Author: RT

Russia pivots East with launch of natural gas deliveries to China In a move to cement energy cooperation with the fast-growing economies in Asia, Russia officially launched delivery of natural gas supplies to China, via the Power of Siberia pipeline, on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping gave the green light at an official ceremony via teleconference. Russia, the world’s biggest gas exporter, is looking to one of the globe’s top consumers, China, as Moscow’s relations with the West deteriorate. The 3,000km-long (1864 miles) pipeline will ship gas from Russia’s huge gas reserves in its eastern regions to the Chinese border. It will then link up with China’s own network to supply gas as far as the eastern seaboard and help...

Merkel’s party rejects full overhaul of German coalition as SPD elects left-leaning leaders The leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has rejected a radical renegotiation of the agreement underpinning Germany’s governing coalition after its junior partner elected left-leaning leaders who want new concessions, AP reports. The leader of Merkel’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Monday the new leadership change doesn’t amount to a major change “as a result of which we have to completely renegotiate a coalition.” Members of the center-left Social Democrats on Saturday chose Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken as their new leaders, rejecting a rival duo that included Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz and strongly favored staying in Merk...