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☆ Storm and floods kill at least 150 people in Libya, says Red Crescent
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A powerful storm and heavy floods have killed 150 people in the eastern Libyan city of Derna over the last two days and the death toll is expected to rise to 250, the head of the Red Crescent in Benghazi said on Monday. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani instructed the government to send aid to the affected area in eastern Libya, Qatar's state news agency reported. His administration holds little sway in eastern Libya, but Dbeibah said on Sunday he had directed all state agencies to "immediately deal" with the damage and floods in eastern cities. Dbeibah's government is recognized by the Central Bank of Libya, which disburses funds to government departments across the country. The United Nations in Libya said it was following the storm closely and would "provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels."

Persons: Storm Daniel, Al Bayda, Marj, Fhakeri, Saleh, Ahmed Mohamed, Ahmad Mismari, Khalifa, Witnesses, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Abdulhamid, Ras Lanuf, Dbeibah Organizations: Reuters, Libyan National Army, UNESCO, Authorities, Central Bank of Libya, United Nations Locations: Misrata, Libya, Libyan, Derna, Benghazi, Sousse, Al, Qatar's, Tripoli, Zueitina, Brega, Es Sidra

☆ Storm and floods kill at least 150 people in Libya-Red Crescent
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ayman Werfali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water," he told Reuters. Heavy floods washed away vehicles, footage broadcast by eastern Libya's Almostkbal TV showed. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani instructed the government to send aid to the affected area in eastern Libya, Qatar's state news agency reported. His administration holds little sway in eastern Libya, but Dbeibah said on Sunday he had directed all state agencies to “immediately deal” with the damage and floods in eastern cities. Dbeibah's government is recognised by the Central Bank of Libya, which disburses funds to government departments across the country.

Persons: Storm Daniel, Al Bayda, Marj, Fhakeri, Saleh, Ahmed Mohamed, Ahmad Mismari, Khalifa, Witnesses, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Abdulhamid, Ras Lanuf, Dbeibah, Ayman Werfali, Ahmed Elumami, Moaz Abd, Tarek Amara, Tom Perry, Nick Macfie, Andrew Heavens, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Libyan National Army, UNESCO, Authorities, Central Bank of Libya, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BENGHAZI, Libyan, Derna, Benghazi, Sousse, Al, Qatar's, Libya, Tripoli, Zueitina, Brega, Es Sidra, “, Tala, Dubai, Cairo, Tunis, Beirut

☆ Marrakech: Earthquake damages historic sites but spares the modern city
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Marrakech CNN —A small mosque at the heart of the Marrakech Medina in the city’s historical quarter was a treasured place of prayer for the hundreds of traders working at the busy market outside. Outside the damaged mosque, local resident Zined Hatimi recalled the terror of Friday night. The Marrakech Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site was hit by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake on Friday, the largest to hit the area in at least 120 years. Many of the old buildings inside the Medina have been damaged and some have collapsed entirely. Away from the historical Medina, in many of the modern parts of Marakkech, the impact was barely noticeable.

Persons: Zined Hatimi Organizations: Marrakech CNN, “, CNN, UNESCO Locations: Marrakech, Marrakech Medina, Hatimi, Medina, Morocco, Algeria, Spain, Marakkech

☆ Morocco earthquake damages historic mountain mosque
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Morocco's deadly earthquake badly damaged one of the most important historical sites in the High Atlas mountains, an earth-and-stone mosque built by a medieval dynasty that conquered North Africa and Spain. Moroccan media reported that parts of the Tinmel Mosque had collapsed. Photographs circulating online, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed tumbled walls, a half-fallen tower and large piles of debris. At least 2,000 people have died in the 6.8-magnitude quake, the most destructive in the area since at least 1900. The quake also caused damage to the old city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where a minaret toppled over and parts of the historic city walls collapsed along with some traditional houses.

