TheNewsGuru

Tag: World War

  • WAR: Russia strengthens relationship with North Korea

    WAR: Russia strengthens relationship with North Korea

    Amid its war with Ukraine,  Russia is seeking to strengthen its ties with the Asian country of North Korea.

    Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin made this known via a statement signed and released by him on Sunday in Moscow.

    In a letter sent to his counterpart Kim Jong-un on Pyongyang’s liberation day, Mr. Putin said the move would be in both countries interests.

    In his reaction, North Korean President, Kim said their relationship dates back to pre-World War years with victory over Japan.

    He added that their “comradely friendship” would grow stronger.

    North Korean Television, KCNA, reports that the expanded bilateral relations would “conform with the interests of the two countries”.

    It added that “strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity” between the two countries “had been put on a new high stage, in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation”.

    Pyongyang did not identify the hostile forces by name, but the term has been used repeatedly by North Korea to refer to the US and its allies.

    The Soviet Union was once a major ally of North Korea, offering economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and aid.

    Meanwhile, the relationship between these two nations went sour the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) disintegrated into smaller units in 1989

    In July, North Korea was one of the few countries to officially recognize two Russian-backed separatist states in eastern Ukraine, after Russia signed a decree declaring them an independent.

    Meanwhile both leaders  Kim Jong Un and  Vladimir Putin met  on Thursday at a summit designed to show that Washington is not the only power able to set the agenda on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

    Putin and Kim, in their first ever face-to-face encounter, shook hands outside the summit venue, a university campus, then sat down in a conference room to exchange greetings in front of the television cameras

    However, Ukraine which is at war with Russia, in his retaliation, has cut off all diplomatic ties with Pyongyang in North Korea.

  • Wimbledon 2020 cancelled, first time since World War II

    Wimbledon 2020 cancelled, first time since World War II

    The Wimbledon championships were cancelled for the first time since World War Two on Wednesday as the coronavirus pandemic struck another blue-riband sports event off the calendar.

    The development meant a wipe-out of the entire tennis grasscourt season.

    The decision had looked inevitable for some time, since the virtual shutdown of world sports and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics.

    But Wimbledon had been one of the few events not to have been officially cancelled or postponed.

    However, after emergency talks between the various stakeholders over the last few days, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) made its announcement.

    It said it was impossible for the grasscourt Grand Slam, scheduled for June 29 to July 12, to take place.

    “It is with great regret that the main board … have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic,” the AELTC said in a statement.

    “The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 to July 11, 2021.”

    Following the cancellation of the grasscourt major, and with the pandemic worsening in Europe and the U.S, the men’s ATP Tour, women’s WTA Tour and the International Tennis Federation extended the suspension of professional tennis for another five weeks to July 13.

    “At this time, tournaments taking place from July 13, 2020 onwards are still planning to proceed as per the published schedule,” said a joint statement from the governing bodies.

    Britain’s death toll from the virus reached 2,352 on Wednesday, according to NHS figures.

    The French Open, originally due to be held from May 24 to June 7 was postponed.

    It was controversially rescheduled by the French tennis federation for Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, shortly after the end of the U.S. Open.

    The U.S. Open organisers said they were continuing with their plans to host the hardcourt Grand Slam in New York as scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 14.

    Players across the tennis fraternity have since reacted with shock and sadness at the cancellation of Wimbledon.

    Roger Federer, whose record haul of 20 Grand Slam titles includes eight Wimbledon trophies, said he was “devastated”.

    “There is no gif for these things that I am feeling,” he added.

    In a statement from the organisers of the Halle Open, which was also cancelled, Federer said: “We are going through difficult times but we will emerge stronger.

    “I already look forward to returning to Halle next year. Stay healthy.”

    Former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo did not think either the U.S. Open or the French Open would go ahead this year.

    “I think we’re going to have to draw a line under the 2020 tennis season,” Mauresmo said on Twitter this week.

    “International circuit = players of all nationalities plus management, spectators and people from the 4 corners of the world who bring these events to life. No vaccine = no tennis.”

    Unlike the French Open which is played on clay, Wimbledon’s scope for re-arranging the start date was extremely limited.

    While Centre Court and Court One boast a roof, playing elite level tennis outside on grass would have been extremely challenging in late summer or autumn.

    There is a lack of light and there are problems caused by dew forming on the surface late in the day.

    Shortening the format of the tournament, or playing behind closed doors, would also have proved extremely unpopular with the players.

    “While in some ways this has been a challenging decision, we strongly believe it is not only in the best interests of society at this time, but also provides certainty to our colleagues in international tennis.

    “This is in the face of the impact on the grass court events in the UK and in Europe and the broader tennis calendar,” AELTC Chief Executive Richard Lewis said.

    Tickets-holders will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for 2021 championships.

    They will also be issued with a refund for this year’s event, organisers added.

    Wimbledon had been held every year since 1946 after a six-year hiatus because the country was at war.