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[1/2] Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as he meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. Biden also said Xi was very embarrassed when a suspected Chinese spy balloon was blown off course over U.S. airspace early this year, making a personal comment on the Chinese leader when Blinken said on Monday the "chapter" should be closed. It was unclear why Biden made the comments on Xi - China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong after he secured a precedent-breaking third term as president and head of the Communist Party. Biden said on Tuesday that Xi had been concerned by the so-called Quad strategic security group, which includes Japan, Australia, India and the United States. The U.S. president said he previously told Xi the U.S. was not trying to encircle China with the Quad.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Leah Millis, Joe Biden, Biden, Xi, Blinken, Mao Zedong, John Kerry, Narendra Modi, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ryan Woo, Kanishka Singh, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, of, People, REUTERS, Communist Party, Indian, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, , California, BEIJING, California, Washington, Japan, Australia, India, United States, U.S

☆ EV maker Rivian to adopt Tesla's charging standard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle maker Rivian (RIVN.O) said on Tuesday it has agreed to adopt Tesla's (TSLA.O) charging standard, giving Rivian customers access to the biggest U.S. charging network and adding momentum to Tesla's bid to set the industry standard. Rivian also said it will make a Tesla-style charging port standard on its vehicles starting in 2025. While other automakers get access to Tesla's charging network, Tesla stands to profit from selling power to a bigger group of electric vehicle drivers. Tesla's charging standard had been proprietary until November, when it made the design and specifications public and rebranded the technology as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). "It's great to see the industry coming together to adopt the North American Charging Standard," Tesla's senior director of charging infrastructure, Rebecca Tinucci, said in a statement.

Persons: Rivian, Tesla, paring, Dan Ives, Tesla's, Mike Blake, RJ Scaringe, Joe Biden's, Rebecca Tinucci, Abhirup Roy, Akash Sriram, Kevin Krolicki, Will Dunham, Stephen Coates Organizations: FRANCISCO, General Motors, Ford, carmaker, EV, Wedbush Securities, Reuters, U.S . Department of Energy, REUTERS, Mike Blake Services, American, ABB, America, Toyota, Nissan, Thomson Locations: United States, Canada, Irvine , California, Carlsbad , California, U.S, Swiss, China, Japan, San Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ Exclusive: EV maker Rivian to adopt Tesla's charging standard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Mike BlakeSAN FRANCISCO, June 20 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle maker Rivian (RIVN.O) said it has agreed to adopt Tesla's (TSLA.O) charging standard, giving customers access to the biggest U.S. charging network and adding momentum to Tesla's bid to set the industry standard. While other automakers get access to Tesla's charging network, Tesla stands to profit from selling power to a bigger group of electric vehicle drivers. Tesla's charging standard had been proprietary until November, when it made the design and specifications public and rebranded the technology as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). "It's great to see the industry coming together to adopt the North American Charging Standard," Tesla's senior director of charging infrastructure, Rebecca Tinucci, said in a statement. China, the world's largest market for electric vehicles, has its own charging standard.

Persons: Mike Blake, FRANCISCO, Rivian, Tesla, Tesla's, RJ Scaringe, Biden, Rebecca Tinucci, Abhirup Roy, Kevin Krolicki, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, General Motors, Ford, carmaker, U.S . Department of Energy . Services, American, ABB, America, Toyota, Nissan, Thomson Locations: Carlsbad , California, U.S, United States, Canada, Irvine , California, Swiss, China, Japan, San Francisco

☆ Exclusive: Exclusive: EV maker Rivian to adopt Tesla's charging standard
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Abhirup Roy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ Ukrainian artillerymen praise US howitzers outside Russian-held town
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Ukrainian servicemen prepare a M119 howitzer for firing towards Russian troops at a position near a frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Oleksandr RatushniakNEAR KREMINNA, Ukraine, June 19 (Reuters) - The artillerymen of Ukraine's 67th infantry brigade are delighted with the U.S.-supplied M119 howitzer amid an increase in military exchanges south of the Russian-held town of Kreminna. The northeast, where Ukrainian troops made big, rapid gains late last year, may be somewhat less intense, but it still saw plenty of exchanges. The artillerymen spent the day firing at enemy targets with the M119s, which they say they have had for seven months. Still, over the last five days, we observe that they (Russian troops) became more active."

