World

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil — At first glance, it is a house like dozens of others in the crowded favelas of Brazil. But this seemingly modest dwelling of 66 square metres, with its exposed brick walls, has just been recognised as the "house of the year" in an international architecture competition.

The house honoured by specialised website ArchDaily belongs to Kdu dos Anjos, a 32-year-old artist living in the bustling Aglomerado da Serra favela, at the bottom of a hill on the edge of the south-eastern city of Belo Horizonte.

The two-story structure defeated some more-imposing contest entries from India, Mexico, Vietnam and Germany.

"I'm very proud that my house won this prize, because most of the news about the favelas talks of violence and homes destroyed by landslides," said Kdu dos Anjos, who has close-cropped hair, black earrings and many tattoos.

"Today, my home is on top of the world!"

The house, built on a small lot dos Anjos purchased in 2017, is well-ventilated and enjoys abundant natural light; it features horizontal casement windows and a large terrace.

"The design of the house represents a constructive model that uses common materials in the slums, with an adequate implementation and attention to lighting and ventilation, resulting in a space with great environmental quality," ArchDaily wrote on its website.

For dos Anjos, who founded a cultural center in his community, the prize carries special significance.

"I know my house isn't the most chic in the world, but it's a well-built shack," he says with a grin.

Dos Anjos has been living there since 2020, along with two dogs, a cat and more than 60 plants.

"What the architects did is pure magic," he adds. "We barely have 66 square metres, but I've had parties here with close to 200 people."

The design was the work of the Levante architecture collective, which does pro-bono or low-cost work in the favelas.

From the outside the house resembles its neighbours, but it incorporates several features that make it both sturdier and more respectful of the environment, particularly in its "attention to lighting and ventilation", said architect Fernando Maculan, the project leader.

One apparent difference with nearby houses is in the arrangement of the bricks, which are laid horizontally — not vertically — and in staggered rows, which adds solidity and improves insulation.

The project took eight months — and a lot of work.

"The masons were angry because they thought laying bricks this way was very time-consuming," Maculan said.

"And we had a lot of trouble getting the materials up the stairs — it's the last house on the alley, and I had to pay the workers who carried it a lot," he said. The narrow, twisting roads in the favela are difficult for vehicles to navigate.

The entire job cost 150,000 reais ($29,000), and the investment paid off in more ways than one: Not only did the architecture prize bring international recognition, the house has helped dos Anjos realise a childhood dream.

"When I was a boy, I lived in a very modest, poorly insulated room. I even got stung by a scorpion — my sister did too.

"Winning this prize after having suffered from architecture-related problems represents a great victory for me."

ISTANBUL — Fears of another major earthquake have been rekindled in Istanbul since the February 6 disaster that hit Turkey and Syria, but a prominent Turkish seismologist has reassured the risk "hasn't increased".

"The risk hasn't increased because we are talking about completely different systems," Dogan Kalafat, the director of the Kandilli Observatory's Earthquake-Tsunami Monitoring Centre in Istanbul, told AFP.

Turkey's most populated city is situated near the North Anatolian Fault while the recent 7.8-magnitude quake that killed 43,500 people occurred along another fault in the country's southeast, Kalafat explained.

Still, the 16 million residents of Istanbul, a city that spreads over two continents and has seen skyscrapers mushroom in recent years, are wondering if they're ready for the "Big One".

"I'd like to say it, but sadly, it's a very big city with too many poorly constructed buildings," said Kalafat, who has denounced using low-quality cement and building on "soft soils".

While waiting for a large-scale quake, "we must make good use of the time. We must build earthquake-proof houses on solid soil. It's the most important precaution to take," the seismologist stressed.

At the observatory, seismologists take turns every eight hours watching a series of computer screens monitoring potential tremors.

In front of them, on a wall at least 5 metres, a giant screen provides real-time readings from 260 seismic stations across the country.

"Nine thousand aftershocks have taken place in Turkey since February 6," which is more than "seven or eight times normal", Kalafat said.

