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Woman dies after being set on fire on New York subway

Getty Images Police investigate at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn after a woman aboard a subway car was set on fire and diedGetty Images
Police were called to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn after a woman on a subway car was set on fire

A suspect has been arrested in New York over the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being".

She said the woman was sleeping on a stationary F train to Brooklyn when she was approached by the suspect who used a lighter to ignite her clothing.

The victim died at the scene, she said, adding that the suspect had been taken into custody after he was detained on another subway train.

Police said the woman, who has not been named, was sleeping in a subway carriage at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn at about 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when a man approached her.

There was no interaction before the attack, police said, adding that they did not believe the two people knew each other.

The man got off the train as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the fire.

"What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames," Ms Tisch said.

Police are still working to identify the victim and the motive for the attack.

Saudi warnings about market attack suspect were ignored

EPA A man mourns at the mourning site in front of St. John's Church following a vehicle-ramming attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany,  22 December 2024EPA
People have been leaving floral tributes for the victims of Friday's attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany

The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible".

Inside the imposing sand coloured and fortress-like walls of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh there is a perhaps justifiable sense of pique.

The ministry previously warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen's extremist views.

It sent four so-called "Notes Verbal", three of them to Germany's intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin. There was, the Saudis say, no response.

Part of the explanation for this may lie in the fact that Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was granted asylum by Germany in 2016, one year after the former Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to let in more than a million migrants from the Middle East, and 10 years after al-Abdulmohsen had taken up residence in Germany.

Coming from a country where Islam is the only religion permitted to be practiced in public, al-Abdulmohsen was a very unusual citizen.

He had turned his back on Islam, making himself a heretic in the eyes of many.

Born in the Saudi date palm oasis town of Hofuf in 1974, little is known about his early life before he decided to leave Saudi Arabia and move to Europe aged 32.

Active on social media, on his Twitter (later X) account he labels himself as both a psychiatrist and founder of Saudi rights movement, together with the tag @SaudiExMuslims.

He founded a website aimed at helping Saudi women flee their country to Europe.

The Saudis say he was a people trafficker and the Ministry of Interior's investigators, the Mabaatheth, are said to have an extensive file on him.

There have been reports in recent years of dissident Saudis coming under hostile surveillance from Saudi government agents, in Canada, the US and in Germany.

There is no question that the German authorities, both federal and state, have made some serious errors of omission in the case of al-Abdulmohsen.

Whatever their reasons for not responding, as the Saudis claim, to the repeated warnings about his extremism, he was clearly a danger to his adopted host country.

There is also, separately, the failure to close off, or at least guard, the emergency access route to Magdeburg Alter Markt that allowed him to allegedly drive his BMW into the crowds.

German authorities have defended the market's layout and said an investigation into the suspect's past is ongoing.

But a complicating factor here is that Saudi Arabia, although considered a friend and ally of the West, has a poor human rights record.

Until June 2018 Saudi women were forbidden to drive and even those women who publicly called for that ban to be lifted before then have been persecuted and imprisoned.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, still only in his 30s, just, is immensely popular in his own country.

Reuters Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2024Reuters
The Saudi crown prince pictured in Riyadh during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October

While Western leaders largely distanced themselves from him after his alleged involvement in the grisly murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which the crown prince denies, at home his star is still in the ascendant.

Under his de-facto rule, Saudi public life has transformed for the better, with men and women allowed to associate freely, and cinemas reopening, along with big, spectacular sports and entertainment events, even gigs performed by Western artists like David Guetta and the Black Eyed Peas.

But there is a paradox here.

While Saudi public life has flourished there has been a simultaneous crackdown on anything that even hints at more political or religious freedom.

Harsh prison sentences of 10 years or more have been handed down for simple tweets.

No-one is permitted to even question the way the country is run.

It is against this backdrop that Germany appears to have dropped the ball with Taleb al-Abdulmohsen.

Slovak PM meets Putin in unannounced Moscow visit

EPA Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (L) during their meeting at the Kremlin in MoscowEPA
Robert Fico has previously reiterated his opposition to the West's policy of arming Ukraine

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin - becoming only the third Western leader to meet the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Fico - a vocal critic of the European Union's support for Kyiv in the war - said they discussed supplies of Russian gas to Slovakia - which his country relies on.

A deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom to transit energy through Ukraine to Slovakia is due to expire at the end of this year.

"Top EU officials were informed about my journey and its purpose... on Friday," Fico wrote on Facebook.

Fico said the meeting in Moscow was a reaction to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telling EU leaders that Ukraine remains opposed to Russian gas being piped through its territory.

The Slovakian PM, who survived being shot earlier this year, also said he had a "long conversation" with Putin and the two "exchanged views on the military situation in Ukraine".

Both discussed "the possibilities of an early, peaceful end of the war" and mutual relations between Russia and Slovakia, Fico wrote on Facebook.

Slovakia and Hungary, which both depend on Russian gas, have raised concerns about the prospect of supplies being interrupted.

In October 2023, when Fico became prime minister again, he ended Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine.

But, he has insisted he wants to be a "good, friendly neighbour" to Ukraine.

Fico's meeting with Putin came as the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Greece and Finland met on Sunday for a security summit.

Speaking afterwards, Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Russia was a "permanent and dangerous threat" to the EU.

He also stressed the need for increased defence spending and support for Ukraine.