Persons: Oleksandr Ratushniak, Cousin, Max Hunder, Ron Popeski, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, KREMINNA, Russian, Kreminna, Ukraine's, Bakhmut, U.S

The agreement, disclosed in court papers filed late on Friday, still requires the approval of the federal judge overseeing the litigation. To make certain that U.S. customer assets do not go offshore, the agreement allows only Binance.US employees access to these assets. The SEC said in a statement released on Saturday that the emergency relief order secured for Binance.US customers will protect their assets and ensure that they can continue to withdraw those assets. "Given that Changpeng Zhao and Binance have control of the platforms' customers' assets and have been able to commingle customer assets or divert customer assets as they please ... these prohibitions are essential to protecting investor assets," Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC's enforcement division, said in the statement. The U.S. affiliate of Binance halted dollar deposits last week and gave customers a deadline of June 13 to withdraw their dollar funds, after SEC asked a court to freeze its assets.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Zhao, Gurbir Grewal, Baranjot Kaur, Akanksha, Jose Joseph, Will Dunham, Stephen Coates, Louise Heavens Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Binance Holdings, Services, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Binance, SEC agree to allow only US employees to access customer funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 17 (Reuters) - Binance, Binance.US and the U.S. securities regulator entered into an agreement to ensure that only Binance.US employees could access customer funds in the short term, according to court documents. The proposed agreement comes after the SEC sued Binance, its CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao and Binance.US's operator last week, in a dramatic escalation of a crackdown on the industry by U.S. regulators. Binance.US and SEC did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The U.S. affiliate of Binance halted dollar deposits last week and gave customers until June 13 to withdraw their dollar funds, after SEC asked a court to freeze its assets. Other provisions in the proposed agreement will see Binance.US create new crypto wallets that the global exchange's employees have no access to, provide additional information to the SEC and agree to an expedited discovery schedule, the filings said.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Baranjot Kaur, Stephen Coates, Louise Heavens Organizations: Binance Holdings, Services, SEC, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Binance, SEC strike deal to move all US customer funds, wallet keys back onshore - CoinDesk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 17 (Reuters) - Binance, Binance.US and the U.S. securities regulator announced a deal to ensure that only Binance.US employees could access customer funds in the short term, CoinDesk reported on Saturday, citing a proposed agreement. The proposed agreement comes after the SEC sued Binance, its CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao and Binance.US's operator last week, in a dramatic escalation of a crackdown on the industry by U.S. regulators. The SEC also sued major U.S. exchange Coinbase (COIN.O) after that. Binance.US and SEC did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. The U.S. affiliate of Binance halted dollar deposits last week and gave customers until June 13 to withdraw their dollar funds, after SEC asked a court to freeze its assets.

Persons: CoinDesk, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Baranjot Kaur, Stephen Coates, Louise Heavens Organizations: Binance Holdings, Services, SEC, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Australian PM pledges $1.4 bln for afforable homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left Labor government said on Saturday it would commit A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to deliver thousands of new affordable homes nationwide, as the country grapples with soaring living costs. "The Labor government that I lead believes that every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head," Albanese said in Melbourne. "One hundred percent will be public housing, this is money for public housing." Separately, the government wants to establish an A$10 billion housing fund to build at least 30,000 new affordable homes, but has faced opposition in parliament from minor party senators. At June 2021, there were 417,800 households on major social housing programmes, including public housing, up from 378,600 in June 2008, according to government data.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Albanese, Sam McKeith, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Labor, stoke, Thomson Locations: Melbourne

Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources declined to comment further on what the AI guide would look like, given the early stage of the discussions and confidentiality of the ASEAN process. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

Persons: Fanny Potkin, Panu, Stephen Coates, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Regulators, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Senior Southeast, ASEAN Digital Ministers, Singapore’s Ministry for Communications, Information, European Union, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Europe, U.S

☆ Texas panhandle town hit by tornado, deaths reported
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A tank truck gets partially submerge in water in Perryton as the town gets struck by a tornado, in Texas, U.S. June 15, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. ABC's Amarillo affiliate KVII-TV, citing Perryton fire chief Paul Dutcher, reported that at least three people were killed. At least 30 trailer homes were damaged or destroyed in Perryton, KVII-TV reported, and firefighters were still rescuing victims at 6 p.m. It said the town may have been struck by three tornadoes. I am in contact with Mayor Symons and this tragedy is being closely monitored by myself and my whole staff," U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas, said on Twitter.

