Latest news with #Duda
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Poland threatens to shut key NATO arms route to Ukraine
Polish President Andrzej Duda has warned that Poland may shut down its critical logistics hub for NATO military aid to Ukraine, expressing frustration over being excluded from key decisions on operations passing through Polish territory, RT reported. Polish President Andrzej Duda also linked the situation to a wider imbalance in Poland's relationship with the US-led NATO bloc. (Bloomberg) Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Duda accused Kyiv and NATO of acting as if Polish infrastructure were their own. "They [Ukraine and NATO] think that the airport in Rzeszów and our highways belong to them, as if they're theirs. Well, they're not. They're ours," the president said, according to RT. The Rzeszów airport, located just 80km from the Ukrainian border, has served as a crucial transit point for Western weapons and supplies since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. Between 80-90% of NATO and partner-supplied equipment--including arms, ammunition, and military vehicles--has been routed through the facility, RT noted. Duda described Poland's exclusion from international coordination bodies responsible for managing Ukraine-bound aid as a "scandal." He added that Warsaw's infrastructure was being taken for granted. "If someone doesn't like it, we close it and goodbye," Duda said. "Deliver [the aid] by sea, by air, I don't know, drop it by parachute." RT reported that Duda also linked the situation to a wider imbalance in Poland's relationship with the US-led NATO bloc. "We need to have the courage to speak with the Germans and Americans," he said. Russia has long condemned Western military support to Kiev, arguing that it fuels the conflict and blocks diplomatic efforts. Moscow maintains that NATO's involvement through such supply lines escalates tensions and fails to alter the outcome of the war, RT highlighted. Duda, who is set to leave office in August, will be succeeded by Karol Nawrocki, a historian and head of the Institute of National Remembrance. According to RT, Nawrocki has voiced strong opposition to Ukraine's potential accession to both NATO and the European Union, citing security concerns and the country's internal readiness. RT also reported that Nawrocki has publicly criticized Ukraine's commemoration of nationalist figures linked to atrocities against Poles during World War II. Though he is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky following his inauguration, Nawrocki's administration is likely to take a more confrontational approach to bilateral relations and Ukraine's EU ambitions.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Gukesh settles for pragmatic 3rd place; Magnus Carlsen shrugs and clucks his way to Zagreb victory
A gruelling 27 games over five days that had more ebbs and flows than a theme park roller-coaster ended with 19-year-old Classical World Champion D. Gukesh vanquishing his past struggles in speed chess, securing a creditable third-place finish at the Grand Chess Tour SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia in Zagreb on Sunday. After dominating the Rapid event as the sole leader with a comfortable three-point lead over Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh's campaign nearly derailed in the Blitz segment, where he lost seven out of nine rounds, including five consecutive defeats on Saturday. When Wesley So and Nodirbek Abdusattorov handed him two more losses to start his final day, Gukesh's tilt seemed just unstoppable, until he faced Duda. The salvation came from an unlikely source, his own World Championship Second, and the in-form Polish Grandmaster Duda. Duda, who led 2-0 from their Rapid and first Blitz encounter, seemed poised to deliver the knockout blow. He knew Gukesh's game inside out, having played over 300 training blitz games with him during World Championship preparations at the request of Gukesh's main trainer and fellow Polish player Grzegorz Gajewski. Duda looked ready to bury Gukesh's hopes for good. But the Indian, stripped of his lead and pushed out of the top three spots by then, had no time to dwell on past collapses. Gukesh, playing purely on merit, dismantled Duda in just 28 moves, which, in a way, reignited his campaign and paved the way for his eventual podium finish. Then came the marquee clash against Magnus Carlsen. For two fighters like Gukesh and Carlsen, a draw is never an option. History stands witness to their shared refusal to draw offers, whether Gukesh declining the threefold repetition against Ding Liren en route to his World Championship triumph, or Carlsen's legendary endgame grinds. Yet Sunday demanded different calculations. With podium contention at stake, the Indian needed stability, while the