特朗普暗示TikTok短期不会遭禁


2024-12-23T12:08:28.697Z

(德国之声中文网)特朗普是在亚利桑那州凤凰城对一群保守派支持者发表上述言论的。这也是他迄今为止在TikTok是否应退出美国市场问题上最为明确的表态。

今年四月,美国参议院通过一项法律,以保障国家安全为由,要求TikTok的母公司“字节跳动”同该应用进行剥离

特朗普:至少应允许TikTok在美国继续运营一段时间。

TikTok持有者则希望推翻这一法律,美国最高法院也同意就此案展开听证。而一旦法庭做出不利于“字节跳动”的判决,那么,特朗普正式出任总统前一天,即1月19日,TikTok将在美国被禁止使用。

至于特朗普届时是否以及会如何撤销此前参议院以压倒多数通过的该项法案,目前尚不清楚。特朗普在“美国节”集会上对支持者表示:“我认为,我们必须重新对此问题进行思考,因为大家知道,我们使用了TikTok,并获得了数以十亿计的热烈反响。

特朗普说:“他们带给我一张流量统计,数据看上去非常之好,因此我说,我们也许可以让这个家伙继续保留一段时间。”

周一,特朗普同TikTok首席执行官举行了会谈。稍后他在新闻发布会上表示,他对TikTok很“热心”。因为此前他的竞选活动在这个社媒平台上取得了成功。

今年一月,TikTok首席执行官周受资在美国参议院接受问询。

美国司法部此前曾表示,由于TikTok是受中国控制的,因此对美国国家安全构成了持久性的威胁。这一立场也获得了大多数议员的支持。

TikTok则表示,美国司法部对该社媒软件同中国的关系进行了错误的阐述,并强调该平台的用户数据以及内容推送机制都是在美国甲骨文公司的云端完成的,而内容管理的决定也同样是在美国境内做出的。

(路透社)

© 2024年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。

特朗普上任之初即退出世界卫生组织?


2024-12-23T11:21:13.604Z
特朗普同指定的美卫生部长小肯尼迪

(德国之声中文网)《金融时报》22日报导,特朗普团队希望促成在他就职第一天,让美国退出世界卫生组织(WHO)。此消息来自多位专家,他们从新政府交接团队口中听闻这样的打算。

曾任拜登政府新冠疫情应变协调官的扎哈(Ashish Jha)透露,"新政府内部很多人不相信世卫,希望在第一天就象征性地展现出态度,表明他们不玩了"。

特朗普此前提名疫苗怀疑论者小肯尼迪(Robert F Kennedy)为美国卫生部长,美国退出世卫的可能性由此再度浮上台面。不过,乔治城法律学院公卫学者高斯丁(Lawrence Gostin)说,特朗普本人的思考是否跟他的团队契合,把此事当成首要之务,目前还很难说。

截止到发稿,特朗普团队未直接正式回应此事,世卫亦未置评。不过,世卫秘书长谭德塞(Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus)本月曾表示,希望能跟美国决策人士合作,"我相信美国领导阶层理解,美国不可能安全,除非世界其他地方也都安全"。

扎哈示警:"如果不参与这些组织,那下一次疫情爆发的时候,你就很难密切关注情况。"

高斯丁则形容,美国若真的退出,将对全球公卫体系带来"灾难性"的打击。随着世卫失去最大的资金来源,"留下巨大的资金真空和领导空窗,在我看来没人能填补缺口"。随着WTO预算减少,可能难以有效应对紧急公卫事件,甚至不得不大幅削减科学研发人员。

此外,高斯丁认为,欧洲国家不太可能积极增加给世卫的资金,反而是中国会尝试施加更多影响力,"美国退出会把领导权拱手让给中国,这不是明智之举"。

(金融时报等)

© 2024年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。

Woman dies after being set on fire on New York subway

Getty Images Police investigate at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn after a woman aboard a subway car was set on fire and diedGetty Images
Police were called to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station in Brooklyn after a woman on a subway car was set on fire

A suspect has been arrested in New York over the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident on Sunday as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being".

She said the woman was sleeping on a stationary F train to Brooklyn when she was approached by the suspect who used a lighter to ignite her clothing.

The victim died at the scene, she said, adding that the suspect had been taken into custody after he was detained on another subway train.

Police said the woman, who has not been named, was sleeping in a subway carriage at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn at about 07:30 local time (12:30 GMT) when a man approached her.

There was no interaction before the attack, police said, adding that they did not believe the two people knew each other.

The man got off the train as police officers on patrol in the station rushed to the fire.

"What they saw was a person standing inside the train car fully engulfed in flames," Ms Tisch said.

Police are still working to identify the victim and the motive for the attack.

Saudi warnings about market attack suspect were ignored

EPA A man mourns at the mourning site in front of St. John's Church following a vehicle-ramming attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany,  22 December 2024EPA
People have been leaving floral tributes for the victims of Friday's attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany

The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible".

Inside the imposing sand coloured and fortress-like walls of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh there is a perhaps justifiable sense of pique.

The ministry previously warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen's extremist views.

It sent four so-called "Notes Verbal", three of them to Germany's intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin. There was, the Saudis say, no response.

Part of the explanation for this may lie in the fact that Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was granted asylum by Germany in 2016, one year after the former Chancellor Angela Merkel threw open her country's borders to let in more than a million migrants from the Middle East, and 10 years after al-Abdulmohsen had taken up residence in Germany.

Coming from a country where Islam is the only religion permitted to be practiced in public, al-Abdulmohsen was a very unusual citizen.

He had turned his back on Islam, making himself a heretic in the eyes of many.

Born in the Saudi date palm oasis town of Hofuf in 1974, little is known about his early life before he decided to leave Saudi Arabia and move to Europe aged 32.

Active on social media, on his Twitter (later X) account he labels himself as both a psychiatrist and founder of Saudi rights movement, together with the tag @SaudiExMuslims.

He founded a website aimed at helping Saudi women flee their country to Europe.