Persons: Sabrina Devers, Kerry Symons, Paul Dutcher, Debbie Beck, Beck, Jane, Mayor Symons, Ronny Jackson, Greg Abbott, Brad Brooks, Dan Whitcomb, Costas Pitas, Stephen Coates, Simon Cameron, Moore, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Republican, Twitter . Texas, Thomson Locations: Perryton, Texas, U.S, TMX, REUTERS LUBBOCK , Texas, Amarillo, Oklahoma

☆ Australian senator asked to resign after allegations of misconduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 16 (Reuters) - Australia's main opposition Liberal Party leader asked a senator to resign on Friday following allegations of sexual misconduct against him by female senators, which he has denied. The accusations against Liberal Party Senator David Van follow numerous previous complaints about the culture in Australia's parliament house, which led to an inquiry in 2021 that found one in three people working there had experienced sexual harassment. Earlier this week Thorpe, speaking under parliamentary privilege, said she had been sexually assaulted by Van in the previous parliamentary term, which Van immediately denied. Following Thorpe's comments, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker said in a statement that Van inappropriately touched her at a party in 2020 by squeezing her bottom twice. A third allegation has also emerged against senator Van, opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton told the media on Friday, without giving details.

Persons: David Van, Thorpe, Van, Amanda Stoker, Peter Dutton, Dutton, Scott Morrison, Morrison, Praveen Menon, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Liberal Party, Liberal, Nine Radio, Thomson

SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, June 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries are drawing up governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) that will impose "guardrails" on the booming technology, five officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

☆ China's Xpeng expands self-driving capability to Beijing, eyes wider expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, June 16 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc (9868.HK) on Thursday expanded its self-driving capability to Beijing as part of the automaker's expanded launch of City NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) across the mainland. City NGP is now available in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, with plans to expand it to dozens of cities within this year, Xpeng said in a statement. Xpeng said the latest launch made the company China's first Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) available in the urban areas of Beijing and applicable on the major ring roads and expressways. City NGP can be accessed on some Xpeng models including G9 Max, P7i Max, and the P5 P version, it added. Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xpeng, P7i Max, Tesla, Donny Kwok, Stephen Coates Organizations: Xpeng, HK, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, . City, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, China

☆ Ticketmaster, others agree to upfront, all-in prices as part of Biden war on junk fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 14 (Reuters) - Ticketmaster and other companies have agreed to offer consumers upfront, all-in pricing, the White House announced as it convened a meeting on Thursday to highlight efforts to crack down on so-called junk fees. President Joe Biden hosted a meeting at the White House of private companies - including Live Nation's (LYV.N) Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and Airbnb (ABNB.O) - which have committed to fully disclose fees to consumers upfront. It is part of Biden's broader effort to crack down on junk fees imposed by ticket companies, banks, airlines and other industries. Biden said he was focused on companies that slapped fees onto purchases at the end of the billing process, after consumers had done their comparison price shopping. Biden has called on Congress to pass legislation that mandates upfront, all-in pricing for all ticket sellers, bans surprise resort fees charged by hotels, eliminates early termination fees charged by cable, internet, and cellphone companies, and bans family seating fees on airlines.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Richard Blumenthal, Jarrett Renshaw, Mary Milliken, Stephen Coates, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Ticketmaster, White, Ticketmaster Coalition, U.S, Department, Thomson

☆ Oil prices dip after unexpected rise in US crude stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies U.S. crude oil stocks rise by 1 mln barrels last week -APIMarkets watching Federal Reserve meetingOPEC+ grants Russia slightly higher oil production baselineComing up: EIA data on U.S. stockpiles at 1430 GMTJune 14(Reuters) - Oil prices inched lower on Wednesday after industry data showed an unexpected rise in U.S. crude stocks, signalling weak demand to markets already worried about recession and disappointing Chinese economic data. Prices fell by 4% on Monday on concerns about the Chinese economy after disappointing economic data last week. U.S. crude oil stocks rose by about 1 million barrels in the week ended June 9, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday, contrary to the average estimate for a 510,000 million barrel decline according to analysts polled by Reuters. Market participants were also closely watching a Federal Reserve meeting, which has no pre-determined interest rate hike on the table. Meanwhile, OPEC+ has granted Russia a slightly higher oil production baseline, meaning Russia can produce more under the latest quotas than previously agreed.

