就是远洋捕捞弄死了人吧。这家企业的「原罪」,估计是因为收入还不错。

“有249人报名去和平区掏大粪?”12月19日,有网友在社交平台发文称,天津市和平区2025年度事业单位公开招聘中,有一个岗位需要招本科生参与粪便、油污掏挖养护工作。20日上午,该招聘单位工作人员回应极目新闻记者称,该岗位属专业技术工作,主要负责一线排水设施的养护、管网改造及现场施工管理工作,无需掏粪,该工作人员主要负责技术指导及应急处置。

一周讽刺:

近日,日本政府观光局发布的最新月度资料显示,2024年10月访日外国游客达到创纪录的331万人次,比2019年同期(250万人次)增长33%。今年1~10月,访日外国游客数突破3000万人次大关,甚至冲破了该国从1964年以来的记录。2023年全年日本接待了2507万人次国际游客,仅位列全球该排名的第15位。但数据表明,尽管经历核污染水排海等争议,全球赴日旅游市场正在强势复苏。

前几日,美国众议院冠状病毒大流行监督和问责委员会特别小组发布了调查报告《2019冠状病毒病大流行的行动后回顾:经验教训和前进道路》,竟然称在美国,戴口罩对防范新冠没有任何作用!我将对此开展严厉的批判。本文内容仅限于美国的情况,与国内无关,仅供参考。举报我的,请勿反对毛主席的指示:让人说话,天塌不下来。

一周声音:

近日,网传成都某知名中学食堂开辟了所谓的“学霸就餐区”……人格发展的关键时期,个性不能自由舒展,那么就必然扭曲发展。所以,中国的中学教育大概率会培养出人格扭曲的学生,一代一代地培养。同时,校方滥用权力加以管理,使其中大部分学生养成慕强的人格,也就是崇拜和服从拥有强权的人和机构。

我在想一个问题:如果不是网络曝光,什么事都不会有。村里人不会觉得有问题,当地警方和宣传系统不觉得有问题,外来的寻亲志愿者也不觉得有问题,甚至卜小花的家人也不觉得有问题。所以,一方面是网络舆论对现实的纠偏,但反过来看,则是网络与现实的断裂。仅仅是因为他们不懂法,不懂尊重女性,价值观太low?并不是,也许更重要的一点是,他们知道现实是什么?现实就是:这个政府指望不上。

别想着有什么方法能改善公办医保的结果,永远也不可能好。屎上雕不出花!民间需要反思的是,我们追求医疗由政府来保障这件事,对还是不对。如果你至今坚持这一观点,坚持要将医疗产业公有化、医保大锅饭化,那你的认知就得配上你的命运。从现在开始,每一年都为未来储备医疗支出费用吧。认清现实吧,不要抱什么幻想了。事已至此了,回不了头了。

一周故事:

起初,海棠文学城上多位耽美作者的停更和失联是悄无声息的。各种小道消息在微博隐秘地流传,直到当事作者和家属出面证实,事件才终于搬上台面。自今年6月以来,安徽警方以涉嫌淫秽物品牟利罪,跨省抓捕了50多位作者…过去几年间,国内各网络文学平台逐步收紧审查制度,使耽美作者们被迫翻越墙外赛博流浪,而如今,服务器在台湾的海棠文学城作为国内耽美作者的创作飞地已不再安全。色情淫秽和言论自由的界限,究竟该如何划分?女性情欲的书写又该往何处安放?

深圳湾万象城商圈,人流喧杂,但总有人习惯性地停下脚步,抬头望向那栋44层高楼燃爆后留下的空洞,静默离开。12月11日14时46分,深圳消防接警,位于商圈内的深圳湾悦府二期(柏瑞花园)1幢发生爆燃事故。至当日18时,明火已扑灭,事故造成1人死亡,无其他人员受伤,事故原因正在进一步调查中。笔者现场发现,此次事故至少造成1幢27-30四层、多户房屋受损,部分外立墙面完全剥落…..

2024年9月开始,知名漫画作者@真-柳堡在网络上发布一系列文章,控诉自己2008年起供职的A-soul工作室是一间长期压榨画手员工的黑工厂。之后,又有近20名工作室前画手加入声讨,相关话题一度登顶热搜第一。出品过《浪漫传说》《暴走邻家》《极度分裂》等知名作品的A-soul漫画工作室成立于2008年,刚好赶上中国漫画的蓬勃发展期,还受托绘制了《斗罗大陆》的漫画版。

Trump Previews Second Term in Sprawling Speech to Conservative Conference

23 December 2024 at 04:30
President-elect Donald J. Trump repeated false claims about immigration and the border, slammed diversity initiatives and discussed the Panama Canal in the 90-minute address.

© Anna Watts for The New York Times

President-elect Donald J. Trump offered a triumphant view of his election victory in Phoenix on Sunday.

Children among dozens killed in Israeli strikes, Gaza officials say

23 December 2024 at 02:03
EPA A pre-teen boy stands amongst grey rubble and burned out cars, squinting up towards the cameraEPA
An attack on a house in central Gaza killed at least 13 people, according to Gaza's civil defence agency

At least 28 people, including children, have died in a wave of Israeli military strikes throughout the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's civil defence agency.

A school sheltering displaced families was among the facilities struck, killing eight people including four children over the weekend, the agency said.

It comes as the UN issues a plea for Israel to cease its attacks in the vicinity of a hospital in Gaza's north.

The Israeli military claimed a Hamas command centre was inside the compound of the Musa bin Nusair school in Gaza City, and has not commented on reports of attacks by the hospital.

"Hamas systematically violates international law," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on social media, adding that Israel's response would be to "act with force and determination against the terrorist organizations".

Gaza's civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told the AFP news agency that the school had been repurposed as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war.

One displaced man who had been staying at the school, Abu, told BBC Arabic that the attack came while he was asleep.

"We were sleeping peacefully, then suddenly we woke up to the sound of a very powerful explosion," he said.

Another man Mahmoud said he was asleep in a tent in the schoolyard when the attack took place.

"Stones and shrapnel were flying, the school's walls fell on our heads," he told BBC Arabic.

On Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza for a second day in a row.

He expressed pain thinking "of such cruelty, to the machine-gunning of children, to the bombing of schools and hospitals".

The director of the Kamal Adwan hospital, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, said its generators had been hit and claimed the Israeli army was targeting the fuel tank.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a plea to the IDF to cease attacks in the vicinity of the hospital.

Saturday night's reports of "bombardment near Kamal Adwan Hospital and order to evacuate the hospital are deeply worrisome," he said in a statement on social media.

"We call for an immediate ceasefire in the vicinity of the hospital and to protect the patients and health workers."

The hospital's director also released a statement that said Israeli forces were treating the hospital "as if we were a military installation".

"Anyone who steps outside the hospital is at risk of being targeted," Dr Hussam Abu Safiya said.

He added that relocating the operations of the hospital would jeopardise the patients, and called for health staff "be allowed to operate without the threat of evacuation".

Israel has not commented on the reports of an evacuation order.

The BBC has approached the IDF for comment.

Palestinian groups involved in the fighting have told the BBC that a ceasefire deal is "closer than ever".