The Saudis say he was a people trafficker and the Ministry of Interior's investigators, the Mabaatheth, are said to have an extensive file on him.

There have been reports in recent years of dissident Saudis coming under hostile surveillance from Saudi government agents, in Canada, the US and in Germany.

There is no question that the German authorities, both federal and state, have made some serious errors of omission in the case of al-Abdulmohsen.

Whatever their reasons for not responding, as the Saudis claim, to the repeated warnings about his extremism, he was clearly a danger to his adopted host country.

There is also, separately, the failure to close off, or at least guard, the emergency access route to Magdeburg Alter Markt that allowed him to allegedly drive his BMW into the crowds.

German authorities have defended the market's layout and said an investigation into the suspect's past is ongoing.

But a complicating factor here is that Saudi Arabia, although considered a friend and ally of the West, has a poor human rights record.

Until June 2018 Saudi women were forbidden to drive and even those women who publicly called for that ban to be lifted before then have been persecuted and imprisoned.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, still only in his 30s, just, is immensely popular in his own country.

Reuters Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on as he meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2024Reuters
The Saudi crown prince pictured in Riyadh during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in October

While Western leaders largely distanced themselves from him after his alleged involvement in the grisly murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, which the crown prince denies, at home his star is still in the ascendant.

Under his de-facto rule, Saudi public life has transformed for the better, with men and women allowed to associate freely, and cinemas reopening, along with big, spectacular sports and entertainment events, even gigs performed by Western artists like David Guetta and the Black Eyed Peas.

But there is a paradox here.

While Saudi public life has flourished there has been a simultaneous crackdown on anything that even hints at more political or religious freedom.

Harsh prison sentences of 10 years or more have been handed down for simple tweets.

No-one is permitted to even question the way the country is run.

It is against this backdrop that Germany appears to have dropped the ball with Taleb al-Abdulmohsen.

Morrisons discount cards not working and Christmas deliveries delayed

Getty Images The exterior of a Morrisons on a sunny day, with the logo prominentGetty Images

Morrisons customers have been unable to get discounts on their shopping ahead of Christmas after a problem with the More loyalty card.

The supermarket has been advertising heavy discounts on Christmas dinner food, including vegetables, in the last week.

But social media users say their discounts are not working at the till, with one person posting a photo of an error message at the self-checkout, which reads: "We are really sorry some promotions and discounts are not working at this time."

The Morrisons website also appears to be down, with a "502 bad gateway" error message on some pages.

Morrisons has been contacted for comment.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

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Good news for Christmas travellers as weather improves ahead of final rush

Getty Images Cars on M4 motorway near Tata Steel Port Talbot in south WalesGetty Images

Weather conditions are improving across the UK ahead of the final Christmas travel rush and last-minute shopping dash.

Almost all weather warnings which had been in place have now been lifted, after the weekend saw strong winds cause flight cancellations and widespread rail delays.

The disruption included a plane suffering an emergency incident at Belfast City Airport on Sunday evening, when its nose wheel appeared to break during landing in stormy conditions. The runway reopened on Monday morning.

The Met Office has forecast a "grey Christmas" with "extremely mild" temperatures for most in the coming days - ruling out any prospect of a white Christmas for the majority of the country.

It comes after parts of the UK were hit by chilly temperatures and 50-60mph winds on Saturday and Sunday - with the strongest gust recorded in South Uist on the Western Isles clocking in at 82mph.

But the travel picture looks far more straightforward for those making journeys today or on Tuesday.

While Heathrow Airport was forced to cancel around 100 flights on Sunday due to the conditions, a spokesperson said it was "business as usual" on Monday.

And National Rail was not reporting any widespread issues on Monday morning, though there were some isolated problems around Inverness, Portsmouth and Southsea.

Ferry customers are still being warned of ongoing disruption on some routes operating from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

A yellow weather warning for ice will remain in place for parts of northern Scotland until 10:00 GMT on Monday.

Temperatures are expected to improve "considerably" in the final run-up to Christmas Day, with sunshine forecast in some areas.

Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said "temperatures will be well above average" in England in Wales, though it will be overcast for many.

Christmas Eve is forecast to hit an average temperature of 12C or 13C, while Christmas Day is expected to be 11C or 12C.

"The usual average for this time of year is 7C or 8C so we'll be around double where we usually are," he added.

Hollywood stars support Blake Lively over legal complaint

Getty Images America Ferrara, who has long black hair, next to Blake Lively, who has long blonde hair, on Good Morning America back in 2008Getty Images

Hollywood stars America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel have publicly backed US actress Blake Lively after she filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.

Ms Lively filed the legal complaint over the weekend against Mr Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and a campaign to "destroy" her reputation.

Mr Baldoni's legal team told the BBC on Saturday that the allegations are "categorically false".

Ferrera, Tamblyn and Biedel, who starred with Lively in 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, issued a joint statement on Instagram on Sunday saying they "stand with her in solidarity".

Coleen Hoover, the author of It Ends With Us, also showed her support, describing Ms Lively as "honest, kind, supportive and patient".

Lawyers for Ms Lively say the legal complaint follows a meeting earlier this year to address "repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behaviour" by Baldoni, her co-star and a producer on the movie.

In their statement, Ferrera, Tamblyn and Biedel said: "As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation.

"Throughout the filming of It Ends with Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice."

Getty Images Blake Lively, Alexis Biedel, America Ferrara and Amber Tamblyn cosy up for a group photo at New York's MTV Studios in 2008Getty Images
L to R: Blake Lively, Alexis Biedel, America Ferrara and Amber Tamblyn

They added: "Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.

"We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment," the statement added.

"We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others."

