Latest news with #BerlinWall
L'Orient-Le Jour
4 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
11 requests, a burst of anger from Beirut and a legal loophole: How George Abdallah was finally released
After his 2015 parole request was rejected, George Ibrahim Abdallah vowed that only a presidential pardon — not another legal attempt — would ever free him. Yet, on July 17, 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered his release, ending more than four decades of imprisonment. Abdallah, convicted of complicity in the 1982 killings of an American and an Israeli diplomat in Paris, had become a central figure in a case long entangled with Israeli-Palestinian tensions and international political pressure.A final walk out of cell 221On Friday morning, Abdallah left cell 221 in Lannemezan Prison in southern France, where he'd witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, Mandela's election and the end of apartheid. As required by French law, he was expelled from France immediately, never to return, and flown to Lebanon. In the news 'The resistance is...
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Romanians are nostalgic for communist dictator Ceaușescu: who was he?
According to respondents to an INSCOP research survey, most Romanians believe Ceausescu's so-called "Golden Age" saw the country take better care of its citizens, and more cooperation between Romanians. Of those polled, 66.2% believed that Ceaușescu was a good leader, with only 24.1% voicing a negative view. Even the communist regime seems to fare well in the opinion poll: for 55.8% of the respondents it was rather a good thing for Romania, whereas only 34.5% disagreed. An overwhelming majority of respondents were fully aware of the lack of freedom under the communist era: 80% stated that there was none, while 9% believed that there was more back then. Data was collected using telephone interviews method on a sample of 1,505 people aged 18 years and over. Ceaușescu's repressive and iron fist communism was the only regime in Central Europe that ended in bloodshed in the late 1980s. The result looks shocking for a country that is a member of both the EU and NATO. Many in Romania believe that selective memory and nostalgia for simpler times, revived recently by Russian propaganda, are to blame Decline and fall Nicolae Ceaușescu was at the head of communist Romania from 1965 until December 1989 when his regime was overthrown by a ten-day revolution, only a month after the fall of the Berlin Wall. They were the last months of the Cold War. The communist regimes of Central and Eastern Europe were drastically changing or falling peacefully one after the other, marking the end of the Yalta Order: Hungary, Poland, East Germany. On December 21st, following days of deadly repression in the western city of Timisoara, the dictator was supposed to address 100 thousand supporters that marched into central Bucharest; yet unexpectedly in a few minutes the cheering turned into booing as Romanians were fed up after years of misery and repression by the communist regime. The repression forces fired into the demonstrators and 24 hours later, Ceaușescu and his wife Elena had to flee Bucharest hastily. On the run from Bucharest, Ceaușescu and his wife Elena were captured and then executed by the army and the new revolutionary political leadership, in Târgoviște,** some 70 kilometers from the capital on 25 December 1989. Official reports say that a military court pronounced the death sentence after a one-hour summary judgement, while the orders were given by the National Salvation Front Council. This was an emergency executive body, whose creation was announced the 22 December, the day after beginning of the unrest in Bucharest and Ceasescu's escape from Palace Square, nowadays Revolution Square. Timișoara's mutiny, the spark that lit the flame On 16 December 1989 the Hungarian minority in the western city of Timisoara staged a small protest against the Ceaușescu's regime for the repressive measures adopted against the ethnic Hungarian protestant pastor László Tőkés for the criticisms he expressed on the Hungarian TV against the Communist political system. This was the seed of an uprising. The city's population joined the small protest galvanising it into a full blown anti-communist revolution. The demonstrators stormed the local headquarters of the Communist party and destroyed Ceaușescu's personality cult symbols. The army and the feared political police Securitate fired into the demonstrators on December 17 causing dozens of fatalities, while the whole city rose up against the communist regime. On December 20th, after 3 days of violent repression, the army withdrew and the city became free of communism. The echoes of Timișoara's uprising spread to the entire country and to Bucharest paving the way to the epilogue of the regime. The root causes of economic turmoil The causes that led to the fall of Ceasescu's regime were determined by both external and internal factors, such as the sunset of the Cold War and the unbearable weight of the communist autocracy imposed by the Ceaușescu family and its power circle. By the end of the 1980s, the Romanian people were exhausted by a decade of economic restrictions and increasing repression of fundamental freedoms by a regime based on the cult of personality. The propaganda called