Media
Wikimedia is a global movement whose mission is to bring free educational content to the world. Through various projects, chapters, and the support structure of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia strives to bring about a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. 1)
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a project to build free encyclopedias in all languages of the world.
Wiktionary
Wiktionary is a project to create a multilingual free content dictionary in every language.
Wikiquote
Wikiquote is a repository of quotations taken from famous people, books, speeches, films or any intellectually interesting materials. Proverbs, mnemonics or slogans are also included in Wikiquote.
Wikibooks
Wikibooks aims to build a collection of free e-book resources, including textbooks, language courses, manuals, and annotated public domain books. It aims to help both (self-)instruction of students and teachers in high schools and universities.
Wikisource
Wikisource is a multilingual project to archive a collection of free and open content texts.
Wikispecies
Wikispecies is an open, wiki-based project to provide a central, more extensive species database for taxonomy. It covers living and fossil representatives of Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Bacteria, Archaea, Protista and all other forms of life.
Wikinews
The Wikinews project was launched with the mission to report the news on a wide variety of subjects. Contributors from around the world write news articles collaboratively. Reports range from original reporting and interviews to summaries of news from external sources. All reports are required to be written from a neutral point of view.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurates the "Defence Development Exhibition 'Self-Defence-2021'" (2021/10/24 03:05)
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
On Monday, on the 76th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's founding, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated a new weapons exhibition in the Three-Revolutions Exhibition House, Pyongyang. Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported the event next day. According to Chinese travel agency Young Pioneer Tours, North Korea closed its border to tourists in January 2020.
The outside ceremony started when Kim Jong Un arrived. Attendees, mainly Korean People's Army (KPA) officers, party officials and invited defence industry personnel, greeted Kim with "Manse!" (Long Live!). High-ranking party officials Choe Ryong Hae, Jo Yong Won and Hyon Song Wol, premier Kim Tok Hun, Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong were also there.
A musical performance by the KPA military band and the Orchestra of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK came before a KPA martial arts demonstration, in it brick breaking with bare fists, bending steel bars with the sternum and jumping over cars. A flypast closed the outdoor sequence, rendering the colours of the North Korean flag with smoke on the sky.
Kim Jong Un's opening speech indoors remarked that "the US tacit sponsorship [of South Korea] continue to damage the inter-Korean feelings and emotions" and that "South Korea has been unhesitant on several occasions in disclosing its ambition for securing military supremacy over us under the preposterous excuse of deterring threat from us", but called their military build-up a war deterrence effort. He also called on people to support to the defence capabilities of the country, and dedicated the event to analyze their recent achievements in the field.
An award ceremony for servicepersons and others followed with high decorations handed over, including the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il Orders, the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il Prizes, the title of Labour Hero, the Order of the National Flag and watches signed with the names of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
After touring the exhibition, Kim Jong Un met with the jet pilots who performed earlier, then left in a limousine.
The exhibition featured missiles, including editions 14, 15 and 16 of the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile series.
In reaction on Tuesday, Moon Hong-sik, a spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Defence said that both the United States and South Korea are analyzing the displayed equipment.
Sources
- Kang Yoon-seung. "Seoul, Washington analyzing weapons showcased at N. Korean defense show" — Yonhap News Agency, October 12, 2021
- "When will North Korea open for tourism?" — Young Pioneer Tours, October 12, 2021 (date of access)
- "Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" Opens with Splendor" — Rodong Sinmun, October 12, 2021
- "Kim Jong Un Makes Commemorative Speech at Defence Development Exhibition" — Rodong Sinmun, October 12, 2021
- "N Korea’s Kim says US, S Korea threaten peace with arms buildup" — Al Jazeera, October 12, 2021
- North Korea Now. "Belligerent N.K. leader says enemy is war itself" — YouTube, October 12, 2021
- Paektusan Revolutionary Army. "Marshal Kim Jong Un opens the National Defence Development Exhibition "Self-Defence--2021"" — YouTube, October 12, 2021 (Korean)
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(in English) Kim Jong Il Biography 2, Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House, http://www.korean-books.com.kp/KBMbooks/en/book/politics/4023.pdf, retrieved on October 12, 2021
- Evergrande real estate firm makes missed September bond payment, avoids default (2021/10/23 07:01)
Saturday, October 23, 2021
China property giant Evergrande Group wired USD83.5 million in interest owed in an offshore bond from September 23 on Thursday, temporarily averting default, according to a Reuters source and Chinese newspaper The Securities Times.
