Category: World

The US State Department has agreed to sell тай 385 million worth of F16 spare parts and radars to Taiwan. The deal includes fighter jet support and advanced mobile subscriber equipment from General Dynamics.

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of parts for Taiwan's F-16 aircraft and radars worth about.385 million, the Pentagon said a day before Taiwan's President Lai Jing-de's important trip across the Pacific Ocean began. This is reported by the agency Reuters, reports UNN.

Details

The United States is required by law to provide Taiwan, which is claimed by China, with means for self-defense, despite the lack of official diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei, which is constantly angering Beijing.

The Pentagon's security and Defense Cooperation Agency said the deal included постачання 320 million worth of spare parts and support for F-16 fighter jets, radars with active phased array antennas, and related equipment.

The State Department also approved a potential sale of about.65 million worth of advanced mobile subscriber equipment and support to Taiwan, the Pentagon said. The main contractor for The продажу 65 million sale is General Dynamics.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it expects sales to" take effect "within a month and that the equipment will help maintain the F-16 fleet's combat capability and"build a robust defense force.

"Taiwan and the United States will continue to strengthen their security partnership and work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,"

– the statement says.

addition

Last month, the United States announced the potential sale of тай 2 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan, including the first delivery to the island of an advanced air defense system that has been tested in Ukraine.

Lai leaves for Hawaii on Saturday, officially stopping in the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries that do not yet have official diplomatic relations with Taipei. It will also stop at Guam.

Hawaii and Guam are home to major US military bases.

recall

Taiwan plans to discuss strengthening its defense capabilities with the future Trump administration. The government is considering a large-scale contract for the purchase of American weapons amid threats from China.

During a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged that his country would "invariably support" Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Source: Associated Press with reference to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)

Details: A Russian military delegation, led by Belousov, arrived in North Korea on 29 November amid growing cooperation between the two nations.

Quote: "The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and Belousov reached 'a satisfactory consensus' on boosting strategic partnership and defending each country’s sovereignty, security interests and international justice in the face of the rapidly-changing international security environments."

Details: Kim stated that North Korea "will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ moves for hegemony".

North Korea has supported Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call the "reckless" eastward expansion of NATO and US-led efforts to undermine Russia’s status as a powerful state.

Background:

• On 11 September, The New York Times reported that Russia had received new Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles from North Korea, which were used for strikes on Kyiv this summer. The Hwasong-11 has a range of about 700 km and can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.
• In November, reports emerged that North Korea was significantly expanding a key ballistic missile production facility, supplying weapons used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast and they have already participated in combat against Ukraine’s defence forces.

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Scientists have discovered a shift in the Earth's rotation axis by 80 centimeters to the East due to the large-scale use of groundwater. From 1993 to 2010, more than 2,150 gigatons of water were pumped from underground reservoirs.

Scientists have found that over the past two decades, the intensive use of groundwater, which serves as a source of drinking water, has led to the tilt of the Earth's rotation to the East by almost 80 centimeters. This is reported by IFLScience, writes UNN.

Details

Geophysicists have found that the pole of rotation is undergoing significant changes due to global processes, in particular climate change and large-scale use of groundwater. As Ki-Won so of Seoul National University explains, pumping out groundwater causes the rotation axis to shift, affecting the entire planet.

Ground water accumulates under the surface as a result of precipitation, seeping into natural reservoirs. These aquifers play an important role in providing water during periods of drought. They are a key component of the water cycle that provides life on Earth.

Today, about half of the world's population uses underground water as a source of drinking water, and a third — for irrigation. In the past, people dug wells and Wells to produce water, but since the 20th century, groundwater production has increased significantly. Between 1993 and 2010, more than 2,150 gigatons of water were extracted from underground reservoirs.

for Reference

The Earth's rotation pole is a point that constantly changes its location, a phenomenon known as polar motion. This process occurs due to changes in the mass distribution on the planet. Scientists compare it to a Spinning Top, whose rotation changes if its weight is redistributed. In the case of Earth, such a factor is water, which affects the rotation of our planet.

