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Russia says that train service between Moscow, North Korea and Pyongyang will resume in this month.
Russia and North Korea are planning to resume direct passenger trains between Moscow and Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea in this month. This will be the first time that the service has been offered since 2020. Russian Railways announced that it had reached an agreement with the North Korean railways ministry on a two-monthly service to resume between the capitals of the country. The journey, which took eight days, was said to be the longest direct train journey in the entire world, covering over 10,000 km (6 213 miles). Two days later, another service will be launched between Pyongyang, North Korea, and Khabarovsk in Russia, near the northeastern Chinese border. Korean State Railway will operate the services. In the case of the Moscow to Pyongyang route, a North Korean passenger train will be attached to the regular Moscow to Vladivostok service, then reattached to another. In February 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the suspension of passenger rail traffic between Russia & North Korea. Since President Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive partnership treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last year, Moscow and Pyongyang's cooperation has increased. North Korea confirmed to Russia in late April it had sent over 10,000 troops and weapons in support of its war in Ukraine. This assistance was crucial to Moscow's success in regaining Russia's western Kursk area from Ukraine. Both countries operate passenger rail services between Vladivostok, in Russia's Far East, and Rason (a North Korean port). There are also freight rail networks that connect the nations, though Russia does not reveal the volume of cargo traffic. Reporting by Gleb Stlyarov, Writing by Lucy Papachristou and Editing by Andrew Osborn
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Trump's dream of a F-55 twin-engine fighter jet is thrown into doubt
According to two sources familiar with the issue, President Donald Trump may have to scale back his vision for a new twin-engine Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter plane due to engineering and cost realities. In Doha, Trump stated that the "F-55" will have "two engines" and "a super upgrade over the F-35." Trump did add a condition, saying "if we can get the best price." The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue was sensitive, said that Trump had not been shown a twin-engine redesign. The sources claimed that developing such a jet required a massive overhaul costing billions of dollar and taking many years. Lockheed Martin briefed Trump about a possible upgrade for the F-35 in multiple meetings prior to the Doha event. The proposal consisted of just one "advanced engine", a redesigned fuselage and nose, as well as a new sensor system. Trump's mention of the "F-55" designation of the jet caught officials and insiders by surprise, especially the mention of its twin engines. Trump has stated that he prefers this feature for safety, in the event of an engine failure. According to two industry sources and two experts, Lockheed is exploring two new variants of fighter jets. The F-55 proposal is a response to the intensifying competition in global military aviation. China continues to develop its J-36 stealth fighters and J-50 stealth bombers at a rapid pace, while Russia is advancing its Su-57 program in spite of economic constraints. Lockheed's response to Trump's remarks in Doha was measured. "We thank President Trump, for his support for the F-35, and F-22, and we will continue to work with the Administration, to realize their vision of air dominance." According to TD Cowen, a Wall Street analyst who is tracking what could replace Lockheed Martin’s F-35 said, "it sounds as though Trump has asked DoD for a twin-engine version of the F-35 if we can get the best price." Two engines? The F-55 would need to be redesigned with two engines, which would cost a lot of money and take a long time. While it would speed up the jet, it would also delay its production for years. Lockheed CEO James Taiclet had told investors in an April call that the company was exploring a "fifth-generation-plus" fighter concept that would apply technologies developed for its unsuccessful F-47 bid to enhance the F-35 platform. The people who spoke to me said that the F-55 would be much more difficult to export with the new technologies, and they still remain highly controlled. Taiclet, an analyst in April, said that he would "basically take the chassis and make it into a Ferrari". He claimed this approach could provide 80% of the next-generation capabilities at a half price. Boeing won the contract to build the Next Generation Air Dominance, now called the F-47. This will be America's sixth-generation fighter aircraft and is intended to replace Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. PRODUCTION Lockheed is able leverage its production plans to produce new jets because it lost the NGAD competition. The people claimed that Lockheed already had production space lined up and informed the president of the readiness to move forward. One person said that Lockheed was much farther along than the president realized. The F-55's announcement is a timely one, and raises some questions as to how it fits in with existing budgets and plans for defense procurement. The Pentagon already manages multiple high-cost aircraft programs, such as the F-35, F-47, and possibly the Navy's F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter plane. Lockheed Martin's F-55 concept is a crucial opportunity to remain relevant in the high-end market for fighter aircraft after suffering significant setbacks during the next-generation competitions. The F-55 and Boeing's NGAD are expected to surpass the F-22 in terms of capabilities. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft in Washington, and Chizu Nomiyama.)