On one of the desks, a laminated map shows the North Anatolian Fault, which crosses the Sea of Marmara, only "15 to 17 kilometres" from the southern shores of Istanbul, Kalafat said.

In 2001, two years after a 7.4-magnitude quake left 17,000 people dead in northwest Turkey, Kalafat calculated a 65 per cent probability that a quake with a magnitude above 7 would occur before 2030 in the same region — which includes Istanbul.

The risk climbed to 75 per cent in 50 years and 95 per cent in 90 years.

"These statistics are still relevant," said Kalafat, adding: "Even with the technology of today, it is impossible to predict an earthquake."

"We can indicate, with a certain margin of error, where an earthquake can occur and what magnitude it can be, but we can't know when it will occur," he said.

The Kandilli Observatory has developed an early warning system "but Istanbul is too close to the fault line" for a system to be effective, Kalafat said.

On one of the desks, sitting between two screens, is a black telephone with two red labels with the public disaster management agency's acronym, allowing scientists to send an alert for a major earthquake.

The early warning could win "a maximum of seven or eight seconds" — not enough time to allow inhabitants to get to safety.

In comparison, the telephonic warning system in Japan's Tohoku region, which was struck by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, buys the public 45 seconds.

"There, you can send a message warning citizens, but we don't have this possibility here," he said.

LIMA — Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced on Friday the "definitive recall" of her ambassador to Mexico, citing the continued support that the North American country has given to deposed president Pedro Castillo.

Peru's leftist former president Castillo was impeached and arrested for attempting to dissolve parliament and rule by decree in December, and Boluarte has since seen weeks of anti-government protests across the Andean nation calling for her removal.

Castillo's ouster was criticised by leftist Latin American allies, including Mexico, which has sparked a diplomatic row.

On Friday, Boluarte denounced the "unacceptable" interference in the internal affairs of Peru by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

"I have ordered the definitive recall of our ambassador to Mexico," Boluarte said in a televised address, adding that the embassy will now be led by a charge d'affaires.

The Mexican foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it "regrets the decision" to reduce diplomatic relations but that it will maintain its own diplomatic representation in Peru at the existing level "to promote ties" between the two and support Mexicans in Peru.

The decision to withdraw ambassador Manuel Talavera Espinar came as Lopez Obrador again insisted that "Mexico will continue to support [Castillo], who was unjustly and illegally removed from office".

Boluarte, in her televised remarks, said, "I strongly reject the remarks made today by the president of Mexico on Peru's internal affairs and his repeated unacceptable questioning of the constitutional and democratic origins of my government."

She added that Lopez Obrador has "decided to support the coup d'etat carried out by the now former president Pedro Castillo on December 7, 2022".

Lopez Obrador has been one of Castillo's most fervent foreign supporters, along with the fellow leftist leaders of Bolivia, Argentina and Colombia.

Peru had already expelled the Mexican ambassador at the end of December, after Mexico granted political asylum to Castillo's wife and two sons.

At least 48 people have died in clashes between security forces and protesters since unrest broke out on December 7, following his impeachment and arrest.

The demonstrations are driven by poor southern, Indigenous Peruvians who perceive Castillo — who is also from humble origins and has Indigenous roots — as an ally in their fight against poverty, racism and inequality.

LAGOS — US, European and other governments on Thursday urged Nigerian leaders to ensure a fair and calm election this weekend when the country votes to choose a successor to President MuhammaduBuhari.

More than 93 million Nigerians are registered to vote on Saturday in what has developed into a tense, competitive race among three presidential frontrunners for the first time since military rule ended in 1999.

After two terms under Buhari, Africa’s most populous nation is grappling with widespread insecurity from different armed groups, high inflation and growing poverty.

“It is vital for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation that the process is conducted and concluded safely, fairly and credibly,” said a joint statement from the diplomatic missions of the United States, Britain, Australia, Japan, Canada and Norway.