More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed during the 14-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

The war began when Hamas-led gunmen carried out an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

美台商业协会:台湾将向特朗普政府提出大规模军购计划

By: 何平
23 December 2024 at 03:50

台湾中央社12月22日引述美台商业协会(US-Taiwan Business Council)会长韩儒伯(Rupert Hammond-Chambers)表示,美国总统当选人特朗普上任后,台湾的总统赖清德政府可能向美国新政府提出充满雄心的安全协助计划,包括增加预算支出、购买新型设备与系统、扩大海巡后勤维护与训练等领域的资源。

报道说,美国国务院日前通过两笔的对台军售包括,“战术数据链系统(Link-16)”升级案所需设备与系统整合技术服务,以及“76快炮座零附件”案与作业维持等。这也是美国总统拜登任内第19度对台军售。

针对美国白宫日前宣布向台湾提供5.713亿美元军援,以及美国国务院批准总额2.95亿美元的对台军售,中国官方新华社周日引述不具名中国外交部发言人表示,中方对此“强烈不满、坚决反对,已第一时间向美方提出严正交涉”。

责编:何平

© 路透社

特朗普(图)上任后,台湾的总统赖清德政府可能向美国新政府提出充满雄心的安全协助计划。

圣诞节前夕 四川警方再次对秋雨圣约教会成员维稳

By: 何平
23 December 2024 at 03:47

据中国民间宗教权益组织“民生观察”12月22日发布的消息,四川秋雨圣约教会副执事肖荦彪一家因计划在家中举行圣诞庆祝活动,再次被成都警方阻止并遭到传唤。

据介绍,周六中午12点多,肖荦彪和妻子陈艳以及三个孩子被温江公安分局涌泉派出所从家里带走。肖荦彪被警方传唤,理由是“涉嫌被依法撤销的社会团体,仍然以社会团体名义活动”。

四川秋雨圣约教会是中国知名家庭教会之一。教会牧师王怡于2018年12月被抓,2019年12月被四川省成都市中级人民法院以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪、非法经营罪”判处有期徒刑9年,剥夺政治权利3年。秋雨圣约教会也于2018年12月14日,被当局宣布取缔。

民生观察指出,每年的12·9教案纪念日和圣诞节,秋雨圣约教会成员都会被当局大规模维稳。6年来,该教会成员屡遭被跟踪、监视、驱逐、传唤乃至拘留等骚扰。

网编:伍檫愙

© 路透社

民生观察指出,每年的12·9教案纪念日和圣诞节,秋雨圣约教会成员都会被当局大规模维稳。

维权网:青海果洛一藏族村长因保护母语被迫害致死

By: 何平
23 December 2024 at 03:36

据维权网12月22日引述《西藏时报》发布的消息,青海省果洛藏族自治州达日县红科村村长贡布南嘉因保护母语近日遭当局迫害致死。

据报道,当地村民堪布旦巴达杰和村长贡布南嘉带领民众组织保护母语的活动频繁,且获得当地民众拥护,因此惹怒当局。今年5月,达日县当局拘捕了堪布旦巴达杰和村长贡布南嘉等20多人,后将他们关押在果洛州。7个月后,村长贡布南嘉因病释放回家,但3天后不幸死亡。

报道披露,12月18日,村长贡布南嘉的尸体在查朗寺天葬台天葬时,民众发现其内脏器官大部分已被烧伤,因此严重质疑是遭到残酷电刑所致。此外,堪布旦巴达杰至今仍被拘留,民众也同样担忧他的健康状况。

网编:伍檫愙

© 路透社

青海 (图) 达日县红科村村长贡布南嘉因保护母语近日遭当局迫害致死。

Family tensions and splitting the cost: Navigating awkward Christmas moments

23 December 2024 at 00:30
Getty Images A woman in a pink long-sleeved shirt with black spots opens a gift and holds up two black and white stripy socks from it. She looks unhappy at the socks. She has long brown hair and brown eyes.Getty Images

Whether it's opening presents or the long-awaited Christmas dinner, the festive season involves plenty of things that could go wrong.

It's the little things that count at this time of year - and your etiquette is no exception.

The BBC has chatted with experts about potentially awkward moments you might face over the next few days, so you can try to avoid them.

A common festive issue is getting a present you do not like. Is it best to tell the person who gave it to you, or lie that you love it?

It depends on how well you know the person who gave you the gift, according to Rupert Wesson from professional coaching company Debrett's.

To lie - or not to lie

"There are some people [to whom] you can say the gift isn't for you, and for some you have to smile and tell them a little white lie that you like it," he tells the BBC.

But whatever you do, "don't make a funny face" at the gift when you open it, warns etiquette coach Laura Windsor.

"Just pretend you do [like it], and make a little comment on how useful the gift will be," she says. "The etiquette is always to be kind."

Both etiquette coaches say it's fine to give an unwanted present to charity or re-gift it for someone else in the future.

Mr Wesson suggests you should "always" keep a gift receipt when buying a present just in case - and he has these words of reassurance: "We can't all be perfect at buying exactly the right thing."

Getty Images A woman has her hands resting on her forehead as she looks at bills on an oak table and a black laptop next to her. She has curly brown hair tied up on top of her head and is wearing a beige jumper. In the background, there is a Christmas tree and tinsel adorning shelves.Getty Images

Open up about the cost

While the cost of turkey and Brussels sprouts have gone down this year, the price of root vegetables have gone up and some families are feeling the pinch this winter.

Ms Windsor advises that you can make a "Christmas pot" that everyone contributes to ahead of the big day.

Alternatively, she says you could ask each guest - or family member - to buy an item of food or drink each.

"There's no shame in this day and age in saying: 'I'm getting people together for Christmas, would you be able to provide this?'," Mr Wesson adds.

Stay upbeat - and avoid certain subjects

Sometimes petty arguments can flare up when the whole family is together - perhaps having eaten or drank too much.

Ms Windsor says "don't take it personally, just try to smooth it over," adding that you should not give people the "power to keep them complaining".

She advises to try and change the topic of conversation, but to avoid difficult subjects.

"You've got to keep the conversation upbeat."

If there are any existing tensions among the guests ahead of 25 December, Mr Wesson suggests attempting to address them upfront when you're putting together your plans before Christmas Day.

"Almost make the invitation [to guests or extended family] conditional that someone isn't going to kick off," he says.

Getty Images An unhappy couple sit at a festive table ignoring each other. The table has a turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, and wine on the table. There is a sofa behind them and a Christmas tree in the right corner decorated with golden lights and baubles and also red baubles. The man has short brown hair and wears black-rimmed glasses and a brown jumper with two red and white stripes. The woman has black hair and is wearing an orange jumper.Getty Images

Is it possible to say 'thank you' too much?

Ms Windsor advises against saying "thank you" to the host too much as it "loses its value".

She suggests showing your appreciation to the host in other ways, including offering to help them with anything, bringing a gift for them - such as a bottle of wine or a plant - and mingling with other guests.

"Mix it up a bit by complimenting them on the quality of the food," Mr Wesson says.

"Appreciation of how good the food is goes a long way."

Both etiquette experts advise sending a thank you note to the host after Christmas Day which is something that Mr Wesson calls "the gold standard of thank yous".

Be upfront about dietary requirements

If you have dietary requirements, such as being vegetarian or vegan, let whoever is hosting your Christmas dinner know ahead of time and not on 25 December, Ms Windsor stresses.

"It's about prevention, preventing discord - everything has to be organised beforehand," she says.

Mr Wesson adds: "It does fall to the host to really identify what the requirements are and then the host can plan."

