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☆ Hezbollah leader warns Israel of war with 'no red lines,' threatens Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The leader of Hezbollah has vowed a fight with "no rules and with no red lines" if full-out war erupts between the Lebanese militant group and Israel, warning Cyprus against getting mired in the conflict. Lebanon and Israel have regularly traded cross-border fire since the start of the Jewish state's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas — which, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran — in the Gaza Strip. The Hezbollah leader also threatened war against the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, if the European Union member permits Israel to launch military operations from its territory. Nasrallah accused Israel of "conducting maneuvers in preparation for the Lebanon war" in Cyprus, without disclosing his sources. In response to Nasrallah, Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday stressed that his country is not involved in the conflict and is, in fact, part of the solution, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Persons: Iran —, Taleb Sami Abdullah, General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Seth Frantzman, Nasrallah, Israel, Manar, Nikos Christodoulides Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Foundation, Defense, Democracies, Associated Press, European Union, Cyprus News Agency, CNBC, Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Cypriot

Chang emphasized the need to strengthen the extended deterrence power of the South Korea-US alliance and the South Korea-US-Japan security cooperation system to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles. Currently, South Korea’s policy is not to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine. Nikoletta Stoyanova/Getty ImagesReports from earlier in the war say South Korea may have provided 155mm artillery shells to the United States to replace 155mm rounds sent to Ukraine. “Public reports suggest South Korea has around 3.4 million 105mm artillery shells,” the CSIS report said. Earlier on Thursday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also expressed strong concern about the agreement signed by Russia and North Korea.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, “, ” Putin, Kim, Chang Ho, ”, ” Chang, Chang, Putin, Nikoletta Stoyanova, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Putin “, ” Hayashi Organizations: CNN, Democratic People’s, DPRK, UN Security Council, CNN South, National Security, Korean, 57th Motorized Brigade, Getty, Center for Strategic, International Studies, “, CSIS, UN, Japan’s Locations: Korea, Ukraine, Seoul, Russia, North Korea, DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic, Republic of Korea, South, South Korea, Japan, Vovchansk, Kharkiv Region, United States, Kyiv, Vietnam, Ukrainian

☆ Putin and Kim laugh as they enjoy a jaunt in Russian-made limousine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were seen laughing as they took turns to drive each other around in a Russian-built limousine during Putin’s first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years. On Wednesday, Putin presented Kim with an Aurus car as the pair exchanged gifts, according to Russian state media – the second time the Kremlin leader has given his counterpart this car model. According to Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, the Russian leader also presented Kim with a tea set. The two autocrats appeared to enjoy each other’s company as they took a jaunt in the Aurus luxury car. Putin gave Kim an Aurus when the two leaders exchanged gifts, according to Russian state media – the second time Putin has given his counterpart this car model.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, KCNA, Putin, Kim, Yuri Ushakov, Moon Jae, ” Putin, Pyongyang’s Organizations: CNN, North, Kremlin, South Korean Locations: Russian, Pyongyang, North Korean, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Seoul, Washington, Moscow, Hanoi

☆ Video shows Chinese coast guard brandishing an ax in a low-tech clash with the Philippines navy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Philippines released video showing Chinese coast guard during a skirmish in the South China Sea. It called Monday's incident, in which the Chinese brandished weapons, "a brazen act of aggression." It's the latest in a series of Chinese provocations in the South China Sea. AdvertisementThe Philippine army has shared video that it says shows China Coast Guard personnel wielding an ax and other weapons at them during a tense encounter in the South China Sea on Monday. Chinese coast guard also flung rocks, slashed boats with "bladed and pointed weapons," and blared sirens and strobe lights during the encounter, which damaged the boats, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, China Coast Guard, Armed Forces, Business Locations: Philippines, South China, South

☆ This new technology for nuclear power could help fuel the AI revolution
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Scientists have long considered nuclear energy one of the cleanest and most reliable forms of energy production. Tech companies at the forefront of the AI revolution are also turning to nuclear energy to power their vast AI data centers. A new fuel cycle for nuclear powerTransmutex's technology destroys nuclear waste and produces new nuclear fuel. AdvertisementNuclear physicists say the company's technology avoids one of the biggest concerns with nuclear energy: that the same fuel used to power nuclear plants can also be used to manufacture atomic weapons. Oklo, a startup backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is betting on generating nuclear power through small nuclear reactors.