Lawyers for Mr Baldoni said they hired a crisis manager because Ms Lively had threatened to derail the film unless her demands were met.

In the drama It Ends With Us, Ms Lively plays a woman who finds herself in a relationship with a charming but abusive boyfriend, played by Mr Baldoni.

In a post to her Instagram stories, Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel on which the film was based, also voiced her support: "@BlakeLively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met.

"Thank you for being exactly the human that you are.

"Never change. Never wilt."

She then linked to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine.

Hoover also re-posted the statement from Ferrara, Biedel and Tamblyn, adding: "This statement from these women and Blake's ability to refuse to sit down and 'be buried' has been nothing short of inspiring."

The meeting between Ms Lively and Mr Baldoni, together with others involved in the movie's production plus Ms Lively's actor husband Ryan Reynolds, took place on 4 January 2024, and it aimed to address "the hostile work environment" on set, according to Ms Lively's legal filing.

Mr Baldoni attended the meeting in his capacity as co-chairman and co-founder of the company that produced the film, Wayfarer Studios. He was also the film's director.

In the legal complaint, Ms Lively's lawyers allege that both Mr Baldoni and the Wayfarer chief executive officer, Jamey Heath, engaged in "inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour towards Ms Lively and others on the set of It Ends With Us".

In the filing to the California Civil Rights Department, a list of 30 demands relating to the pair's alleged misconduct was made at the meeting to ensure they could continue to produce the film.

Among them, Ms Lively requested that there be no more mention of Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath's previous "pornography addiction" to Ms Lively or to other crew members, no more descriptions of their own genitalia to Ms Lively, and "no more adding of sex scenes, oral sex, or on camera climaxing by BL [Blake Lively] outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project", says the complaint.

Ms Lively also demanded that Mr Baldoni stop saying he could speak to her dead father.

Getty Images Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively on the set of It Ends With US. They are mid-conversation. Baldoni is wearing all black. Lively has a brown dress on with an orange shirt over the top.Getty Images

Ms Lively's legal team further accuse Mr Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of leading a "multi-tiered plan" to wreck her reputation.

She alleges this was "the intended result of a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath created".

Responding to the legal complaint, Mr Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said on Saturday: "It is shameful that Ms Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives."

Mr Freedman accused Ms Lively of making numerous demands and threats, including "threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film", which would end up "ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met".

He alleged that Ms Lively's claims were "intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media".

In a statement via her attorneys to the BBC, Ms Lively said: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."

She also denied that she or any of her representatives had planted or spread negative information about Mr Baldoni or Wayfarer.

The film was a box-office hit, although some critics said it romanticised domestic violence.

Cadbury loses royal warrant after 170 years

Matt Cardy/Getty Images A large slab of several squares of Cadbury chocolate.Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Cadbury was granted its first royal warrant under Queen Victoria in 1854

Chocolate maker Cadbury has been dropped from the list of royal warrants for the first time in 170 years.

The Birmingham-based chocolatier was awarded its first royal warrant as chocolate and cocoa manufacturers by Queen Victoria in 1854, but it has lost its royal endorsement under King Charles.

The King has granted royal warrants to 386 companies that previously held warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, including John Lewis, Heinz and Nestle.

Companies holding the Royal Warrant of Appointment, granted for up to five years, are recognised for providing goods or services to the monarchy.

Among the King's list of warrant holders are many firms selling food and drink, such as Moet and Chandon, Weetabix and chocolate makers Bendicks and Prestat Ltd.

Warrant holders are allowed to use the coat of arms of the royal they are associated with on packaging, as part of advertising or on stationery.

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'Cheeeeese... meet the man behind Wallace's new voice'

BBC/Aardman Animations/Richard Davies/Stuart Collis Wallace & Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl, running away from something with Wallace holding a torchBBC/Aardman Animations/Richard Davies/Stuart Collis
Wallace & Gromit in Vengeance Most Fowl

If you asked TV viewers to name a favourite double act, chances are the two stars of Vengeance Most Fowl would be close to the top of the list.

It's Wallace & Gromit's first major appearance in over a decade, and the first film not to feature the voice of Peter Sallis as the cheese-loving inventor.

"It has been quite emotional [doing this production] since we lost Peter, he was such an original, unique voice," says Nick Park of Sallis, who died in 2017 at the age of 96.

"So it's very hard for anyone to step into his shoes. But we have been blessed with a youngish actor whom we've known for many years who can do a fantastic Wallace impersonation.

"He's stepped in very kindly, and is just great. It's hard to tell them apart."

PA Media The original voice of Wallace, Peter Sallis with Nick Park in 2008PA Media
The original voice of Wallace, Peter Sallis with Nick Park in 2008

Take a bow, Ben Whitehead - the 47-year-old actor and voice artist says he feels honoured to be taking on the role. But also admits to feeling a degree of pressure.

"Enormous pressure!" he tells the BBC.

"Because it's a very popular character. I got to work with Peter [Sallis] a couple of times for [2005's] The Curse of the Were-Rabbit film.

"So yeah, there's a great deal of pressure with that. And I feel very grateful to Aardman for giving me so much time to build the character.

"You kind of have to do the 'hmm' and the 'hee-hee'," he continues - demonstrating some Wallace-isms that sound indistinguishable from Peter Sallies's Yorkshire tones.

"Definitely the elongation of the vowels like 'cheeeeese'!"

Why return now?

Fans have been clamouring for more from the plasticine pair for years. So why now?

"Whenever we've done talks around the world, the last question is always, 'When is the next Wallace & Gromit film?', explains Park. "The last time we did that I just came home burning with this idea that's been around for years."

The idea was - what if Wallace created a pre-programmed, voice-controlled smart Gnome.

