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Wednesday, February 11, 2026  

On February 6, 2026, the "Gebaute Gemeinschaft - Göbeklitepe, Taş Tepeler and Life 12,000 Years Ago" exhibition opened at Berlin's James-Simon-Galerie. Scheduled to be running until July 19, 2026, the show featured 93 archaeological artifacts brought from Turkey from Göbeklitepe and the Taş Tepeler region.

Stone sculptures from the UNESCO World Heritage site Göbeklitepe were exhibited alongside finds from Karahantepe, Sayburç, and Çakmaktepe. Everyday objects and jewelry were on display. Spanish photographer Isabel Muñoz's contemporary interpretations framing the hunter-gatherers' transition to settled life across eight thematic sections, which were exhibited in Spain earlier in 2024, were also included in the exhibition.

The exhibition was curated by Barbara Helwing (Vorderasiatisches Museum) and Necmi Karul (Istanbul University) in collaboration with Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum and the Taş Tepeler research project.

It was the first time some exhibits were brought abroad, after having been exhibited in several locations in Turkey.

Thursday, January 15, 2026  

In early January, international media reported that Quinten Delaere, an 18-year-old, had been officially recognized by Guinness World Records after exposing cheating on the Roblox platform. Delaere, known online as 'kannotlogin', used data analysis to demonstrate that the top times on the global leaderboard were achieved using illegal scripts.

Delaere was competing in a speed-running event for the game Ultimate Easy Obby. The event was an official collaboration between Roblox and Guinness World Records. Players had to complete a digital obstacle course as fast as possible. According to JV, after weeks of practice, Delaere posted a time of 5 minutes and 48.96 seconds. Before the competition closed, three unknown accounts posted times around 5 minutes and 42 seconds. JV reported that Delaere, posting on Reddit, believed the times were humanly impossible.

Monday, January 5, 2026  

A street in Kyiv will be named after the former Speaker of the Parliament Andriy Parubiy, killed in Lviv. The initiative to commemorate the prominent Ukrainian politician was supported by 57% of participants in a public poll on "Kyiv Digital" application. On January 1, Maryna Poroshenko, the leader of “European Solidarity”, announced the street name in the Kyiv City Council and on Facebook. As the result, a section along Mariinsky Park – from Hrushevskoho Street to Parkova Road – will bear the politician's name, named "Andrei Parubia Street".

In December, former President of Ukraine and head of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko asked the residents of Kyiv to support the vote to name the street after Parubiy. The street had no name at the time of the proposal.

"This place is significant for our team and for Andriy himself — a significant part of his journey is connected with it," Poroshenko said.

On October 1, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding Parubiy the title of Hero of Ukraine. A petition to award the title of Hero of Ukraine to Parubiy was registered on the presidential website on September 2, gaining 25,000 signatures, which was necessary for the proposal to be considered by President. The Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, also supported the request.

Parubiy was among several people who were conferred Heroes of Ukraine. Others were writer Volodymyr Vakulenko and student and footballer Stepan Chubenko. Poroshenko lauded the decision, recalling that "Parubiy dedicated his entire life to serving Ukraine".

Andriy Parubiy, 54, who served as the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada from 14 April 2016 to 29 August 2019, was shot and killed in Lviv on 30 August 2025. He died at the scene from injuries. The killing happened amid the Russian invasion, which started in 2022.

The shooter managed to escape. Later, Ukrainian authorities detained a suspect, and allege there is a Russian link to the killing.

Parubiy was an active participant of Euromaidan. He also served as Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine from February till August 2014.

The suspected killer of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Parubiy admitted on 2 September his role in the killing. He claimed to have comitted the crime in an act of "revenge" against the country’s authorities. He denied having worked with Russian special services.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025  

On Monday, Blaise Metreweli, the new head of the United Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), delivered her first public address in London. She warned that the UK is "operating in a space between peace and war" amid rising tensions with Russia.