NASA has discovered a very young planet, it may have lifeNov 24 2024, 01:47 AM • 55759 views

Russian troops conducted an airstrike on the village of Kivsharivka, Kupiansk district (Kharkiv Oblast), on 29 November.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "According to the investigation, Russian troops carried out an airstrike on the village of Kivsharivka, Kupiansk district, at around 16:00 on 29 November. A 74-year-old man was killed."

Details: The prosecutors say residential buildings and an educational institution were damaged.

Preliminarily, the Russian military struck the village with FAB-500 guided aerial bombs.

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Ireland is holding early parliamentary elections with a record turnout of 3.7 million voters. According to exit polls, the opposition Sinn Fein is in the lead with 21.1%, ahead of the ruling parties by a fraction of a percent.

On Friday, November 29, voting in the early parliamentary elections started in Ireland. This is reported by the Irish Times, writes UNN.

Details

Polling stations in the country opened at 07:00 and will be open until 22:00. After the polling stations close, the publication will publish exit polls with forecasts of voting results.

It is indicated that this year 3.7 million citizens will have the right to vote – the price is 423 thousand more than in 2023. also, a record turnout is expected in the early parliamentary elections.

In the evening, Reuters reported exit polls.

It is indicated that the main opposition party "Sinn Fein" won the majority of votes with a minimal margin. Votes, according to exit polls, were distributed:

• left party "Sinn Fein" – 21.1%
• center-right party "Fine Gael" of the current Prime Minister-21.0%
• режисер по-англійськи " Fianna Fail " – 19,5%

Ukraine and Ireland sign bilateral security agreementSep 4 2024, 11:10 AM • 27995 views

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Ukraine should work directly with US President-elect Donald Trump because there are "different voices" in his circles.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Sky News; European Pravda reports

Details: When asked about his opinion on Trump, Zelenskyy said that "we have to work with the new president" of the United States in order to "have the biggest supporter".

"I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that's why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication," the Ukrainian president added.

Zelenskyy said he wanted to share his ideas with Trump and to hear him out in turn.

Zelenskyy noted that he had already met with the then-US presidential candidate in New York, and their conversation "was very warm, good, constructive".

"It was a very good meeting and it was an important first step – now we have to prepare some meetings," he said.

Background:

• Earlier, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the war may "end faster" under Trump's presidency.
• He also said that he expects to see Donald Trump's proposals for ending the war in Ukraine shortly after the start of his term.

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In Botswana, the cause of the mysterious death of more than 350 elephants in 2020 was discovered. The study showed that the animals died due to toxic cyanobacteria in watering holes, which is associated with climate change.

More than 350 elephants that died under mysterious circumstances are likely drinking toxic water, according to a new article warning of a "worrying trend" in climate-related poisoning. This is reported by The Guardian, writes UNN.

Details

According to scientists, elephants of different ages walked in circles before falling and dying. The carcasses were first spotted in northeastern Botswana in May and June 2020, and many theories have been put forward about the cause of death, including cyanide poisoning or an unknown disease.

According to lead researcher David Lomeo, a graduate student in geography at King's College London, the incident was the largest recorded elephant death, the cause of which is unknown.

A new paper published in the journal Science Of The Total Environment suggests that elephants were poisoned with water containing toxic flowers of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. The climate crisis increases the intensity and severity of harmful algae blooms.

The researchers used satellite data to analyze the distribution of corpses relative to watering holes. The team estimates that elephants typically walked just over 100 km from watering holes and died within 88 hours of drinking. In total, they examined 3,000 watering holes and found that those with increased cyanobacteria blooms in 2020 had a high concentration of corpses.

They have no choice but to drink from them,

– said the researcher.

