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China asks EU to ‘clarify’ position on strategic relations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

A Chinese top diplomat has told the EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell that the EU should “clarify” its vision of relations between the two sides. Wang Yi, director of China’s Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, met Borrell on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian nations in Jakarta on Friday — a couple of weeks after EU leaders agreed to reduce and “de-risk” their dependency on China. “The EU side should … clarify the positioning of the strategic partnership between the two sides, and promote China-EU relations to move forward,” Wang was quoted by China’s Foreign Ministry as telling Borrell, Reuters reported on Saturday. “It should not vacillate, let alone encourage words and deeds that turn the clock back,” Wang said.The EU and China are embroiled in a tit-for-tat trade war, with both sides targeting parts of the semiconductor supply chain. First, the Netherlands imposed export ...

Adley Rutschman impressed at the Home Run Derby. But who would win a homer contest among just Orioles players?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

Baseball fans weren’t the only ones in awe watching Adley Rutschman’s switch-hitting spectacle at the Home Run Derby. His teammates were, too.“That was electric,” first baseman Ryan O’Hearn said.Rutschman lost in the first round to Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, but his 27-homer performance was the latest star-worthy moment in the still-nascent career of Baltimore’s All-Star catcher. While Rutschman’s teammates weren’t surprised by his success, his profile isn’t that of a typical Home Run Derby candidate. Rutschman’s plate discipline and contact ability are better traits than his power, as he’s hit just 25 long balls in 200 career games.That doesn’t mean anything to O’Hearn, though. If the Orioles had their own home run contest, O’Hearn would put his money on Rutschman — especially after seeing his success on the big stage Monday.“Probably Adley,” O’Hearn said when ...

Lucas: Tunnel vision headache

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

Welcome to Big Dig II.Well, not exactly, but close enough when you figure in the hellish traffic in downtown Boston and the environs as the result of the shutdown of the much-used Sumner Tunnel.Besides, work on the tunnel will hopefully be completed by the end of August. The Big Dig was around for years.And the cost is a little different. The Big Dig, a federal project which changed the face of Boston, was initially estimated to cost $2.5 billion when it began in 1991. It ended up costing a whopping $14.8 billion when it was completed in 1997.The Sumner Tunnel is costing a paltry $160 million in state money, which amounts to spare change compared the Big DigSurprisingly upon completion of the Big Dig, no one was indicted or went to jail.It was at the time the most expensive public works project in the country.And that huge cost overruns are one reason why the Biden administration is reluctant to come up with any of the $4 billion it is estimated to replace the two functionally obsol...

Boston councilor Kendra Lara loses out on city union endorsement amid controversy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

Embattled District 6 Councilor Kendra Lara’s vote to support a budget that would have slashed millions from essential city services cost her the endorsement of a union that represents roughly 1,700 city workers.The Boston Presidents’ Committee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, endorsed Lara in the 2021 general election, but opted to back one of her opponents, William King, this time around.The endorsement, announced by King in a Wednesday campaign email and confirmed by an AFSCME Council 93 representative, comes two months ahead of the Sept. 12 preliminary election, and is somewhat of a rarity in Boston politics, a former city official told the Herald.“It’s rare that in a three-person contest with an incumbent that they would have endorsed the challenger,” said Larry DiCara, a former City Council president and longtime observer of Boston politics. “The very fact that anybody is endorsing six weeks ahead of the preliminary, that means something is s...

TTC to close portion of Line 1 this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

While a number of road closures due to construction, weekend festivals and the Honda Indy will force motorists to pack their patience if they’re heading into and around the city, some transit riders will also be impacted.Planned track maintenance will see an almost 10 km stretch of the Yonge-University subway line between Sheppard-Yonge and St. Clair shut down for the entire weekend.“Shuttle buses will operate, stopping at all subway stations,” the transit agency said in a service advisory.GO Transit and UP Express say they plan to run normal schedules all weekend for those heading to the Honda Indy, the Zac Brown Band concert, and the Blue Jays games. However, with various road closures happening in west Toronto, Metrolinx is encouraging customers to plan extra time in getting downtown. There is some good news for transit riders: the 506 Carlton streetcar will be back in service along Gerrard Street East and Coxwell next week after work to replace streetcar track...

