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☆ Texas Utility Considers Mobile Generators as Beryl Leaves Millions Without Power
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-07 | by ( Ivan Penn | More About Ivan Penn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With millions of utility customers in East Texas cut off from electricity by the storm, the utility serving the overwhelming majority of those customers said it was working to set up mobile power sources for critical facilities. The utility, CenterPoint Energy, which supplies power in and around Houston, said that some 2.26 million customers had lost their electric service at the peak on Monday, and that the figure had since fallen only slightly. The company said it was looking into using mobile generation units to provide temporary power to places like cooling centers, health care facilities, police and fire stations, senior centers and educational centers. “We are mobilizing all of our available resources, as well as mutual assistance resources from other utility companies, to begin the process of quickly and safely restoring power to our customers,” Lynnae Wilson, senior vice president for electric business at CenterPoint, said in a statement. “We understand how difficult it is to be without power for any amount of time, especially in the heat.”

Persons: ” Lynnae Wilson Organizations: CenterPoint Energy Locations: East Texas, Houston, CenterPoint

☆ China is watching warily as Putin and Kim forge new ‘alliance’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Putin said Russia and North Korea have ramped up ties to a “new level.” Kim, meanwhile, called the new “alliance” a “watershed moment” in bilateral relations. In contrast, the reaction from China, the main political and economic patron for both Russia and North Korea, has been all but muted. “But they do know that China plays an irreplaceable role for both Russia and North Korea,” she said. China remains the largest trade partner to both Russia and North Korea, providing a crucial lifeline to the heavily sanctioned economies. “China doesn’t think that an alliance between Russia and North Korea would be a betrayal,” said Liu with the City University of Hong Kong.

Persons: Vladimir Putin glided, Kim Jong, Xi Jinping, Kim, Putin, ” Kim, Xi, Liu Dongshu, Liu, Kim Jong Un, ” Liu, Beijing doesn’t, Alexander Ryumin, ”, Edward Howell, Russia –, ” Yun Sun Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Benz, China’s Foreign, City University of Hong, KCNA, North Korea Treaty, Cooperation, Mutual Assistance, Getty, –, University of Oxford, North, Stimson Locations: China, Hong Kong, Pyongyang, Beijing, North Korea, Russia, United States, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, Northeast Asia, City University of Hong Kong, Soviet Union, Friendship, North, Korean, Russian, Iran, Moscow, United Kingdom, Washington

☆ North Korea says Kim and Putin’s defense pact permits all available means to assist each other if either nation attacked
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Helen Regan | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —North Korea and Russia have pledged to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked, according to the text of a new landmark defense pact agreed by the two autocratic nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a new strategic partnership agreement Wednesday in Pyongyang during a rare state visit by the Russian leader who said the two allies have ramped up ties to a “new level.”North Korean state media reported on Thursday the full text of that pact, which also includes political, trade, investment, and security cooperation. According to the text, Article 4 states that should either country “get into a state of war due to an armed aggression” the other “shall immediately provide military and other assistance with all the means at its disposal.”The pact, which comes against the backdrop of Putin’s grinding war against Ukraine, is the most significant agreement signed by Russia and North Korea in decades and is seen as something of a revival of their Cold War-era mutual defense pledge. It also consolidates Kim’s powerful link with a world power that wields a veto on the UN Security CouncilThe newly released text will now raise several questions for Western observers, including whether Russia’s powerful nuclear deterrent now extends to North Korea, and vice versa, or whether the two nations will now hold joint military drills. Putin referenced the defense clause after the meeting with Kim Wednesday, saying it provides “for the provision of mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement.”Kim, meanwhile, called the new “alliance” a “watershed moment in the development of the bilateral relations.”This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Kim Wednesday, ” Kim Organizations: CNN, North, UN Security Locations: North Korea, Russia, Russian, Pyongyang, Ukraine

☆ Putin and Kim Sign Pact Pledging Mutual Support Against ‘Aggression’
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | Paul Sonne | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, revived a Cold War-era mutual defense pledge between their nations on Wednesday, as the Kremlin deepened its security relationship with North Korea and vowed solidarity in challenging the United States. Neither Russia nor North Korea immediately released the text of the new treaty. But Mr. Putin, speaking at a joint briefing in Pyongyang after the two leaders signed the document, said the pact called for the nations to aid one another in the event of “aggression” against either country. The pledge of mutual assistance is likely to further alarm Washington and its allies. It could presage not only deeper support by North Korea for Russia’s war in Ukraine but also greater support from Moscow in aiding Mr. Kim’s quest for better-functioning nuclear weapons, missiles, submarines and satellites — a development that would increase anxiety among America’s Asian allies, especially South Korea.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, Kim, ” Mr Organizations: Kremlin Locations: Russia, North, North Korea, United States, Pyongyang, Moscow, Washington, Ukraine, South Korea