Enter Norbot, but of course regular viewers of Wallace & Gromit will be unsurprised to learn that the inventor's well-intentioned idea, as usual, ends up causing mayhem.

Aardman Animations Wallace & Gromit with the smart gnome NorbotAardman Animations
In Vengeance Most Fowl Wallace & Gromit are joined by smart gnome Norbot

This isn't the only familiar element to appear in this latest story.

This new adventure also features an old villain, the criminal mastermind Feathers McGraw, a chicken-impersonating-penguin whom Wallace & Gromit - mostly Gromit - defeated in 1993's The Wrong Trousers.

BBC/Aardman Animations/Richard Davies/Stuart Collis Feathers McGrawBBC/Aardman Animations/Richard Davies/Stuart Collis
Feathers McGraw is back

"Whenever we're out and about talking about the future of Wallace & Gromit, the single most asked question is 'when will Feathers be back?", says Merlin Crossingham, who directs Vengeance Most Fowl alongside Nick Park.

"Everybody loves a villain, it's often said your film is only as good as its villain, [so it] seemed a perfect opportunity to bring Feathers back for this story."

Aardman Animations Directors Merlin Crossingham and Nick Park on one of the film's setsAardman Animations
Directors Merlin Crossingham and Nick Park on one of the film's sets

Wallace & Gromit were first introduced to audiences with 1989's A Grand Day Out. Since then their adventures have involved everything from malfunctioning clothing to mysterious were-rabbits.

"I think Wallace & Gromit have so many facets to their relationship," says Crossingham.

"They are best pals. They're kind of partners in crime, they're man and dog. And hopefully in the films, their stories, and their relationship everybody young and old relates to them.

"I truly think it's that relatability, not just of their simplicity of lifestyle from which madness erupts.

"But everybody somewhere in the stories connects with them on some level.

"And I think that what Nick has created, right back at the beginning with A Grand Day Out, has really struck a chord with people."

'Christmas day ratings battle'

The last time a new Wallace & Gromit adventure went out on Christmas Day was in 2008 with A Matter of Loaf and Death. It was day's most-watched show, with more than 16 million viewers tuning in.

It was also the most-watched show of the entire year.

While it's still possible that it could repeat that feat, it's up against some extremely tough competition.

"Bring it on, Gavin & Stacey!" jokes Crossingham, acknowledging the huge popularity of the Essex and Barry-based comedy, whose finale also goes out on Christmas Day.

However while Gavin & Stacey might be reaching its conclusion, this definitely isn't a finale for Wallace & Gromit.

"[It's] certainly not the end," says Nick Park. "I think there's plenty of bounce still in their bungee.

"We'll carry on. There's always ideas worth kicking about."

"Give us a minute though," Interjects Merlin. "They take a while to make!"

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is on BBC One at 18.10 on Christmas Day.

Unsealed crates reveal forgotten funfair dreamed up by art legends

© Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC Children and adults pile onto  Keith Haring’s carousel in Hamburg as others watch on.© Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

Children played on fairground rides designed by the world's greatest artists for a single summer before they disappeared for decades.

The attractions were part of the world's first art funfair - Luna Luna - dreamed up by little-known Austrian creative André Heller in the 1970s, featuring a carousel by Keith Haring, a Ferris wheel by Jean-Michel Basquiat and a David Hockney pavilion.

Visitors could wander Roy Lichtenstein's hall of mirrors and marvel at Salvador Dali's fun dome, sampling biscuits decorated by artist Gertie Frölich as actors dressed as nuns and flamingos milled about.

A successful attraction for months, plans for a grand European tour formed - but when they later fell through, an extensive legal battle ensued and the rides were shut down, disassembled and packed away, forgotten.

Until now.

Luna Luna is unwrapped

American entrepreneur Michael Goldberg stumbled across Luna Luna on an art blog. He'd never heard of it, despite some of the art world's biggest names contributing. Neither, to his surprise, had his friends in the industry.

"Everyone asked me what I was talking about," he said. "Something seemed a little odd."

'In love' with the fair, Goldberg wrote to Heller, introducing himself and proposing a new iteration of the Austrian's original dream.

The two slowly built a rapport and Heller revealed that the attractions had been stored in 44 shipping containers in Austin, Texas since their disassembly.

Opening in 1987, Luna Luna was a colourful success for three months. Its run was extended twice due to high demand, but while trying to fund a European tour, Heller fell into debt and sold the fair to an American foundation.

© Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC A young David Hockney smokes a cigarette as he paints a blue and red structure with someone peering over his shoulder. © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC
Artist David Hockney works on a model of his Enchanted Tree pavilion in Los Angeles, California, the year before Luna Luna first opened.

The foundation tried to back out of the deal - "buyers remorse", according to Goldberg - but eventually went through with it. For the duration of the years-long battle and the new ownership, however, the rides were kept in storage.

Decades since Luna Luna was packed away, Goldberg rallied a team of investors to buy what might be left of the exhibition from the foundation - sight unseen.

His key investor? Global rap star Drake, via his investment and entertainment business DreamCrew.

"The idea of restoring something so rich in cultural history outweighed the risks and for us, it wasn't about guarantees," Anthony Gonzales, CEO of DreamCrew, told the BBC.

The New York Times estimated they paid $100m (about £80m). The Guardian reported the sum at $1m. Goldberg did not disclose the final price to the BBC.

© Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC Two performers dressed as flamingos touch beaks at the center of a crowd.© Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC
Performers dressed as flamingos and nuns walked among visitors at Luna Luna in 1987.

When he opened the first of the containers, Goldberg started to sweat. Luna Luna's original merchandise had been torn to shreds.