“We encourage all actors to intervene proactively to calm any tensions and avoid any violence.”

Nigeria’s elections have often been marked by violence, ethnic tensions and clashes between supporters of rival parties.

The main four candidates in the presidential race signed a peace accord on Wednesday, in a bid to ensure a free and peaceful election.

“I once again ask the candidates to abide by the spirit and letter of the Accord they have signed,” Buhari said.

“Let me remind all Nigerians not for the first time that this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to keep it safe, united and peaceful.”

On Wednesday, a senatorial candidate for the Labour Party was killed by gunmen in southeast Enugu State, according to Labour Party officials.

Extremists, bandits 

Security forces are still fighting a 14-year extremist insurgency in the country’s northeast and heavily armed bandits carry out raids on villages and mass abductions in the northwest.

Offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission have also been attacked by gunmen, in violence often blamed on separatists in the country’s southeast.

Three frontrunners are battling to succeed Buhari, who was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 mainly on promises he would fight insecurity and corruption.

Bola Tinubu, candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former Lagos governor, faces old rival Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But for the first time a surprise third candidate, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, has emerged to challenge the dominance of the PDP and APC with a message he will bring change.

Days before the election, a national shortage of cash has also angered Nigerians, as they struggle to buy food at markets and pay for transport to work.

The central bank began to exchange old naira currency bills for new redesigned ones, in what officials said was a move to curb corruption and inflation.

But a scarcity of new notes has caused huge lines at banks, violent protests in several cities and triggered tensions in the APC over how the measure may hurt its candidate.

Surveys by pan-African group Afrobarometer this month showed nine out of 10 Nigerians believe their country is heading in the wrong direction, with security and the economy their main concerns.

BELFAST — Police in Northern Ireland said Thursday that they had arrested three men over the shooting of an off-duty officer, after declaring “violent dissident republicans” the “prime focus” of their investigation.

“This morning we have arrested three men, aged 38, 45 and 47” in connection with the attempted murder of the officer on Wednesday, Chief Constable Simon Byrne told a press conference.

The shooting, condemned by politicians as “outrageous and shameful”, was carried out by two men in the town of Omagh in County Tyrone late Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, a high-profile officer who has led major investigations, was taken to hospital and is in a “critical but stable” condition after being shot multiple times at a sports complex just before 8:00pm (2000 GMT), police said.

Officers in Northern Ireland are subject to sporadic attacks that were once common in the region, which was plagued by decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles before the signing of peace accords in 1998.

Byrne called the attack “brazen and calculated”, adding it had left colleagues “extremely distressed”.

Caldwell had been coaching a youth football group, which included his son, and was putting balls into the back of his car when he was attacked, Byrne said.

Youngsters waiting to be picked up from the practice fled for cover, with locals on the scene administering first aid, he added.

Tensions are currently running high in the province, with unionists loyal to the UK collapsing its power-sharing government to protest post-Brexit trading rules, which they say are distancing Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

‘Cowardly’ 

“The investigation is at an early stage, we are keeping an open mind,” Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan told BBC Radio Ulster on Thursday.

“The primary focus is on violent dissident republicans, and within that there is a primary focus as well on New IRA.”

The New IRA, a splinter group of the Irish Republican Army, has admitted responsibility for two attacks in recent years.

Politicians from across the deep divide, including the deputy leader of the pro-Ireland party Sinn Fein, Michelle O’Neill, and the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson, issued a statement condemning the attack.

“We extend our heartfelt solidarity to DCI John Caldwell and his family after yesterday evening’s cowardly gun attack which has left him critically injured,” the joint statement said.

“We stand united in our outright condemnation of this attack... yesterday evening in front of his son and other children and young people,” it added.

“We speak for the overwhelming majority of people right across our community who are outraged and sickened by this reprehensible and callous attempted murder. Those responsible must be brought to justice.”

O’Neill earlier called the attack “outrageous and shameful” while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted that he was “appalled by the disgraceful shooting”.