Persons: Zakia Abdennebi, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Dominique Vidalon, Angus McDowall, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, Moroccan Culture Ministry, United Nations, UNESCO, High, Thomson Locations: North Africa, Spain, Moroccan, Tinmel, Marrakech, Rabat, Paris

“We felt a huge shake like it was doomsday,” Moulay Brahim resident Ayoub Toudite said. “Ten seconds and everything was gone.”Flags were lowered across Morocco, as King Mohammed VI ordered three days of national mourning starting Sunday. People in Moulay Brahim, a poor rural community of less than 3,000 people, live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block. I was saved by my neighbors who cleared the rubble with their bare hands," said Fatna Bechar in Moulay Brahim. “This is the first time I experienced an earthquake," British tourist Grahame Stuart said in Moulay Brahim.

Persons: “, Ayoub Toudite, King Mohammed VI, —, Al Haouz, Fatna, ” Hamid Idsalah, Grahame Stuart, Mohamed Messi, Al Hoceima, Angela Charlton, Ahmed Hatem, Brian Melley Organizations: —, ”, Aid, Moroccan, UNESCO, Police, Geological Survey, Portuguese Institute for, Civil Defense, Associated Press Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, — Morocco, Marrakech, Mountain, Ighil, Al Haouz Province, Al, Moulay Brahim, Turkey, Moulay, ”, U.S, Moroccan, Agadir, Portugal, Algeria, Paris, Cairo, London

☆ Japan says swarms of tourists defiling sacred Mt Fuji
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mariko Katsumura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Visitors are seen at the fifth stage on the slopes of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain 3,776 metres (12,388 ft), in Fujiyoshida, Japan, September 9, 2023. Mt Fuji, which straddles Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in eastern Japan, has always been popular with local and overseas tourists. "It's uncontrollable and we fear that Mt Fuji will soon become so unattractive, nobody would want to climb it," he said. Mt Fuji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 10 years ago, further boosting its popularity. "Any Japanese person would want to climb Mt Fuji at least once in their life," said 62-year-old Jun Shibazaki, who arrived on a tour.

Persons: Mariko Katsumura, Masatake Izumi, Shibazaki, Chang, Ran Kim, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Mt Fuji, Mt, UNESCO, International Council, World Heritage, Thomson Locations: Mount, Fujiyoshida, Japan, Yamanashi, Shizuoka

☆ Morocco's ancient city of Marrakech assesses quake damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ahmed Eljechtimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A general view of damage in the historic city of Marrakech, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. The extent of damage to Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was not yet clear on Saturday morning though most of the main historic sites in the old city appeared largely unscathed. Standing in front of a pile of rubble elsewhere in the old city, with elegant archways rising up behind it, Marrakech resident Miloud Skrout said the damage had blocked alleyways making it hard to help trapped residents. Some houses also fell in the tightly packed old city, though residents told Reuters that these appeared to be mostly uninhabited. "We are glad to see foreign tourists join to give blood following this painful event," he added.

Persons: Abdelhak, Karim El Baridi, Baridi, Miloud Skrout, Winston Churchill, Mahmoud Abghach, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Angus McDowall, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, UNESCO, Reuters, World Bank, IMF, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH

The earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night hit near Marrakesh, a popular tourist destination, sending both residents and visitors scrambling for safety. “We didn’t know if we had to stand up, to sit down, to run,” Mr. Ait Chari said. Ms. Lorang and hundreds of others found refuge in a courtyard, where some brought out rugs and blankets to sleep. “It was very chaotic.”Mr. Ait Chari, the tour guide, said he was supposed to pick up more clients on Sunday but was unsure flights would be maintained. Many people were still in shock, he said, but there had also been “great solidarity,” as residents cleared roads.

Persons: “, Jen Lorang, ” Ms, Lorang, “ I’ve, Mr, Ait, ”, Jean, Baptiste Guinet Organizations: Big, ”, UNESCO, Heritage, Tourism, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development Locations: Morocco, Marrakesh, Ait Chari, Massachusetts, Seattle, San Francisco, ” Morocco, Agadir, ”, Taroudant

The quake had a magnitude of 6.8 and a depth of about 11 miles, the United States Geological Survey said in a preliminary report. Here’s what to know about the earthquake: The United States Geological Survey said it was the strongest quake to hit the area in more than 100 years. The epicenter of the earthquake was just over 30 miles west of Oukaimeden, a popular Moroccan ski resort, the U.S.G.S. As of early morning local time, the full extent of the casualties and damages was not known. The deadliest and most destructive earthquake in Morocco’s recent history was 5.8 magnitude and killed about 12,000 people in 1960.