Ceaușescu the 'Genius of the Carpathians' or simply the 'Conducator', the leader the same title used by Ion Antonescu the head of the Romanian fascist regime during WW2 Nicolae Ceasescu took advantage of the 1977 destructive earthquake to start building a new Romania inspired by the principles of two communist leaders such as China's Mao Zedong and North Korea's Kim Il Sung, grandfather of Kim Jong Un. It was the so-called Systematisation. This was a rather dystopic infrastructural urban and farm planning that was meant to pave the way to the full collectivisation of the Romanian society. Old towns and villages were demolished (Bucharest, the Banat and the and Transylvania regions' urbanism were put upside down) entire populations were forcibly displaced to create new rural and industrial centres based on production models inspired by Mao's China. Ceaușescu's grand design was economically unsustainable for an impoverished population (with Central European traditions) and a country burdened by a heavy foreign debt. Consequence: popular dissatisfaction grew, and the regime thought to solve the problem by increasing repression against any form of dissent or simple criticism. The underground opposition called him 'the Danube of the Thought' to mock his irrational political, social and economic policies. Harsh repression and dystopia The regime established a strict control of the society through the Department of the State Security (the Securitate, a Stalinist political police structure) that had a vast and extensive network of informants. Any communication was intercepted and controlled, while all the typewriter machines of the country were registered by the security services. The Securitate had complete freedom to torture and eliminate opponents, even abroad. Artists and intellectuals were systematically persecuted as well as the ethnic minorities. The regime banned contraception (even condoms) and abortion, not with religious or moral motivations, just to increase demography and the future workforce. Pregnant women were strictly controlled by the authorities. Multifaced dictator Nevertheless, Nicolae Ceaușescu enjoyed political respect on the international scene until the start of the 1980s. The West saw him as an autonomous voice (vis-à-vis Moscow) within the Warsaw Pact. Ceasescu's Romania was the only country in the socialist military alliance that did not send troops to Czechoslovakia to suppress the Prague Spring. From the late 1960s onwards, Romania developed a foreign policy that was often detached from the broad lines dictated by the Soviet Union to the socialist countries. This allowed Nicolae Ceaușescu to establish political relations both with the West and with Mao's China, a communist country but opposed to Moscow. It was precisely the Romanian dictator who contributed to the preliminary steps that led to the great rapprochement between the China of Mao and Zou En Lai and the USA of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. This world policy enabled Romania to obtain foreign credits from western banks, to the point of being one of the few socialist countries to become a member of the IMF in early 1970s. Romania in 1974 was the only socialist country to sign a preferential tariff treaty with the European Community, what later became the EU. The 1972 oil shock gave Romania relative power on international markets. The country was in fact a small producer of crude and had preferential agreements with Iran and Iraq. The price of oil brought great benefits to Ceaușescu's policies. Because in the 1970s it allowed the regime to conduct expansive policies with relative benefits for the population that had access for the first time in its history to mass consumption and a fairly generous welfare state. From the early 1980s, falling oil prices and misguided economic measures forced the country into severe austerity measures with the ambition of wiping out its foreign debt. The result was a drop in productivity and mass impoverishment, not a context of harsh political repression, an explosive mixture that led to the violent end of the regime in 1989.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
UK's huge plan to launch direct trains from Britain to EU hotspot 681 miles away
A 'landmark' partnership between the UK and Germany will 'explore a direct rail link' between London and a stunning EU city dripping in history and culture - but it won't happen any time soon Millions of passengers could benefit from new trains connecting Brits to yet another European hotspot - but there's a catch. In what has been described as a 'landmark' partnership, the UK and Germany have unveiled a joint taskforce to 'explore a direct rail link' between the two countries. The move, announced as part of the bilateral treaty to be signed by Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, will see the nations break down logistical barriers stagnating European connectivity and establish the necessary border and security controls for direct long-distance rail passenger services. READ MORE: Beautiful 31-mile train journey past both mountains and beaches named UK's best It aims to provide an effective route linking London to Berlin, the capital and largest city of Germany renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife. Here, you'll find the Holocaust memorial, the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains, and