Top official meets rioters as China seeks stability

BEIJING (Reuters) – The governor of a Chinese province sat down with protesters after they fought pitched battles with police, a rare concession by a leader and a sign of government concerns about stability as the economy slows.

Xu Shousheng held a meeting with 10 representatives in Wudu in the poverty-stricken northwestern province of Gansu two days after the riot in which dozens were injured, state media said.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin said on Thursday stabilizing employment was the top priority for China as he revealed a rise in jobless workers triggered by a weakened export sector.

The protests were sparked by local residents’ worries about a government resettlement plan after the May 12 earthquake killed more than 80,000 people, and in Gansu alone made 1.8 million people homeless.

Montreal street artist Roadsworth captured in new documentary

From 2001 to 2004, Montreal harboured its own answer to world-renowned street artist Banksy — the mysterious Roadsworth.

Roadsworth transformed a crosswalk into a giant boot print, a traffic divider into a vineyard and a left turn lane into a giant zipper.

He left more than 80 paintings on the streets over three years, never signing his name.

Montrealers were divided over whether the paintings, done at night with a stencil, were good fun or vandalism of public property.

Filmmaker Alan Kohl was intrigued and wanted to capture the artist in action.