Metreweli stated that the "front line is everywhere" regarding threats to the nation. According to Reuters, she characterized the threat from Russia as "aggressive." She accused Moscow of utilizing tactics ranging from "State-sponsored arson and sabotage" to "Drones buzzing airports and bases" in an effort to "bully, fearmonger and manipulate."

The intelligence chief also spoke on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As reported by The Telegraph, Metreweli said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "dragging out negotiations." She added that the Kremlin seeks to "subjugate Ukraine" rather than engage in genuine peace efforts. The BBC noted that the speech highlighted a "multi-faceted threat posed by Russia."

Metreweli said officers must combine traditional tradecraft with growing proficiency in AI-driven and digital technologies, noting that technological mastery will "infuse everything we do."

According to Reuters reporting, Moscow frequently disputes claims it is involved in drone activity or cyberattacks in Western countries and likewise rejects the idea it plans to attack NATO. Reuters also reported that NATO countries have supplied Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance since Russia's 2022 invasion.

Sunday, December 14, 2025  

Nottingham Forest played an away Europa League league-phase match at Stadion Galgenwaard in Utrecht on Thursday. Forest took the lead in the 52nd minute with Arnaud Kalimuendo scoring early in the second half. Utrecht equalized in the 73rd minute when Mike van der Hoorn headed in a delivery at the far post. Igor Jesus came off the bench to score the late winner as Forest defeated FC Utrecht 2–1 in the Netherlands.

Saturday, December 13, 2025  

On Wednesday, Iceland withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia. Each of the five countries backed out of the contest due to European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirming Israel's participation in the 2026 edition.

In the days prior, after four countries withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV deferred its decision on participation until a board meeting on Wednesday. Following the meeting, RÚV announced it would not participate. According to the BBC, the broadcaster’s board had previously approved a recommendation to ask the EBU to ban Israel from the 2026 contest, and Iceland was among seven countries that sought a vote on Israel’s participation at the EBU’s general meeting, a request the union declined.

The broadcaster cited domestic public debate and reactions to the EBU’s recent decision on Israel’s participation, stating: "Given the public debate in this country and the reactions to the decision of the EBU that was taken last week, it is clear that neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding the participation of RÚV in Eurovision." RÚV added that Israel's participation "created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public" and that "the Song Contest and Eurovision have always had the aim of uniting the Icelandic nation, but it is now clear that this aim cannot be achieved, and it is on these program-related grounds that this decision is taken."

According to ABC News Australia and the BBC, EBU members last week approved changes to the contest’s voting rules in response to allegations that Israel manipulated the vote, but took no action to exclude any broadcaster. ABC News Australia also reported that seven countries, including Iceland, requested a vote on Israel’s participation, but the EBU declined to hold one.

The BBC also reported that Golan Yochpaz, chief executive of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, criticized the effort to remove Israel from the contest, describing it as a "cultural boycott" and warning that "a boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm." He questioned whether this was how the contest should be remembered on its 70th anniversary. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar criticized the countries withdrawing from the contest, saying on X that "the disgrace is upon them."

Also on Wednesday, Poland announced it would remain in the contest, stating that "Eurovision still has a chance to once again become a space filled with music — and only music," and adding that "we, like the overwhelming majority of EBU members, offer this opportunity."

ABC News Australia noted that Iceland, which has never won the contest, has the highest per-capita Eurovision viewing audience of any participating country.

Thursday, December 11, 2025  

A 10-man Preston North End club and Coventry City drew 1-1 in a football match on Tuesday, in Deepdale, Lancashire with an attendance of 18,477 people. At halftime the score was 0-0.

Coventry City received one point against Preston North End. In the 70th minute Jack Rudoni took a shot, which went in off of North End player Andrew Hughes that resulted in an own goal. City led 1-0. In the 77th minute a goal by Preston North End tied the game at 1-1. Daniel Jebbison of North End scored and was assisted by Pol Valentín. Liam Lindsay received a red card for a foul on Haji Wright.

According to BBC Sport’s user-submitted player ratings, Preston North End goalkeeper Daniel Iversen was rated the player of the match. Matt Grimes was the top-rated Coventry City player under the same system.

