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.
- Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal (2021/07/30 05:47)
Friday, July 30, 2021
On Monday, Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in women's weightlifting in the 55 kg category during her fourth Olympic games. She lifted a combined weight 224 kg (494 lb), tying the previous new Olympic record. In the snatch she lifted 97 kg (214 lb) and in the clean and jerk 127 kg (280 lb), totaling the 224 kg.
After the match, she said in an interview, "I am 30 years old and I thought it would be like going down, my performance, but I was shocked I was able to do it". A statement from the Philippines' presidential spokesman Harry Roque celebrated Diaz's win, saying, "Congratulations, Hidilyn. The entire Filipino nation is proud of you".
The previous record-setter Liao Qiuyun of China took the silver medal with a total weight of 223 kg (492 lb), and Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan took the bronze with 213 kg (470 lb).
Diaz won the silver medal during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she competed in the 53 kg category. She won a gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Diaz trained in Malaysia, where she was stuck due to COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by the Philippines. While there, she trained in a self-built gym, using water bottles.
Sources[edit]
- Junko Fujita and Ece Toksabay. "Weightlifting-Diaz wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines" — Reuters, July 26, 2021
- Christopher Brito. "Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal, breaking country's 97-year drought" — CBS News, July 26, 2021
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Patrick Blennerhassett and Nick Atkin. "Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz is Philippines’ first Olympic gold medallist after 55kg weightlifting triumph" — South China Morning Post, July 26, 2021
- Tunisia's president dismisses prime minister, suspends parliament (2021/07/29 19:51)
Thursday, July 29, 2021
President Saied in 2019 (left) and former Prime Minster Mechichi in 2020 (right)
Image: Houcemmzoughi / Ministry of the Interior.On Sunday, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the country's prime minister, Hichem Mechichi and suspended its parliament following mass nationwide protests in part over the country's economy, and the way in which the government handled the coronavirus pandemic. These protests were largely aimed against the largest party in parliament, the Ennahdha.
Saied announced he would take control until he appointed a new prime minister, parliament would remain suspended for 30 days, and the immunity of the members of parliament would be suspended. Saied invoked Article 80 of the 2014 Tunisian constitution to take executive power intended for when there is "imminent danger threatening the institutions of the nation".
The speaker of the parliament Rached Ghannouchi said Saied consulted neither him nor Mechichi as required by the constitution. The constitution calls for a special court to resolve similar disputes, but it has not yet been established.
Saied held an emergency meeting yesterday in response to the violent protests across Tunisia. Following this meeting, he announced Mechichi's dismissal and parliament's suspension. In a televised address afterward, Saied said, "We have taken these decisions [...] until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state". He said further violence would be met with armed response by the country's armed forces.
Police blockaded roads leading to the capital's main street Avenue Bourguiba. Security forces were deployed to surround the parliament building, preventing access to it. Police in Tunis used pepper spray against protesters throwing rocks, during demonstrations against Mechichi.
Ghannouchi, a member of the Ennahdha party, called the president's actions "a coup against the revolution and constitution", and said, "We consider the institutions to be still standing and supporters of Ennahda and the Tunisian people will defend the revolution". Ghannouchi said parliament would continue its work despite its suspension.
Mosaïque FM reported Ghannouchi arrived at the parliament building early Monday morning, but he was barred from entry by the army.
Heart of Tunisia and Karama, two other parties in parliament, decried the dismissal as coup as well. Al Jazeera reported that Saied and Mechichi have been in conflict for over a year during an economic crisis in the country, and as the country tries to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 18,000 people have died of the virus in a country of 12 million people.
Sources[edit]
- "ARP: Ghannouchi quitte les lieux" — Mosaïque FM, July 26, 2021 (French)
- Bouazza ben Bouzza. "Tensions in Tunisia after president suspends parliament" — Associated Press, July 26, 2021
- "Tunisia’s president accused of ‘coup’ after dismissing PM" — Al Jazeera, July 25, 2021
- "Tunisia's PM sacked after violent Covid protests" — BBC News Online, July 25, 2021
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AP. "Tunisian President Fires Prime Minister After Violent Protests" — NPR, July 25, 2021
- China resumes deportation of refugees back to North Korea (2021/07/26 23:37)
Monday, July 26, 2021
In an article published by Human Rights Watch late last week, over 1100 North Koreans living in China are described as being at risk of being sent back to North Korea. According to the article, around 50 North Korean defectors and escapees were recently sent back to their place of origin following their arrest by Chinese police and border authorities.
An anonymous witness told Radio Free Asia that "The Dandong customs office was opened just for today and they [Chinese border authorities] sent about 50 North Korean escapees back to North Korea on two buses." The witness also added that "dozens of police officers lined up in front of the customs office to block public access and ensure nobody was filming."
As a reaction to the sudden spread of COVID-19, North Korea closed its borders totally, which halted the repatriation of defectors. The recent repatriation was the first of its kind since January 2020, when North Korean authorities closed the Sino-Korean border as a way to protect the country from the pandemic. Repatriations of this kind were held routinely for the defectors who had crossed the Yalu and Tuman rivers into China before the pandemic occured.
This repatriation action caught the eye of the United States' Department of State, with an official spokesperson saying that "We are particularly concerned by recent reports that nearly 50 North Koreans were forcibly repatriated." The spokesperson said that the United States urges China to "fulfill its international obligations as a party to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the UN Convention Against Torture."