Persons: —, Jennifer Granholm, Franklin Servan, Schreiber, Transmutex, Cameron Porter, Andrei Afanasev, George, Afanasev, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, nicolas lieber, photographie Servan Organizations: Service, Business, US, . Tech, Steel, George Washington University's Institute for Nuclear Studies, Department of Energy, Energy Locations: Swiss, Switzerland, United States, Saudi Arabia, Transmutex, Georgia

☆ Ukraine can't hit everything it wants in Russia with US-made ATACMs, so it's making do with a homemade option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine faces restrictions on using US-made, long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. Ukraine has used this weapon to strike energy facilities inside Russia in recent weeks. AdvertisementThe US has outfitted Ukraine with an arsenal of long-range missiles but continues to put restrictions on how it can use them, limiting its ability to strike Russia the way it wants. As a workaround in this dilemma, Kyiv has turned to a homemade weapon first used to sink ships. American-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, are one of the more vaunted weapons that Ukraine has in its arsenal.

Persons: —, Biden Organizations: Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Business Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv

☆ Mark Rutte, next NATO secretary general, after Romania drops long-held objection
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Mark Rutte, the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, is now set to become the next NATO secretary general. Rutte will inherit a NATO that is racing to bolster its own security while also supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Over time its position has evolved from not sending any tanks to allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with NATO weapons. Rutte must also oversee NATO’s radical upgrade in defense and security capabilities. NATO allies are aware that Trump has historically criticized NATO allies for not spending enough money on their own security and relying on America.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Klaus Iohannis, Iohannis, Jens Stoltenberg, Rutte, Donald Trump, Trump, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, NATO, Kyiv Locations: Netherlands, Romania, Romanian, Moscow, Ukraine, Sochi, Crimea, United States, America, Sweden, Finland

CNN —Thousands of North Koreans chanting “welcome Putin” lined Pyongyang’s wide boulevards waving Russian and North Korean flags and bouquets of flowers Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin kicked off his first visit to North Korea in 24 years. Putin and Kim presented their delegations and stood together as the Russian national anthem played before the two leaders rode standing shoulder to shoulder in an open-top limousine as they smiled and waved to the crowds. The two autocrats are expected to ink a new strategic partnership agreement in a stark signal of their expanding relations. Kim beamed visibly as he greeted Putin at the airport in the early hours, video footage of the Russian leader’s arrival showed. The pair then rode together to the Kumsusan State Guest House where Putin is staying, according to North Korean state-run news agency KCNA.

Persons: “, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Kim Il, Kim, ” KCNA, Pyongyang’s’s Organizations: CNN, West, Kumsusan, House Locations: North Korea, Russian, Pyongyang, Moscow, Ukraine, Korean, Russia, Seoul, Washington, South Korea

☆ Putin arrives in Vietnam as Russia seeks support in face of Western isolation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Considered a pariah by the West, Putin is looking to boost economic ties with friendly countries and show that Western isolation is not having an impact. Vietnam was among several Southeast Asian countries that abstained from joining a global summit on Ukraine in Switzerland last week. Last week, Vietnam sent a delegation led by its Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Russia. Analysts say Russia is likely to get more out of the visit than Vietnam, and Hanoi may even suffer reputational damage by hosting Putin following his trip to North Korea. “If no substantive deals are made, the visit will mainly be symbolic and a means for Putin and Russia to show the world that Western sanctions against Russia are not working,” said Le.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Putin, Nguyen Phu Trong, Lam, Minh, Yury Ushakov, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, ”, Le Hong Hiep, – Yusof, Le, ” Putin, Xi, –, John Kirby, Anwar Ibrahim Organizations: CNN, West, US, Reuters, Communist Party General, Vietnam’s, Vietnam News Agency, ” TASS, TASS, ”, Vietnam Studies, International Criminal Court, ICC, United Arab, Foreign Ministry, Foreign Affairs, ’ Summit, Analysts, Putin Locations: Hanoi, North Korea, Ukraine, Vietnam, Moscow, United States, China, Russia, Pyongyang, Russian, Soviet, India, US, South China, Switzerland, Beijing, Kazan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt, Malaysia, BRICS, “