☆ Putin Once Tried to Curb North Korea’s Nuclear Program. That’s Now Over.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China deepened their confrontation with the West over the past decade, they were always united with the United States on at least one geopolitical project: preventing North Korea’s nuclear arsenal from growing, or becoming more accurate. Mr. Putin and Kim Jong-un, the North’s leader, just presided over the memorial service. Mr. Putin did far more than drop any semblance of a desire to ensure nuclear restraint. Nowhere in the statements made Wednesday was there even a hint that North Korea should give up any of its estimated 50 or 60 nuclear weapons. To the contrary, Mr. Putin declared: “Pyongyang has the right to take reasonable measures to strengthen its own defense capability, ensure national security and protect sovereignty” — though he did not address whether those measures included further developing the North’s nuclear weapons.

Persons: Vladimir V, Xi, Putin’s, Putin, Kim Jong, Kim Organizations: West, Pyongyang —, “ Locations: Russia, China, United States, Ukraine, Pyongyang, North Korea, Korea, “ Pyongyang

☆ Kim Jong Un and Putin have upgraded their bromance, saying Russia and North Korea have reached a 'new high of alliance'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to North Korea in 24 years on Wednesday, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saying the two nations have upgraded their partnership to "a new high of alliance." AdvertisementState-run Russian news agency TASS reported that North Korea returned the favor by gifting Putin several pieces of art depicting his likeness. "North Korea is supporting Russia right now," he added, "but I think more significant is that now, at least in theory, Russia will have to support North Korea." AdvertisementRussia and North Korea have developed closer ties since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. CNN noted that while Putin did not explicitly describe the new agreement as an alliance, he acknowledged that ties between North Korea and Russia have reached a "new level."

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Kim, gifting Putin, Putin, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Antony Blinken, Biden Organizations: Service, North, Yonhap News Agency, Business, Korean, TASS, KF, VUB, Brussels School, Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, UN, Ukraine, NBC News, CNN Locations: North Korea, Korea, VUB Korea, Vrije, Russia, Moscow, Pyongyang, Ukraine

☆ Analysis: What Putin got from his North Korea visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Vladmir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in nearly a quarter of a century has been intensely scrutinized around the world. If this is a collective defense pact, does Russia’s nuclear deterrent now extend to North Korea’s and vice versa? “But definitely I would say this clause is very alarming.”Russia's President Vladimir Putin was given a rapturous welcome in Pyongyang. “The West admits terrible concern around Putin’s visit to North Korea” read the headline in Moskovsky Komsomolets, a national daily newspaper Tuesday. Russia also needs weapons to keep up its strategy of exhausting and destroying Ukraine into surrender.

Persons: Vladmir, Putin, Kim Il, ”, “, ” Putin, Korea’s, Kim, Jo Bee, yun, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Smirnov, North Korea ”, Vladimir Solovyov, Kim Jong Organizations: CNN, International Criminal Court, Kremlin, Korea Institute for Defense, UN, Kim Jong UN Locations: North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Pyongyang, China, United States, North, Moscow, Komsomolets

☆ The dangerous parallels between Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine and Xi’s claims on Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Will Ripley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

What is happening is to a certain extent, an element of a civil war,” Putin claimed. The island remained a Japanese colony for half a century until the end of World War II, when it came under the control of China’s ruling Nationalist government. Today Xi is expanding China’s military at a pace the world hasn’t seen in a century – since before World War Two. Long-time China analyst Steve Tsang, author of “If China Attacks Taiwan,” once told me that Xi’s military build-up is, by comparison, larger than Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan combined. Many here in Taiwan fear it’s only a matter of time before Xi, like Putin, puts his words into action.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, Kolas Yotaka, Tucker, Vladimir Putin, “ Putin, Xi, ”, Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Yotaka, –, Jens Stoltenberg, “, ” Stoltenberg, it’s, ” China’s, Russia –, Carlson, ” Putin, Critics, Chiang Kai, shek, ” Xi, He’s, Tsai Ing, Steve Tsang Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Taiwan Presidential, Taiwan –, NATO, Munich Security, Communist Party, Russia, Observers, Nationalist, Communists, Taiwan’s National Chengchi, Democratic Progressive Party, Taipei, Xi, Navy, Global China, Atlantic Council, Taiwan Relations Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Ukraine, Beijing, China, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Japan, Republic of China, Taiwan Strait, United States, Hong Kong, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, Washington