The match was part of the 2025-2026 Sky Bet Championship season. Coventry manager Frank Lampard said they were "obviously frustrated not to win the game."

Wednesday, December 10, 2025  

Last Thursday, the European Broadcasting Union confirmed Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. In response, four countries, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia withdrew from the 2026 contest, citing a "loss" of neutrality and the humanitarian impact due to the war in Gaza.

RTÉ, the broadcaster for Ireland, said that participating in the 2026 edition was "unconscionable" due to the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza as well as the large number of deaths there. Taco Zimmerman, the chief executive of AVROTROS, the broadcaster for the Netherlands, stated that "Culture unites, but not at any price." José Pablo López, president of RTVE, Spain's broadcaster, opined that "what happened at the EBU Assembly confirms that Eurovision is not a song contest but a festival dominated by geopolitical interests." Natalija Gorščak, the president of Radiotelevizija Slovenija, Slovenia's broadcaster, said that Israel and Hamas' ceasefire agreement was "not a real" one due to ongoing casualties. Meanwhile, RÚV, the Icelandic broadcaster, contemplated if Iceland should participate in the 2026 contest.

According to Politico, the four withdrawals generated major turmoil; CNN noted Spain is a part of the "Big Five," comprising the five biggest financial generators of the competition. Newsweek reported that the withdrawals were the largest "upheaval" in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Furthermore, the broadcaster for Radiotelevizija Slovenija reported that they requested a secret vote along with Spain, the Netherlands, Montenegro, Turkey, Algeria, and Iceland, but the vote was not held. Instead, officials in Geneva passed new rules limiting governments from influencing the results of the contest. The officials also implemented a limit of 10 public votes "per payment method", which RTVE called "insufficient".

CNN and Rappler reported that some countries, namely Austria, the host of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, Germany, France, Britain, Portugal, and Sweden, supported the inclusion of Israel in the 2026 edition of the contest.

Golan Yochpaz, the chief executive of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, called it a “cultural boycott.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar articulated his shame for countries boycotting the contest.

Ben Robertson from Eurovision fansite ESC Insight highlighted that "never in the history of the contest have we had such a vote, and such a split, between the member broadcasters of the European Broadcasting Union."

Israel reached second place, securing the largest public vote in Eurovision 2025 when Yuval Raphael performed "New Day Will Rise". Riot police were deployed in Basel due to large protests by Palestinian demonstrators against Israel's participation. Due to Israel's broadcaster being part of the European Broadcasting Union, the country is eligible to compete in the competition.

Sunday, November 9, 2025  

The annual cultural and educational event, "Night of the Arts," was held on the eve of Russia's National Unity Day, continuing a series of cultural festivals such as "Night at the Museum," "Night at the Theatre," "BiblioNight," and "Night of Music." Wikinews interviewed Crimean explorer and photographer, Viktor Pinchuk, who is currently holding photography exhibitions at the event, centered around one of his greatest passions: traveling, documenting and exploring.

Q: Where did you participate in the event this year? How was the scale and audience enthusiasm of the 2025 Night of the Arts?

A: This year, I participated in the 2025 Night of the Arts by holding two photo exhibitions in Simferopol on the same day. The first, a digital exhibition, was at the Central Museum of Taurida and featured 310 photographs titled "Unique Objects of Roman-Phoenician Architecture." The second, a smaller exhibition with 20 printed works titled "Vietnam Through the Lens," was held at the Museum of the History of Simferopol. Since the two museums are less than 300 meters apart, I could manage both events in a single day. The audience was very interested and engaged, asking many questions not only about the exhibitions themselves but also about long intercontinental travels in general.

Q: Compared to last year, were there any special differences in the atmosphere, content, audience, or ways of celebrating in 2025?

A: Yes, there were noticeable differences. Due to the complex, almost militarized situation in the country, cultural institutions were prohibited from widely promoting large-scale events. I have participated in five Art Nights, this is unlike previous years, when events could be openly advertised. Despite these restrictions, the audience was enthusiastic and receptive. The atmosphere was more intimate, as visitors approached the exhibitions voluntarily rather than through mass promotion, giving the events a quieter but very genuine engagement.

