Retired construction worker Ali Cimen looked at the pile of rubble raising dust over his former neighbourhood and scoffed at the idea that Turkey's earthquake disaster zone could be rebuilt in a year.. Erdogan has made a bold campaign pledge to rebuild the entire disaster zone -- originally home to more than 13 million people -- by the start of next year.
Tourist groups visiting Pingtan Island -- one of the closest points in southeastern China to Taiwan -- braved blustery seaside weather on Thursday and shrugged off the boosted maritime patrols in the flashpoint waters beyond them.. - On patrol - Meanwhile, live footage broadcast by state media on Thursday showed the "Haixun 06" vessel leading a patrol in choppy waters beneath grey skies "in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait".
Top diplomats from Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing on Thursday, pledging to work together to bring "security and stability" to their turbulent region following a surprise China-brokered deal.. China's success in bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together has challenged the United States' long standing role as the main outside power broker in the Middle East.
A long line of people appears in silhouette, walking along the flat desert in northern Niger.. They are stranded in what is an open prison in the desert, sometimes for months.
When it comes to what some call his most important job -- saving the Amazon rainforest -- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been talking the talk, vowing "Brazil is back" in the fight against climate change.. Lula, who marks his 100th day in office Monday, has made a radical break with the environmental policies of far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, vowing to fight for zero deforestation in the Amazon after a surge of destruction the past four years.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has not had much of a honeymoon in his comeback as president of Brazil, delivering mixed results and nursing several wounds -- some self-inflicted -- after 100 days in office.. But Stuenkel warned Lula faces a tough balancing act as he seeks to position Brazil as a go-between and deal-broker on the international stage.
From crops to corals, a book circulated by a controversial US think tank is riddled with misleading claims about established climate science, in what campaigners slam as a bid to "infect" young minds.. But scientists told AFP it is packed with misleading claims, including sections that imply higher carbon dioxide levels and warming are positive for crops and coral reefs, decrease in snow has been negligible, sea-level rise is not accelerating and heatwaves have become less severe.
Argentina's already fragile economy is now taking a beating from nature, as the worst drought in almost 100 years decimates critical soy, wheat and corn production.. Soy and wheat crops were halved this year, while corn yield was cut by more than a third, according to official projections, slashing Argentina's exports in a sector crucial for the public purse.
Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday denied any misconduct while being questioned by police over allegations he tried to illegally import millions of dollars' worth of jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia, a source told AFP. The allegations over the illegal importation of pricey gifts received by Bolsonaro and his wife from the Gulf kingdom emerged in March, triggering multiple investigations and sparking a legal and political headache for the ex-president.. A source close to the ex-leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said Bolsonaro had denied he had committed any crime to the federal police and said he had only become aware of the seized jewelry in December last year.
France on Thursday braced for another day of protests and strikes to denounce President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform after talks between the government and unions ended in deadlock.. "We have to continue mobilising until the end, until the government understands there is no way out other than withdrawing this reform," she said.