"Did I just lead a group to spend millions of dollars on a pile of dust artwork that essentially rotted away?" he wondered.

It was a sleepless night.

But the next day, as more paper was removed from a second container, the light caught a toffee-apple-red handlebar to Haring's carousel, then the white floorboards of Basquiat's Ferris wheel, which "could have been painted days ago". It was a moment of "instant relief", said Goldberg.

The return of Luna Luna

Unearthing the artwork wasn't the hardest part of Luna Luna's revival.

Brad Gooch, author of recent official Haring biography, Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring, saw Luna Luna being reconstructed, describing the feat as "mind boggling."

"It was like a giant Lego with no instruction kit," he said.

A crew of artists, carnival technicians, curators and architects worked together to meticulously rebuild Luna Luna for two years before its grand reopening in LA this March.

Now, Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy has come to a Midtown Manhattan art and theatre complex, The Shed. The fair is on display alongside exhibits detailing its surreal curation process.

Brian Ferry courtesy of Luna Luna LLC Visitors to Luna Luna's exhibits are blurred as they rush past the rides.Brian Ferry courtesy of Luna Luna LLC
Performers dressed in costumes by art collective Poncili Creación mingle with crowds at Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy in New York.

Alex Poots, creative co-founder of The Shed, described the journey as a "Raiders of the Lost Ark story", in reference to the film, praising Heller's ability to commission artists of such high calibre while finding a format appealing to "art lovers and yet to be art lovers."

"That is a holy grail kind of pursuit," he added.

Most of the original rides are now housed in a towering 17,000-square foot space. There, exhibition-goers can "marry" one another in Heller's Wedding Chapel - originally a form of protest art against anti-LGBTQ marriage laws of the 80s.

Hockney's Enchanted Tree Pavilion still smells faintly sweet, as if stampeding children once crushed fallen popcorn into its floor.

Goldberg's wish to incorporate "today's greatest artists" is fulfilled with a soundtrack by modern musicians André 3000, Jamie xx and Jockstrap echoing around the space.

Drake isn't involved day-to-day but, "he is passionate about Luna Luna and has provided his full support since the beginning," Gonzales said.

All the fun of the fair?

There's one big difference between 1987's Luna Luna and today's: Children aren't allowed on the rides.

Basquiat's Ferris Wheel and Kenny Scharf's swing ride are display-only. So too (thankfully) is Manfred Deix's Palace of the Winds in which performers originally farted into microphones.

Haring biographer Gooch doesn't think the artist would have approved of children just watching his carousel turn.

"I can't imagine he would allow it," he said. "He was pretty insistent about interactivity of children with art, and this was art that was specifically made for them."

BBC/Ottilie Mitchell Keith Haring's carousel with bold cartoon figures is in close up.BBC/Ottilie Mitchell
Keith Haring's cartoon-covered carousel spins without riders from time to time at the New York exhibition of Luna Luna.

Poots, who played a significant role in coordinating the interdisciplinary side of the exhibition said of the decision: "They're priceless works of art now."

But he champions the possibility of audiences becoming "part of this moving exhibition" through the "carnival-esque environment with performance artists with light, with sound".

It has been a career-long mission of Poots not "to create these silos for elites".

He added that ticket prices, criticised by some as being too high, are "pretty reasonable" as the show cost "millions and millions of dollars to install".

Among the families wandering around The Shed on Thanksgiving weekend were Raemy Suwatson and her 11-year-old daughter, who learned she wouldn't be able to go on the rides the morning of their visit.

Haring's carousel was her favourite. "I wanted to ride it" she said, then added "but it was also cool to watch".

© Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna LLC Luna Luna's rides and attractions from a birds eye view sit in a field.© Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna LLC
Luna Luna was originally held in a field in Hamburg before the rides went into storage.

The show is running from 20 November to 23 February, and will tour after it leaves The Shed. Ticket prices range from $44 for an adult to $241 for a Super Moon pass that allows buyers to skip lines. Children's tickets start at $25.

被告人黄文以危险方法危害公共安全案一审宣判

新华社

2024年12月23日,湖南省常德市中级人民法院公开审理被告人黄文以危险方法危害公共安全案,对被告人黄文以以危险方法危害公共安全罪判处死刑,缓期二年执行,剥夺政治权利终身。

法院经审理查明:被告人黄文因投资亏损、与家人矛盾等原因,为发泄个人情绪,于2024年11月19日7时37分许,驾驶汽车在湖南省常德市鼎城区玉霞街道双潭路附近,加速、连续冲撞小学生等人群,并在车辆因故障停驶后持械下车攻击群众,被当场抓获。黄文的犯罪行为致7人轻伤、16人轻微伤、7人轻微伤以下损伤,其中包含18名小学生,使公私财产遭受重大损失。

常德市中级人民法院经审理认为,被告人黄文的行为构成以危险方法危害公共安全罪。黄文选择不特定多数的无辜小学生作为主要作案对象,犯罪动机卑劣,主观恶性极深;选择人流集中的地段、学生入校高峰时段,驾车冲撞人群,犯罪情节极其恶劣;犯罪行为造成多人受伤,使公私财产遭受重大损失,给被害人及在校学生、周边群众造成心理创伤,严重危害公共安全,扰乱社会秩序,造成恶劣影响,社会危害极大,应依法惩处。法庭遂作出上述判决。

河南“法官遭报复杀害”案一审宣判

央视新闻客户端

12月23日,河南省安阳市中级人民法院对党志军犯故意杀人罪一案进行一审公开宣判,以故意杀人罪判处被告人党志军死刑,剥夺政治权利终身。

事件回顾

2024年8月7日傍晚,河南漯河市郾城区法院立案庭副庭长、一级法官王佳佳被犯罪嫌疑人党某某行凶报复,不幸遇害。

据漯河市郾城区公安机关侦查:

2024年8月7日18时26分,公安机关接报,某小区地下停车场负二层电梯口处有人被刺伤,公安机关立即赶赴现场,发现郾城区法院王佳佳法官颈部被刀割伤,已无生命体征。经查看相关录像,行凶者系王佳佳法官所办道路交通事故损害赔偿案件的原告党某某(男,50岁,漯河市郾城区居民,未婚)。

2024年8月8日3时许,公安机关在党某某家中将其抓获,被抓获时党某某已畏罪服毒,处于昏迷状态,经送医治疗无生命危险。

经上级法院组织对党某某起诉的道路交通事故损害赔偿案件进行评查,该案审理和判决情况如下:

2024年4月4日,党某某驾驶的两轮电动车(购于2021年,价格1800元)与李某某驾驶的小型客车发生轻度碰撞,造成党某某左踝关节处、左腕关节处轻微损伤。经交警部门事故责任认定,李某某负事故全责,党某某无责任。

因双方和解未成,2024年7月4日,党某某向郾城区法院提起诉讼,请求判令被告李某某和李某某投保的某财产保险公司赔偿其医疗费等各种损失18832.93元,经党某某申请,当地司法局为其指定了援助律师。

此案由王佳佳法官承办,经公开开庭审理,根据党某某在交通事故责任认定书上签字确认的损失范围以及双方提供的证据,对党某某主张的医疗费、施救费等损失全部予以支持;

因其住院29天中的后14天并未实际住院,医嘱仅开具1盒口服止痛胶囊和3盒外用消痛贴膏,结合交警部门认定党某某伤势轻微及被告的答辩意见,故酌定按15天计算住院伙食补助费、营养费、护理费、误工费、交通费;

对缺乏证据证明的其他财产损失请求依法不予支持。

遂于7月23日判令某财产保险公司在交强险责任限额内赔偿党某某各项损失9384.89元。

判决后,党某某对王佳佳法官未全部支持其诉讼请求心生不满,未通过法定程序寻求解决,于8月7日18时左右持凶器进入王佳佳法官居住的小区地下车库伺机作案,实施上述犯罪行为。

【CDT报告汇】AEP:中式人工智能充满党性,政治审查严重(外二篇)

编者按:《CDT报告汇》栏目收录和中国言论自由及其他人权问题相关的报告资讯。这些报告的来源多种多样,包括机构调查、学术研究、媒体报道和网民汇集等等。也欢迎读者向我们推荐值得关注的报告。

CDT 档案卡
标题:【CDT报告汇】AEP:中式人工智能充满党性,政治审查严重(外二篇)
作者:中国数字时代
发表日期:2024.12.22
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

中国数字时代本周推荐媒体:

自由娜拉NORA:是一个缘起于“铁链女事件”民间行动的独立媒体,持续关注和监测中国人口贩运和精神障碍权益的最新新闻和政策动向,推动相关问题的政策倡导、学术交流和公共传播。

一、AEP:中国人工智能屏蔽真相,散播谎言,咄咄逼人,企图称霸全球

美国非营利组织AEP于12月21日发布了一份研究报告,揭示了中国人工智能(AI)存在积极的政治审查,否认中国侵犯人权的行为,并散播官方谎言做大外宣。

img

报告封面

据悉,AEP全称为“美国优势项目”(The American Edge Project),是一个非盈利组织,由多位美国政界、军界高层人士发起,旨在用技术和创新推动美国经济发展。

该机构测试了中国三大AI模型——腾讯“混元大模型”(Hunyuan-Large)、阿里巴巴“Qwen2-72B-Instruct”,以及清华大学“ChatGLM-4”。他们将这三款AI模型与美国的Grok(X公司)、Llama(Meta)和ChatGPT(OpenAI)对比。结果发现:“美国的AI模型即使面对关于美国历史和领导人的敏感话题,也能提供详细且基于事实的回应,而中国的系统则展现出一致性的审查、扭曲以及迎合中国共产党的叙事。”

具体来讲:

  • 系统性的历史审查: 视频证据显示,中国AI模型主动扭曲重大历史事件。腾讯的混元模型错误声称“在天安门广场抗议活动中没有人死亡”,而ChatGLM则将死亡报道称为“不实”后完全自我审查。观看视频:
  • 人权问题上的错误信息: 在被问及已被记录在案的人权问题时,中国的Qwen2将对维吾尔族镇压的指控称为“毫无根据且虚假”,而Hunyuan则将其视作“公然的政治阴谋”以诋毁中国。美国的模型则提供了详细且基于事实的回应,并引用了国际人权组织的资料。观看视频:
  • 选择性政治审查: 中国的AI系统在政治话题上表现出系统性的偏见——它们可以随意批评西方领导人,但会主动阻止对中国领导人的任何批评。ChatGLM针对拜登总统给出了10条批评意见,但当被问及习近平主席时,却回复“对不起,但我无法满足该请求。”观看视频:

该机构CEO道格·凯利(Doug Kelly)表示:“中国的AI模型系统性地撒谎、审查并歪曲事实,以服务于专制议程——而中国正努力推动这些模型成为全球标准。美国必须在开源和闭源AI开发方面都保持领先,以确保自由与透明——而非审查与控制——塑造我们的全球数字未来。”

此外,报告还发出严厉警告:中国目前正在实施一项规模达1.4万亿美元的技术战略,其中包括通过“一带一路”倡议向155个国家扩展其AI系统。该机构称,其结果可能是中共将其AI技术及意识形态嵌入全球数字基础设施。