Ms Windsor says that if there is any tension between people about the dietary requirements, "be empathetic" but stop the conversation.

"If they make a non-cordial remark, don't take it to heart."

Getty Images A person wearing a orange jumper with red patterns pour gravy on to a whie plate. The plate has roast potatoes, turkey, and pigs in blankets on it. In front of them is serving dishes and there are two red and gold Christmas crackers on either side of them.Getty Images

The Christmas dinner rules

If your stomach is growling for Christmas dinner and you're growing impatient at how long it's taking to cook, Mr Wesson suggests you could offer to help.

"Then you're going to find the lay of the land and maybe suggest we can share something [to eat ahead of Christmas dinner]," he says.

But when you're finally tucking into the dinner, what do you do if you don't like it?

Say "yes" when asked if you're enjoying the food, Ms Windsor says.

"If you don't want to eat it, leave it," she adds - and you could always just say you've "had enough" to eat.

Mr Wesson advises to "try and draw as little attention" as possible to the fact you are not eating the meal.

To prevent this situation happening, try to see if the host will let everyone plate up their own food and then "don't pile too much on" in case you dislike it.

What to do if cards and gifts arrive after Christmas

Getty Images A woman in a festive jumper that is blue, red and white is signing for a parcel at a door. A deliveryman, dressed in a black coat and baseball cap, is holding the parcel.Getty Images

Work, childcare, school - lots of things in life can get in the way and cause you to miss the cut-off date for sending Christmas cards and presents in time for 25 December.

Ms Windsor says organisation is "very, very important" because it shows that "you've put a lot of thought and put in the time and effort to make sure they get it in time for Christmas".

However, she says that you have to "take into account people's daily situation".

Mr Wesson says that "better late than never is the way ahead" but advises people to send a message to whoever the card or present is addressed to, letting them know it is on the way and apologise for the lateness.

'The golden rule'

Christmas Day all comes down to preparation - both organising the day and planning around family relationships, Mr Wesson says.

"It's trying to expect the best but also accept the possibility things might go a little awry," he says.

"Often these things aren't really that serious and often doesn't ruin the whole day."

"The golden rule: treat others as you'd like to be treated," Ms Windsor adds. "You won't go wrong with that."

Former Strictly star Giovanni Pernice wins Italian dance show

23 December 2024 at 01:33
Getty Images Bianca Guaccero and Giovanni Pernice dressed in black outfits hold hands mid-dance routine with green and blue neon lights in the background.Getty Images
Bianca Guaccero and Giovanni Pernice were partners on Ballando Con Le Stelle - Italian's answer to Strictly

Giovanni Pernice, a former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has won an Italian dance show months after he left the UK following a BBC investigation into allegations about his behaviour.

Pernice said his Ballando Con Le Stelle win with partner Bianca Guaccero, who is also his girlfriend, was a dream, adding: "after a difficult year I'm back".

The show is Italy's version of Strictly Come Dancing and its US spin-off Dancing With The Stars.

It comes after the BBC upheld "some, but not all" of the complaints made against him by his 2023 Strictly partner Amanda Abbington.

Pernice and Guaccero, who is an actress and singer, won the 19th season of Ballando Con Le Stelle, after performing dances including the Argentinian Tango and the Charleston.

The pair had recently confirmed their status as a romantic couple.

Italian-born Pernice shared several posts on Instagram about his win and thanked UK fans for their support.

In September, the BBC apologised to Pernice's former partner Amanda Abbington and upheld findings of harassment and verbal bullying against him but he was cleared of allegations of physical aggression.

Abbington, who played Mary Morstan in Sherlock, has since said she felt vindicated and that she had "no regrets" after making the complaints.

Pernice said at the time he was "relieved that the allegations that I was threatening and abusive were found not to be true."

PA Media Both dressed in white and cream colours, Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington dance on the Strictly stage. The judges' panel can be seen behind them as well as some audience members although the light is focussed on the couple. PA Media
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington during a live Strictly performance in October 2023

On Instagram on Sunday, Pernice said: "We did it!! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS !! after a difficult year."

He added: "It felt amazing to be in the final again doing what I love - and then to win as well was a dream and definitely something I will never forget!"

The day before he addressed his "dear friends in the UK, saying that he and his partner could tell where the votes for the show were coming from as it is "all about likes on social media".

Pernice wrote: "We just want to say a massive thank you, because realistically, we couldn't do anything without you.

"We can totally see which part of the votes are coming from the UK and you are being unbelievably amazing."

Runway shut after emergency during landing at Belfast City Airport

23 December 2024 at 02:23
BBC A long-range shot at night-time shows an airplane on a runway surrounded by blue lights of various emergency service vehiclesBBC
Emergency services attend the Aer Lingus plane, which appears to have suffered a nose wheel collapse during landing

Belfast City Airport's runway will be closed for the rest of Sunday after an Aer Lingus plane suffered an emergency incident while landing during strong winds.

The plane had flown from Edinburgh to Belfast at about 16:00 GMT with four crew members but no passengers on board.

Pictures appear to show the aircraft with a collapsed nose wheel sitting on the runway.

It is understood no-one was seriously hurt.

It was a "positioning flight" operated by Emerald Airlines on behalf of Aer Lingus.

Emerald Airlines said it "experienced a hard landing upon arriving into Belfast City Airport due to adverse weather conditions".

Two flights - from London City and Leeds Bradford - due to land at the airport have since arrived at Belfast International Airport after being diverted.

Woman charged with murder of five-year-old boy

22 December 2024 at 22:23
Essex Police Lincoln Button wearing his school uniform, which is a green sweater that has a green polo top underneath. He has short brown hair and is smiling at the camera while sitting in a classroom.Essex Police
Lincoln Button was a Year 1 pupil at Bonnygate Primary School in South Ockendon

A woman has been charged with the murder of a five-year-old boy.

Lincoln Button died at an address in Windstar Drive in South Ockendon, Essex, on 15 December.

A woman was taken to hospital for treatment and she was arrested and questioned after her condition improved.

Claire Button, 35, of Windstar Drive, South Ockendon, has been charged with murder and is due to appear before magistrates in Southend on Monday.

Det Ch Insp Alan Blakesley, from Essex Police, said: "This continues to prove to be an immensely complex investigation into the death of a young child.

"My thoughts and the thoughts of all the investigative team remain with the family of Lincoln Button as we continue to support them through this awful time.

"It has taken a huge amount of work and dedication from the investigative team to reach this stage in our investigation and I would continue to call upon the public to refrain from speculating about the circumstances around this case."

Alex Stevanovic/BBC Two police cars are parked outside a modern set of flats, which have cream coloured bricks and windows with black rims.Alex Stevanovic/BBC
People have been urged to not speculate about the circumstances surrounding Lincoln's death

In a statement released last week, Bonnygate Primary School said it was working closely with the authorities as Lincoln's death was investigated.

"His love for school, laughter and cuddles will be remembered and missed dearly," said a spokesperson.

"The school's priority is to support those within the community who need help to come to terms with this tragic loss."

Members of his family also said in a statement: "Link was a cherished, loved, sweet, beautiful young soul who was adored by all and will be sorely missed every day."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Endometriosis: 'I wouldn't poo if my husband was at home'

22 December 2024 at 15:06
Elodie Guige Jen has long, wavy reddish-brown hair. She is wearing a pale pink knitted cardigan and is smiling at the camera.Elodie Guige
Jen Moore said even with chronic conditions, conversations are seldom had about constipation and bowel habits

Teen magazine tips on "how to secretly have a poo without your boyfriend knowing" had a lasting impression on Jen Moore.