Norwegian, comfortably leading the field, sought to preserve his advantage. What followed was the unlikeliest of games from Gukesh, an antithesis to his aggressive nature. READ MORE: Story of Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh's tournament in Zagreb in numbers as world no 1 wins and world champ ends 3rd Gukesh opted for pragmatism and went for a 'Grandmaster's draw' with white pieces, finishing the game in just 14 moves and under a minute. Gukesh went on to beat Ivan Saric and Fabiano Caruana, making a strong case for a second-place finish. The final round was full of drama. Gukesh, Duda and Wesley So were all tied at 19 points, fighting for second place. Duda lost to Anish Giri, which helped Gukesh's chances. At the same time, Wesley So was losing to Caruana but won after Caruana missed a winning move in the all-American clash. Gukesh could only draw against Praggnanandhaa, resulting in So placing ahead of him in the end. Nonetheless, Gukesh pocketed eight GCT points and $25,000 while Praggnanandhaa saw a freefall, losing six rounds and going winless on the last day to finish ninth. READ MORE: Third battle of war between Gukesh and 'survival mode' Magnus Carlsen ends in 14 moves and lasts just over one minute Playing what Carlsen himself described as 'survival' chess using an 'old man's chess' approach, he did considerably well to outscore a formidable field for his 10th Grand Chess Tour Rapid and Blitz title out of 12 appearances. Carlsen finished with 22.5 points, a 2.5-point lead over runner-up So and won with a round to spare. Yet for a player of his stature, this win brought unexpected indifference. 'It does not really feel like I won, it feels like I just came here, played alright and nobody really did anything special in the end and I ended up winning,' Carlsen told broadcasters. He finished third in the Rapid events and was four points behind Gukesh ahead of the Blitz event. Attributing his win to a single strong performance, Carlsen said, 'I had one good day really which was yesterday and that turned out to be enough which was a little bit lucky but it speaks the fact that it's a fairly even tournament overall where nobody could really break away from the pack.' Chess legend Garry Kasparov couldn't resist a playful jab at Carlsen's self-described 'old man chess,' tweeting: 'Not bad for 'old man chess!'' Carlsen, meanwhile, in his signature cryptic style, posted a GIF of a pin dropping with the simple caption: 'Haters.'
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Grand Chess Tour: D Gukesh Takes Big 3-Point Lead In Rapid Section Of Super United
World champion D. Gukesh ended his campaign with a finely-crafted victory over Wesley So of the United States in the ninth and final round of the rapid section of Super United Rapid and Blitz Tournament, which is a part of the Grand Chess Tour. After five victories in a row on the second day, Gukesh played out a couple of draws on day 3 and eventually defeated Wesley to end on 14 points out of a possible 18. Overall in rapid, he had two draws, a loss against Duda Jan-Kryzsztof of Poland and six wins. With the rapid section ensuring two points for each win, the Indian ace now enjoys a healthy lead over Duda who drew the first two games and was poised to draw the third one too in the day. With 18 rounds still to come in the blitz section, Gukesh has a handsome three-point lead over Duda in the USD 1,75,000 prize-money tournament with a winner's purse at USD 40,000. For Gukesh, the day started with a peaceful result against Dutchman Anish Giri when the players reached a nearly-locked position despite several pieces on the board. The players shook hands as neither side was able to make much progress. The second round was really interesting for Gukesh as he employed the Marshall gambit against Ivan Saric and the marathon lasted 87 moves before peace was signed. Wesley So was already under pressure to catch up but his challenge did not last long as Gukesh capitalised on a tactical error to net a couple of pawns in the middle game and two full points without much ado in just 36 moves. World number one Magnus Carlsen showed initial promise on the final day, starting off with two full points against Fabiano Caruana of the United States but then a draw with Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan ended his hopes of coming much closer. The other Indian in the fray, R Praggnanandhaa defeated Saric in round seven and drew with Wesley so and Duda to end on nine points.
Deccan Herald
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
Grand Chess tour: Gukesh takes big 3-point lead in Rapid section of Super United
With the rapid section ensuring two points for each win, the Indian ace now enjoys a healthy lead over Duda who drew the first two games and was poised to draw the third one too in the day.
Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Donna Vickroy: Tales of giants await passengers on Chicago's architecture river cruise
— Carl Sandburg, 'Chicago' Chicago is not just a big city. It's a big deal. It is a story of strength, vision, talent and grit that you truly have to see to appreciate. Thankfully, you can. Each summer, thousands climb aboard the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise ( and glide past skyscrapers towering on the footholds of determination and ingenuity. (Full disclosure: I have been on the foundation's River Cruise more than 15 times. It's become one of our annual summer things to do in the city.) The 90-minute cruise showcases Chicago's architecture and rich history while it glides along all three branches of the Chicago River, providing a 360-degree view of the city's skyline. Each time I disembark, I swear I've learned something new about architecture — how patios can preserve sightlines, why the Merchandise Mart has its own ZIP code, how engineers keep the wind from knocking it all down — as well as about this robust, beautiful city with a gritty, storied past and a beckoning future. On a recent Saturday afternoon, our guide opened his tour with a nod to Carl Sandburg, the Galesburg-born, Pulitzer Prize-winning Illinois poet laureate. He ended the fact- and folklore-laden presentation with a harmonica solo. In between, he pointed out the stars of the show, examples of Gothic Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Contemporary and Art Deco architecture. He explained the characteristics of each and their place along Chicago's skyline. With cameos from geography, geology, engineering and folklore, the city's story comes to life. Did you know that on the very site where Mrs. O'Leary's cow was 'falsely accused' of kicking over a lantern and starting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, there now stands a fire training academy, our guide asks. 'In literature, we call that irony,' he said. In Chicago-ese, we call it resilience. From Bertrand Goldberg's cylindrical Marina Towers to Jeanne Gang's wavy Aqua Tower to the commanding Willis skyscraper, which forever will be referred to by locals as the 'Sears Tower,' the breadth of design runs parallel to the city's own far-reaching story of form, function and vision. The cruise, which launches at Michigan Avenue and East Wacker Drive, was the brainchild of Bob Irving, a Chicago Architecture Foundation docent from the class of 1971, said Caroline Duda, senior director of volunteer services for the CAF. 'Much like all of the tours we offer, Bob saw a need to showcase the architecture along the river,' Duda said. In 1983, the late Irving had 'the wherewithal to see the river's value as an educational tool. He created a route on a sailboat, starting at Navy Pier,' she said. Irving had arranged for the bridge lifts to go up as the boat passed. 'But,' Duda added, 'he forgot to arrange to have them go up when he came back.' In 1993, the CAF partnered with Chicago's First Lady Cruises and the route was changed slightly, but the purpose remained the same. 'Our goal is to showcase Chicago's architecture,' Duda said. 'You get see so much along the river from our boats. It builds a sense of community when you share part of us, when we share our stories with guests.' The tour welcomes some 300,000 guests annually, said Duda, who estimates that, over the years, millions have come along for the ride. While most of the passengers hail from outside Cook County, a decent percentage are like me, locals proud to call this toddlin' town home. The tours are run by docents who, Duda said, 'have a passion for sharing' the architecture and story of Chicago. The 150 volunteers come from all walks of life — a former FBI agent, a mapmaker, a food scientist – but share a love for the city, a love for lifelong learning and an ease being in front of an audience, she said. All go through a rigorous 100-hour training regimen. 'Basically. It's a graduate level architecture course,' Duda said. 'All get six weeks of studying the fundamentals of architecture. Then an additional five weeks devoted to learning the river.' On four or five practice cruises, they learn how to build their spiel. There's also a library of videos that introduce them to the work of other docents and allow them to practice at home, she said. Timing is key, she added. So is remembering that, when facing a crowd, your left is the audience's right. Though there are mandatory talking points along the route, each docent is free to personalize his or her approach. They are free to 'geek out,' she said. The docents are not paid, and there's a no-tip policy. So, you may wonder, what's in it for them? They do it for glory, Duda said. 'Passion drives them. They want you to love Chicago and its architecture as much as they do,' she said. Oh, she said, 'and you get 250 people to listen to you, a captive audience, for 90 minutes. 'Because, how often does that happen?'