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Canada - June 9
These are some of the most important stories in selected Canadian newspapers. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these stories. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will announce the biggest increase in defence expenditures since the Second World War. This would allow Canada to reach NATO's target of 2% military spending this fiscal year. The Canadian clothing retailer Oak and Fort was granted court protection against its creditors. It blames its financial crisis on an ill-conceived expansion of its store and U.S. Tariffs. ** The union representing DHL Express Canada workers says that the company has locked out their members amid a simmering conflict which adds uncertainty nationwide parcel delivery and could test the new federal laws regarding the use of replacement employees. (Compiled Bengaluru Newsroom)
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Explosions and fires on cargo ships off India's Kerala Coast
Officials said that on Monday multiple explosions and fires occurred on a cargo vessel bound for India's financial center Mumbai, causing forty containers to fall in the Arabian Sea. Shekhar Kuriakose is the secretary of Kerala's disaster management authority. The WAN HAI 503, a Singapore-flagged vessel, met with an incident about 144 km off the coast. According to preliminary information, there were 22 employees on the ship. 18 of them jumped in the water and are now in rescue boats. He said that efforts were underway to save them, and added that the ship was not "currently sunk". The Indian Coast Guard shared pictures and videos on X showing a plume of smoke rising from the vessel, with some containers lying in disarray and open near the point at which the smoke was escaping. A public relations officer for the defence ministry said that a vessel was currently on fire and drifting. The explosions and the contents of the containers were not disclosed by the officials. Another container ship sank last month in an accident near Kerala, releasing 100 containers of cargo into the Arabian Sea. According to the directorate general for shipping, there was no oil pollution reported as a result of this incident. Reporting by Jose Devasia. Sakshi Dayal is the writer. Mark Potter (editing)
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Argentina's Milei insults Spanish PM Sanchez again
Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, insulted Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez during an event in Madrid. This comes a year after another similar incident escalated into a diplomatic spat. Milei, at the Madrid Economic Forum on Sunday night, called for the "clobbering of the local bandit" without directly naming Sanchez. Sanchez's office refused to comment on the incident. Milei was elected in late 2023. A libertarian, Milei is a former TV pundit who has taken many maverick positions. She also made dramatic gestures such as smashing the pinata on live television. Milei called Begona Gómez, Sanchez's spouse at a Madrid event in May 2024 "corrupt". Milei's comment caused a diplomatic dispute, and the Spanish government recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires after Milei refused an apology. Milei then doubled down, calling Sanchez "arrogant", a "totalitarian", and a "coward", despite Argentina keeping its ambassador in Madrid. Gomez faces a preliminary investigation into possible corruption and influence peddling. Both she and her husband deny any wrongdoing. Reporting by Inti Infantes and Isabel Landauro; Editing by Sharon Singleton
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Boeing plane returns to China as tariff war eases
Flight tracking data revealed that a new Boeing 737 MAX landed in China again on Monday. This was a sign that the U.S. aircraft manufacturer would resume deliveries to Chinese clients as Beijing and Washington eased their tariff war. Boeing announced at the end May that deliveries will resume in June, after tariffs are temporarily reduced for 90 days. After leaving Seattle, the plane was painted in the livery for Xiamen Airlines. It refueled in Hawaii and Guam on its way across the Pacific. Flightradar24, a tracking app, shows that Boeing originally sent the aircraft to Zhoushan, China, in March. It then returned to the United States by mid-April when Chinese airlines ceased to accept new Boeing aircraft. Boeing, Xiamen Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Authority of China did not respond immediately to requests for comments. China is a growing and important aviation market, representing about 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog. On Monday, representatives of China and the United States are meeting in London to discuss a possible trade agreement. Boeing brought back at least three 737 MAX jets to the United States from Zhoushan in April, where they would receive final touches prior to delivery to Chinese airlines. The first jet to return is the same plane that landed Monday. Boeing had previously stated that customers in China wouldn't take delivery of new aircraft due to tariffs. It was also looking to resell dozens of planes. The planemaker did not send the planes to another location, even though they wanted to reduce inventory. Beijing has not stated why Boeing deliveries have stopped but claimed that Chinese airlines and Boeing were severely affected by U.S. tariffs. Boeing announced in April that it planned to deliver 50 jets to Chinese carriers throughout the year. Of these, 41 were already built or under construction. (Reporting and additional reporting by Sohie Yo; editing by Clarence Fernandez).
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Kazakhstan President replaces Ministers of Defence and Transport
Kassym Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, replaced two ministers from his government on Sunday, including that of transport, whom he had previously criticised for delays in modernising infrastructure. According to the decrees posted on his website, he fired Defence Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov. He replaced him with Zhaksylykov’s deputy and Air Defence Forces Chief Dauren Kosanov. Tokayev, who met Kosanov Sunday, gave him several orders, including enhancing the army's readiness for combat, increasing the capabilities of Special Operations Forces and modernising its infrastructure. Zhaksylykov was previously the deputy interior minister and the head of the National Guard. He was appointed Defence Minister after civil unrest in 2022, which had been triggered by the removal a fuel price cap. The authorities were forced to call troops from an alliance led by Russia of former Soviet countries to quell a protest that grew into a widespread protest against economic hardship and corruption. Tokayev has also dismissed Transport Minister Marat Karabayev, whom he had reprimanded for transport and logistical problems in May. Karabayev's successor is still unknown. The reasons for the reshuffle were not revealed by the president. (Reporting and writing by Tamara Vaal, editing by Alexandra Hudson).
