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Kim Jong Un takes ride in luxury Russian limo given to him by Putin

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently enjoyed his inaugural ride in a luxury car gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a symbolic moment in the strengthening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. This gesture underscores the deepening ties since their summit in September, as Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, highlighted the significance of the occasion as evidence of the robust DPRK-Russia friendship. The vehicle, an Aurus Senat limousine, arrived in Pyongyang in February after Putin’s invitation to Kim during their meeting.

Aurus, touted as Russia’s premier luxury car brand, has been a staple in the motorcades of top Russian officials since Putin’s inauguration in 2018. Notably, Kim Jong Un, known for his collection of foreign luxury cars, has previously utilized vehicles like the Maybach limousine during his travels, including his visit to Russia. However, the gift of the Aurus adds another dimension to his collection.

Despite the diplomatic exchange, concerns have been raised, particularly regarding potential violations of UN sanctions. The Ministry of Unification in South Korea condemned North Korea’s public display of the gift, stressing Russia’s responsibility as a UN Security Council member. Additionally, there are concerns about the close ties between North Korea and Russia amid the latter’s conflict with Ukraine and suspicions of military cooperation between the two nations.

Kim’s use of the luxury vehicle was coupled with overseeing military drills, emphasizing his country’s military capabilities. Furthermore, his daughter accompanied him during this event, indicating a potential succession plan within the leadership.

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Putin gifts luxury Aurus car to North Korea’s Kim

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Russian President Vladimir Putin recently presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a luxurious Russian-made car, as reported by Pyongyang’s state media. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the gift, specifying that it was an Aurus, a high-end luxury sedan similar to those favored by Putin himself.

This gesture highlights the deepening relationship between the two nations, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Despite facing international sanctions, suspicions persist regarding military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, with allegations of North Korea providing artillery and missile support to Russia for its war efforts.

The exchange occurred during Kim’s visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome last September, which marked his first trip abroad in four years. During this visit, Putin personally showed Kim his Aurus limousine and gifted him firearms, further solidifying their rapport.

Kim’s sister, Yo Jong, praised the car gift as emblematic of the close personal bond shared between the two leaders. However, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry criticized the gesture, citing UN sanctions that prohibit the supply of luxury vehicles to North Korea.

While the relationship between Putin and Kim may not display the same level of camaraderie seen between Kim and former US President Donald Trump, both leaders recognize the strategic benefits of fostering closer ties. Plans for Putin to visit Pyongyang in the future have been hinted at by both sides, indicating the ongoing development of their diplomatic relationship.

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Ukrainian Captain Imprisoned Following Deadly River Tour Boat Collision on the Danube

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The captain of a cruise ship involved in a fatal collision with a small tour boat on the River Danube in Budapest, resulting in the death of 28 people, has been sentenced to five years in prison. This incident occurred during a rainstorm in May 2019 when the Mermaid, carrying South Korean tourists, quickly sank following the collision.

The Ukrainian captain of the Viking Sigyn cruise ship, Yuri Chaplinsky, maintained his innocence but was found guilty of gross negligence. Chaplinsky intends to appeal the verdict.

This tragedy marked the Danube’s worst accident in three decades, impacting Europe’s second-longest river. Hungarian prosecutors argued in March 2020 that Chaplinsky had failed to pay sufficient attention and neglected proper navigation during the rainstorm. They stated that he didn’t detect the presence of the Mermaid, failed to communicate or issue emergency signals, and did not focus on steering the ship for several critical minutes.

The collision occurred just after 21:00 local time on May 29 when both vessels were passing under Budapest’s Margaret Bridge. Although seven of the 35 people on board the Mermaid were rescued and some bodies were swiftly recovered, others were swept away in the swift-flowing river or trapped inside the sinking boat. The boat sank within moments of the collision.

Twenty-five of the victims were South Koreans, including the Mermaid’s captain and a crew member. Only seven Korean passengers survived the accident, and one individual remains unaccounted for.

Chaplinsky, who has been in custody since 2019, expressed deep sorrow for the tragic accident during the court proceedings. He acknowledged that he cannot escape the memories of the tragedy and that it will haunt him for the rest of his life. Notably, he was acquitted of the charge of failing to provide assistance.

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Paris Robbery: Goalkeeper Donnarumma and Partner Targeted and Assaulted

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Italian and Paris St-Germain goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and his partner faced a terrifying ordeal when they were attacked and robbed at their residence in Paris. According to police sources, several individuals targeted the couple at their flat in the eighth district of the city, where they were subsequently bound. However, they managed to escape to a nearby hotel after the incident.

The hotel staff was alerted, and the couple was taken to the hospital following the traumatic event. The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that an investigation has been launched, focusing on charges of armed robbery by an organized gang and aggravated violence.

While unconfirmed reports suggest that the attackers made away with valuable items such as jewelry, watches, and luxury leather goods worth around €500,000, the footballer sustained only minor injuries, while his partner, Alessia Elefante, remained unharmed, according to sources from Agence France Presse.

It appears that France’s special police unit for armed robbery and burglaries, known as BRB, has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. Gianluigi Donnarumma, 24, who moved to Paris two years prior, was scheduled to join the Paris St-Germain squad for their upcoming pre-season friendly match against Le Havre and a tour of Japan and South Korea.

Sadly, this is not the first time PSG footballers have been targeted by criminal gangs, though most previous attacks occurred when the players were not at home. For instance, in March 2021, two men were sentenced to jail for robbing the home of Brazil footballer Marquinhos in Yvelines, to the west of Paris. Marquinhos was away playing during the incident, but his father and two teenage daughters were present in the house, with his father suffering some injuries in the assault. Similarly, the home of Marquinhos’s teammate Angel Di Maria was also burgled on the same day.

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Netflix to invest $2.5bn in new South Korea films and TV shows

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Netflix has announced that it will invest $2.5bn in South Korea over the next four years. The announcement was made by the company’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, after meeting with South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk-yeol, in Washington.

The money will be used to create movies and television shows in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, where Netflix has seen success with South Korean productions, including the hugely popular show Squid Game.

Sarandos cited his confidence in the Korean creative industry’s ability to continue telling great stories and expressed his inspiration by the President’s strong support for the Korean entertainment industry. When asked about other potential investments in the region, a Netflix spokesperson declined to comment.

In 2021, the South Korean series Squid Game became Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, with 111 million viewers streaming the show in the first 28 days of its release. The show follows the story of people in debt competing for a cash prize in a series of children’s games with deadly consequences. Additionally, the South Korean reality show Physical 100 became Netflix’s most-watched non-English language show globally earlier this year.

As Netflix faces competition from streaming rivals such as Amazon, HBO, and Disney, it has lowered prices in several countries to attract more subscribers. The company has also announced that it will begin cracking down on password sharing in the coming months, which will require subscribers who share accounts with people outside their household to pay an extra fee.

Netflix has been seeking ways to boost growth, which has slowed significantly due to rising costs and market saturation in some of its biggest markets, according to analysts.

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