最后,报告以一系列建议作为总结,呼吁美国政策制定者加速开发与闭源AI模型的创新,并推广民主技术标准,积极在全球南方争夺技术影响力。

二、西藏研究机构:中国在不丹兴建“跨境村庄”

西藏研究网络“绿松石屋脊”(Turquoise Roof)于12月20日发布了一份报告,称中国截至2023年已经在不丹传统领土上建成了22个跨境村庄和定居点,总计约825平方公里的土地,占不丹总领土面积的2%。

img

报告封面

报告称,中国的这一举措不仅对中不边界谈判产生了重大影响,还在中印地缘政治关系中引发了深远的战略考量。

据悉,这些中国村庄包括19个完整的村庄和3个小型定居点,共计752个住宅区,约2284个住宅单元,可容纳约7000名居民,包括普通移民、边防警察、建筑工人和军人。

其中,报告称中国在不丹西部洞朗高原(杜克拉码)周边地区建了8个村庄。然而,洞朗高原是中印对峙的关键地区,对中国在喜马拉雅地区的战略意义重大。因此,中国当局通过控制这一地区,在与印度的军事博弈中获得优势,同时推动不丹在首都廷布设立中国大使馆。

报告表示,中国对不丹土地的逐步占领通过六个阶段实现:

  1. 1990年代初:派遣牧民进入争议地区,与不丹牧民竞争土地使用权。
  2. 搭建牧民避难所并建立永久住所。
  3. 派遣军队巡逻以支持当地牧民。
  4. 建设军事哨所,后升级为永久性建筑。
  5. 从2004年开始修建连接西藏城镇的公路网络。
  6. 自2016年起,在争议地区建设村庄并迁移居民。

然而,中国并没有停下占领不丹领土的脚步。自2023年初以来,中国新增了7个村庄,使得东北部的住房数量达到此前的三倍以上。这些村庄的建设密度和规模表明,中国已不太可能将其占领地区归还不丹。即使未来达成协议,不丹可能仅能收回部分尚未开发的地区,而中国在东北部和西部的核心占领区域预计将保留在中国控制下。

绿松石屋脊表示:“中国在不丹境内建设跨境村庄的行为为国际社会带来了深刻的警示。这种‘强力外交’手段凸显出较小国家在面对大国机会主义领土要求时的脆弱性。”不丹由于印度的安全关切,始终未能与中国达成有效协议,而中国则利用这一僵局加速其战略推进。2023年3月,不丹似乎无奈接受了中国的大部分谈判条件,表明在中印地缘政治压力下,不丹的谈判空间极为有限。

最后,报告总结称,这种策略不仅影响了中不边界谈判,也为区域内其他领土争议提供了潜在先例,挑战了现行国际边界体系和小国的主权独立性。因此,在全球关注地缘政治平衡的背景下,中国在不丹的行动及其长期后果值得全球关注和警惕。

三、《中英联合声明》40周年,ARTICLE 19发文痛批中国当局失言

今年12月19日是1984年《中英联合声明》签署40周年。言论自由倡导组织“第19条”(ARTICLE 19)当天发文,批评中国当局“背信弃义”,今天已经完全背离了声明中“一国两制”的原则。

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ARTICLE 19全球中国项目负责人迈克尔·卡斯特(Michael Caster)评论称:

40年前,中国向香港及国际社会作出了具有法律约束力的承诺。然而今天,它却系统性地剥夺了其在《联合声明》下所有与人权和基本自由相关的承诺的遗迹。

从2017年起,中国当局声称《联合声明》的大部分条款不再具有约束力,认为其“不具实际意义,也完全没有任何约束力”,只是“一份历史文件”。

然而,ARTICLE 19表示,《联合声明》实际上是一项国际法律协议,自1985年以来就已被注册为具有约束力的条约。其中,《联合声明》明确规定“在香港特别行政区内,法律将确保包括人身自由、言论自由、新闻自由、集会自由、结社自由、旅行和迁徙自由、通信自由、罢工自由、职业选择自由、学术研究自由和宗教信仰自由等在内的权利和自由”。

尽管如此,香港却从一个区域内自由表达的活跃灯塔迅速转变为一个日益接近中国内地的地方,成为世界上言论自由最受压制的环境之一。

ARTICLE 19每年都会发布全球言论自由指数。可是,在过去十年中,香港是下降最严重的地区之一,一共跌落了54分至“危机”等级。在2023年,这一指数显示香港在161个国家和地区中排名第125位。

ARTICLE 19称:“对香港自由的攻击主要来自北京于2020年实施的《国家安全法》和2024年的《维护国家安全条例》。这两项法律在由听命于北京的立法会通过后,成为打压异见的工具。这些法律被用来为大规模逮捕和监禁提供依据,例如2024年11月19日对45名民主派人士的大规模判刑,其中包括法律学者和和平抗议领袖戴耀廷以及学生领袖黄之锋,分别被判处10年至4年的监禁。”

最后,迈克尔·卡斯特(Michael Caster)表示:

通过肆意无视其在《联合声明》中的核心义务,中国逐渐剥夺了“一国两制”所剩无几的理念,以至于香港很快可能与中国大陆这个人权荒漠无异。中国单方面否定其仍然有效的条约义务,这种行为反映了该国对法治的蔑视,以及其对香港相关历史和国际法的系统性歪曲。

国际社会必须与香港团结一致,并加大措施追究中国的责任。

Sending Troops to Help Russia Was North Korea’s Idea, U.S. Officials Say

North Korean troops have now entered Russia’s war with Ukraine in a major way, and some have been killed, Western officials say.

© Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, left, and Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, in a photograph provided by North Korean state media. Mr. Kim has sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia, according to Ukrainian and Western estimates.
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