Radio Free Asia's article cites that some among the 50 repatriated were soldiers and pilots who had served in the North's Air Force.
Returning such refugees to North Korea, where they face imprisonment and torture from the authorities, is a violation of the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention, 1967 Protocol and the UN Convention against Torture. According to the article by Human Rights Watch, at least 1170 North Korean people are held in various prisons in China's Jilin and Liaoning provinces, where they face deportation after being charged with criminal offenses.
Both countries maintain a friendly relationship, with both leaders having exchanged greetings on July 11, as reported by state newspaper Rodong Sinmun. A 1986 bilateral border protocol signed by both nations warrants the deportation of any and all defectors and other North Koreans illegaly staying in China.
According to data reported by South Korea's Ministry of Unification, only two defectors from the North reached South Korea between April and June of this year, the lowest number ever recorded since the Ministry started recording the inflow of defectors. Such a decrease in the amount of defectors is mainly being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as North Korea entirely stopped people from leaving or entering the country, while still claiming to have no cases of the virus.
North Korean defectors often transit through China to reach either South Korea or another safe country, as the Sino-Korean border is easier to cross than the North-South border. The closest defector-friendly country accessible by land to defectors is the South-East Asian country of Vietnam.
Sources[edit]
- Lina Yoon. "China Restarts Forced Returns of Refugees to North Korea" — Human Rights Watch, July 22, 2021
- "Concern About Fate of 50 North Korean Escapees Sent Home by China" — Radio Free Asia, July 19, 2021
- "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Greetings from President Xi Jinping" — Rodong Sinmun, July 11, 2021
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"Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Greetings to President Xi Jinping" — Rodong Sinmun, July 11, 2021
- Floods in central China kill 25 (2021/07/26 03:11)
Monday, July 26, 2021
Floods in Henan province in central China have left at least 25 people dead, and about 200,000 people have been evacuated as of Wednesday, with soldiers leading rescue efforts. The flooding caused landslides and the provincial capital Zhengzhou's metro system and roads were inundated with water.
Passengers of the Zhengzhou Metro posted videos of water up to their neck while clinging to handrails. At least twelve people were killed in the metro, with five more being injured, and more than 500 were rescued.
Among the dead were also four people in Gongyi who died from houses and walls collapsing, with more than 20,000 forced to leave their homes. Nine thousand hectares of crops were also damaged, causing US$11.3 million worth of damage.
There have been storms and torrential rain in Henan province since July 17. According to the National Meteorological Center of CMA, 622.7 mm (24.51 in) of rain fell in 24 hours, far surpassing the 24-hour threshold of 250 mm (9.84 in) considered extremely heavy rainfall. From Saturday to Tuesday, 617.1 mm (25.30 in) of rain fell in Zhengzhou, almost the equivalent of its annual average of 640.8 mm (25.23 in).
There are several reasons for the downpour. First, Typhoon In-fa is approaching Fujian province in southeast China, causing large amounts of water vapor to be pushed inland. Second, the Taihang and Funiu Mountains cause water vapor to converge and go up, causing large amounts of relief rain.
According to Zhang Ning, chief weather broadcaster of the Henan Meteorological Service, the torrential rain would continue until Wednesday night. From July 22 to July 26 there are forecasted dispersed thunderstorms, but no large amounts of precipitation.
Sister links[edit]
Sources[edit]
- "Central China: 25 dead in flooded Zhengzhou metro, landslides" — Al Jazeera, July 20, 2021
- Jessie Yeung, Nectar Gan and Zixu Wang. "Passengers trapped inside submerged subway as deadly floods sweep central China" — CNN, July 21, 2021
- Ryan Woo and Stella Qiu. "At least 25 dead as rains deluge central China's Henan province" — Reuters, July 21, 2021
- "What caused the heavy downpour in central China's Henan?" — CGTN, July 21, 2021
- "China floods: 12 dead in Zhengzhou train and thousands evacuated in Henan" — BBC News Online, July 21, 2021
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"Zhengzhou Henan: Chest-high flooding hits China trains and roads" — BBC News Online, July 20, 2021
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 July 31 (2021/07/31 03:00)
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A house wren (Troglodytes aedon) peeking out of its nest box in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 30 (2021/07/30 03:00)
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Spherical panoramic of Türlersee in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. This lake features protected areas, a walking path and a public beach along its shore and is popular for recreation the entire year. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 29 (2021/07/29 03:00)
Picture of the day 
Male Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea) in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan. Since 2015, it has been the national bird for the State of Palestine. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 28 (2021/07/28 03:00)
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Tavče gravče traditionally served with long hot peppers. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 27 (2021/07/27 03:00)
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Common lionfish (Pterois miles) at Shaab El Erg reef in the Egyptian part of the Red Sea - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 26 (2021/07/26 03:00)
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Clementines – peeled and unpeeled - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 25 (2021/07/25 03:00)
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Branches of a jade plant (Crassula ovata), potted in a teal glazed ceramic jar. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 24 (2021/07/24 03:00)
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Saint Christopher at the winged altar of the parish- and pilgrimage church Kefermarkt, Upper Austria. Anonymous master (called Master of the Kefermarkt Altarpiece), around 1497. - Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for July 22 (2021/07/22 03:00)
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Stairwell of the Water Tower in Vladimir, Russia
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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.