She said one tip even suggested taking an over-the-counter medication to prevent a woman needing a poo while staying overnight with a partner.

The 35-year-old only recently realised she had adopted some of these habits, but that embarrassment had masked a serious health condition.

When she and her husband first met, she would wait for him to leave the house before she "went for a poo", or if he was upstairs she "would run the taps".

"I have such a visceral memory of reading this article and I obviously internalised it and hadn't even realised until fairly recently."

Jen Moore Jen and her husband are on a beach, standing close together looking at the camera. She is wearing sunglasses and a beige knitted polo-neck jumper. Chris is wearing a navy knitted sweater.Jen Moore
Jen said her husband Chris has tried to remove the taboo from the topic by initiating the conversation, as it's still something she finds difficult

Last year she was "forced to be open about something I had kept to myself for years" when she experienced rectal bleeding.

It was the first time she talked about the issue with her husband, Chris, despite being together nearly 15 years.

Four months after excision surgery for endometriosis, and a hysterectomy for adenomyosis, she was worried the bleeding was a sign of delayed complications.

But a later unrelated MRI confirmed it was deep endometriosis over her bowel.

The women's health campaigner - originally from Swansea, but now living in Cambridge - said: "I talk about my body parts and periods online all the time, I didn't think I had taboos about my body. But there it was."

She laughed recalling her medical notes detail that she "is known for constipation".

"I have been constipated for as long as I can remember, there were occasions where I would go once a week.

"In fact, I thought if people were in the bathroom really regularly there was something wrong with them - I was raised in the generation where girls are told they fart glitter and rainbows."

Emma Williams-Tully Emma has long blonde hair and the background of the picture is blurry.Emma Williams-Tully
Emma Williams-Tully said she has learnt to advocate for herself over the years after feeling dismissed in her 20s

Embarrassment might have held Jen back from speaking up, but that was not the case for Emma Williams-Tully.

The 39-year-old from Wrexham also has endometriosis. She said she felt "fobbed off" when she told doctors about her constipation and rectal bleeding.

"When I had constipation no matter what medication I took I couldn't go to the toilet for 10 days at a time and would be in absolute agony.

"I went to different specialists over the border in England and every single colonoscopy came back normal."

When she was diagnosed with endometriosis at 21, she remembers her consultant admitting: "We thought you'd been making it up all this time."

She praised the team of doctors supporting her now, but described the years of endometriosis as "torturous".

She has had 11 surgeries in total, including a hysterectomy and the removal of her colon, leaving her with an ileostomy stoma.

"I don't want to scare people and think just because they have diarrhoea or constipation that this will happen to them. But it's about advocating for yourself."

Julie has blonde, curly hair tied back and is wearing a yellow top. She is stood outdoors, with a hospital building in the background.
Julie Cornish said more of us should be familiar with what a normal poo should look like

Julie Cornish, a colorectal surgeon from Cardiff and Vale health board said by the time patients reached her they had "typically been suffering for some time".

"Things have escalated, because people are too embarrassed to speak up.

"Constipation is common, it affects about 20% of the population", she said, but added in the worst cases patients will have a poo as infrequently as once a month.

"It's extreme, but we are seeing patients in their early 20s who have had problems opening their bowels since they were small and it's never gone away. They've taken lots and lots of laxatives over time and have ended up having their colon removed."

She added there were simple steps that could help.

"The bowel is one of the vital organs of the body, if it doesn't work well - you know about it. But we don't talk about it, that's the issue.

"We need a public health campaign around the bladder and bowel."

Emma Williams-Tully Emma is lying on a sun lounger, wearing a black bikini. She is looking down towards the stoma on her lower abdomen, which is visible.Emma Williams-Tully
Emma has had major surgery to remove her colon and part of her rectum, and now has an ileostomy stoma

Tips for a healthy poo habit

Don't put it off: "You can get people who decide they are only going to go to the toilet in their own house," said Julie Cornish.

"If they go on holiday for a week they take something to stop them going to the toilet because they don't want to do it anywhere else. Or they feel it's unpleasant or embarrassing to go at work, so they withhold."

Water: "Make sure you drink plenty of water. Caffeine is very good for the bowels in terms of making it work more, but if you're getting diarrhoea that's not very good."

Exercise: "Just a simple walk of 15 to 20 minutes - your core abdominal muscles work a bit like a washing machine and will help the bowels move."

Diet: "You can increase the amount of fruit and fibre in your diet. You can look for things like psyllium husk, flaxseed and chia seeds to encourage it to move."

What should a poo look like? How often should I go?

"A lot of people don't actually look at their poo, but you should," said Julie Cornish.

"Is there any blood in there? What's the consistency of the poo look like?

"Look at the Bristol Stool chart. If it's type one or type two which is sort of rabbit pellets or Maltesers stuck together, that suggests you need a bit more water or fibre in your diet.

"If you're struggling to empty, or have a lot of bloating, it may be that you're constipated or have some pelvic floor dysfunction - you probably need to see a physiotherapist.

"Generally opening your bowel every one to three days, with a smooth stool is considered normal.

"If you get a significant change in your bowel habit - an increase or decrease in frequency, or if you start to get significant pain, bloating, weight loss or blood in the stool, please go and see your GP."

Mum's grief after daughter died fighting for cladding justice

22 December 2024 at 14:04
Walker family Amanda Walker, a woman with blonde hair and smiling, against a red backdropWalker family

Amanda Walker felt trapped in a flat she couldn't sell because of its flammable cladding.

When it turned out that no government scheme would cover the costs of removing the dangerous material from her newly built flat in south London, she started campaigning.

She spent four years trying to get justice for herself, and for millions caught up in the scandal exposed by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Then, at the age of 51, she was found dead in her one-bedroom apartment by her mother and sister. An inquest recently recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

"She would often phone me late at night when she just couldn't deal with it any more," her mother Glenda recalls.

"I wish she could phone me now."

A photo of the inside of Amanda's flat which shows a widescreen TV inside a cabinet. A white l-shaped sofa and a coffee table sit in front of the TV with a window in the background.
Amanda's one-bedroom flat, which she bought for £500,000 in 2018, soon became a nightmare

Half a year earlier, in July 2023, Amanda had addressed peers in the House of Lords investigating the impact of the cladding problem on flat owners.

"It's devastating. It's just a quagmire. It's just chaos," she told them. "It's so unjust. I had done nothing wrong and it's destroyed my life already."

The video of Amanda's address to the Lords is now treasured by her mother, who's speaking for the first time since the inquest's verdict.

Glenda thinks Amanda, an office manager at a hedge fund in the City of London, started drinking to deal with the anxiety of having to face unaffordable bills to fix the cladding, running into the tens of thousands.

"I'm not ashamed for her for that because it was her way of coping. She used the term 'seeking oblivion'."

Amanda wrote countless letters to MPs, local authorities and other responsible bodies - but "always got the statutory response", her mother continues.

"There are still over a million people in this situation and [MPs and civil servants] would write these platitudinous letters saying 'oh we're doing this, we're doing that'."

She doesn't just see those as unhelpful - but as evidence that nobody really understood the scale of the problem and how seriously it was affecting people.