The wire to a Citibank fiduciary account following a 30-day grace period came after assurances by various members of the Chinese government, Reuters reported. At a Beijing forum Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He described the risks as controllable, and chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission Yi Huiman said that while authorities needed to curb excessive debt more broadly by "improv[ing] the effectiveness of the constraint mechanism on debt financing", the matter would be dealt with properly.
Once China's top real estate developer, Evergrande had accumulated approximately USD305 billion in liabilities, two per cent of the Chinese gross national product, after "dwindling resources" cut its value by 80%, according to Reuters. September data revealed Chinese home sales by value fell by nearly 17% year-on-year, according to The Guardian, and fears over its default led to a slowdown in China's third quarter GDP growth to a year low of 4.9%. Two sale negotiations with rival developers Hopson Development and Yuexiu, valued at USD2.6 billion and USD1.7 billion, respectively, were suspended, reportedly due to a lack of consent by the government of Guangdong province currently overseeing Evergrande's restructuring.
News of Evergrande's remittance caused its shares to rise by as much as 7.8% this morning after a two-week pause in trading for the anticipated sale of 50.1% in Evergrande Property Services Group, and offering some reprieve for bondholders, according to Reuters. Portfolio manager at GaoTeng Global Asset Management James Wong, interviewed by The Guardian, called the news "a positive surprise", adding "[i]f Evergrande pays this time, I don't see why it won't pay the next time." Jun Rong Yeap for IG Asia pte., interviewed by Bloomberg, said the report "overturned" the narrative "that Evergrande will face difficulty in securing cash ahead".
Further missed payments are due October 29 and November 11 after similar 30-day grace periods; including yesterday's USD83.5 million, nearly USD280 million is owed to bondholders.
Nonetheless, stocks have been down for many major Chinese developers: Reuters Wednesday reported year-to-date stock prices fell 87.8% for Sinic Holdings, currently in Fitch Ratings' 'restricted default' after failing to make a October 18 bond payment valued, according to The Guardian, at USD246 million; 80.2% for Evergrande itself; 78.3% for E-House, 58.5% for Fantasia Holdings and 54.6% for Kaisa Group, which defaulted in 2015 and had bonds reach record lows.
Estimates of the Chinese real estate market's size range from 16 to 25% of the Chinese gross domestic product, according to The Guardian. Chinese President Xi Jinping's aim to transform the country's economy from one of debt-fuelled "inflated" growth to one of improved "quality and returns" included imposing regulations on developers that limited their capacity to borrow. A The Guardian comment piece from economist George Magnus published on October 15 made reference to China's "ghost cities" and "rampant credit creation" that has given rise to high vacancy rates and the "financialisaton of housing".
Sources
- John Cheng & Abhishek Vishnoi. "Evergrande is ‘living dead’ despite bond payment, analyst says" — BloombergQuint, October 22, 2021
- Martin Farrer. "China Evergrande will make crucial bond payment to avert looming default – reports" — The Guardian, October 22, 2021
- Clare Jim, Andrew Galbraith. "China Evergrande lines up funds for interest payment to avert default -source" — Reuters, October 22, 2021
- Clare Jim, Andrew Galbraith. "Evergrande's $2.6 bln unit stake sale fails as Chinese officials seek to calm nerves" — Reuters, October 20, 2021
- Martin Farrer. "China’s Evergrande crisis: clock ticking as crucial debt default deadline looms" — The Guardian, October 20, 2021
- Kevin Yao, Gabriel Crossley. "China's economy stumbles on power crunch, property woes" — Reuters, October 18, 2021
- George Magnus. "End to China’s estate market boom could spell trouble for the economy" — The Guardian, October 15, 2021
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Martin Farrer, Vincent Ni. "China’s Lehman Brothers moment?: Evergrande crisis rattles economy" — The Guardian, September 17, 2021
- Rust movie set accident leaves one person dead (2021/10/23 05:00)
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Actor Alec Baldwin was involved in an accident on the film set of Rust Thursday that left the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, dead and the director, Joel Souza, injured.
