Detained China artist Ai Weiwei gets first family visit 
 
 Ai Weiwei was arrested trying to board a Hong Kong-bound plane out of Beijing 
 
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 The detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been allowed his first contact with his family since his arrest more than 40 days ago. Ai has been allowed his first family... (Associated Press) 
 
 Lu Qing told The Associated Press she was allowed to meet with her husband at an unknown location for about twenty minutes Sunday afternoon and that he seemed conflicted and upset, though insisted he was healthy and that his physical needs were being met. His case has prompted an outcry in the art world and among officials in the U.S. and EU who say his treatment is a sign of China's deteriorating human rights. The Foreign Ministry has said Ai is being investigated for suspected economic crimes, but his detention comes amid a crackdown on dissent apparently sparked by fears that uprisings such as those in the Arab world could erupt in China. However the meeting was very brief, she said, and there were many other people present, some of them taking notes, so she was afraid to talk much more with her husband. The family were then warned by police not to discuss the visit with the media as they were told it could "be bad for Mr Ai's case".
– Imprisoned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was granted his first family visit yesterday, 43 days after he was taken into custody, reports the BBC. Ai's wife, Lu Qing, was brought to a secret location to meet with him for about 20 minutes, under the condition they did not talk about sensitive issues, only family and health. "He seemed conflicted, contained, his face was tense. I could see redness in his eyes. It was obvious that without freedom to express himself he was not behaving naturally even with me," says Lu, who adds that Ai otherwise appeared to be in good health. "We could not talk about the economic charges or other stuff," she says, and tells the AP that others were present when they met, and some of them were taking notes. "We were careful, we knew that the deal could be broken at any moment, so we were careful." Lu says Ai was not handcuffed and was wearing his own clothes instead of a detention center uniform. His trademark beard had not been shaven. Chinese authorities have not specified the charges against him, except to say he was being investigated for "economic crimes," but it is generally believed Ai is actually being investigated for his criticism of the government.