Q: How did the organizers coordinate with the artists?

A: In my case, the relationship with the museums was complicated. The museums did not take responsibility for inviting visitors, leaving that to the artists or to chance. I was concerned that attendance might be low, but in the end, people did come. This approach required artists to take a more proactive role in presenting their work and connecting with the audience directly.

Q: How were your photo collections created, and did the audience give any interesting feedback?

A: The first collection, "Unique Objects of Roman-Phoenician Architecture," was photographed in Tunisia in May 2025, during visits to five historical and archaeological parks. The second collection, "Vietnam Through the Lens," was shot in February 2020 during a two-week trip to Vietnam, which was limited to 15 days for Russian citizens at that time. The audience showed genuine curiosity and asked many questions about both the technical aspects of photography and the broader experience of travel.

Q: How did you arrange and design these travel photographs into an exhibition? Was there an overall concept?

A: Careful selection of photographic material is essential. Some images may require lightening or cropping to remove distracting elements. In my first exhibition, this was challenging, but now it is manageable. Attention is also given to the artistic component: even when the exhibition is reportage in style, I strive to ensure that each work has an artistic dimension. The overall concept is to present not just images but an experience—each exhibition tells a story, either of architectural heritage or of the cultural landscape of Vietnam, guiding the viewer through the visual journey I experienced during my travels.

Q:What impact has the nearby war had on this event, the artists, and the audience? Could you elaborate? Are you familiar with the situation in eastern Ukraine and near the front lines?

A:What I wrote earlier (the lack of widespread announcement of events involving large gatherings) is simply a precautionary measure, regulated at the state level. No problems have arisen so far. I speak in various cities throughout Crimea and have not seen anything "like this." My knowledge of the political situation (including the military conflict) is limited to the news, meaning accessible sources online.

Based on my personal observation, the majority of people living in Crimea (myself included) are Russian. Consequently, attitudes toward any "Ukrainianism" are universally negative. I am not aware of the situation regarding arts activities in the four eastern provinces and near the front lines. However, we are not experiencing military action; everything is calm. Enemy drones are being shot down by specially trained personnel right now. We will win. No pasaran! (Spanish)

Q: Now, let's talk about one of the things you love most: traveling and exploring. The vast majority of people spend their lives in only one or two countries. What made you set out on your first journey and decide to be an explorer for life? Did you ever imagine you would become a traveller?

A: I was born in the Soviet Union and back then I never imagined I would become a genuine traveller, because the country's borders were closed. It was not until 2006 that I truly set out as a "traveller" for Ethiopia. That trip had a clear purpose: I was commissioned by an arts association and planned to hold a photography exhibition upon my return. I never travel without a purpose; each trip is accompanied by a creative project. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1992 I travelled to many countries as a tourist or with tour groups. But "traveller" and "tourist" are entirely different concepts.

Q: Besides "traveller", the word "explorer" is familiar yet strange — would you call yourself an "explorer"? What, to you, is an explorer?

A: I certainly am an explorer; I try to go to places almost no foreigners set foot in. That said, if I have the opportunity I'll visit some tourist countries on the way.

Q: With rising living standards and technology, travel has become a more mass activity. How do you think travellers can use such activity to broaden their understanding?

A: True travellers never go afar merely for leisure. Those people are called "tourists" or "holidaymakers". This year I gave a talk on this subject at a meeting of Russian travellers in Moscow.

Q: You once said, "Travel is not the same as having a holiday." Could you talk about what you consider "real travel" and "pure exploration"?

A: A holiday is time people spend to rest, relax and be entertained so they can return to work refreshed. Travellers do not relax on the road — it is not easy, and sometimes the psychological strain is heavier than the physical burden. At a seminar in Crimea someone once asked if I would take a companion; when I pressed for details I found he simply planned to use his holiday (at most a month) for the trip, whereas a real journey often lasts half a year — and the matter resolved itself.

