North korea news agency

The UN secretary-general has warned the world could be facing further conflict - as North Korea steps up its preparedness. As the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, Antonio Guterres said he fears the world is "sleepwalking into a wider war" with its "eyes wide open". He pointed to the war in Ukraine as having undermined global solidarity and trust, and urged all countries to recommit to the UN Charter, which calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes. After experts set the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight - the closest it has ever been to "global catastrophe" - Mr Guterres urged the general assembly's 193 member nations to change their mindset to decision-making and look at "what will happen to all of us tomorrow - and act". This is instead of near-term thinking, which he called "irresponsible" and "immoral". "The so-called 'tactical' use of nuclear weapons is absurd," he said, calling for nuclear-armed countries to renounce the … [Read more...] about UN chief fears world ‘sleepwalking into wider war’ – as North Korea steps up preparedness

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails An independent investigation into logging in the Liberian rainforest found illegal operations “on a significant scale," with multiple missteps or breaches of law by the government agency charged with protecting those forests, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Associated Press. The report was completed in 2020 but has never been made public despite activists’ calls to publish its findings, which included a recommendation that President George Weah order a special inquiry into what went wrong. Four sources familiar with the report said Weah, who appointed the forestry agency’s head, has ignored repeated calls from European Union , United States and United Kingdom ambassadors to act in response to the report. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations … [Read more...] about Investigation faults Liberian agency protecting rainforest

February 07, 2023 09:51 A North Korean balloon flew into the South Korean airspace and floated around in the sky for a few hours before being blown towards the East Sea on Sunday. The military here kept close track of the incursion, which seems to echo a huge Chinese spy balloon that invaded U.S. airspace until it was shut down on Sunday. A military spokesman said on Monday, "We didn't take any other action because we believe it was a North Korean weather balloon that didn't intrude on our airspace on purpose." According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff here, the balloon crossed the border to Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. It floated in at such a low altitude that it was detected by a thermal observation device. "North Korean weather balloons often cross the military demarcation line, and so do our weather balloons," the spokesman added. "But we have increased surveillance given the recent flyover of a Chinese spy balloon in the U.S." UN … [Read more...] about N.Korean Balloon Crosses into S.Korea

The recent attack on two North Carolina substations that cut power to thousands of people has raised concerns about security standards for the country’s electric grid and its numerous power stations, which have faced greater threats in recent years . Outside of weather, suspected and confirmed physical attacks on electric grid infrastructure have been the largest cause of electrical disturbance events since 2014 when, in response to an attack in California the year before, private companies that run power stations were required to increase security standards, according to an NBC News analysis of public Department of Energy reports. Nearly 600 electric emergency incidents and disturbances were caused by suspected and confirmed physical attacks and vandalism on the electric grid in those nine years, the reports show. There have been 106 attack or vandalism incidents from January through August 2022, which is the latest the Energy Department data tracks. Among the years … [Read more...] about North Carolina substation attack raises security concerns for U.S. electric grid

All power has been restored in central North Carolina, where gunfire led to massive power outages, officials said Wednesday as a $75,000 reward was offered for information that leads to the shooter or shooters. By 6 p.m. all homes and businesses in Moore County that had been plunged into darkness had power back on, four days after someone shot up two substations, Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks said. Earlier Wednesday, officials said work crews were on a "final push" to get all lights turned on again. At its peak, around 45,000 Moore County customers were left without power, the utility has said. "Today I'm happy to say that we began the final push to completion," Brooks told reporters in Carthage then. "We began bringing in customers a few thousand at a time. It was a phased approach, very manual." Gov. Roy Cooper has called the shootings at two substations in Moore County, population 100,000, about 50 miles southwest of Raleigh, a “criminal attack.” A $75,000 … [Read more...] about All power restored in North Carolina four days after gunfire led to massive outages

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Drilling rigs and other equipment are “migrating” away from the North Sea and other European fields for opportunities elsewhere in the world, a trade group has said. The North Sea chapter of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) called on the UK and Scottish governments as well as the offshore industry to co-operate better with each other. The IADC said a longer-term outlook is needed to secure a transition to clean energy. It said recently announced drilling opportunities represent only a “fraction” of what is needed to meet energy demand in the UK. Recommended Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live IADC regional director Stuart Clow said: “The North Sea continues to … [Read more...] about Drilling rigs ‘migrating’ away from North Sea, trade body says

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Ukraine and the three Baltic countries, all former Soviet republics, moved a step closer Friday to boycotting next year’s Paris Olympics because of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The International Olympic Committee plans to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete as “neutral athletes” despite their invasion of Ukraine, saying it can't discriminate athletes based on their citizenship. However, countries have been excluded in the past. The Olympics also have a history of countries choosing to boycott rather than compete against athletes they believed should not have been invited. 1920 — Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Turkey are not invited to the 1920 Antwerp Olympics after defeat in World War I. Host nation Belgium was one of the countries Germany occupied. After the … [Read more...] about Olympic bans and boycotts go back a century

Residents in the world's coldest city have been filmed taking an icy plunge into a local river - as temperatures dropped to -62.7C. The city of Yakutsk in east Siberia, which is widely considered the world’s coldest city , on January 19 recorded deeply freezing conditions. It was the coldest recorded in the region in more than two decades. The whole Asian region has been battling dramatic temperatures, while Afghanistan has had over 140 deaths due to the taxing conditions. The Satal district of Yakutsk, capital of Russia ’s largest and coldest region in Siberia, have been left without heating in the sub-zero temperatures as Vladimir Putin diverts money to his war efforts. Yakutsk is the world's largest city built on permafrost and has been nicknamed Russia’s Kingdom of Cold. Russians braved the ice cold waters of the Lena river in Yakutsk to mark the Orthodox Epiphany ( Image: AFP News Agency) A video shared by AFP on Twitter from January 19 showed … [Read more...] about Inside world’s coldest city where locals jump into river as temperatures drop to -62C

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, left, chats with Interior Minister Lee Sang-min during a parliamentary interpellation session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Monday. [NEWS1] The People Power Party (PPP) and Democratic Party (DP) locked horns in a grueling parliamentary interpellation session Monday, with conservative lawmakers slamming DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung for alleged misdeeds and liberals criticizing the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's gaffes. The National Assembly on Monday kicked off its three-day interpellation session to question government officials on politics, foreign affairs, unification and security issues. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, Foreign Minister Park Jin and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min were some of the senior government officials questioned on the first day. Asked if prosecutors plan on arresting DP chairman Lee, Justice Minister Han said that a "fair investigation" will be conducted according to the … [Read more...] about Parties trade accusations during interpellation session

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Each week the picture editors at The Independent sort through hundreds of thousands images sent into us by photography agencies from all around the world. These are some of the most eye-catching and the most striking images from culture, news, politics, sport and lifestyle. You can also keep up with the latest photography making headlines via our Instagram . The pack rides during the second stage of 2023 Saudi Tour, from Winter Park to Shalal Sijlyat Rocks. Recommended Biden praises alliances with UK and Australia amid new pact Blinken dismisses GOP claim ‘White House insiders’ control Biden’s mic Biden says Democrats’ climate plans could create 800,000 new jobs Serbia's Novak Djokovic gets selfies with his supporters outside the Government House in Melbourne … [Read more...] about Pictures of the week: A frozen waterfall, a suspected Chinese spy balloon and base jumpers