Organizations: Morocco, Ministry, United States Geological Survey, UNESCO, Heritage, Reuters Locations: Marrakesh, Oukaimeden, Moroccan

☆ Powerful earthquake strikes Morocco, killing hundreds and damaging historic buildings in Marrakech
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This frame grab from video footage taken by AFPTV shows people out in the open in Marrakesh September 9, 2023, following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco. A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing hundreds of people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck near the Moroccan city of Agadir and caused thousands of deaths. The Agadir quake prompted changes in construction rules in Morocco, but many buildings, especially rural homes, are not built to withstand such tremors. In 2004, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near the Mediterranean coastal city of Al Hoceima left more than 600 dead.

Persons: Abderrahim Ait Daoud, Talat N'Yaaqoub, Olaf Scholz, Narendra Modi, Lahcen Mhanni, Al Hoceima Organizations: Morocco's, Ministry, UNESCO, Local, Twitter, Indian, United Nations, Geological Survey, Department, National Institute of Geophysics, 2M, Portuguese Institute for, Civil Defense Locations: Marrakesh, Morocco, Marrakech, Moroccan, Al Haouz Province, India, United, U.S, Ighil, Earthquakes, North Africa, Agadir, Al, Portugal, Algeria

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated its magnitude at 6.8, but the Moroccan geological institute put it at 7.2. That would make it more than twice as large, according to the logarithmic scale on which earthquakes are measured. The U.S. agency said local estimates can often be more accurate, but initial readings of magnitude are measured automatically and need to be reviewed by seismologists. But it was clear that the scope of the catastrophe was extensive, with the rural provinces outside of Marrakesh the hardest hit. Moroccan architects say the area near the epicenter has many earthen houses that are not built to withstand an earthquake of this strength.

Persons: Omar Farkhani Organizations: Geological Survey, seismologists, United Nations ’ Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UNESCO, of Architects Locations: U.S, Moroccan, Marrakesh, Marrakesh’s Medina

☆ The Threads of Identity in a Palestinian Craft
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | More About Raja Abdulrahim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In 2021, UNESCO added Palestinian embroidery to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing it as “a widespread social and intergenerational practice in Palestine,” a symbol of national pride and a way in which women supplement family income. But like other Indigenous handicrafts across the world, it faces threats, including mechanization and abandonment of old styles of dress. Now there is a push to revive the handicraft in younger generations and to preserve old thobes that tell Palestinian history. In July, the museum inaugurated a Textile Conservation Studio to preserve Palestinian thobes and other heritage fabrics and to provide training for conservation and restoration. “We need to practice our heritage so we don’t lose it,” said Maha Saca, the founder and director of the Palestinian Heritage Center in Bethlehem, who helped submit the UNESCO application and is now working on opening the academy.

Persons: ”, Maha Saca Organizations: UNESCO, Heritage, Humanity, West Bank, Conservation, Palestinian Heritage Center Locations: Palestine, Palestinian, Bethlehem

Mapping the Damage from the Earthquake in MoroccoAn earthquake, which had a magnitude of at least 6.8, struck Morocco on Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and devastating a region where many vulnerable buildings were unable to withstand the shaking. Shake intensity Very strong Moderate Fes Rabat Meknes Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Shake intensity Very strong Moderate Rabat Casablanca MOROCCO Safi Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Fes Rabat Shake intensity Meknes Very strong Moderate Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Sources: U.S. Geological Survey (earthquake intensity); WorldPop (population data)The epicenter was about 35 miles west of Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort in the High Atlas Mountains, according to the United States Geological Survey. Rubble filled alleyways in Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and houses were flattened in villages in the countryside. About 3 million more people experienced moderate shaking. Fadel Senna/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAlthough much of southern Morocco, where the quake struck, is rural, the region’s cities and towns are often very densely populated.