Other animals may have died from drinking from watering holes, but the bodies may not have been detected during aerial photography, and smaller corpses may have already been taken away by predators.

The researchers also said that globally, the event highlights an alarming trend of sudden climate-related illnesses.

This study provides a compelling explanation for the massive elephant deaths that rocked the world in 2020. This adds to a growing body of evidence that climate change can have a number of deadly consequences for wildlife (as well as livestock and humans), from radically changing water availability to creating conditions for harmful bacteria and algae to breed and suppressing animal populations.,

"said Dr Niall McCann, who was not involved in the study and is director of conservation at the British charity National Park Rescue.

The researchers stressed that the study highlights the need for water quality control.

Despite economic dependence on tea: “green deserts” are being revived in southern IndiaNov 20 2024, 03:31 PM • 17802 views

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday, 29 November, that he had a phone call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Source: Zelensky in his evening address; European Pravda reports

Details: The president noted that during the conversation, he thanked Norway for increasing its support for Ukraine for the next year and discussed "joint actions for the near future".

"We will expand our cooperation in arms production in Ukraine and in efforts to protect our energy sector," he said.

The president also noted that he and the Norwegian prime minister "discussed cooperation with Norway in the field of air defence".

Background:

• Earlier, the Norwegian parliament voted to increase support for Ukraine to NOK 35 billion (about US$3.16 billion) in 2025.
• Last year, Norway approved the NOK 75 billion (about US$6.8 billion) Nansen long-term support programme, which provides Ukraine with NOK 15 billion (about US$1.36 billion) annually until 2027.
• However, this year, the country's authorities proposed to increase funding for the programme to 135 billion euros and extend it for another three years, until 2030.

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In Tbilisi, clashes between police and protesters near the parliament continue, 43 people were detained. Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters and called on the security forces to refrain from dispersing.

During the dispersal of a protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, 32 security forces were injured. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the detention of 43 people under administrative articles, as well as the initiation of criminal cases under the articles "attack on a police officer" and "damage or destruction of property". This is reported by echo of the Caucasus, reports UNN.

Details

The situation near the Georgian parliament building, where thousands of anti-government rallies are taking place, has worsened. Clashes continue at the entrances to the parliament from the Zubalashvili brothers and April 9 streets.

The police used special equipment against the demonstrators, in particular, water cannons.

Earlier, protesters and police threw bottles, stones and other objects at each other.

Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters today. She thanked the police for doing "everything possible." And she called on "other" units of the Ministry of internal affairs to refrain from dispersing the protesters.

Nothing like this is happening — neither in Rustaveli, nor in other cities of Georgia, so that it requires your involvement and dispersal. All responsibility for this lies with you and your superiors, who should think about it.",

– declared Zurabishvili

According to local media, last night's scenario is currently being repeated in Georgia, but today there are many more people on Rustaveli Avenue.

Some of the protesters are trying to hide in the Kashvet church.

Some protesters use garbage cans as shields, while others lie down on the ground to stop the advance of special equipment. Something is burning in different locations.

recall

Spontaneous protests began in Tbilisi and other cities of Georgia after the prime minister announced his refusal to negotiate EU membership until 2028. Protesters blocked Rustaveli Avenue, and the authorities are pulling together security forces and water cannons.

Security forces used water cannons against the protesters who gathered for a demonstration of thousands near the Georgian parliament to protest against the freezing of Georgia's progress towards EU membership.

Source: European Pravda citing Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus)

Details: The situation near the Georgian parliament building escalated in the evening. Protesters and police threw bottles, stones and other objects at each other.

Afterwards, footage emerged of Georgian police using special equipment, including water cannon vehicles, against the demonstrators.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs in turn said that some protesters in Tbilisi "provoked" law enforcement officers, resulting in one police officer being injured.

Background:

• On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership "until the end of 2028". His statement came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution not to recognise the outcome of the recent elections.
• Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision.
• President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people.
• That evening, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment.

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