Q: Have you ever had an experience of purely relaxing holiday?

A: In childhood I enjoyed leisure and entertainment. I lived on the Black Sea coast of Crimea, not far from Simferopol. As an adult — never; such holidays are too boring.

Q: On the road, have there been times when you felt truly afraid or wanted to give up? How did you get through them?

A: Yes. In the second month of a trip I sometimes experience exhaustion and feel it is difficult to continue; I feel very tired. Then a "second wind" comes and I'm on the road again. There are also moments of not knowing what will happen next — that uncertainty… Once in Bolivia I got lost on a mountain path, had to descend another way, fell and came away bruised. The next day I washed my clothes and continued. That was in Tupiza, a place with many canyons. I've gone through many extreme situations, including infectious disease and being washed into a neighbouring country; experiences and notes on them can be found on the Russian Wikibooks.

Q: You have been to many culturally different regions, including areas that retain much more of a natural way of life — these can surprise visitors accustomed to their own culture. What attitude should a traveller adopt when visiting and observing?

A: I even wrote a little primer specifically on that question; I call it "cultural immersion", which is entirely different from what is commonly meant by cultural travel. I consider myself an expert in this field.

Q: Suppose someone decides to take time off and go on a purely cultural or natural exploration — what practical advice would you give based on your experience?

A: I've been to countries where almost no one speaks English (let alone Russian), such as China and Mongolia, but I still managed to communicate with "body language". I advise people not to be afraid of not knowing the local language and not to fear anything. "Those who want to do something will find a way; those who don't will find an excuse." — Socrates (or some other figure).

Q: How do you keep yourself safe abroad, especially when you need to record and photograph?

A: If someone chooses Ethiopia as the starting point of their travel career, they won't get lost in other countries. Ethiopia is a great "school": locals might throw stones at you for photographing them. I remain tolerant. If I personally dislike certain religions or traditions, I don't tell others, because I am a guest on their land, not the other way around.

Q: You've carried out several projects in Crimea and even received government support. Are there many people engaged in exploration like you? Do you have organisations for communication or cooperation?

A: The government has indeed offered support, but not financial: all projects were completed at my own expense. There are very few people willing to pay all the costs themselves and work without pay. I think these people are mostly concentrated in various Wikimedia projects — for example, writing free articles for Wikinews — which most journalists would not do. Most journalists won't write for free.

Q: You have been to China. What kind of exploration did you do there, and how did you find it?

A: I prefer countries that still retain ancient traditions, even vestiges of medieval life. China is very modernised and prices are not low, especially accommodation (unlike Vietnam or Laos, which are cheaper). As a record-collector I have to say China, Korea and Japan have largely lost ethnic distinctiveness in music. But China has many ancient relics, which is very attractive. I visited an "ethnic village" in China, but it was only a tourist attraction, not authentic. I also visited Hong Kong and Taiwan; their atmospheres differ from that of the Chinese mainland.

Q: How do you document each trip? Do you value preserving images, text, or memory itself? How do you turn travels into art or academic works?

A: On the last day of a six-month trip I was robbed in broad daylight in the city centre and all my recorded material was gone. I always only start organising my writing after returning home, and experience cannot be stolen. So I eventually published a book without illustrations. Photographs are mainly used to accompany books and news articles, or to stage a photography exhibition.

Q: You are over fifty. Do you plan to undertake more of these crazy intercontinental trips? Have you felt any ageing-related hindrances, and how do you maintain your mental and physical condition?

A: I live in Europe and the destinations I choose are usually in Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America, so every journey is intercontinental. I walk 8.5 kilometres every Monday. On the road I can walk up to 20 kilometres a day. If I walk 30 kilometres I feel very tired; I simply can't go on beyond 30 kilometres in a day.

Q: Some say growing up is a form of cultural travel. You were born in Soviet Ukraine and lived through changing times — how did your childhood and youth in the Soviet Union influence you?