Omagh was the scene of one of the worst incidents of the Troubles, when a dissident group of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a car bomb on August 15, 1998, leaving 29 dead and 220 injured.

The New IRA has been linked to two attacks in recent years, including the planting of a bomb under a policewoman’s car in April 2021.

The group had also admitted being responsible for the death of Lyra McKee, a journalist killed in April 2019 while covering clashes in the city of Londonderry.

The group apologised to the relatives of the young woman, saying that she was alongside the police.

KYIV — G-7 ministers on Thursday discussed imposing fresh sanctions on Russia on the eve of the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as the UN General Assembly prepared to vote on a motion calling for "lasting" peace.

The year-long conflict has devastated swathes of Ukraine, turned Russia into a pariah in the West and according to Western sources, has caused 150,000 casualties on each side.

The approach of the first anniversary of Russian troops storming across the border on February 24, 2022 has seen Western leaders step up their show of unity with Kyiv, with the Spanish prime minister on Thursday the latest leader to visit the capital.

"This has been the most difficult year of my life and that of all Ukrainians," said Diana Chestakova, 23, who works for a publishing house and whose boyfriend has spent the last year away in the military.

"I am sure that we will be victorious, but we don't know how long we will have to wait and how many victims there are still to come."

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin promised to boost arms production as Russia marked the annual "Defender of the Fatherland Day" holiday.

In India, group of Seven finance ministers met in the city of Bengaluru to discuss further sanctions and more financial help for Ukraine.

A senior US official has said that the United States and its G-7 allies planned to unveil "a big new package of sanctions" around the anniversary, including measures to crack down on the evasion of existing sanctions.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the G-7 meeting that the unprecedented Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the last 12 months were hurting Russia badly.

“Our sanctions have had a very significant negative effect on Russia so far... Russia is now running a significant budget deficit,” Yellen said.

“It is finding it extremely difficult... to obtain the material it needs to replenish its munitions and to, for example, repair 9,000 tanks that have been destroyed because of the war,” she added.

“We will stand with Ukraine and its people until peace returns to Europe,” tweeted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after arriving in Kyiv by train and before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In New York, the UN General Assembly was on Thursday to bring to a vote a motion backed by Kyiv and its allies calling for a “just and lasting peace”.

“Never in recent history has the line between good and evil been so clear. One country merely wants to live. The other wants to kill and destroy,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the world body.

The Kremlin’s UN ambassador accused the West of being “ready to plunge the entire world into the abyss of war” to defeat Russia.

On Thursday, Putin laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow before meeting soldiers in Red Square under blue skies and brisk temperatures.

“We will pay priority attention to strengthening our defence capabilities,” he said in a video address.

Russia will equip troops with “new strike systems, reconnaissance and communication equipment, drones and artillery systems”, he added, hailing Russian soldiers, who he said were fighting “heroically” in Ukraine and defending “our historical lands”.

Russia’s “unbreakable unity is the key to our victory”, he said.

China-Russia ties 

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday wrapped up a three-day visit to Europe to meet the leaders of NATO and east European countries.

Biden and European leaders in Warsaw vowed to “reinforce our deterrence and defence posture across the entire Eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea”.

In Moscow, Russia strengthened ties with China as Putin met Beijing’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, after Washington and NATO voiced concern that China could be preparing to supply Russia with weapons.

Putin said cooperation between Russia and China was “very important to stabilise the international situation”.

A readout published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua after the meeting quoted Wang saying China was willing to “deepen political trust” and “strengthen strategic coordination” with Russia.

China would “uphold an objective and fair position and play a constructive role in solving the crisis through political means”, it said.

Moscow said Wednesday that Beijing had presented its views on paths towards a “political settlement” in Ukraine following Wang’s visit.

When the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine, it was designed to be a rapid conquest leading to capitulation and the installation of a pro-Russian regime.

Since then, Russia has been forced to give up ground but has kept up a barrage of drone and missile attacks, while the military and civilian toll has spiralled.