☆ Why Is Putin Traveling to Vietnam?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia wrapped up a state visit to one ally, North Korea, and moved on to another, Vietnam, arriving early Thursday local time hoping to shore up crucial partnerships in the region as he wages a protracted war in Ukraine. Mr. Putin’s war in Ukraine has left him isolated from the West, and his need for munitions to fight that war has pushed him closer to North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un. In Vietnam, by contrast, Mr. Putin — who landed in Hanoi, according to Russian state media — will meet with officials who have recently forged deeper bonds with Washington. But Moscow has long been Hanoi’s main source of weapons, and Mr. Putin is keen to hold on to that position. It is Mr. Putin’s fifth visit to Vietnam and follows trips last year by President Biden and President Xi Jinping of China, two leaders who sought assurances from Hanoi that it was not taking the other’s side.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Kim Jong, Putin —, Putin’s, Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Washington Locations: Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Ukraine, United States, Hanoi, Moscow, China

☆ Putin and Kim Jong Un's relationship is a marriage of convenience: Here's how it works
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Pyongyang, early on June 19, 2024. What can North Korea get from Putin? In return, Russia is likely providing North Korea with food, fuel and military technology for its satellites and submarines, analysts say. Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving to North Korea with a two-day visit. As such, North Korea offers Russia another source of military hardware.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Anthony Wallace, Vladimir Putin's, Kim Jong, Putin, KCNA, Kim, Putin's, —, Gavriil Grigorov, Rodger Baker, James Brady, Victor Cha, Pyongyang's, Putinon, Brady, Cha, Putin hasn't Organizations: Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, Afp, Getty, North, Sputnik, Applied, CNBC, North Koreans, Putin, . Workers, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Pyongyang, Seoul, Korean, North Korea, Russia, North, Koreans, Russian, Ukrainian, Moscow, Ukraine, Korea, China, USSR

On Today’s Episode:Netanyahu Criticizes the U.S. For Holding Up Some Weapons Deliveries, by The New York TimesU.S. Pier for Gaza Aid Is Failing, and Could Be Dismantled Early, by Helene Cooper and Eric SchmittNvidia Becomes Most Valuable Public Company, Topping Microsoft, by Tripp Mickle and Joe RennisonCalifornia Joins Growing National Effort to Ban Smartphone Use in Schools, by Shawn Hubler

Persons: Netanyahu, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt Nvidia, Topping, Tripp Mickle, Joe Rennison, Shawn Hubler Organizations: The New York Times U.S, Public Company, Topping Microsoft Locations: Pier, Gaza, Joe Rennison California

The eventual language issued by the alliance about Ukraine during July’s summit in Washington is critical. Vague commitment in 2008It was back in 2008 at a NATO summit in Budapest that Ukraine was first offered a vague commitment of an invitation to join in the future. “Of course we’d be for ‘irreversible,’” a third Eastern European official said. Generally, throughout the conflict, British officials, the closest US allies in NATO, have consistently hoped the White House would take a more aggressive stance. “When the text is on the table and the countries start to negotiate we can see the full picture,” the Eastern European official said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, we’ll, Antony Blinken, Biden, Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, ” Stoltenberg, ”, doesn’t, It’s “, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Putin, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, NATO, Central, “, US, Biden, European, ”, US State Department, NATO Alliance, Eastern, Eastern European Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Washington, Russia’s, Ukraine, July’s, Russia, Prague, Hungary, Central European, Kyiv, Lithuanian, Vilnius, Budapest, Russian, ”, Kharkiv, London

☆ 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

☆ Taiwan to acquire more than 1,000 armed drones in new US arms sale
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The United States has approved the $360 million sale of more than 1,000 small armed drones to Taiwan, as the self-ruled island claimed by China aims to strengthen its asymmetrical warfare abilities with an eye on successful tactics used on the battlefield in Ukraine. The proposed sale comes as China increases military pressure on Taiwan, with extensive military exercises around it and almost daily warplane flights near the island. In a statement Wednesday, Taiwan’s presidential office thanked the US for its security commitments, adding this was the Biden administration’s 15th weapons sale to the island since 2021. That includes $6.1 billion in asymmetrical weapon systems, including Harpoon missiles, PAC-3 missile interceptors and MQ-9B aerial drones, Cato said. Many analysts have urged Taiwan to pursue more asymmetrical weapons, which they say would be harder for China to counter than conventional arms in any invasion of the island.