It felt like there was a black chasm ahead, Amanda Walker told a House of Lords briefing

The government did eventually launch a scheme - the Building Safety Fund - to pay to remove the type of dangerous cladding that is on the outside of Amanda's flat.

She was hoping that changes enshrined in a separate landmark law called the Building Safety Act - brought in after the Grenfell tragedy - would help her correct internal fire safety defects, like insufficient fire stopping between flats.

But they didn't. There were significant exceptions to who qualified.

Since some of the other flat owners in her development had bought a share of the building's freehold, she became what's known as a "non-qualifying" leaseholder - meaning she still faced huge uncapped bills to contribute towards the repair costs.

Several proposed amendments to the Building Safety Act that would've protected people in Amanda's position were voted down in the last parliament.

What always scared Amanda was the threat of having to pay unpayable sums. She described it as a "sword of Damocles over my head for three long years". For a brief moment there was hope. "And then they vote against us, on everything," she told peers.

Walker family (From right to left) Amanda Walker, Glenda Walker, her father and brother, sitting around a dinner table with wine glasses and food on platesWalker family
Amanda, pictured here with her brother and parents, became consumed by anxiety about her situation

Amanda's drinking increased and her family sought medical help. She agreed to be hospitalised. GPs and psychiatrists were clear in their reports: Amanda's drinking, stress and anxiety were down to the impact of the cladding crisis on her mental state. She was prescribed anti-depressants.

She continued campaigning with her mother, but things began to spiral downhill.

Glenda believes the anti-depressants she was given were not benefiting her. "I think she was over-medicated and her head was all over the place. She wasn't depressed, she kept saying: 'I am not depressed, I'm angry.'"

Amanda's partner split up with her as cladding campaigning consumed more and more of her life. Her mother and sister would make trips to see her to try to offer support.

  • If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line
Glenda Walker, mother of Amanda Walker, a blonde woman wearing a green and purple scarf and purple top
Glenda says Amanda had entirely lost faith in the government and believes medication was not helping her

Things came to a head one day this January.

Glenda was growing ever-more nervous about her daughter, and knew she needed urgent medical attention.

She says she'd written a "fairly assertive" letter to a hospital where her daughter had been previously treated, warning her condition was getting serious.

Travelling to London through the rain, she found herself "phoning and phoning and phoning" the hospital to try to get doctors to intervene again.

The following day Amanda was found dead.

Asked if she'd ever thought that her daughter might kill herself, Glenda says: "Manda had talked about it. She'd talked about it."

She says she can understand her daughter's state of mind that weekend.

"Yeah, I've seen it so often. I'm different from her and she felt despair… She wanted justice and she felt it was just awful. I think she lost faith in the government completely."

A portrait of Amanda Walker with a candle in front of it
Amanda's parents, who still haven't been able to sell the flat, hope their daughter's campaigning will make life easier for people stuck in buildings with defective cladding

The government says that work is already underway through the Remediation Acceleration Plan "to make sure those responsible for the cladding crisis pay their fair share".

It says it is "continuing to look at all options to ensure residents no longer have to deal with the nightmare of living in unsafe buildings".

Amanda's flat has now passed to her parents to deal with.

Its exterior cladding has now been replaced and they are trying to sell - but they still haven't been able to, due to structural fire issues inside the property.

Unless the Building Safety Act is amended by fresh legislation, Amanda's parents or any future purchaser will be liable for paying to fix those problems.

Amanda's mother hopes that speaking about her daughter's death has not been in vain, and that her story can be a catalyst.

"You go through grief… and perhaps the anger's getting in there a little bit now.

"For her sake, we'd love to think that she had caused some small change."

A 1,000-Year-Old Seed Grows in Israel

22 December 2024 at 14:00
For 14 years, scientists have been growing a tree akin to the Judean balsam — the source of the balm of Gilead — but with no modern counterpart.

Trump Picks a Former Treasury Official as His Top Economist

23 December 2024 at 02:17
Stephen Miran, who served during Donald Trump’s first term and now works at a hedge fund, has accused the Biden administration of manipulating markets.

© Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

President-elect Donald J. Trump said he would pick Stephen Miran to lead the Council of Economic Advisers.

Letter Calling for Tracking People of Color Circulates in an Oregon County

23 December 2024 at 02:15
The letter, distributed in Lincoln County, Ore., tells community members to report people who may be undocumented, the sheriff’s office said.

© Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian, via Associated Press

Lincoln City, Ore., in Lincoln County, where the sheriff condemned a letter circulating in the coastal county that asks people to write down the license plates of cars that may be driven by immigrants.

Tributes to nine-year-old killed in German Christmas market attack

23 December 2024 at 00:40
Facebook André GleißnerFacebook

A local fire brigade has paid tribute to a nine-year-old killed in an attack on a German Christmas market.

André Gleißner died after a car drove into a crowd of shoppers at the market in Magdeburg on Friday evening, according to the Schöppenstedt fire department.

In a statement they said he was a member of the children's fire brigade in Warle, which is about an hour's drive from Magdeburg.

Four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, also died in the attack. Authorities are holding a suspect in pre-trial detention on counts of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

Frank Gardner: Saudi warnings about Magdeburg suspect were ignored

22 December 2024 at 23:43
EPA A man mourns at the mourning site in front of St. John's Church following a vehicle-ramming attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany,  22 December 2024EPA
People have been leaving floral tributes for the victims of Friday's attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany

The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible".

Inside the imposing sand coloured and fortress-like walls of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh there is a perhaps justifiable sense of pique.

The ministry previously warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen's extremist views.

It sent four so-called "Notes Verbal", three of them to Germany's intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin. There was, the Saudis say, no response.

Part of the explanation for this may lie in the fact that Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was granted asylum by Germany in 2016, one year after the former Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to let in more than a million migrants from the Middle East, and 10 years after al-Abdulmohsen had taken up residence in Germany.

Coming from a country where Islam is the only religion permitted to be practiced in public, al-Abdulmohsen was a very unusual citizen.

He had turned his back on Islam, making himself a heretic in the eyes of many.

Born in the Saudi date palm oasis town of Hofuf in 1974, little is known about his early life before he decided to leave Saudi Arabia and move to Europe aged 32.

Active on social media, on his Twitter (later X) account he labels himself as both a psychiatrist and founder of Saudi rights movement, together with the tag @SaudiExMuslims.

He founded a website aimed at helping Saudi women flee their country to Europe.

The Saudis say he was a people trafficker and the Ministry of Interior's investigators, the Mabaatheth, are said to have an extensive file on him.

There have been reports in recent years of dissident Saudis coming under hostile surveillance from Saudi government agents, in Canada, the US and in Germany.

There is no question that the German authorities, both federal and state, have made some serious errors of omission in the case of al-Abdulmohsen.

Whatever their reasons for not responding, as the Saudis claim, to the repeated warnings about his extremism, he was clearly a danger to his adopted host country.

There is also, separately, the failure to close off, or at least guard, the emergency access route to Magdeburg Alter Markt that allowed him to allegedly drive his BMW into the crowds.

German authorities have defended the market's layout and said an investigation into the suspect's past is ongoing.

But a complicating factor here is that Saudi Arabia, although considered a friend and ally of the West, has a poor human rights record.

Until June 2018 Saudi women were forbidden to drive and even those women who publicly called for that ban to be lifted before then have been persecuted and imprisoned.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, still only in his 30s, just, is immensely popular in his own country.

