Ai Weiwei
FILE - Chinese artist Ai Weiwei poses for the media during an "I am a Hong Konger! Discussing Human Rights and Democracy" panel discussion hosted by the faction of the German Liberals at the Reichstag building, home of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany on Sept. 29, 2020. Ai Weiwei, the dissident Chinese architect behind the Beijing stadium hosting the Friday Feb. 4, 2022 opening ceremony of the Winter Games has scoffed at the head of the U.N. health agency, saying China should award him “a gold medal” for not asking hard questions about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
Chinese dissident Ai voices criticism as Winter Games open

By Jamey Keaten Feb. 04, 2022 01:15 PM EST

FILE - Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei poses for a portrait prior to a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 2, 2020. Weiwei helped design Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium for the 2008 Olympics. It's again the venue for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
Exiled artist Ai Weiwei reflects on Beijing Olympics

By Stephen Wade Feb. 03, 2022 11:50 PM EST

FILE - A gymnast performs at the pommel horse during a podium training at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 6, 2008. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics open in just over a week. When Beijing held the Summer Olympics in 2008 the International Olympic Committee predicted they could improve human rights, and Chinese politicians hinted at the same. There are no soaring promises this time. (AP Photo/Odd Andersen, File)
Another Beijing Olympics with human rights still major issue

By Stephen Wade Feb. 02, 2022 10:48 PM EST

FILE - Fireworks explode over Beijing's Tiananmen Square to help mark the closing of the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 24, 2008. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics open in just over a week. When Beijing held the Summer Olympics in 2008 the International Olympic Committee predicted they could improve human rights, and Chinese politicians hinted at the same. There are no soaring promises this time. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
China less worried about global criticism these Olympics

By Stephen Wade Jan. 25, 2022 12:29 AM EST

FILE - Fireworks explode over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 8, 2008. Ai is one of China's most famous artists, and many regard him as one of the world's greatest living artists. Working with the Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, he helped design the Bird's Nest stadium, the centerpiece of Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics. The stadium will also host the opening ceremony for Beijing's Winter Olympics on Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
The AP Interview: Exiled artist Ai Weiwei on Beijing Games

By Stephen Wade Jan. 18, 2022 12:01 AM EST

A lone movie goer attends the first screening of the film "Days and Nights in Wuhan" in a cineplex in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. China is rolling out the state-backed film praising Wuhan ahead of the anniversary of the 76-day lockdown in the central Chinese city where the coronavirus was first detected. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
2 films offer 2 tales ahead of Wuhan lockdown anniversary

By Emily Wang Fujiyama And Huizhong Wu Jan. 22, 2021 12:34 AM EST

This combination photos shows Weixi Chen, left, and Hao Wu, co-directors of the documentary "76 Days." The film, shot in four Wuhan hospitals, captures a local horror before it became a global nightmare. Given the constraints at the time on footage and information from Wuhan, it's a rare window into the infancy of the pandemic. (MTV Documentary Films via AP)
In '76 Days,' a documentary portrait of lockdown in Wuhan

By Jake Coyle Dec. 01, 2020 04:43 PM EST

Kristinn Hrafnsson editor in chief of Wikileaks gives a statement outside the Old Bailey in London, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, as the Julian Assange extradition hearing to the US ended, with a result expected later in the year. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
WikiLeaks' Assange won't get US extradition ruling this year

By Pan Pylas Oct. 01, 2020 01:52 PM EDT

Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei conducts a silent protest outside the Old Bailey in support of Julian Assange's bid for freedom during his extradition hearing, in London, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Dissident Ai Weiwei protests possible extradition of Assange

By Pan Pylas Sep. 28, 2020 02:33 PM EDT

In this image made from a Skype video interview with Chinese artist dissident Ai Weiwei comments on the recent security law planned for Hong kong from a location in Cambridge, England, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Ai Weiwei believes the newly passed national security law for Hong Kong augurs the end for the semi-autonomous city. (AP Photo/Park Juwon)
Ai Weiwei says new security law is the end of Hong Kong

By Juwon Park May. 29, 2020 07:03 AM EDT