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What China really thinks about Ukraine

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

Mark Leonard is co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and he is the author of “The Age of Unpeace.”What does China really think about Ukraine? That question has been nagging away at Ukrainian minds — as well as their supporters in the West. Some may have hoped to get answers at the recently held, and grandly named, World Peace Forum (WPF) in Beijing — an annual event first launched in 2012, with goal of demonstrating that China can contribute to solving problems of war and peace on a global level.But Western observers at the conference were surprised to find Ukraine had instead been relegated to the forum’s marginalia, and were disappointed that the only guests talking about Ukraine were Russians — as it appeared no Ukrainians had been invited.However, to those studying China’s evolving position, this shouldn’t have come as a surprise. In addition to attending the WPF, we spent the last 18 months conducting dozens of interviews with Chinese think...

Beijing re-schedules Borrell visit for the fall

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday invited EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and his delegation for a visit in the fall, after Beijing canceled a trip initially planned for July. The visit will allow for preparations ahead of an expected EU-China summit with “extensive and in-depth exchanges,” Wang was quoted as saying in a statement published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the two officials spoke on the phone. The leaders’ summit will occur before the end of the year, Wang indicated in the statement.“China and the EU should carry out more institutional dialogues, make up for the missing exchange lessons between China and the EU in the three years of the epidemic, and inject new strong impetus into the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership,” Wang was cited as saying. Borrell said he looks forward to “visiting China as soon as possible,” according to the statement. The EU’s top diplomat was scheduled to v...

Mets Notebook: Grant Hartwig earning more responsibilities in Mets bullpen

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

BALTIMORE — With the focus now firmly turned toward the future, the rest of the season will be an audition of sorts for some of the Mets. Right-handed reliever Grant Hartwig has shown well in his audition so far.The Detroit-area native who put off medical school to give baseball a shot seems to have made the right decision. Hartwig is 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA over 19 2/3 innings. The Mets have slowly given him more work and more difficult work, using him in high-leverage situations or to face tough spots in the batting orders.Hartwig started off solid after the Mets called him up in June. He didn’t allow an earned run over his first four appearances (four innings). But after allowing earned runs in back-to-back appearances for the first time right after the All-Star break, Hartwig noticed the league making some adjustments to him. So, he countered with one of his own by using his cutter against right-handed hitters.“I didn’t use it at all in AAA, but I saw some re...

Evacuation warning prompted in Mountain Empire area due to vegetation fire

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- What started as a single-vehicle fire in the Mountain Empire area Sunday afternoon turned into a vegetation fire that prompted an evacuation warning.That's according to Cal Fire San Diego, who reported at 4:39 p.m. that a burning vehicle spread into vegetation in the Boulevard area. Officials said, "Initial reports put the fire at 3 to 4 acres with a moderate rate of spread."At 5:56 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department reported that the shaded area shown in the map below was put under an evacuation warning:Evacuation warning area, (San Diego County Sheriff's Department)The department noted on Twitter, "a temporary evacuation point is being set up at Golden Acorn Casino located at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo."Cal Fire San Diego reported that the westbound lanes of Interstate 8 would close in the area of fire, with California Highway Patrol diverting traffic onto Ribbonwood Road and Old Highway 80.Later at 6:41 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego confirmed the spread o...

North Korean leader Kim tours weapons factories and vows to advance his arms and his war readiness

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the country’s key weapons factories, including those producing artillery systems and launch vehicles for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, and pledged to speed up efforts to advance his military’s arms and war readiness, state media said Sunday.Kim’s three-day inspections through Saturday came as the United States and South Korea prepared for their next round of combined military exercises planned for later this month to counter the growing North Korean threat.Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest level in years as the pace of North Korea’s missile tests and the joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, which Kim portrays as invasion rehearsals, have both intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle.Some experts say Kim’s tour of the weapons factories could also be related to possible military cooperation with Moscow that may involve North Korean supplies of artillery and other ammunition as Russian President Vla...

