World

‘No coherence’: Chinese EU Ambassador blasts von der Leyen’s speech

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2023

‘No coherence’: Chinese EU Ambassador blasts von der Leyen’s speech

A day after delivering a scathing speech on China, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Fee, has been criticised for distorting Chinese language insurance policies and siding with American hard-liners.

Fu Cong, the Chinese language Ambassador to the European Union, provided on Friday the primary official response to the tackle, saying there was “no coherence” in von der Leyen’s views.

“I used to be somewhat bit disenchanted,” Fu Cong advised CGTN, a state-controlled Chinese language media outlet.

“That speech contained loads of misrepresentations and misinterpretations of Chinese language insurance policies and Chinese language positions. And I might say that whoever wrote that speech for President von der Leyen does probably not perceive China or intentionally distorted Chinese language positions.”

In her 40-minute-speech, von der Leyen painted a sober, and at occasions scorching, image of the present state of EU-China relations, describing them as “extra distant and harder,” and immediately accused Beijing of trumping the free-trade order, bullying small-sized international locations, violating human rights, toughening its army standing and ramping up disinformation campaigns.

Her searing tone attracted media consideration and shocked many observers, who’re used to listening to extra average views from EU officers in the case of China.

“These escalatory actions level to a China that’s turning into extra repressive at dwelling and extra assertive overseas,” von der Leyen stated.

“China has now turned the web page on the period of ‘reform and opening’ and is transferring into a brand new period of safety and management.”

Von der Leyen additionally took intention on the ever-closer relation between China and Russia whereas the Ukraine battle rages on.

“China sees Putin’s weak spot as a option to improve its leverage over Russia,” von der Leyen stated.

“And it’s clear that the ability steadiness in that relationship – which for a lot of the final century favoured Russia – has now reversed.”

Regardless of her stinging evaluation, von der Leyen famous the EU merely couldn’t afford a clean-cut breakup with China, and recommended a technique primarily based on “de-risking” fairly than “de-coupling.”

“Our relationships usually are not black or white – and our response can’t be both,” she stated, calling for diplomatic stability and open communication traces.

For Fu Cong, this method displays a “deep-seated ambivalence” and exposes von der Leyen’s worry of being seen as too gentle on China, significantly by her American allies.

“On the one aspect, she realises that it is necessary for Europe and it is within the pursuits of Europe to interact with China. And on the identical time, she’s additionally afraid of the criticism, particularly from hard-liners in Europe and possibly even the USA,” the ambassador stated in his interview with CGTN, edits of which had been shared on Twitter.

“When you learn the speech, you have got the impression as if two individuals (had been) quarrelling with one another, so there isn’t a coherence.”

Von der Leyen’s speech was delivered per week earlier than she is scheduled to journey to China for an official go to alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Notably, the hosts of the occasions through which she spoke had been the European Coverage Centre and the Mercator Institute for China Research (MERICS), the latter of which is underneath Chinese language sanctions.

“We do hope that in her go to to China and her dialogue with the Chinese language leaders, she’s going to be capable to perceive China higher,” Fu Cong stated.

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World

Italian state railways plans 1.3 bln euro investment in solar plant

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Italian state railways plans 1.3 bln euro investment in solar plant

Italian state railways Ferrovie dello Stato plans to invest 1.3 billion euros ($1.36 billion) in a photovoltaic plant with an initial 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity that would cover 19% of its energy needs by 2029, the CEO said in a newspaper interview.

World

Christmas in Puerto Rico is a 45-day celebration with caroling, festive decorations, family feasts and more

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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Christmas in Puerto Rico is a 45-day celebration with caroling, festive decorations, family feasts and more

Christmas, Navidad in Puerto Rico, extends far beyond Dec. 25.

The island proudly proclaims itself as having the “longest holiday season in the world,” according to the website Discover Puerto Rico.

On average, the holiday festivities in Puerto Rico last about 45 days, per the source, commencing right after Thanksgiving, and stretching all the way through mid-January.

The Christmas season in Puerto Rico typically lasts around 45 days. (iStock)

HOW TO SAY ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ IN 10 LANGUAGES TO FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

The holiday season in Puerto Rico is full of rich traditions beloved by families.

One tradition those who visit Puerto Rico will immediately notice during the holiday season is decorations.