Persons: “, Adm, Dong Jun, ”, Wahid Nawabi, Anduril, Biden, Karen Kuo, Cato Organizations: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Communist Party, Taiwan Relations, Washington, Chinese Defense, “, Cato Institute, Harpoon Locations: States, Taiwan, China, Ukraine, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore, “ Taiwan, Washington

☆ Supreme Court Ruling on Bump Stocks Could Open Door to More Lethal Weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Jack Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bump stocks were banned by the Trump administration after that mass shooting. But when the Supreme Court last week struck down that ban, which had been a rare victory for gun-safety advocates in recent years, it had the potential to open the door not just to bump stocks. The devices are replacement triggers known as “forced-reset triggers” or “wide-open triggers” that allow shooters to fire more than 900 rounds in a minute with one continuous squeeze, federal officials say. In March 2022, four years after the ban on bump stocks was issued, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also imposed restrictions on some of these trigger devices. The agency said in a letter at the time that the devices effectively turned semiautomatic weapons into prohibited machine guns.

Persons: Trump, Biden’s Organizations: Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives Locations: Las Vegas

☆ 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

☆ 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

A Massacre Threatens Darfur — AgainDarfur SUDAN El FasherA civil war is ripping apart Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries. Yet a New York Times examination of satellite imagery and video from El Fasher make one thing clear:The assault is intensifying. DARFUR R.S.F. Whole neighborhoods were razed, similar to the destruction in parts of southern and eastern El Fasher in recent months. “The videos from El Fasher could become critical evidence in future trials for crimes in Darfur.”

Persons: Sudan’s, Al Salam, Abu Shoak, El Fasher Al Salam, Abu, Mohamed Zakaria, Thomas van Linge, —, Mellit, El Fasher, ”, El, El Geneina, Janjaweed, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Ali Yagoub Gibril, Al Zeer Salem, Fasher, Matthew Gillett, “, ” Mr, Gillett Organizations: Fighters, Rapid Support Forces, . Security, New York, El, Sudanese, Al Salam Camp, Camp, Reuters Fighters, Yale, Research, —, Times, Centre, Information Resilience, Mellit El, Support Forces, Google, ”, Islamic Relief, United Nations, The Times, U.S . Treasury, Broadcasting, University of Essex Locations: Darfur, SUDAN El Fasher, Sudan, El, DARFUR, El Fasher, East Darfur, Sudan’s, Chad, El Geneina, American, Spain, Central Darfur

☆ Russian arms manufacturers are 'scrambling to expand their production capabilities using whatever they can get,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Rachel Hosie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRussia is rushing to expand its arms production by buying secondhand machine tools from China through covert networks to get around Western sanctions. A report from Washington-based nonprofit think-tank The Center for Advanced Defense Studies, or C4ADS, said that Russia's arms manufacturers were "scrambling to expand their production capabilities using whatever they can get." And Russian defense industry analyst and lead researcher Allen Maggard told the Financial Times that the decades-old machine tools Russia is importing are still effective. AdvertisementGlenn Gray, the president of Gray Machinery, told the FT he'd never heard of the company.