A: I'm glad the borders opened and we gained freedom of movement. Some people don't realise that freedom, or they simply don't need it. I wrote a short essay on this called "Learned helplessness of long-distance travel". As for me personally, I was born in Crimea. That region was at the time transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic without the consent of the population.

Q: Looking back at your youthful experiences abroad, how have time and developments such as technology changed the travel experience itself?

A: I didn't travel in my youth because the borders were closed. Of course I did visit places such as Moscow, Leningrad and Tallinn, but Soviet cities resembled one another. In my childhood the word "tourist" was often illustrated by a person in trainers with a rucksack climbing a mountain. Today the same word more often conjures another picture: someone on a beach wearing sunglasses, lying on a deck chair under a palm tree, with turquoise sea nearby. Everything flows, everything changes. (Victor's quotes.)

Q: Many people are stuck in jobs and need a thorough rest during their holidays. For those who can't travel far but need relaxation and a sense of meaning, what would you suggest?

A: Those people are not free; I don't really want to talk about them. They say they "can't" go abroad, but in fact they simply don't want to.

Q: World Tourism Day this year hasn't been over for very long. How do you think commercial tourism can be connected with exploratory travel?

A: They have nothing to do with each other, nor is there any need to link them. There's a Russian proverb: don't compare God's gift to a fried egg.

Q: Have you encountered legal or judicial problems while traveling? How did you handle them?

A: I was expelled from Fiji. To get to Vanuatu, Tonga or Samoa one must often transit through Fiji. The fourth time I returned to Fiji I had no onward ticket. I had intended to try to apply for an Australian visa in Suva, but I was detained at the airport. After being "detained" (in practice kept in a hotel) for two weeks I was deported back to Moscow via Singapore, even though there were four three-month Fiji visas in my passport. I also wrote a book about that trip, Two Months of Wandering and Fourteen Days Behind Bars.

Q: Are the scarcely visited and described-as-"primitive" regions always dangerous in your view?

A: No — on the contrary, those places are not dangerous. I was robbed in a big city centre (an African-style robbery), in full view of dozens of passers-by who were not surprised; they were used to it. That happened in Johannesburg, a city with a high Human Development Index. Someone had warned me I would be robbed there in public and I thought it was an exaggeration. A Chinese translation of a newspaper article about that incident can be found on Wikisource.

Another dangerous place is the big cities of Papua New Guinea. The reason is that local people are very poor while prices are extremely high. They may take knives to the street to get food in order to survive. Small villages are safer.

Q: When you encounter sharp cultural clashes or misunderstandings, how do you usually handle them? Any memorable experiences?

A: I always adapt to local realities, and for that reason I have rarely had conflicts. I wrote an online textbook on cultural travel.

Q: Long journeys with creative purpose are full of uncertainty — how do you adjust your mindset, especially when coping with setbacks?

A: Indeed, travel often brings unplanned situations. For example, on my most recent African trip I planned to go to Niger, Nigeria and Algeria but did not succeed. There is an old saying: "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." I even obtained a visa and paid for Gambia, but in the end I did not go because of lack of time. Online you can find project files for my international "Maghreb+" project (files 4, 5 and 6 concern Gambia, Senegal and Niger respectively).

Q: Taking a few photos and jotting down notes is not hard, but how do you produce long travelogues or systematic works?

A: I never write anything while travelling. In the early 2000s I used to travel with film cameras (Zenit, FED, etc.) and trips were short enough that I could barely organise the material. But if a trip lasts half a year and involves ten or more countries you cannot do without digital cameras. I always mark the location, time and content of photos in a notebook. Back home I then reorder events chronologically. That is the only method; there is no alternative.

Q: Are there tools, simple tricks or methods you use on the road that you find particularly useful for travel and creation?

A: I use techniques from my own manual "Hobo Tourism" (that's a literal Russian title and is difficult to translate). The most interesting part describes seemingly extreme lodging methods: graveyards, public toilets, police stations, etc. This manual is important to me; much of my exploratory activity is founded on it. There is also an English translation.