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After the presidential election, Poles march to demand equality for LGBTQ+ after fears are raised
On Saturday, thousands of Poles marched in Gdansk's northern port to show their support for the LGBTQ+ Community amid concerns for its future following the election of nationalist candidate Karol Nawarocki. Participants waved the rainbow flags as well as the blue, white, and pink banners that represent the transgender communities. Many participants carried placards with messages like "Love is Love" and "12 Years Together - When Civil Partnership?" Wroclaw, a western city, also hosted a parallel Pride event. Nawrocki's support by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), has caused alarm among LGBTQ+ activists. While in power between 2015 and 2023, PiS made opposition against what it called "LGBTQ+ ideologies" a key part of its program, framing them as a danger to traditional values in a predominantly Catholic country. Agata, a 23-year old student, said: "I was devastated. "I'm scared. "I don't know how our future will look." While LGBTQ+ issues were not as prominent in Nawrocki’s campaign as they were in the one of his PiS-backed successor Andrzej duda's in 2020, Nawrocki’s platform included promises to resist “ideology in school" and to oppose adopting same-sex couples. He stated that marriage is between a man a woman, and while rejecting civil partnership, he expressed his willingness to discuss the legal recognition of a "close" person, regardless of their sexual orientation. A pro-European coalition, which came to power in the year 2023, introduced a bill that would legalise civil partnership. The bill's fate is uncertain, however, as the presidency has veto powers. Agata expressed her hope that a civil partnership law could be implemented, but said it was unlikely to happen during Nawrocki’s presidency. She said, "I want to see more equality in society and in our country."
New Zealand cranks fossil power output as hydro capture drags on: Maguire
Power generators in New Zealand have actually lifted output from fossil fuels to the greatest in three years up until now in 2024, as they have a hard time to offset the biggest yearoveryear drop in generation from hydro dams in approximately a years.
Overall fossil fuel-fired electricity generation from January through July was 4.36 terawatt hours (TWh), according to energy believe tank Ash.
That overall was 1.75 TWh or 67% greater than during the very same months in 2023, and almost matched the 1.86 TWh drop in generation from the country's hydro dams throughout the same period.
Hydro power is New Zealand's main source of electrical energy generation, and generally represent around 58% of the nation's annual electrical power materials.
Nevertheless, hydro's share of total generation dropped to just 48.6% in July - the lowest regular monthly reading in at least a years - as continual dry spell has curbed hydro production and forced power generators to raise output from other sources.
RATE DISCOMFORT
Tight power materials have also activated a surge in wholesale power prices, which scaled all-time highs earlier this month and are up over 180% considering that the start of 2024.
New Zealand's power costs are also more than double those in neighbour Australia, and mean New Zealand's homes and businesses pay a few of the greatest energy bills in the area.
In an effort to reduce potential power shortages and reduce rate pressure, New Zealand's federal government has actually reversed a. ban on offshore oil and gas expedition and has promised to. fast-track approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
Nevertheless, those procedures might take years to materially affect. gas supplies to power producers, so power providers will likely. continue to deal with tight materials of generation fuels for the. remainder of 2024 at least.
RENEWABLE DEVELOPMENT
The quickest possible path to a continual healing in power. generation levels would be if there was a modification to the area's. weather condition systems which activated more rains.
An El Nino weather condition pattern over the Indian and Pacific. oceans has caused drier than normal conditions across much of. Australia and New Zealand up until now this year, resulting in New. Zealand's drought readings.
However there is a 60% -70% chance of a La Nina pattern forming. during the latter months of the year, according to the New. Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Study. ( NIWA), which could bring more rains throughout Oceania.
Any continual rebound in rains would lead to a. commensurate rise in hydro generation, and greater general. electricity output.
More growth to New Zealand's solar generation sector is. another course to higher clean electricity output.
Set up solar capacity since completion of July was 455. megawatts, according to the New Zealand electrical power authority. EMI.
That overall is up from 295 MW in July 2023, therefore marks a. more than 50% boost in generation capability within a year.
Setup data also shows that roughly 40 MW of new. capability has been installed since completion of last summer season, and so. stands to make a significant effect on generation overalls throughout the. upcoming southern hemisphere summertime when solar output peaks.
Roughly 44 MW of total installed solar capability has battery. storage, and so can discharging that power into the. national grid system even after the sun sets.
In mix, that higher solar capacity footprint. along with more routine rains could help New Zealand's power. companies improve total materials from the existing stunted generation. levels.
However New Zealand's total electricity demand likewise looks set to. climb towards the end of the year due to greater need for. cooling systems during the summer, therefore might keep pressure on. the nation's power network even if overall materials mount a. rebound.
In that case, power manufacturers will likely continue to deploy. growing volumes of fossil fuels within the generation mix. in spite of continuous efforts to lower total power sector. emissions.
<< The viewpoints expressed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>
(source: Reuters)