Reuters Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2024Reuters
The Saudi crown prince pictured in Riyadh during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October

While Western leaders largely distanced themselves from him after his alleged involvement in the grisly murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which the crown prince denies, at home his star is still in the ascendant.

Under his de-facto rule, Saudi public life has transformed for the better, with men and women allowed to associate freely, and cinemas reopening, along with big, spectacular sports and entertainment events, even gigs performed by Western artists like David Guetta and the Black Eyed Peas.

But there is a paradox here.

While Saudi public life has flourished there has been a simultaneous crackdown on anything that even hints at more political or religious freedom.

Harsh prison sentences of 10 years or more have been handed down for simple tweets.

No-one is permitted to even question the way the country is run.

It is against this backdrop that Germany appears to have dropped the ball with Taleb al-Abdulmohsen.

Cyclone Chido kills 94 people in Mozambique

22 December 2024 at 22:57
Reuters A drone view of destroyed houses and buildings following cyclone Chido in Pemba, Mozambique, December 18, 2024Reuters

Cyclone Chido has killed 94 people in Mozambique since it made landfall in the east African country last week, local authorities have said.

The country's National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) said 768 people were injured and more than 622,000 people affected by the natural disaster in some capacity.

Chido hit Mozambique on 15 December with winds of 260 km/h (160mph) and 250mm of rainfall in the first 24 hours.

The same cyclone had first wreaked havoc in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, before moving on to Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

In Mozambique, the storm struck northern provinces that are regularly battered by cyclones. It first reached Cabo Delgado, then travelled further inland to Niassa and Nampula.

The country's INGD said the cyclone impacted the education and health sector. More than 109,793 students were affected, with school infrastructure severely damaged.

Some 52 sanitary units were damaged, the INGD said, which further risks access to essential health services. This is exacerbated further in areas where access to healthcare facilities were already limited before the cyclone.

Daniel Chapo, leader of Mozambique's ruling party, told local media the government is mobilising support on "all levels" in response to the cyclone.

Speaking during a visit to Cabo Delgado on Sunday, one of the most badly affected areas, Chapo said the government is working alongside the INGD to ensure those affected in the provinces of Mecúfi, Nampula, Memba and Niassa can rebuild.

In Mayotte, Chido was the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years, leaving tens of thousands of people reeling from the catastrophe.

The interior ministry in its latest update confirmed 35 people had died.

Mayotte's prefect previously told local media the death toll could rise significantly once the damage was fully assessed, warning it would "definitely be several hundred" and could reach thousands.

More than 1,300 officers were deployed to support the local population.

One week on, many residents still lack basic necessities, while running water is making a gradual return to the territory's capital. The ministry has advised people to boil water for three minutes before consuming it.

Around 100 tonnes of equipment are being delivered each day, the ministry said, as an air bridge was built between Mayotte, Reunion and mainland France.

In a statement on Friday, interior minister Bruno Retailleau said 80 tonnes of food and 50 tonnes of water had been distributed across Mayotte that day.

A visualised graphic shows the path of Cyclone Chido over Mayotte, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, with dots showing destroyed and damaged sites on two islands in the Mayotte archipelago

Tropical cyclones are characterised by very high wind speeds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which are short-term rises to sea-levels. This often causes widespread damage and flooding.

The cyclone, the INGD said, "highlights once again, the vulnerability of social infrastructures to climate change and the need for resilient planning to mitigate future impacts".

Assessing the exact influence of climate change on individual tropical cyclones can be challenging due to the complexity of these storm systems. But rising temperatures do affect these storms in measurable ways.

The UN's climate body, the IPCC, previously said there is "high confidence" that humans have contributed to increases in precipitation associated with tropical cyclones, and "medium confidence" that humans have contributed to the higher probability of a tropical cyclone being more intense.

Woman Dies After Being Set on Fire in Subway Car, Police Say

23 December 2024 at 04:26
The police said the woman was sleeping aboard a subway car at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station on Sunday morning when a man approached and set her on fire.

© Dakota Santiago for The New York Times

Investigators at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn on Sunday after a woman aboard a subway car was set on fire and died.

From the Surf to the Sermon: The Christian Surfers of Costa Rica

A group of missionaries who surf have expanded to a remote part of Costa Rica, where people come from afar looking for the “perfect wave.” And maybe a little Jesus?

A surfer riding a wave during a sunset in June in Pavones, Costa Rica, which is home to the second-largest left-hand wave in the world.

Tributes paid to nine-year-old killed in German Christmas market attack

23 December 2024 at 00:08
Facebook André GleißnerFacebook

A local fire brigade has paid tribute to a nine-year-old killed in an attack on a German Christmas market.

André Gleißner died after a car drove into a crowd of shoppers at the market in Magdeburg on Friday evening, according to the Schöppenstedt fire department.

In a statement they said he was a member of the children's fire brigade in Warle, which is about an hour's drive from Magdeburg.

Four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, also died in the attack. Authorities are holding a suspect in pre-trial detention on counts of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

Frank Gardner: Saudi warnings about Magdeburg suspect ignored

22 December 2024 at 23:43
EPA A man mourns at the mourning site in front of St. John's Church following a vehicle-ramming attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany,  22 December 2024EPA
People have been leaving floral tributes for the victims of Friday's attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany

The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible".

Inside the imposing sand coloured and fortress-like walls of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh there is a perhaps justifiable sense of pique.

The ministry previously warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen's extremist views.

It sent four so-called "Notes Verbal", three of them to Germany's intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin. There was, the Saudis say, no response.

Part of the explanation for this may lie in the fact that Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was granted asylum by Germany in 2016, one year after the former Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to let in more than a million migrants from the Middle East, and 10 years after al-Abdulmohsen had taken up residence in Germany.

Coming from a country where Islam is the only religion permitted to be practiced in public, al-Abdulmohsen was a very unusual citizen.

He had turned his back on Islam, making himself a heretic in the eyes of many.

Born in the Saudi date palm oasis town of Hofuf in 1974, little is known about his early life before he decided to leave Saudi Arabia and move to Europe aged 32.

Active on social media, on his Twitter (later X) account he labels himself as both a psychiatrist and founder of Saudi rights movement, together with the tag @SaudiExMuslims.

He founded a website aimed at helping Saudi women flee their country to Europe.

The Saudis say he was a people trafficker and the Ministry of Interior's investigators, the Mabaatheth, are said to have an extensive file on him.

There have been reports in recent years of dissident Saudis coming under hostile surveillance from Saudi government agents, in Canada, the US and in Germany.

There is no question that the German authorities, both federal and state, have made some serious errors of omission in the case of al-Abdulmohsen.

Whatever their reasons for not responding, as the Saudis claim, to the repeated warnings about his extremism, he was clearly a danger to his adopted host country.

There is also, separately, the failure to close off, or at least guard, the emergency access route to Magdeburg Alter Markt that allowed him to allegedly drive his BMW into the crowds.

German authorities have defended the market's layout and said an investigation into the suspect's past is ongoing.

But a complicating factor here is that Saudi Arabia, although considered a friend and ally of the West, has a poor human rights record.

Until June 2018 Saudi women were forbidden to drive and even those women who publicly called for that ban to be lifted before then have been persecuted and imprisoned.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, still only in his 30s, just, is immensely popular in his own country.