Traders work on the floor of the London Metal Exchange in London, Britain, September 27, 2018. Rebuilding the London nickel contract is clearly very much work in progress. FIXING NICKELOthers, meanwhile, are looking to muscle into the LME's nickel price discovery domain. The Shanghai market also took a big collateral hit from the London turmoil, volumes on its nickel contract collapsing by 53% last year relative to 2021. The blow-out of the nickel contract and the resulting near-death experience of both brokers and exchange have sapped confidence in the historical market of last resort.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Elliott, Nicolas Aguzin, Matthew Chamberlain, hasn't, it's, Ireland's, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: London Metal Exchange, REUTERS, U.S, Elliott Associates, Jane, Trading, Hong Kong Exchanges, HK, Bloomberg, London, Global Commodities Holdings, Abaxx Commodities Exchange, Canadian, Technologies Inc, Shanghai Futures Exchange, EV, CME, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, London's, China, Shanghai, U.S

In short, Russia’s children are being prepared for war. Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said recently that there are now about 10,000 so-called “military-patriotic” clubs in Russian schools and colleges, and a quarter-of-a-million people take part in their work. There are mandatory classes on military-patriotic values; updated history books accentuate Russian military triumphs. President Putin has personally led the campaign to inject patriotism into Russia’s schools. That message - hammered home by the president and state media - is now being taken into Russia’s schools.

Persons: Sergei Kravtsov, Vladimir Putin, ’, ”, ” Putin, Ukraine “, Putin, “, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Uliana Shumelova, schooler, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Daria, Vladimir, Ukraine –, Buryatia, She’d, It’s Organizations: CNN, Education, Security, Defense, Education Ministry, Novosti, RIA Novosti, Russia, Kremlin, Educational, Ministry of Defense, Air Defense, United, ”, Northern Military District, Military Sports Games, Defense Ministry, Armed Forces Russian Federation Locations: Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Ukrainian, stoke, Belgorod, Krasnodar, Vologda, Sakhalin, Russia’s Far, Yeysk, Azov, Astrakhan, United Russia, Vladivostok, Voronezh, Ussuriysk, Buryatia, Chita trumpeted, Orenburg, Polish, Perm, State

☆ Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBAMAKO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, three West African Sahel nations ruled by military juntas, signed a security pact on Saturday promising to come to the aid of each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression. Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to come to Niger's aid if it is attacked. "Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," according to the charter of the pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States. "I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali junta leader Assimi Goita said on his X social media account. France has been forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, and is in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after it asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador.

Persons: Assimi Goita, Mahamadou Issoufou, Francis Kokoroko, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiemoko Diallo, Bate Felix, Jason Neely Organizations: Economic, West African States, REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, West, Alliance, Thomson Locations: Accra, Ghana, Rights BAMAKO, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West African States, Sahel, State, France, Chad, Mauritania

☆ Solomon Islands signs China policing deal in upgrade of ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

China and the Solomon Islands on Monday signed a deal on police cooperation as part of an upgrade of their relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” four years after the Pacific nation switched ties from Taiwan to China. “In just four years, the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful,” Li told Sogavare. China will continue to provide assistance to the Solomon Islands to enhance its law enforcement capacity, according to a joint statement released by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. China has long supported so-called South-South cooperation, which refers to cooperation between developing nations as equals for mutual benefit. Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is already building a cellular network in the Solomon Islands, financed by a $66 million Chinese EXIM bank loan.

Persons: ”, Manasseh Sogavare, Premier Li Qiang, Sogavare, Solomon, ” Li, Washington “, ’ Sogavare, Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Xi Organizations: Solomon Islands, Premier, “, US National Security Council, Xinhua, Huawei, “ Sports, Pacific Games Locations: China, Solomon Islands, Pacific, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Australia, Taipei, Solomon, Japan, Britain, Honiara

☆ China, Solomon Islands sign policing pact in upgrade of ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Flags of Solomon Islands and China flutter near the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China July 11, 2023. "In just four years, the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful," Li told Sogavare. The official added that the U.S. was committed to a strong relationship with the region and strengthening longstanding bonds with the people of Solomon Islands. Xi told Sogavare China supports more of its firms investing in the Solomon Islands and will continue to provide economic and technical assistance "without political strings attached". Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is already building a cellular network in the Solomon Islands, financed by a $66 million Chinese EXIM bank loan.

