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Iran in secret talks with China, Russia to acquire sanctioned missile fuel

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

China and Russia are in advanced secret talks with Iran to replenish the Islamic Republic’s supply of a key chemical compound used to propel ballistic missiles, diplomats familiar with the matter say, a move that would mark a clear violation of United Nations sanctions and possibly help Moscow replenish its depleted stock of rockets. Tehran has held concurrent negotiations with officials and government-controlled entities from both countries, including the state-owned Russian chemical maker FKP Anozit, to acquire large amounts of ammonium perchlorate, or AP, the main ingredient in solid propellants used to power missiles, said the diplomats, who requested anonymity in order to discuss confidential information.In Beijing, Iranian diplomat Sajjad Ahadzadeh, who serves as Tehran’s “technology counselor” in China and the broader region has led the talks to acquire AP, according to the diplomats familiar with the matter. The diplomats said they didn’t ...

Xi is fixated on ending China’s century of humiliation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, is president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and host of the weekly podcast “World Review with Ivo Daalder.”In the last few months, five different European leaders have traipsed to Beijing, trying to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to see the world their way. But except for some contracts benefiting their firms, each has returned to Europe empty-handed.French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were the latest to make the journey last week. Their goal was to convince Xi to help broker an end to the war in Ukraine or, as Macron put it, to “bring Russia to its senses.”The Chinese president demurred.Blaming NATO for the “crisis,” Xi was angry and annoyed when his European interlocutors brought up the war in Ukraine, saying he would talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only when the “conditions and time was right.” And given that Moscow only recently reiterated that the co...

Elisabeth Borne: Macron’s fall gal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

PARIS — France’s Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has stayed in power longer than her only female predecessor — but her days as Emmanuel Macron’s chief lieutenant might be numbered. In the early 1990s, the premiership of Edith Cresson, the only other woman to have led a government in France, lasted just 10 months and ended in turmoil. April marks 10 months since Borne was appointed prime minister: According to a government adviser who spoke to Playbook Paris, the French president could not afford to fire Borne until now because the optics of another female prime minister beating Cresson’s unflattering record would be too damaging. It’s anyone’s guess now when Borne will be shown the door, or whether she will manage to save her job by weathering the political crisis, ahead of a crucial decision on the legality of a contentious pension reform expected Friday by the country’s Constitutional Council. After the Macron-Borne duo at the helm of the Fifth Rep...

‘Annoying sideshow’: Hungary frustrates NATO allies 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

Hungary’s blocking of Sweden’s NATO bid is puzzling — and irritating — Western officials. After months of delays, Hungarian legislators signed off on Finland’s NATO accession just before Turkey did. But the country continues to join Turkey in putting off a decision on Sweden.The Hungarian parliament is withholding support for the Swedish bid, it says, because Stockholm has criticized the country’s democratic credentials. Stockholm sits on a “crumbling throne of moral superiority,” a spokesperson for the Hungarian government recently wrote.But behind the scenes, officials and experts say that beyond domestic political calculations, Budapest’s move goes back to its ties to Ankara and Moscow. Western allies take Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán far less seriously than Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, they say. Allies have been struggling to understand Hungary’s ever-changing rhetoric.There is “zero understanding” for Budapest’s position on Sweden’s NATO membe...

Are you not entertained? Macron comments spark global backlash — again

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

Oops, he’s done it again.In an interview on his way back from a state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron set foreign policy circles alight by saying that Europe should avoid being America’s follower — including on the matter of Taiwan’s security.Coming after chummy photo-ops with Chinese President Xi Jinping and as China was unleashing a simulated attack on Taiwan, which the U.S. has pledged to defend, the comments set off a firestorm of reactions, with everyone from Senator Marco Rubio to former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul weighing in.But for people who have followed Macron for years, the episode had a strong feeling of déjà vu. Once again, a bombshell interview prompted a global outcry, followed by attempts to “clarify” or re-translate the French leader’s thinking. It was a repeat of when Macron told The Economist, back in 2019, that NATO was experiencing “brain death,” and of when he insisted on offering R...