Persons: Fadel Senna Organizations: Rabat, . Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey, UNESCO, New York Times, U.S . Geological Survey, MOROCCO MOROCCO Oulad, Agence France Locations: Morocco, Fes Rabat Meknes Casablanca, MOROCCO Marrakesh, Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA, Rabat Casablanca MOROCCO Safi Marrakesh, Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Fes Rabat, Meknes, Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh, Oukaimeden, Marrakesh, U.S, WorldPop, Ourir, MOROCCO MOROCCO, MOROCCO MOROCCO Oulad Berhil, MOROCCO, Moroccan

☆ Where to stay in India? Here are 8 former palaces that are now hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Poonam Binayak | Lisa Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Source: Heritage DharampuraIt's now a 14-room boutique hotel, which received an honorable mention in 2017's UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. It was transformed into a heritage hotel in the 1960s and is now impeccably managed by the Taj Group. Taj Lake Palace Source: Taj Lake PalaceStraight out of a fairy tale, the Taj Lake Palace boasts domed pavilions, ornamental turrets, crystal chandeliers, and 83 antique-filled rooms and suites, some which overlook a gleaming courtyard that hosts nightly folk dances. Source: Taj Usha Kiran PalaceToday, it's a lavish Taj hotel that balances old-world vibes with contemporary style. It is now a heritage hotel managed by the Taj Group.

Persons: Jehan Numa, Jehan, Palace, General Obaidullah Khan, Vijay Goel, James Bond, Taj Falaknuma, —, Taj Usha Kiran, it's, King Charles , Louis Mountbatten, Jacqueline Kennedy, Bhanj Deo, There's Organizations: UNESCO, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Taj, Taj Group, Royal, Rambagh, Jaipur, Cochin — Locations: India, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bhopal, Dharampura, Delhi, UNESCO Asia, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, Udaipur, Pichola, Mewar, Taj Lake, Lake, lavishness, Falaknuma, Nizam, Hyderabad, Windsor, Gwalior, Rambagh, Jaipur, Baripada, Chittoor Kottaram, Kochi, Chittoor, —, Cochin

Since 1900, there have been no earthquakes M6 (magnitude 6) and larger within 500 km of this earthquake, and only 9 M5 (magnitude 5) and larger earthquakes,” USGS said. Most houses in the mountain village of Asni near the epicenter were damaged, Montasir Itri, a local resident, told Reuters. Morrow state-run Al-Aoula television on Saturday showed multiple buildings collapsed near the epicenter of the earthquake. I’m still in the road with my children and we’re scared,” Houda Hafsi, a 43-year-old Marrakech resident, told Reuters. Before the Covid pandemic, the old city drew nearly three million tourists in 2019.

Persons: Montasir, ”, Hamid Afkar, Waaziz Hassan, Brahim Himmi, I’m, Houda, Aoula Organizations: CNN, United States Geological Survey, Reuters, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Twitter, “ Earthquakes, National, of Geophysics, “, UNESCO Locations: Morocco, African, Marrakech, Asni, Taroudant, Morrow, Al, Rabat

☆ Developers threaten Tokyo's historic Jingu ball park, UNESCO panel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows Meiji Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, Japan December 3, 2022. Rallies and petition drives have protested against the plan that will also tear down and replace the Meiji Jingu Stadium, built in 1926, which is now home to the Yakult Swallows team. The council and its national panel for Japan also called on Mitsui Fudosan and other developers to withdraw immediately. In June, the Mitsui Fudosan-led group launched a website for queries from the public, aiming to build "understanding and empathy" for the project. Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruki Murakami, Rocky Swift, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Chichibunomiya Rugby, Kyodo, REUTERS, Rights, UNESCO, International Council, Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui, Thomson Locations: Meiji, Tokyo, Japan, Jingu

☆ Developers threaten Tokyo's historic Jingu baseball park, UNESCO panel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows Meiji Jingu Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, Japan December 3, 2022. The U.N. cultural agency's panel, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), urged the government to review the plan. Rallies and petition drives have also voiced opposition to the plan, which includes the demolition and replacement of the Meiji Jingu Stadium, built in 1926, and now home to the Yakult Swallows team. Ruth, Gehrig and five other baseball Hall of Fame inductees were part of an All American team that played at Meiji Jingu Stadium during their barnstorming Japanese tour. In June, the Mitsui Fudosan-led group of developers launched a website for queries from the public, aiming to build "understanding and empathy" for the project.