the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate. However, it appears the new route won't be launching any time soon, and could take as long as 10 years to get up and running. While the exact demand for a direct train from London to Berlin isn't clear, the route will provide a greener way of travelling than flying. Currently, travelling from London to Berlin via train takes around 10-11 hours, and includes stopovers in both Brussels and Cologne. "We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent," said Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander. "This landmark agreement – part of a new treaty the Prime Minister signed with Chancellor Merz - has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying." The politician went on to explain how a new taskforce will help bring the two nations 'closer together' as well as create new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange. She described the economic potential as 'enormous', adding: "A direct rail link would support the creation of jobs and strengthen the vital trade links that underpin our economic relationship with Germany. "British businesses will have better access to European markets, whilst German companies will find it easier to invest and operate in the UK. This is central to our Plan for Change – breaking down barriers, thinking boldly about the future, and making long-term decisions that better connect Britain to the world. Working with Germany, we're building bridges between our people and paving the way for a more sustainable, connected future." The news comes hot off the heels of Eurostar's announcement that it will soon whizz Brits over from London to Frankfurt, home to one of the largest financial hubs in Europe, as well as launching direct routes from London to Geneva in Switzerland. As previously reported, the railway firm is ramping up its offerings as part of a major €2 billion (approximately £1.7bn) investment- following its impressive 2024 earnings. "Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future," Eurostar's CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said. "Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality – notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here."
San Francisco Chronicle
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. More Information The Tilting House By Ivonne Lamazares (Counterpoint Press; 304 pages; $27) Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares and due out Tuesday, July 22, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Book Review: 'The Tilting House' is a novel about coming of age in Communist Cuba
Yuri is a 16-year-old orphan who lives simply with her religious aunt in a big, old house in Communist Cuba in the years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yuri's parents had named her after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin, hoping that one day she would grow up to be a famous female astronaut. Yuri now has vague hopes of being accepted into the Lenin school, Cuba's prestigious preparatory. Yuri and her Aunt Ruth's quiet lives are suddenly turned upside down when an unexpected visitor from 'la Yuma' — slang for the United States — shows up at their Havana home with a camera swinging from her neck and announcing she is family. Ruth later tells Yuri that 34-year-old Mariela is her daughter, and that when Mariela was an infant she sent her to live with a family in the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a U.S. government program in which thousands of unaccompanied children were sent from Cuba to Miami in the early 1960s. 'The Tilting House,' by Miami-based writer Ivonne Lamazares, is an affecting and sometimes amusing coming-of-age novel set in a country that few have had the opportunity to visit, despite its proximity to the U.S. It's a study of hidden family secrets, the unhealed wound of losing a mother and the quest for home. Lamazares, who was born in Havana, knows her homeland well, and her book is rife with description and historic detail that only someone with first-hand knowledge could provide. Lamazares left Cuba for the United States in 1989 during a period of shortages and deprivation known as 'The Special Period in Time of Peace.' Her first novel, 'The Sugar Island,' also set in Cuba, was translated into seven languages. In 'The Tilting House,' Yuri is quickly pulled into Mariela's chaotic world and her absurd art projects, which include a tragicomic funeral for Ruth's dead dog, Lucho, in a public park using highly illegal homemade fireworks. Ruth, already viewed as suspect by the government as a member of the small Jehovah's Witnesses group, is arrested and sent to jail on unexplained charges. Mariela later tells Yuri that they aren't cousins, but sisters, and that their now-dead mother gave birth to her as a teenager. Mariela insists that their Aunt Ruth 'kidnapped' her and sent her to live in the U.S., where she was raised on a farm in Nebraska. More harebrained projects follow, and the family's tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure's materials. Yuri later emigrates to the U.S., where she studies and starts a career that allows her to make a return visit to the island. On that trip her past becomes clearer, and she reaches something approaching closure and forgiveness. ___