Reuters Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2024Reuters
The Saudi crown prince pictured in Riyadh during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October

While Western leaders largely distanced themselves from him after his alleged involvement in the grisly murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which the crown prince denies, at home his star is still in the ascendant.

Under his de-facto rule, Saudi public life has transformed for the better, with men and women allowed to associate freely, and cinemas reopening, along with big, spectacular sports and entertainment events, even gigs performed by Western artists like David Guetta and the Black Eyed Peas.

But there is a paradox here.

While Saudi public life has flourished there has been a simultaneous crackdown on anything that even hints at more political or religious freedom.

Harsh prison sentences of 10 years or more have been handed down for simple tweets.

No-one is permitted to even question the way the country is run.

It is against this backdrop that Germany appears to have dropped the ball with Taleb al-Abdulmohsen.

Mum grieving after daughter died fighting for cladding justice

22 December 2024 at 14:04
Walker family Amanda Walker, a woman with blonde hair and smiling, against a red backdropWalker family

Amanda Walker felt trapped in a flat she couldn't sell because of its flammable cladding.

When it turned out that no government scheme would cover the costs of removing the dangerous material from her newly built flat in south London, she started campaigning.

She spent four years trying to get justice for herself, and for millions caught up in the scandal exposed by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Then, at the age of 51, she was found dead in her one-bedroom apartment by her mother and sister. An inquest recently recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

"She would often phone me late at night when she just couldn't deal with it any more," her mother Glenda recalls.

"I wish she could phone me now."

A photo of the inside of Amanda's flat which shows a widescreen TV inside a cabinet. A white l-shaped sofa and a coffee table sit in front of the TV with a window in the background.
Amanda's one-bedroom flat, which she bought for £500,000 in 2018, soon became a nightmare

Half a year earlier, in July 2023, Amanda had addressed peers in the House of Lords investigating the impact of the cladding problem on flat owners.

"It's devastating. It's just a quagmire. It's just chaos," she told them. "It's so unjust. I had done nothing wrong and it's destroyed my life already."

The video of Amanda's address to the Lords is now treasured by her mother, who's speaking for the first time since the inquest's verdict.

Glenda thinks Amanda, an office manager at a hedge fund in the City of London, started drinking to deal with the anxiety of having to face unaffordable bills to fix the cladding, running into the tens of thousands.

"I'm not ashamed for her for that because it was her way of coping. She used the term 'seeking oblivion'."

Amanda wrote countless letters to MPs, local authorities and other responsible bodies - but "always got the statutory response", her mother continues.

"There are still over a million people in this situation and [MPs and civil servants] would write these platitudinous letters saying 'oh we're doing this, we're doing that'."

She doesn't just see those as unhelpful - but as evidence that nobody really understood the scale of the problem and how seriously it was affecting people.

It felt like there was a black chasm ahead, Amanda Walker told a House of Lords briefing

The government did eventually launch a scheme - the Building Safety Fund - to pay to remove the type of dangerous cladding that is on the outside of Amanda's flat.

She was hoping that changes enshrined in a separate landmark law called the Building Safety Act - brought in after the Grenfell tragedy - would help her correct internal fire safety defects, like insufficient fire stopping between flats.

But they didn't. There were significant exceptions to who qualified.

Since some of the other flat owners in her development had bought a share of the building's freehold, she became what's known as a "non-qualifying" leaseholder - meaning she still faced huge uncapped bills to contribute towards the repair costs.

Several proposed amendments to the Building Safety Act that would've protected people in Amanda's position were voted down in the last parliament.

What always scared Amanda was the threat of having to pay unpayable sums. She described it as a "sword of Damocles over my head for three long years". For a brief moment there was hope. "And then they vote against us, on everything," she told peers.

Walker family (From right to left) Amanda Walker, Glenda Walker, her father and brother, sitting around a dinner table with wine glasses and food on platesWalker family
Amanda, pictured here with her brother and parents, became consumed by anxiety about her situation

Amanda's drinking increased and her family sought medical help. She agreed to be hospitalised. GPs and psychiatrists were clear in their reports: Amanda's drinking, stress and anxiety were down to the impact of the cladding crisis on her mental state. She was prescribed anti-depressants.

She continued campaigning with her mother, but things began to spiral downhill.

Glenda believes the anti-depressants she was given were not benefiting her. "I think she was over-medicated and her head was all over the place. She wasn't depressed, she kept saying: 'I am not depressed, I'm angry.'"

Amanda's partner split up with her as cladding campaigning consumed more and more of her life. Her mother and sister would make trips to see her to try to offer support.

  • If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line
Glenda Walker, mother of Amanda Walker, a blonde woman wearing a green and purple scarf and purple top
Glenda says Amanda had entirely lost faith in the government and believes medication was not helping her

Things came to a head one day this January.

Glenda was growing ever-more nervous about her daughter, and knew she needed urgent medical attention.

She says she'd written a "fairly assertive" letter to a hospital where her daughter had been previously treated, warning her condition was getting serious.

Travelling to London through the rain, she found herself "phoning and phoning and phoning" the hospital to try to get doctors to intervene again.

The following day Amanda was found dead.

Asked if she'd ever thought that her daughter might kill herself, Glenda says: "Manda had talked about it. She'd talked about it."

She says she can understand her daughter's state of mind that weekend.

"Yeah, I've seen it so often. I'm different from her and she felt despair… She wanted justice and she felt it was just awful. I think she lost faith in the government completely."

A portrait of Amanda Walker with a candle in front of it
Amanda's parents, who still haven't been able to sell the flat, hope their daughter's campaigning will make life easier for people stuck in buildings with defective cladding

The government says that work is already underway through the Remediation Acceleration Plan "to make sure those responsible for the cladding crisis pay their fair share".

It says it is "continuing to look at all options to ensure residents no longer have to deal with the nightmare of living in unsafe buildings".

Amanda's flat has now passed to her parents to deal with.

Its exterior cladding has now been replaced and they are trying to sell - but they still haven't been able to, due to structural fire issues inside the property.

Unless the Building Safety Act is amended by fresh legislation, Amanda's parents or any future purchaser will be liable for paying to fix those problems.

Amanda's mother hopes that speaking about her daughter's death has not been in vain, and that her story can be a catalyst.

"You go through grief… and perhaps the anger's getting in there a little bit now.

"For her sake, we'd love to think that she had caused some small change."

Cyclone Chido kills 94 people in Mozambique

22 December 2024 at 22:57
Reuters A drone view of destroyed houses and buildings following cyclone Chido in Pemba, Mozambique, December 18, 2024Reuters

Cyclone Chido has killed 94 people in Mozambique since it made landfall in the east African country last week, local authorities have said.

The country's National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) said 768 people were injured and more than 622,000 people affected by the natural disaster in some capacity.

Chido hit Mozambique on 15 December with winds of 260 km/h (160mph) and 250mm of rainfall in the first 24 hours.

The same cyclone had first wreaked havoc in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, before moving on to Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

In Mozambique, the storm struck northern provinces that are regularly battered by cyclones. It first reached Cabo Delgado, then travelled further inland to Niassa and Nampula.

The country's INGD said the cyclone impacted the education and health sector. More than 109,793 students were affected, with school infrastructure severely damaged.

Some 52 sanitary units were damaged, the INGD said, which further risks access to essential health services. This is exacerbated further in areas where access to healthcare facilities were already limited before the cyclone.