Persons: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mitsui Fudosan, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruki Murakami, Yuriko Koike, ICOMOS, Ruth, Gehrig, Rocky Swift, Clarence Fernandez, Robert Birsel Organizations: Chichibunomiya Rugby, Kyodo, REUTERS, Rights, UNESCO, International Council, Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui, Meiji, of Fame, Thomson Locations: Meiji, Tokyo, Japan, Jingu

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.8 with an epicentre some 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech. "When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. [1/14]Residents rest in central Marrakesh following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Marrakech is due to host the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank from Oct. 9.

Persons: Mohamed Azaw, Mohamed Ouhammo, Montasir, Abdellatif Ait, Saida Bodchich, Hannah McKay, Waaziz Hassan, Mohammad Kashani, Zakia Abdennebi, Tarek Amara, Alexander Cornwell, Ahmed Tolba, Jose Joseph, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Adam Makary, Michelle Nichols, Graham Keeley, Josephine Mason, Angus McDowall, Tom Perry, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry, Alexander Smith, Peter Graff, Daniel Wallis Organizations: WHO, Moroccan, Interior Ministry, Geological Survey, Food, High, REUTERS, World Health Organization, UNESCO, . Geological Survey, University of Southampton, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, IMF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Morocco, U.S, Amizmiz, Asni, Tansghart, Abdellatif Ait Bella, Marrakesh, Huelva, Jaen, Spain, Jemaa, Moroccan, Turkey, Algeria, Tunis, Imsouane, Dubai, Bengaluru, Cairo, New York, Madrid, London

☆ This US-based couple bought a cheap apartment in France to give their kids a different upbringing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Splashing out an apartment in the south of France and renovating it yourself may sound like a difficult – and hugely expensive – task. The couple spent a year or so completing the renovations themselves, which involved putting in new flooring and repainting the walls, as well as transforming the annex area into a bedroom for their children. Meanwhile, Rixa spent most of any free time she had looking for pre-used items, including dishes, for their new place. Frugal livingEric and Rixa purchased this former Communist office in Old Nice in 2020, six years after buying the apartment over it. Courtesy Margarite FisherHe also points out that Old Nice is a place that “preceded cars” so it has much more of a neighborhood feel and lots of shared outdoor space.

Persons: Eric Freeze, Rixa, Dio, Inga, ”, Eric, “ It’s, they’d, Jeunes Communistes, “, they’ve, Eric ., Rixa’s, ’, Chateau, Margarite Fisher, It’s, they’re, They’re, they've, it’s, ” Eric, Zari, Ivy, Armando Nevarez “, that’s Organizations: CNN, Communist, “ Young Communists, French Communist Party, “, UNESCO Locations: France, Canada, Old Nice, Nice, Indianapolis, Indiana, French

[1/2] AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken June 23, 2023. Some have expressed concern that students might similarly rely on AI to produce work and effectively cheat - especially as AI content gets better with time. Passing off GenAI as original work could also raise copyright issues, prompting questions over whether AI should be banned in academia. It has provided that tool free to more than 10,000 education institutions globally, although it plans to charge a fee from January. So far, the AI detection tool has found that only 3% of students used AI for more than 80% of their submissions and that 78% did not use AI at all, Turnitin data shows.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Bard, Leif Kari, Rachel Forsyth, Sophie Constant, Stefania Giannini, Kirsten Rulf, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Lund, University of Western, University of Hong, Microsoft, Royal Institute of Technology, United Nations Educational, Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Strategic, Lund University, England's University of Oxford, Reuters, European Union, EU, Boston Consulting Group, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, University of Western Australia, Perth, University of Hong Kong, Stockholm, Sweden, Britain, Singapore