The accident occurred that afternoon during the filming of a scene which involved Baldwin discharging a prop firearm. According to a report by Insider, an International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees message to members has claimed that the prop contained a live round.
Mr. Baldwin is cooperating with investigators and has issued his condolences to the family of Ms. Hutchins. The Santa Fe County, New Mexico's sheriff's office is investigating "what type of projectile was discharged" and how the event transpired. No charges have been filed. Mr. Souza was released from hospital Friday.
A sworn affidavit by investigators working the case stated that Baldwin was handed the prop and told by the assistant director that it was safe. Neither Baldwin nor the assistant director were aware that it was loaded.
Sources
- Kelly McLaughlin and Zac Ntim. "The prop gun fired by Alec Baldwin contained a live round, prop masters union says" — Insider, October 22, 2021
- Ellise Shafer. "Alec Baldwin on Halyna Hutchins Death: ‘There Are No Words to Convey My Shock and Sadness’" — Variety, October 22, 2021
- Brian Welk. "‘Rust’ Director Joel Souza Released From Hospital After On-Set Accidental Shooting" — The Wrap, October 22, 2021
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Kimberlee Speakman. "Alec Baldwin Given Prop Gun Loaded With Live Ammo And Was Told It Was Safe To Use, According To Affidavit" — Forbes, October 22, 2021
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Wikiversity
Wikiversity is a project dedicated to learning materials and learning communities, as well as research. Wikiversity is not limited to university (or tertiary) level materials, but is open to materials and communities of all learner levels. The way it can facilitate learning activities and communities is still being explored, but is centered around the model of 'learning by doing', or 'experiential learning'.
Wikivoyage
Wikivoyage aims to create the world's largest free, complete and up-to-date world-wide travel guide.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons provide a central repository for free photographs, diagrams, maps, videos, animations, music, sounds, spoken texts, and other free media. It is a multilingual project with contributors speaking dozens of languages, that serves as a central repository for all Wikimedia projects.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 24 (2021/10/24 03:00)
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Colourful vineyards and forest edge at an evening in the autumn, seen on the Wolfertsberg near Löwenstein, Germany. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 23 (2021/10/23 03:00)
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The Stata Center, an academic complex at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology designed by Frank Gehry - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 22 (2021/10/22 03:00)
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Aerial view of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Palekh, Ivanovo Oblast, Russia. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 21 (2021/10/21 03:00)
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Afghan children wait to receive basic medical care and clothing on Camp Clark, Khowst province, Afghanistan, 2009. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 20 (2021/10/20 03:00)
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 19 (2021/10/19 03:00)
Picture of the day 
A male Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) at sunset in Hanover Zoo, Germany. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 18 (2021/10/18 03:00)
Picture of the day 
125 years ago: Place card for "Landrath Harz" for the banquet at the inauguration of the Emperor William Monument, in the Kaiserhof, Porta Westfalica, Germany on October 18, 1896. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 17 (2021/10/17 03:00)
Picture of the day 
Oak with broken crown. This part of Koninklijke Houtvesterij Het Loo will no longer intervene. There is a natural process taking place for more biodiversity. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 16 (2021/10/16 03:00)
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 15 (2021/10/15 03:00)
Picture of the day 
Convolvulus hawk moth (Agrius convolvuli) with its long proboscis, Gorski kut, near the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria.
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Wikidata
Wikidata aims to create a free knowledge base about the world that can be read and edited by humans and machines alike. The data available in Wikidata is licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 License to allow third-party users to freely reuse the data available, unlike other Wikimedia projects.
MediaWiki
The MediaWiki open source community maintains several software projects.
Meta-Wiki
Meta-Wiki is a project used as a central hub for various coordination and organization tasks, such as discussions affecting multiple wikis or planning upcoming events.
Wikimedia Incubator
The Wikimedia Incubator is a wiki used for developing new wikis.
Wikimedia Labs
Wikimedia Labs 2) is a project aimed to help volunteers get involved in Wikimedia operations and software development, and to make it easier for system administrators and developers to try out improvements to Wikimedia infrastructure, including MediaWiki.