Daniel Chapo, leader of Mozambique's ruling party, told local media the government is mobilising support on "all levels" in response to the cyclone.

Speaking during a visit to Cabo Delgado on Sunday, one of the most badly affected areas, Chapo said the government is working alongside the INGD to ensure those affected in the provinces of Mecúfi, Nampula, Memba and Niassa can rebuild.

In Mayotte, Chido was the worst storm to hit the archipelago in 90 years, leaving tens of thousands of people reeling from the catastrophe.

The interior ministry in its latest update confirmed 35 people had died.

Mayotte's prefect previously told local media the death toll could rise significantly once the damage was fully assessed, warning it would "definitely be several hundred" and could reach thousands.

More than 1,300 officers were deployed to support the local population.

One week on, many residents still lack basic necessities, while running water is making a gradual return to the territory's capital. The ministry has advised people to boil water for three minutes before consuming it.

Around 100 tonnes of equipment are being delivered each day, the ministry said, as an air bridge was built between Mayotte, Reunion and mainland France.

In a statement on Friday, interior minister Bruno Retailleau said 80 tonnes of food and 50 tonnes of water had been distributed across Mayotte that day.

A visualised graphic shows the path of Cyclone Chido over Mayotte, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, with dots showing destroyed and damaged sites on two islands in the Mayotte archipelago

Tropical cyclones are characterised by very high wind speeds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which are short-term rises to sea-levels. This often causes widespread damage and flooding.

The cyclone, the INGD said, "highlights once again, the vulnerability of social infrastructures to climate change and the need for resilient planning to mitigate future impacts".

Assessing the exact influence of climate change on individual tropical cyclones can be challenging due to the complexity of these storm systems. But rising temperatures do affect these storms in measurable ways.

The UN's climate body, the IPCC, previously said there is "high confidence" that humans have contributed to increases in precipitation associated with tropical cyclones, and "medium confidence" that humans have contributed to the higher probability of a tropical cyclone being more intense.

墙外文摘:学者“进入中国”就能产出真知灼见?

23 December 2024 at 00:17

2024-12-22T15:54:15.957Z
学者林和立表示,中共让你看到的或在档案馆抄到的东西,都可能已被“处理”过

(德国之声中文网)台湾《上报》发表评论《中共的变与不变:中国政治研究,需要典范转移吗》,中国研究学者、时事评论作家林和立说,当前,无论是研究中共党史与理论,或是中国具体的政经政策,国外的汉学家乃至关心国是的朋友,往往都遇到颇大的困扰,就是不太容易取得中方各级政府或大专院校的同意,前往进行田野考察,更不能奢望有关当局允许外来学者查阅内部资料。有不少前辈主张探究中国国情要来个“典范转移”,用其他的人文与社会科学的方法,来审视那“豪华吊灯中的大蟒蛇”。

作者认为,分析中共的走向未必需要特意参照“典范”。毛泽东、习近平的立国之道与统治模式,是极其原始粗糙的。颇为反讽的是,有越来越多理解中共“超限战”的人士,包括前领导干部与其家属,都因为各种原因移民到外国。习近平时期,特别是疫情封控三年,提供了有力的“润学”背景。有兴趣做田野调查的学者,不难在北美、英国、欧盟国家访问到这类人。这些熟悉内情的人士,在中国境内可能预期手机与通信设备受到严密监控,而无法说真话,出国后才能以匿名甚或公开身份畅所欲言。热衷于方法论,尤其是田野考察的中国研究学者,不必对“无法进入中国”过于忧愁,毕竟中共让你看到的或在档案馆抄到的东西,都可能已被“处理”过,品质往往堪比三鹿奶粉与毒棉卫生巾。

“埃隆·马斯克-泰勒·斯威夫特范式”的中国经济

《纽约时报》发表时事评论作家托马斯·弗里德曼(Thomas L. Friedman)文章《中美关系需要“马斯克+斯威夫特”》,作者将中国经济称为“埃隆·马斯克-泰勒·斯威夫特范式”——美国将用对中国征收更高关税赢得的时间来帮助更多的埃隆·马斯克脱颖而出,让更多的本土制造商在美国制造大件产品,这样就能向世界出口更多的东西,减少进口。而中国将用这段时间让更多的泰勒·斯威夫特进入中国,让年轻人有更多机会花钱购买国外制造的娱乐和消费品,同时也生产更多中国人民想购买的商品,为他们提供更多的服务。

特朗普誓言加倍努力生产高油耗车,并停止为购买电动汽车的美国人提供政府补贴。弗里德曼写道:你认为将来会发生什么?世界其他地方将逐渐过渡到使用中国制造的自动驾驶电动车,“而美国将成为新的古巴——你慕名去那里观赏那些需要人来驾驶的老式油车,”正如时报北京分社社长、擅长报道汽车行业的基思·布拉德舍对我说的那样。如果这会发生的话,我们某天从梦中醒来时会发现,中国将拥有全球电动汽车市场。

作者也指出,中国经济面临的最大的问题是,政府将中共意识形态和国有企业放在首位,这已促使中国一些最有才华的私营部门创新者悄悄地将资金、家庭或他们本人转移到日本、迪拜和新加坡。这对中国来说不是一个好趋势。

BYD等中国电动车品牌正努力拓展海外市场

“我们把你灭了,你什么都不是”

时事节目“不明白播客”采访了曾经在中国和中东生活、现流亡美国的活动人士马聚。马聚出生于甘肃兰州一个穆斯林望族家庭,他的曾祖父马重雍是中国穆斯林哲赫忍耶北门派主持人,曾任职甘肃省政协副主席,但也因为其身份导致全家遭受中共迫害。

马聚在节目中回顾了在中国遭受迫害的两次经历。第一次是1976年的时候,他父亲当时在乡政府的集中营,听说自己在集中抓捕和枪决的反革命份子以及黑五类名单上,连夜从乡政府的集中营里翻墙而逃,然后带着全家逃难。“一家人就顺着铁路等待有火车来之后,一路向西,夏天的时候到达了迪化,就是乌鲁木齐。到达乌鲁木齐时,乌鲁木齐也在抓盲流,反正什么反革命分子,各式各样的。当时,我们大概就又走了半个多月,又是搭卡车,又是步行,又是坐牛车,最后到了伊犁地区的特克斯河,昭苏县的区域。我们就在特克斯河边上,挖了个地坑,我们一家人就住在那个地坑里”。

第二次是新疆“七五”事件之后,已是成功商人的马聚在兰州的家里遭到突袭抓捕,关在一个废弃的仓库里。“他们在我身边的拴了两条狼狗。如果我把腿放开坐在地上,因为我是被背铐着,然后带着脚镣,带着手铐,如果我要坐下了,把腿这样平放着,狼狗就能咬到我的脚,所以我必须得把腿蜷着”。

马聚回忆道:“他们说,那好,我们把你灭了,你什么都不是,没有人知道你在哪里,灭了就灭了。……然后我到那个坑的时候,我知道我也活不了了,因为他们演戏演的太真,我当真了,我就砰一下直接自己就躺进去了,把自己后背、身子摔得里边,因为还有很多石头吧”。获释之后,他逃亡到了美国。他在纽约开办了客栈和牛肉面馆,救助以穆斯林为主的“走线”移民。

摘编自其他媒体的内容,不代表德国之声的立场或观点。

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