In Puerto Rico, decorations are typically put up by Thanksgiving, and kept up until the season concludes in mid-January, with opportune picture moments at every corner.

Parrandas, Christmas caroling, is a holiday staple.

17 SECRET TRAVEL TIPS FOR FALL AND WINTER THAT AREN’T SO SECRET AFTER ALL

Carolers choose houses of family and friends to visit, typically starting around 10 p.m., performing aguinaldos (traditional Christmas songs), with not only their voices, but often with instruments as well, according to Discover Puerto Rico.

The group you begin caroling with is likely not the same group you end with.

In Puerto Rico, when carolers visit a house, they’ll often stop inside for conversation, food and drink before moving to the next residence.

Coquito is a popular beverage enjoyed during the holiday season in Puerto Rico. Coconut, vanilla and rum are among the ingredients. (Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Usually, the residences of the house visited will join the group for the next house, according to Discover Puerto Rico.

CHRISTMAS TREES IN GERMANY WERE DECORATED WITH APPLES INSTEAD OF ORNAMENTS IN THE 1600S FOR ‘ADAM AND EVE DAY’

A night of serenading loved ones can last quite a while, often stretching into the early morning hours of the following day, according to the source.

The biggest day of the holiday season in Puerto Rico actually isn’t Christmas, but instead, the night before.

In Puerto Rico, Dec. 24 is Nochebuena. On that day, loved ones gather for the exchange of gifts, caroling and a large feast.

Many families will also attend a midnight Mass on the day, known as Misa de Gallo.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REVEAL THE SURPRISING DAY TO TRAVEL AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS RUSH

After Christmas passes, the festivities go on in Puerto Rico.

Another big event in the holiday lineup is Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, a holiday that “commemorates the visit that the Three Wise Men paid to Jesus after his birth,” according to Discover Puerto Rico.

On the eve of the day, children fill up a shoebox with grass to be left for camels to munch on while the Three Kings leave behind gifts for them, according to PuertoRico.com.

For a particularly festive Three Kings Day, Juana Díaz is the place to go, as it hosts the largest celebration in Puerto Rico for the holiday. In Juana Díaz, there is an annual festival and parade in honor of Three Kings Day that brings together over 25,000 people every year, according to Discover Puerto Rico.

Gifts are primarily exchanged between loved ones on Christmas Eve in Puerto Rico. (iStock)

Then, eight days later is Octavitas, a post-holiday celebration where families get together and celebrate one last time for the season.

The end of the holiday season is marked with the San Sebastián Street Festival.

This festival, spanning over multiple days, takes place in Old San Juan, and is filled with live music, dancing, shopping and parades.

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital.

World

Small plane crashes into Brazil town popular with tourists, killing 10

Published

4 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Small plane crashes into Brazil town popular with tourists, killing 10

Twin-engine plane crashed in largely residential neighborhood of Gramado shortly after takeoff, authorities say.

A small plane has crashed into a tourist hotspot in southern Brazil, killing all 10 people on board and injuring more than a dozen people on the ground, officials have said.

The twin-engine Piper PA-42-1000 hit the chimney of a home and the second floor of a different house before crashing into a shop in a largely residential neighbourhood of Gramado shortly after takeoff from Canela, Brazil’s Civil Defense agency said on Sunday.

Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite told a news conference that the aircraft’s owner and pilot, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, was killed along with nine members of his family.

Leite said that 17 people on the ground were injured, 12 of whom were still receiving treatment in hospital.

Galeazzi’s company, Galeazzi & Associados, confirmed that its CEO and Galeazzi’s wife and three daughters had died in the crash.

“Luiz Galeazzi will be forever remembered for his dedication to his family and for his remarkable career as a leader of Galeazzi & Associados,” the company said in a post on LinkedIn.

“In this moment of immense pain, Galeazzi & Associados is deeply grateful for the expressions of solidarity and affection received from friends, colleagues and the community. We also sympathize with all those affected by the accident in the region.”

Gramado, located in the Serra Gaucha mountains, is a popular destination for vacationers, especially during the Christmas season.

The crash comes a little more than a year after Brazil suffered its worst air disaster in nearly two decades when a twin-engine plane crashed in the southeastern city of Vinhedo, killing all 62 people on board.