Q: Do you encourage more people to go and research scarcely visited regions?

A: No — everyone should do what they are good at and interested in. Dropping everything to copy me is wrong. I wrote a psychological essay, "Learned helplessness of long-distance travel", about the mindset of people born in the Soviet Union; this may be hard for foreigners to understand.

I've also written a new article about my ideas for the "photography exhibition of the future". By the way, I am the author of a textbook that lists almost every school, style and direction of photographic art. Nowadays most readers dislike long texts, so it is full of illustrations — all of them my own works for interested readers to explore further.

Q: Anything else you'd like to say?

A: I'm not prepared at the moment. Improvisation is impossible; it requires careful thought.

• 
  In Soddo, Ethiopia, 2006
• 
  In Khartoum, Sudan, 2011
• 
  On Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, 2013
• 
  Overnight stay in Kamakura, Japan
• 
  One of the recognitions and honours received for cultural activities
• 
  Teaching session held in hometown: "Low-Cost Global Travel" masterclass
• 
  Visitors view the Vietnam-themed exhibition at Art Night
• 
  Poster for an art night exhibition
• 
  A floating restaurant in Hue
  Note: All images in this gallery were contributed by Виктор Пинчук

Tuesday, November 4, 2025  

On Saturday, Italy's Dolomites experienced an avalanche. Total dead included five German climbers. The avalanche happened around 4:00 p.m. CET (1500 UTC) on Saturday afternoon. The avalanche happened on Cima Vertana or (Vertainspitze) in the Ortler Alps. Cima Vertana has a 3,545-meter peak, in South Tyrol near the Swiss border. A father and daughter from a second group of climbers were taken down into a gully and died.

Rescuers said the hikers were climbing very late in the day. Two survivors were air lifted to a hospital in Bolzano. Reports say recent snow drifts did not bond with the under ice, creating the sliding. Another group of three people were buried in the snow and recovered deceased on Saturday evening.

Part of the search was made by Avalanche dog.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024  

On Tuesday, a series of coordinated pager explosions occurred in southern Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, in Lebanon, resulting in twelve deaths and 2,800 injuries. According to CNN, the blasts targeted Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group. The cause of the explosions was still under investigation. Early evidence suggested the pager explosions were triggered by explosives planted in the pagers, or faulty batteries, Reuters reported. The following day, walkie-talkies, laptops, and radios also exploded, killing 20 people and injuring 450.

Representatives from consulting firms Predicta Lab and Le Beck told CNN that hardware tampering was likely involved in the pager explosions. They ruled out cyber attack as a possible cause. The latter firm suggested the malicious modifications could have been made before shipping the bulk order to the country.

Aljazeera reported that a shipment of pagers was in a port for three months awaiting import paperwork. They also reported that early investigations suggested the pagers included one to three grams of pentaerythritol tetranitrate along with metal balls, presumably added to increase the impact of an explosion.

The attack was allegedly timed to occur before Hezbollah started an investigation into inconsistent battery life of several pagers from the batch, The National (Abu Dhabi) reported.

The pagers were a brand owned by a Taiwanese company called Gold Apollo. On Wednesday, Gold Apollo released a statement saying the AR-924 pagers were manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, a company based in the capital of Hungary. Hungarian authorities denied that the pagers were manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, CNN reported. The CEO of BAC Consulting KFT told NBC News that the company did not manufacture the pagers, citing its role as "just the intermediate". According to the BBC, records indicated BAC was registered to a building with several organisations registered at the same address—which was not a manufacturing facility for BAC.

Mary Ellen O'Connell, a Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States condemned the attacks saying "[w]eaponising an object used by civilians is strictly prohibited", while the UN called for an investigation.

Lebanon's foreign ministry called the incident an "Israeli cyberattack", according to Reuters. Israel did not take responsibility.

The incidents came amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following the Israel-Hamas War which had began in 2023.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025  

Preliminary data released on Friday by Germany's labour market agency, Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA), showed that the national unemployment rate reached 6.4% (or 3.025 million people) in August, up 0.1% from last month. This milestone marks the first time since February 2015 that the three-million mark was reached, according to Deutsche Welle.