Persons: Arathy Somasekhar, Stephen Coates Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Government, Federal Reserve, Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Russia, U.S, OPEC

Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, both 19-year-old students at the University of Nottingham, and Ian Coates, 65, a school janitor, were fatally stabbed. Coates was later found dead from knife injuries on Magdala Road by a member of the public, police said. Police responded to a "major incident" in Nottingham city center early Tuesday morning. “Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to,” his family said. “At 19 he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man,” the family added.

Persons: Barnaby Webber, Grace Kumar, Ian Coates, van, tasered, Coates, “, Kate Meynell, Meynell, Lynn Haggitt, ” Haggitt, ” “ I’ve, ”, Darren Staples, Shearer West, Webber, Kumar, ” Webber, “ Barnaby Philip John Webber, Webbs ’, Handout, AP Kumar, “ Grace, Grace, Kumar’s, “ Ian, ” Ross Middleton, Diana Owen, Ian, David Mellen, Jacob King, Constable Meynell, ” Meynell Organizations: CNN, Nottingham, University of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Police, Police, BBC, Getty, University of Nottingham’s, Bishops Hull Cricket Club, AP, England, England Hockey, Southgate Hockey Club, Southgate Hockey Club Coates, . Academy Trust, Huntingdon Academy, L.E.A.D . Academy Trust, St, Lawn Tennis Association, Nottingham City Locations: Ilkeston, Milton, Nottingham, AFP, Taunton, England, Huntingdon, St Peter’s, Rothesay, “, Peter's

☆ UK police search for Nottingham murders' motive
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Police forensics officers work at a site cordoned with police tape, following a major incident in Nottingham city centre, Nottingham, Britain, June 13, 2023. Another man, a 65-year-old school caretaker, was then also found dead with knife wounds on a road about two miles (3.2 km) away. A van, stolen from the caretaker, was then driven at three people, leaving one man critically injured in hospital. The incident has shocked the city, particularly the student community, with Nottingham home to two universities with more than 50,000 students. The University of Nottingham students were attacked as they returned home from a post-exam party, the Times reported.

Persons: Carl Recine, van, Kate Meynell, Suella Braverman, Grace Kumar, Barnaby Webber, Ian Coates, Ian, Ross Middleton, Michael Holden, William James, Alexandra Hudson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Police, REUTERS, Carl Recine LONDON, British, Nottinghamshire, BBC, Nottingham, The University of Nottingham, Times, England's, Huntingdon Academy, Warren Academy, Thomson Locations: Nottingham, Britain, English, West

☆ A South Carolina teacher had her AP lesson shut down after students snitched that she planned to have them read Ta-Nehisi Coates' memoir
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A South Carolina teacher's lesson was shut down after students complained they were uncomfortable. The AP English lesson included reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' 2015 memoir on racism "Between the World and Me." This past spring, Chapin High School English teacher Mary Wood included Coates' book in her lesson plan before the AP English Language exam, according to lesson plans and documents obtained by The State. Wood said in the documents that she had taught Coates' memoir the prior academic year with no issue, The State added. Young compared the situation to the AP African American Studies course debacle in Florida, which also involved the removal Coates' writing from lesson plans.

Persons: Nehisi Coates, Coates, —, Mary Wood, AP Lang, Wood, Jeremy C, Young, doesn't, that's, hasn't Organizations: PEN America, Service, Carolina teacher's, Chapin High School English, The State, AP, Chapin High School, AP African American Studies, South, South Carolina Republicans, Associated Press, GOP Locations: Carolina, America, South Carolina, The, Florida

☆ US House resumes passing bills amid Republican infighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives returned to the job of legislating on Tuesday, after a week-long standoff between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a small group of hardline Republican conservatives ended in a temporary truce. The firearms bill, brought by hardline conservative Representative Andrew Clyde, would repeal new firearms restrictions on "stabilizing braces," which functionally convert pistols into short-barreled rifles. The House then voted 248-180 to pass the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, the first of two Republican gas stove bills that the House is considering this week. Lawmakers are also due to take up massive bills renewing U.S. military programs and setting American agriculture policy for the next few years. Reporting by David Morgan and Richard Cowan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Andrew Clyde, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Biden, Jim McGovern, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Jonathan Oatis, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . House, Representatives, Republican, Gas, Protection, Product Safety, Democratic, Thomson