Express train derails in southern Pakistan, killing 30 people and injuring more than 90

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Ten cars of a passenger train derailed in southern Pakistan on Sunday, killing 30 people and injuring more than 90 others, officials said. Some of the derailed cars on the Hazara Express train overturned in the crash near the town of Nawabshah, senior railway officer Mahmoodur Rehman Lakho said. The train was going from Karachi to Rawalpindi when the 10 cars went off the tracks near the Sarhari railway station.The derailed cars sprawled across or near the tracks in the flat, rural landscape. Local television showed rescue teams extracting women, children and elderly passengers from damaged and overturned cars. Some of the injured lay on the ground crying for help while locals gave out water and food. Senior police officer Abid Baloch said from the scene that the rescue operation was complete by early evening: Dozens of the injured were brought to safety and the last flipped car cleared. Expressing grief over the loss of life, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif pra...

Man arrested after armed robbery at Dior store in Chicago's Gold Coast

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery Friday in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.Chicago police are seeking at least one robbery suspect in the case. The incident took place at the Dior store located in the 900 block of Noth Rust Street around 10: 47 p..mPolice reported a man entered the business through the back door and was armed with a handgun. He threatened to use force while pointing the handgun at employees and took merchandise from the store. Woman found stabbed to death in road in Oak Forest: police He fled through the back door where he was observed entering a black Tukon truck and fled. No injuries were reported.On Sunday, Chicago police said Anthony Bowens, 53, of Chicago, was arrested in connection with the robbery.He has been charged with robbery while armed with a firearm, a felony, one count of driving on a suspended license and multiple traffic citations.He is due in bond court on Monday.

I-35 northbound shut down at SH 45 in Round Rock due to crash

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Interstate 35 northbound near State Highway 45 in Round Rock is completely shut down Sunday night after a crash, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.TxDOT tweeted at 6:49 p.m. alerting people of the crash that has closed all lanes moving northbound. The Round Rock Police Department sent a tweet at 8:51 p.m. saying the freeway will be closed until at least 11 p.m. and that traffic is being diverted to the frontage road.RRPD said it's investigating the crash south of Louis Henna Boulevard, which is the frontage road for SH 45. RRPD said drivers should consider a different route and avoid the area.This is a developing story and we will update it once more information becomes available.

Matt Dumba era in Minnesota officially over as former Wild star leaves for Coyotes

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

Matt Dumba told reporters back in the spring that his heart will always been in Minnesota. His body will be elsewhere in the fall.More than a month after NHL free agency opened, Dumba has agreed to a 1-year, $3.9 million deal with the Arizona Coyotes, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press.This officially ends the Matt Dumba era in Minnesota. He spend the past decade with the Wild after being taken with No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 NHL draft. Though he became a polarizing figure on the blue line, Dumba was masterful in the way he managed to take it all in stride.His presence will be missed in Minnesota. Maybe even more than fans realize at the moment. It’s going to be hard to replace Dumba’s experience on the ice and even harder to replace his impact in the locker room.Never mind that Dumba finished his Wild career with 79 goals and 157 assists in 598 games.Asked back in the spring what he’s most proud of from his time in Minnesota, Dumba pointed to the way he used hi...

Fringe review: ‘A Jingle Jangle Morning’ needs more jingle jangle

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:31:44 GMT

Could be worseWhen an inter-dimensional thief shrinks and steals the moon with the aim of liberating his home planet from a dictator, a Minneapolis teen accidentally returns with him to Somnia, a sleepless land of forced labor and tyrannical robots. Committed actors, fun special effects, strong musical transitions and creative props can’t quite make up for the convoluted plot and dialogue, which understate the premise — two moons are missing in two dimensions! — until almost the final scene. There’s not enough one-liners or dad jokes to make this a kiddie comedy, and the characters don’t play enough to the audience to fully engage. The program says the show is inspired by the imagery from Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but a little more physical comedy (even a somersault or two), some script rewrite and a stronger, clearer ending would infuse some needed jingle jangle and make this space odyssey shine.Presented by Spektakular Theatre at Rarig Center; 7 p.m. Aug....