According to RTÉ, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.3% (2.96 million), decreasing by 9,000 from July. Compared to the previous August, the number of unemployed increased by 153,000, or 0.3%. BA's broader underemployment figure – encompassing both unemployment and short-term work incapacity – stood at 3.634 million, representing an increase of 25,000 from August 2024. The inflation rate rose to 2.1% in August, exceeding the 2.0% estimated by analysts, according to CNBC.

The labour demand in the primary market has been in decline, with 631,000 job openings reported to the agency in August, 68,000 fewer than the same month last year. The monthly Federal Employment Agency Job Index (BA-X), an indicator of labour market demand according to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, remained unchanged at 98 points.

In a press statement published on Friday, BA director Andrea Nahles stated that the labour market bore the brunt of consecutive years of economic contraction, but that it is beginning to show tentative signs of stabilisation. She also said the figures reflect the struggles faced by the manufacturing sector. According to a report released by professional services firm EY, the car industry alone lost 110,000 jobs in the last 12 months, France 24 reported. Nahles said she expects the typical seasonal recovery in September to improve the situation but cautioned the number of unemployed could again exceed three million during the winter.

Monday, July 28, 2025  

On Sunday evening, three people were killed after a train carrying over one hundred passengers derailed and crashed in a sylvan area in southwest Germany. Several more were injured in the incident.

The derailment remains under investigation. The number of injured passengers continues to be clarified by local authorities.

The crash occurred at Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg, close to the city of Ulm and the town of Biberach near Stuttgart.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the derailment. Several reports indicated a landslide had occurred following heavy storms in the area. One source reported local authorities believed an overflowing sewage shaft might have triggered the landslide, scattered debris onto the train tracks. Two of the train's carriages derailed after striking the debris, climbed a sixteen-foot embankment, and came to rest after crashing into trees, according to United Press International (UPI).

German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz addressed the incident on social media. According to a translation by United Press International, he said: "The train accident in the Biberach district is a shock to me. I am in close contact with the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Transport and have asked them to support the rescue services with all means possible. We mourn the victims."

Wednesday, July 23, 2025  

In the United Kingdom (UK), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled plans on Thursday to lower the voting age to 16, following successful reforms by Scotland and Wales.

According to official data cited by Reuters,the population of 16–17 year olds in the United Kingdom was 1.6 million, compared to the 48 million eligible to vote at the 2024 general election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News that he supported the changes for 16 and 17-year-olds, "because they're old enough to go out to work, they're old enough to pay taxes," adding that, "I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on." Lowering the voting age was a manifesto promise for his party at the 2024 general election.

A poll by Merlin Strategy for ITV News found that 51% of 16–17 year olds supported lowering the voting age to 16, and that 33% of 16–17s would vote Labour. The polling also found that, among respondents in that age group, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was the most popular of the listed politicians.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the move, despite his party polling second place at 20% in that age group, saying that "I don't think you should be able to vote in an election unless you're also eligible to be a candidate, and I don't think 16 year olds should stand for Parliament."

The plans were part of wider electoral reforms announced by the Ministry, including classifying bank cards as a valid form of voter ID, introducing automatic voter registration and restricting political donations.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025  

According to the BBC and Deutsche Welle, one person was killed and 26 others injured after a night of intensive Russian strikes on nearly every district of Kyiv, officials said. The reports said the attacks continued until around 4:30 a.m. local time (0130 UTC) on Friday. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 539 drones and missiles during the assault, the highest number launched in a single attack since the start of the invasion.

Air raid sirens sounded for more than eight consecutive hours as multiple strikes hit Kyiv, which the air force described as the "main target of the strikes" on the Telegram mobile app.

The strikes came hours after a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which Trump said he was "disappointed" that Putin was not ready to end the war against Ukraine.

According to the BBC, the Kremlin said it would continue the war in Ukraine until it had addressed what it called "the root causes of the war in Ukraine."