☆ Temasek-backed firms buy stake in VIVA Biotech unit ahead of listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VIVA Biotech said it will use the net proceeds to redeem convertible bonds in a bid "to settle its outstanding liabilities without occupying its internal resources." The deal included capital injection into VIVA Shanghai by new investors and sale of existing interest in VIVA Shanghai from Viva Investment, another unit of VIVA Biotech, the filing showed. Ltd, will altogether hold 17.55% stake in VIVA Shanghai after the deal, according the filing. HLC SPV and Qingdao Hongyi, both linked to HighLight Capital, will obtain a total of 6.66% stake from the transaction. VIVA Biotech has initiated a restructuring which will transfer all assets and personnel related to its early-stage drug discovery business to VIVA Shanghai, and move out of the Shanghai unit any assets and personnel related to drug development and manufacturing service, the filing showed.

Persons: Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Stephen Coates Organizations: Singapore's Temasek, Capital, VIVA Biotech Holdings, HK, VIVA, VIVA Shanghai, VIVA Biotech, Viva Investment, Daxue Investments, Temasek Holdings, Temasek, Ltd, SPV, Qingdao Hongyi, Investors, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Viva

☆ UN nuclear watchdog concerned over water levels at Ukraine plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 12 (Reuters) - The U.N. atomic watchdog said on Sunday that it needs wider access around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to check "a significant discrepancy" in water level data at the breached Kakhovka dam used for cooling the plant's reactors. Both the Kakhovka hydropower dam and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant have been occupied by Russia since the early days of its invasion in February 2022. "But we will only be able to know when we gain access to the thermal power plant." Grossi said the thermal power plant "plays a key role for the safety and security of the nuclear power plant a few kilometres away," hence the need for access and independent assessment. The agency has said earlier that the Zaporizhzhia plant can fall back on other water sources when the reservoir's water is no longer available, including a large cooling pond above the reservoir with several months' worth of water.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Gross, Lidia Kelly, Stephen Coates Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Melbourne

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy vows action on air raid shelters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 12 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed unhappiness on Monday at results of an inspection he ordered into all Ukrainian shelters after three people were killed when they were unable to access one during a Russian air strike in Kyiv. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said he had received summary reports on the shelters' "preparedness and unpreparedness" from Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, Oleksandr Kamyshyn, the minister for strategic industries, and Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. The deaths on June 1 caused a public outcry and a promise by Zelenskiy of a harsh response, which appeared aimed at Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who has clashed with him before. Kamyshin said on June 4 that nearly half of Kyiv bomb shelters inspected during an initial audit were closed or unfit for use. Reporting by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ihor Klymenko, Oleksandr Kamyshyn, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vitali Klitschko, Klitschko, Kamyshin, Elaine Monaghan, Stephen Coates Organizations: Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Kyiv

☆ US concerned North Korea plans to deliver more weapons to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - The United States is concerned that North Korea is planning to deliver more weapons to Russia, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Monday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to bolster strategic cooperation with Moscow. Earlier on Monday, North Korea's KCNA state news agency said Kim made the pledge in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin marking Russia's National Day. "We are concerned that the DPRK is planning to deliver more military equipment to Russia," the spokesperson added, using the initials of North Korea's official name. North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the "hegemonic policy" and "high-handedness" of the United States and the West. The United States said in March it had new information that Russia was actively seeking to acquire additional weapons from North Korea in exchange for food aid.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, Vladimir Putin, KCNA, Wagner, Hyonhee Shin, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . State Department, North, The State Department, United States, Kremlin, United, Thomson Locations: United States, Korea, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, United, North Korea, Washington

☆ North Korea's Kim vows to 'hold hands' with Putin for strategic cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster strategic cooperation on their shared goal of building a powerful country, state media KCNA reported on Monday. Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin marking Russia's National Day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and displaying "full support and solidarity." "Justice is sure to win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory," Kim said in the message published by KCNA. Kim called for "closer strategic cooperation" with Moscow, "holding hands firmly with the Russian president, in conformity with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfil the grand goal of building a powerful country," it added. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, KCNA, Hyonhee Shin, Stephen Coates Organizations: Kremlin, West, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, North Korea, United States

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