Bruins top NHL season points mark, beating Capitals 5-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Brad Marchand and Tyler Bertuzzi had power play goals and the Boston Bruins broke the NHL points record with a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night in their regular-season home finale.Under chants of “We want the Cup!” the Bruins’ won their seventh straight to push their points total to 133, one more than the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Those Canadiens played in an era without overtime and shootouts.The Bruins broke the mark a game after setting the NHL victory’ record with 63 on Sunday at Philadelphia, breaking a tie with the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.Tomas Nosek, Garnet Hathaway and Jake DeBrusk also scored for Boston on Tuesday night in win No. 64.A night after reaching 60 goals in season for the first time, David Pastrnak posted his 50th and 51st assists. Linus Ullmark finished with 19 saves, with left the game with just over nine minutes left with an undisclosed issue. Marchand and Patrice Bergeron added as...

‘Patriots Day’ screening honors life of fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

The stepfather of fallen MIT Police Officer Sean Collier spoke at a special screening of the movie Patriots Day on Tuesday, marking a surreal and somber anniversary 10 years after the Boston Marathon bombing and its immediate afterlife.Ten years since the bombings means ten years since Joe Rodgers lost Collier, his stepson, who was killed during the manhunt for the marathon bombers. “We try to focus on the positive,” Rogers said. “So, we remember Sean and all the things he did and what he meant to us.”Boston’s Fisher College honored Collier’s live with the screening of Patriots Day. The 2016 movie starring Mark Wahlberg is an adaptation of the best-selling book “Boston Strong,” which chronicles the marathon bombing and efforts by law enforcement to track the bombers down. “We began the book project, myself and my co-author Dave Wedge, while the smoke was still rising on Boylston Street and we got a lot of criticism for that,” book author Casey Sherman said. “People said it...

Dansby Swanson exits the Chicago Cubs’ 14-9 win in the 6th inning with tightness in his lower left side

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson’s durability has become intertwined with his game.He started all but one game the last three seasons for the Atlanta Braves, playing more than 3,318 innings at one of the most demanding positions. So some concern is inherent when Swanson pulls himself out of a game.Swanson exited Tuesday’s 14-9 victory against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning because of tightness in his lower left side.Before the inning, Swanson, positioned on the infield grass at the edge of the dirt, made one warmup throw to first baseman Trey Mancini, turned toward the Cubs dugout and signaled he needed to be replaced. The quick sequence was captured by Marquee Sports Network’s camera behind home plate.The game was briefly delayed because Nick Madrigal did not appear to know he needed to enter the game. Nico Hoerner shifted to shortstop and Madrigal took over at second base.Swanson’s four-hit game — his first since July 1 with Atlanta ...

Mets’ bats go cold in loss 4-2 to Padres

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

Down just 2-1 in the top of the ninth against the San Diego Padres, the Mets were still within striking distance. Even after Dennis Santana gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts, the Mets came back in the bottom of the frame, threatening to walk it off.But the comeback fell short when closer Josh Hader got Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ top prospect, to strike out to end the game. The Mets fell 4-2 on Tuesday night at Citi Field, evening the series at 1-1.The Mets cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the ninth when Tommy Pham laced a single up the center to score Pete Alonso and advance Jeff McNeil to third base. But the theme of the game was the Mets’ inability to drive in runs and the ninth-inning theatrics came to an end with a loss.It was a dismal offensive showing for the Mets, who managed only five hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.Making his third start of the season, Peterson (0-2) set himself up for success with good counts and go...

Heat shrink in 116-105 loss to Hawks, now with all-or-nothing Friday game to salvage season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:48:21 GMT

One game, one chance, one night to salvage the season.That is what it has come down to for the Miami Heat.Failing to take advantage of the first of two chances to advance to the NBA playoffs from the play-in tournament, after falling 116-105 Tuesday night to the visiting Atlanta Hawks, it all comes down now to a Friday home game against the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors.“At least we have a lot of experience,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of the type of moment that now follows. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, nothing about this season has been easy. So we’re going to do this the hard way.”Win Friday, and it’s on to the best-of-seven first round of the playoffs starting Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.Lose Friday, and no playoffs, just the lowest seed in next month’s draft lottery for non-playoff teams.“We’re aware of what’s at stake,” guard Tyler Herro s...