Persons: Florence Lo, Xi, Manasseh Sogavare, Premier Li Qiang, Sogavare, Solomon, Li, Washington, China's, Xi Jinping, Ethan Wang, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Kirsty Needham, David Brunnstrom, Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel, Mark Heinrich, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Solomon Islands, Beijing, BEIJING, Premier, U.S . National Security Council, China's, Xinhua, Huawei, Pacific Games, Thomson Locations: of Solomon Islands, China, Beijing, Florence, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Pacific, United States, Australia, U.S, Solomon, Japan, Britain, Honiara, Sydney, Washington

☆ What would happen if Ukraine joined NATO?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Following are the steps that Ukraine has taken on its way to NATO membership, a possible compromise over the next steps - and Russia's view of the developments. AN UNMAPPED PATHIn 2008, NATO agreed at a Bucharest summit that Ukraine - which was part of the Moscow-ruled Soviet Union until its 1991 demise - could eventually join the alliance. Moscow then illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and backed separatist proxies in eastern Ukraine. It is cited as one of the main reasons why Ukraine cannot join NATO while in conflict with Russia, as this might immediately draw the alliance into an active war. Moscow has said it would cause problems for many years to come if Ukraine joined NATO and has warned of an unspecified response to ensure its security.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Ukraine's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Sabine Siebold, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: NATO, Russia, Kyiv, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Soviet Union, West, NATO's, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, London, Russia, Vilnius, United States, Germany, Russian, Russia's, Bucharest, Soviet, Crimea, Kyiv, NATO, Europe, Finland, Sweden, Britain, NATO's Washington Treaty

"All allies agree that Moscow does not have a veto against NATO enlargement," Stoltenberg told reporters as NATO foreign ministers gathered in Oslo, seeking to dispel any signs of discord ahead of the summit. At the Vilnius summit, NATO leaders aim to send a strong message of support to Kyiv. But with only six weeks to go, pressure is building for allies to find common ground on what exactly to offer Ukraine. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Kyiv had suffered two invasions while waiting for an answer from NATO for 14 years. "Ukraine needs to get a clear path, and the next steps, on how to enter NATO," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Margus Tsahkna, Annalena Baerbock, Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn, Sabine Siebold, Gwladys Fouche, Terje Solsvik, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Bart Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alezander, Boldizsar, Bart H, Meijer, Ros Russell Organizations: NATO, Kyiv, Ukraine, Lithuania's, Estonian, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Moscow, Ukraine, Vilnius, Oslo, Moldova, Kyiv, Europe, United States, Germany, Russia, Estonian, Luxembourg, Hungary, NATO, Brussels, Alezander Tanas, Chisinau, Olena, Budapest

Russian servicemen rehearse on Sunday for the Victory Day parade, when Moscow will aim to display its military prowess. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty ImagesSeveral Russian regions have cut back on Victory Day celebrations, due to insufficient military weapons available for display. World leaders such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan attended the military parade in previous years. ‘Evil has returned’Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday suggested moving Ukraine's Victory Day parade a day earlier so it does not align with Moscow's celebrations. Like Russia, Ukraine traditionally commemorates victory over the Nazis on May 9, but that date has become increasingly associated with a parade in Moscow.

☆ Russian-backed separatists in Kherson say they will hold vote on joining Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Russian-installed officials in the Kherson region of Ukraine said they have decided to hold a referendum on joining Russia and have urged the Kremlin to give its permission as soon as possible, the separatist head of the region said on Tuesday. In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of Kherson, said he hoped Kherson would become "a part of Russia, a fully-fledged subject of a united country." Saldo said Kherson joining Russia would "secure our region" and be a "triumph of historical justice." read moreShortly after Saldo's announcement about plans for a vote in Kherson, the head of Russia's parliament said he would support the regions joining Russia.

☆ FLOAREA SOARELUI SA (TRANS OIL Group of Companies) supports the national health system, saving lives!
▼ + stars: | 2020-09-25 | by ( ) tribuna.md time to read: +1 min

SA FLOAREA SOARELUI has become a reliable partner of the National Center for Blood Transfusion from Balti and supported the initiative to carry out a comprehensive procedure for collecting blood from the workers. The blood transfusion procedure saves lives and improves the health of our citizens, so the team of FLOAREA SOARELUI SA, the largest sunflower seeds oil producer in Moldova, organized a collective blood donation in support of the national health system. The medical staff of the center arrived at the plant to ensure all relevant procedures and organize all the necessary conditions. “Today, the whole society needs to demonstrate solidarity and mutual assistance in order to provide those in need of donated blood. Human health plays the most important role in any area of his life and should always come first.

Persons: Stella Ostrovetchi, Let’s, – Organizations: National Center, Blood, FLOAREA SOARELUI SA Locations: Balti, Moldova

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