Persons: —, Allen Maggard, Andrey Mironov, Glenn Gray, Tsugami, hasn't, C4ADS, UMIC —, ELE Organizations: Service, Advanced Defense, Business, Financial Times, Kremlin, AMG, ELE Technology, Gray Machinery Locations: Russia, China, Washington, Ukraine, UAE, Russian

CNN —US envoy Amos Hochstein told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Tuesday in Israel that his public comments this week that the US is “withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel” were “unproductive” and “more importantly, completely untrue,” a senior US official told CNN. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Israel confirmed that Lew spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday. The meeting reflected the administration’s mounting frustration with the Israeli leader’s comments. Hochstein’s comments to Netanyahu weren’t the first time US officials have pushed back in private against public comments made by Netanyahu, but some US officials would like the Biden administration to go further, an administration official said. “In the meantime, meetings with Israeli officials are being held throughout the week at expert and senior levels on a range of topics.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel ”, ”, Israel Jack Lew, Netanyahu, Lew, ” Axios, Hochstein, Biden, Joe Biden, Netanyahu weren’t, “, that’s, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken “, ” Blinken, Israel won’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US Embassy, Israel Strategic Consultative, White, “ Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran

☆ 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

☆ China now has 500 warheads and is building its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country, think tank says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

China increased its nuclear warheads from 410 in 2023 to 500 this year, per SIPRI. The European think tank says China's nuclear arsenal is growing "faster than any other country." China could have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030, per the Pentagon. AdvertisementChina has beaten its fellow superpowers when it comes to growing its stockpile of nuclear warheads, a European think tank said in a report on Monday. According to SIPRI, China has increased its nuclear warheads from 410 in 2023 to 500 at the start of this year.

Persons: —, Hans M Kristensen, Kristensen, that's Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Peace Research Institute, Business Locations: China, European, Stockholm, SIPRI

☆ Putin arrives in North Korea for first visit in 24 years as anti-West alignment deepens
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Following his visit to North Korea, Putin is scheduled to travel to Hanoi in a display of Communist-governed Vietnam’s ties to Russia that is likely to rankle the United States. Putin’s trip to North Korea will have a “very eventful” agenda, his aide Yuri Ushakov said during a press conference Monday. One image was of a grandstand being constructed on the eastern side of Kim Il Sung Square, the site where all major parades in North Korea are held. Putin arrives in North Korea on Tuesday, June 18. But Russia’s apparent increasing reliance on North Korea and rising frictions with the West appear to have shifted that dynamic.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Kim, Yuri Ushakov, Ushakov, Kim Il, John Kirby, Biden, wasn’t “, ’ Kim, ” Kim, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin’s, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, ” Putin, Kim Jong Il, Xi Jinping, Michael Mitsanas, Katharina Krebs, Mariya Knight, Yoonjung Seo, Betsy Klein, Paul P, Murphy Organizations: CNN, TASS, Putin, Planet Labs, Maxar Technologies, US, North Korean, North, South Korea’s, Chiefs of Staff, West, Ukrainian, Kyiv, NATO, Ukraine, Defense, Kremlin, United Nations Security, UN Locations: North Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine, Korean, Korea, Hanoi, Russia, United States, Asia, Moscow, North, Zarubinreporter, South Korea, South, Russia’s, Eurasia, Italy, Kyiv, Russian, Vietnam, Beijing, China, Iran, South Africa, Brazil

☆ Path Is Cleared for One of the Largest U.S. Arms Sales to Israel in Years
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Mr. Meeks said that the sale would take years to deliver and that he supported the Biden administration’s plans to hold up the sale of other munitions. The department declined to comment on the arms orders, including on whether it would soon give that formal notification. Congressional sign-off on arms sales has almost always been a foregone conclusion when it comes to Israel. “I don’t want the kinds of weapons that Israel has to be utilized, to have more death,” Mr. Meeks said in an interview with CNN in April. Both of the top Republicans on those panels, Senator Jim Risch of Idaho and Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, immediately approved.

Persons: Gregory W, Meeks, Mr, Benjamin L, Cardin, Haiyun Jiang, Biden, ” Mr, “, ”, Jim Risch of, Michael McCaul of, Edward Wong Organizations: Biden, Democratic holdouts, Foreign Affairs Committee, White House, National Security Council, Democrat, Foreign Relations, Republicans, The New York, State Department, Hamas, CNN, The State Department, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Israel, New York, Gaza, Maryland, United States, Jim Risch of Idaho, Michael McCaul of Texas

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