Days of torrential rain in South Korea leave at least 22 dead in landslides and floods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Days of heavy rain in South Korea have left at least 22 people dead and 14 others missing in landslides, floods and other incidents, the government said Saturday. The 22 fatalities were reported on Friday and Saturday, all in the central and southeastern regions, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a report.An earlier ministry report on Saturday morning said five people died after landslides caused by torrential downpours buried their houses. Two others also died in landslide-related incidents. But the latest ministry report didn’t explain the cause of deaths for the additional fatalities.The report said torrential rains have also left 14 people missing since Tuesday, and 13 others injured since Thursday. South Korea has been pounded by heavy rains since July 9. The ministry report said the rainfall had forced about 4,760 people to evacuate and left thousands of households without electricity in the past seven days. It said more than 2,000...

Hundreds of flights across Italy are canceled amid air transport strike at peak of tourism season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

ROME (AP) — Hundreds of flights across Italy were canceled Saturday, forcing travelers at the peak of tourist season to make alternate plans, after air transport unions went ahead with a planned work stoppage two days following a train strike that paralyzed rail service.Summertime in Italy is often the peak season for transport strikes, stranding commuters and tourists alike as unions press demands for better work contracts and conditions. This year, the strikes are taking their toll amid a tourism boom following two years of pandemic losses.National carrier ITA said it canceled 133 flights, most of them domestic but a few to European destinations such as Madrid, Amsterdam and Barcelona. Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Vueling canceled dozens of other flights due to the strike from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Striking workers included pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers and airport personnel.The website of Naples’ airport showed dozens of flights canceled starting at 10 a.m.Labor ...

The latest legacy of Canada’s wildfire smoke? Wisconsin’s new beer-and-burger pairing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

WASHINGTON — Another fragrant, hazy phenomenon is turning heads in the United States — only this time, beer fans in Canada will happily take the blame. It’s one of the newest IPA offerings from G-Five Brewing Company in Beloit, a southern Wisconsin community of about 36,500 people an hour’s drive southwest of Milwaukee, a city synonymous with suds. “Blame Canada” — what else would they call it? — is an easy-drinking session India pale ale inspired by the smoke-filled skies that were plaguing much of the U.S. Midwest and northeastern states earlier in the summer. It was the product of a collaboration with fellow Wisconsin brewers Rocky Reef, a partnership that happened to come together in mid-June when the wildfire smoke was at its worst, said Tim Goers, G-Five’s head brewer. “When you have a business that is cyclical like that, you don’t want your patrons to be outside because of air quality, so it does hurt business a little bit,” Goe...

Fade into the night: Fireflies facing threats from climate change and light pollution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

Aaron Fairweather remembers seeing fireflies as a child for the first time, a swarm of twinkles flashing across the surface of a lake near Saint John, N.B., illuminating a summer’s night.Fairweather, who uses they/them pronouns, was fly-fishing with their father at the time. Now, the research associate at the University of Guelph fears that threats such as climate change and light pollution could snuff out these luminescent insects, depriving future generations of the “magic” they experienced as a child.“It’s really sad to see that one of these childhood marvels — these insects that make us say, ‘Isn’t the world incredible? These organisms can produce their own light and see how beautiful the natural world is’ — we’re losing them.”While the number of fireflies has remained steady this summer compared with last year, overall numbers of these bugs have decreased by about 35 per cent over the last five decades, Fairweather said.Ther...

No permit required: Camping, canoeing options just outside the Boundary Waters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:37 GMT

If you weren’t able to secure that Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permit you wanted this summer, there are still backcountry options out there for adventures across the Superior National Forest.Forest officials recently highlighted 15 “under the radar” canoe routes, hiking trails and rustic camping options outside the BWCAW and which don’t require permits, don’t take reservations and — get this — are free. Of course, that’s a good news/bad news scenario because you won’t know until you get there if the site is open.These backcountry options are listed by the national forest ranger district where they are located, with the nearest town listed.Crescent Lake is inside Minnesota’s Superior National Forest, but outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It offers a boat landing, camping sites and access to other lakes via canoe portages. No special permits are required.(Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)Gunflint Ranger District, Grand Marais areaTwin La...