Day: December 2, 2023

A medieval tower in the Italian city of Bologna that leans by as much as its famous counterpart in Pisa has been sealed off over fears it may collapse, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac, citing BBC News.

Authorities have begun constructing a 5m (16ft) high barrier around the 12th Century Garisenda Tower to contain debris if it falls.

The 47m (154ft) tower tilts at a four-degree angle, and monitoring has found shifts in the direction of the tilt.

The city council said the situation was “highly critical”.

The Garisenda Tower is one of two towers that dominate the skyline of Bologna. The other, the Asinelli Tower, is around twice the height and also leans, though not so dramatically, and is usually open for tourists to climb.

The structures were built between 1109 and 1119, though the height of the Garisenda was reduced in the 14th Century because it had already begun to lean. The tower is mentioned in Dante’s poem The Divine Comedy, which was completed in 1321.

The site was first closed in October after sensors picked up the changes in the Garisenda’s tilt and inspections revealed deterioration in the materials that make up its base.

The council has launched what it calls a civil protection plan to preserve the tower and said the work now being started “represents the first phase of making it safe”.

It said that as well as containing debris, the barrier would protect surrounding buildings and people in the event of a collapse. It said metal rockfall nets would also be installed around the tower.

Construction of the barrier will be completed early next year, while the tower and the plaza beneath it are expected to remain closed for a number of years while restoration work is carried out.

The city estimates that the barrier alone will cost €4.3m (£3.7m) and has launched a crowd funder to pay for the restoration.

It called the project an “extraordinary challenge” that would require “commitment from the entire city and from those all over the world who love Bologna and one of its most important symbols”.

The post Bologna’s leaning tower sealed off over fears it could collapse appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu has informed the British Ambassador in Moscow Nigel Casey about the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.

The Azerbaijani diplomat briefed his British counterpart on Azerbaijan’s humanitarian assistance and the Armenian population’s voluntarily leaving the territories. He further added that the responsibility of the Armenian population rests solely on the shoulders of Armenia and the separatist regime under its control.

Ambassador Polad Bulbuloglu said on November 28, President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on the establishment of “Karabakh University” in the city of Khankendi.

The sides also discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UK.

The Azerbaijani ambassador presented the book “Karabakh before and after occupation”, published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, to Nigel Casey.

The post British Ambassador in Moscow informed about restoration and reconstruction works carried out in Karabakh appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has addressed the special session of the 2nd European Conference on Azerbaijan Studies, held in Skopje, the capital city of North Macedonia, according to Azerbaijan in Focus, reporting AzerTac.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the foreign policy priorities of Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period, as well as the prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the position of Azerbaijan regarding the regional situation.

The Azerbaijani FM informed the participants about the anti-terrorist measures carried out in response to the provocations of the Armenian armed forces and Armenia’s obstruction of peace process.

FM Bayramov also provided insight into the restoration and construction works carried out by Azerbaijan in the region, and emphasized the threats of landmines against Azerbaijan. He also drew attention to the strengthening of Armenia’s military potential and the destructive activities of certain third parties in the region, underlining that such activities do not serve peace and stability in the region.

Speaking about the biased and provocative accusations against Azerbaijan voiced after the anti-terrorism measures, the minister said that they contradict the reports and statements of representatives of UN specialized agencies who visited the region, as well as those who are actively operating in Armenia, adding that these accusations against Azerbaijan proved unfounded.

The Azerbaijani FM also drew attention to the initiatives of international significance put forward by Azerbaijan in recent years, and highlighted the active role of Azerbaijan in the field of multilateral diplomacy.

Noting the growing importance of energy security against the backdrop of recent events in the region and the world, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov focused on efforts in the field of energy security, alternative energy, and stressed the significance of expanding multilateral cooperation in the area of diversifying transport corridors.

The event then featured a Q&A session.

Organized by the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) of Azerbaijan with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference brought together representatives of more than 30 European research centers, as well as influential experts.

The post Azerbaijani FM: The destructive activities of certain third parties in the region do not serve peace appeared first on Azerbaijan In Focus.

Literary Groups Partner to Host Virtual Reading on Armenian …  Asbarez Armenian News

На заседании суда Шарлот признал вину и прочитал стих, в котором попросил прощения у русского народа. Кроме того, он заявил, что попал под влияние российской оппозиции, которая “очень плотно и скрупулезно обрабатывает сознание молодых людей”. https://t.co/nZoiAgEigJ

— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) December 2, 2023

Вернулся в Россию — и в тюрьму. История певца Шарлота: от антивоенных ро… https://t.co/ALIqMGDKlk via @YouTube

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) December 2, 2023

Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal has called on the economically developed countries to share finance and technology with developing countries to combat climate change, according to Report.