☆ Belgium toasts its beer riches with new visitor centre
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] An inside view of the Belgian Beer World, the world's largest interactive experience center about beer, that opened in the renovated stock exchange building "La Bourse/De Beurs", in Brussels, Belgium September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Belgium is promoting its centuries of beer-making and 430 breweries with a new visitor centre in Brussels that recounts the history of Belgian production and aims to show what is unique about the country's beer and beer culture. Belgian Beer World will open on Saturday in the neoclassical former Brussels Stock Exchange, renovated at a cost of 90 million euros ($96.25 million). Visitors will learn about "Belgitude" - Belgian identity - and what distinguishes Belgian beer from others - such as the four different fermentation methods and the culture of each beer having its own branded glass. Belgium produces some 1,600 beers and its beer culture secured a place on the UNESCO global list of traditions worthy of preservation in 2016.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Krishan Maudgal, Mayor Philippe Close, Philip Blenkinsop, Frances Kerry Organizations: Belgian Beer, REUTERS, Rights, Brussels Stock Exchange, Belgian Brewers, UNESCO, Mayor, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgian, Dublin, Amsterdam

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Sept 7 (Reuters) - UNESCO on Thursday published its first guidance on use of Generative AI (GenAI) for education, urging governmental agencies to regulate the use of the technology, including protection of data privacy and putting an age limit for users. Students have also taken a liking for GenAI, which can generate anything from essays to mathematical calculations with just a few line of prompts. Among a series of guidelines in a 64-page report, UNESCO stressed on the need for government-sanctioned AI curricula for school education, in technical and vocational education and training. While China has formulated rules on GenAI, the European Union's AI Act is likely to be approved later this year. The Paris-based agency also sought to protect the rights of teachers and researchers and the value of their practices when using GenAI.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, OpenAI, GenAI, ChatGPT, Bard, Stefania Giannini, Supantha Mukherjee, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, UNESCO, Microsoft, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights STOCKHOLM, China, Paris, Stockholm

☆ Venice entry fee will start next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Venice has finally revealed the details for its entrance fee, making it the first city in the world to charge daytripper visitors. But this isn’t a permanent move yet – the Venice authorities have committed to a 30-day “experiment,” according to mayor Luigi Brugnaro, who shared the news on Twitter/X. Daytrippers over the age of 14 entering the “old city” of Venice – the entirety of the lagoon city – will have to pay. Andrea Merola/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesPreviously, Venturini had announced that the entrance fee – which has been discussed since 2019 – would start in January 2023. Venice may be the first city to introduce a fee, but already one village in Italy has introduced a charge for daytrippers.

Persons: we’ll, Stanley Tucci, CNN —, they’re, Luigi Brugnaro, accesso, –, Simone Venturini, ”, Stefano Mazzola, Michele Zuin, Andrea Merola, Venturini, “ Covid, ” Venturini, it’s Ferragosto, Civita, Bagnoregio, Francesco Bigiotti, Venice’s Organizations: CNN, intel, “, Bloomberg, Getty, RAI, UNESCO Locations: CNN — Venice, Venice, Murano, Veneto, Tourism, Italy, ”

☆ Dependence on Tech Caused ‘Staggering’ Education Inequality, U.N. Agency Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Natasha Singer | More About Natasha Singer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In early 2020, as the coronavirus spread, schools around the world abruptly halted in-person education. To many governments and parents, moving classes online seemed the obvious stopgap solution. In the United States, school districts scrambled to secure digital devices for students. Almost overnight, videoconferencing software like Zoom became the main platform teachers used to deliver real-time instruction to students at home. Now a report from UNESCO, the United Nations’ educational and cultural organization, says that overreliance on remote learning technology during the pandemic led to “staggering” education inequality around the world.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: UNESCO, United Nations, Education Locations: United States

China's Great Wall has been pierced by Genghis Khan, the Manchus, and now, allegedly, a couple of construction workers named Zheng and Wang who wanted a shortcut. Authorities in China arrested two people for smashing a path through a section of the ancient wall, a cultural icon and United Nations protected heritage site. The area of the breach was a broken-down section far from the restored segments most Chinese and foreign tourists are familiar with. The pair wanted a shorter route for some construction work they were doing in nearby towns, the reports said. The Youyu County government said the arrests were made after a report of the breach was received on August 24.

Persons: Genghis Khan, Zheng, Wang, ” Organizations: Communist, UNESCO Locations: China, Nations, Youyu County, Beijing, Youyu

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