Harold Manning

"Infuriatingly humble social media ninja. Devoted travel junkie. Student. Avid internet lover."

Endless lockdown: Shanghai is still locked down

Endless lockdown: Shanghai is still locked down

The streets of Shanghai are still largely empty. The only people who can move around the city normally are the police, healthcare workers and couriers who deliver groceries. But for the past week, there have also been some slight relaxations for part of the population: in certain districts, for example, one person per household is authorized to leave the residential …

Read More »

Why Waldorff, Germany’s Cats Should Stay Indoors This Summer | Home & Garden

Why Waldorff, Germany's Cats Should Stay Indoors This Summer |  Home & Garden

Cats should stay indoors because the crested lark is not doing well in Waldorff, a small town in Baden-Württemberg. Crested larks build their nests on the ground, so they hatch their eggs in an area easily accessible to predators such as house cats. To prevent cats from stealing the bird’s eggs, cat owners are urged to keep their furry friends …

Read More »

Australia concerned about Chinese charm offensive in the Pacific | Abroad

Australia concerned about Chinese charm offensive in the Pacific |  Abroad

Wong is on a multi-day visit to Pacific countries, following in the footsteps of his Chinese colleague Wang Yi, who is also on tour. Beijing is trying to expand its influence in the region and last month signed a security treaty with the Solomon Islands, much to the dismay of Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Australia has said …

Read More »

The ex-director of the Louvre suspected of having bought looted works of art

The ex-director of the Louvre suspected of having bought looted works of art

The former director of the Louvre in Paris Jean-Luc Martinez has been officially identified as a corruption suspect. He would be responsible for the illegal purchase of looted works of art in the Middle East. Martinez was placed under surveillance by French justice. The reason for the suspicion is the purchase of Egyptian archaeological finds in 2016 by the Louvre …

Read More »

Blinken: China must not alter the international order | Abroad

Blinken: China must not alter the international order |  Abroad

China not only intends to bend the international order to its will, but also increasingly has economic, military, technological and diplomatic might, according to Blinken. The United States, he said, will in every way oppose Beijing’s unfair trade practices and economic coercion. Under President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party “has become more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad,” Blinken …

Read More »

Eleven babies killed in Senegal hospital fire, third tragedy this year | NOW

Eleven babies killed in Senegal hospital fire, third tragedy this year |  NOW

Eleven babies were killed in a fire at a hospital in the Senegalese town of Tivaouane. This year, the West African country has already experienced several tragedies in hospitals. News of the newborn babies’ deaths was announced “with great sadness and desolation” by President Macky Sall shortly before midnight Wednesday. He offered his condolences to the affected mothers and other …

Read More »

Can you take money from rich Russians? The European Commission wants to try

Can you take money from rich Russians?  The European Commission wants to try

Russian oligarchs on the European blacklist could potentially lose all their assets in the future. The European Commission does not only want to freeze their assets, but also really want to confiscate them and sell their assets. The Commission presented legislation this afternoon which should make this possible. Last week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted to …

Read More »

Can you take money from rich Russians? The European Commission wants to try

Can you take money from rich Russians?  The European Commission wants to try

Russian oligarchs on the European blacklist could potentially lose all their assets in the future. The European Commission does not only want to freeze their assets, but also really want to confiscate them and sell their assets. The Commission presented legislation this afternoon which should make this possible. Last week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted to …

Read More »

Renate Rubinstein was a columnist the likes of which I have never met again

The local 'sjampanskoye' is seen by the Russians as an undrinkable turn

Max PamoMay 24, 202215:07 The TV movie in two parts Tamar You absolutely have to go see Renate Rubinstein, which will be broadcast on NPO 2 on Wednesday evening and Thursday evening. Director David de Jongh worked hard on it and turned it into a beautiful film. Renate Rubinstein (1929-1990) was a columnist the likes of which I have never …

Read More »