The German government remains committed to completing the Nord Stream 2 project despite strong objections from Washington. Photo: AP According to Bloomberg, Foreign Minister Maas affirmed that it is too early to conclude that the US will not impose additional sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 project. Maas emphasized, in fact, in US politics, neither Democrats nor Republicans have a positive view of the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. However, Minister Maas expects that the gas cooperation project between Moscow and Berlin will no longer be a conflict in US-German relations. The US has repeatedly voiced its objections and continuously put pressure on the implementation of the Russian gas project. Most recently, Washington imposed sanctions on 13 Russian ships and 3 companies related to the project, but lifted sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG – the company operating the Stream project. The North 2, and CEO Matthias Warnig. Speaking at a press conference on May 19, Foreign Minister Maas said the US decision was “a constructive step”, and affirmed that Berlin would continue to dialogue with its partners in Washington. The German government remains committed to completing the Nord Stream 2 project despite strong objections from Washington, and asserts that this pipeline will help ensure Europe’s energy security and is completely a economic project. In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 said that the Nord Stream 2 project is ready to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.

Stemming from the research on the model combining agricultural production and solar power in 2018, the Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) continues to do field research to pilot the model in An Giang province. The selected place is the cultivated land of Mr. Chau Hon’s family, Khmer household in An Hoa hamlet (Chau Lang commune, Tri Ton). The model was implemented by GreenID and Climate Sense Co., Ltd. (Climate Sense) from May 2020, with the support of the Management Board of the Sustainable Energy Development Project in An Giang province, Department of Agriculture and Development. Tri Ton district rural area and Chau Lang Commune People’s Committee. The model is designed according to the standards of rooftop solar power installed on construction works, tree-growing houses and instructions of EVN (Vietnam Electricity) with a capacity of 45Kwp, installed on an area of ​​400m2. of Mr. Chau Hon’s family. The model is completed and the grid is connected in December 2020. To ensure the efficiency of the plants underneath, the solar panels are designed with the right spacing, to ensure the growth of the plant variety. This is considered the first model with tripartite cooperation (people, businesses and non-profit organizations). The benefit sharing mechanism is discussed, agreed and harmonized among the participants. Agricultural production and sub-system farming activities are calculated and tested as soon as the system is completed with a number of short-term crops to assess growth and economic efficiency of the system. paradigm. The solar model associates agricultural production with double efficiency According to GreenID, the profit from the model will be divided among the parties according to the proportion of capital contribution invested. The disbursement period for Climate Sense is in the first 10 years because Climate Sense capital is meant to support initial investment. After 10 years, the whole system will be handed over to GreenID and households for management and use. After 20 years, GreenID will hand over to households full ownership. This model is expected to bring many multilateral financial benefits to the participants and facilitate as well as a typical model to call for more investors to expand. Farmers are excited Since commissioning in early 2021, the power generation portion is monitored remotely on the phone application. As recorded, the sunniest day, the model produces about 246Kwh of electricity and the lowest is 43Kwh on the day. On average, the system produces 103 kWh of electricity per day (as of April 7, 2021). Every month, electricity will record the indexes and payout on the amount of electricity sold to the investor’s account. From January to March 2021, the project has sold more than 4,471 kWh of electricity, equivalent to over VND 22 million. In this joint venture model, all participants benefit from the project. All profits earned from the sale of electricity to EVN will be distributed to the parties to the investment according to the profit sharing structure agreed upon by the parties in the joint venture cooperation contract. Joining the model, Mr. Chau Hon’s family and the project planted some new crops to test new crops for research. From January to April 2021, the research team collaborated with the project team and farmers to experiment with water spinach and cucumber to calculate the suitability of plants under solar panels and compare them with planting. outside. In fact, plants in the shade under solar panels grow well because they retain moisture, avoid direct sunlight due to extremely sunny weather and improved farming techniques. “I planted cucumber from February to 2021, the plants grown in a greenhouse under the panels outperform the control field outside, the fruiting rate is quite stable. Currently, my family harvests more than 30kg of cucumber per day. The fruit has a nice design and is long, fresh and delicious, highly appreciated by customers ”- Mr. Chau Hon said excitedly. Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Truong Kien Tho said that the combination of agricultural production and solar power is a new model, showing initial efficiency. “When looking at the pictures of the panels covering the agricultural land, many people think it is impossible to cultivate. However, when choosing suitable crops, productivity and quality are higher. In the same arid land, farmers can keep an income from farming while also earning a monthly electricity bill. This is a model that can help many farmers to escape poverty sustainably and get better-off ”- Mr. Tho assessed. The model of installing solar cells combining agricultural production below helps generate additional revenue from selling solar power, making the most of arable land to increase income, and reduce conflicts in use. use of land resources. Some crops benefit from increased coverage, resulting in higher yields and better product quality

Australian troops and local forces in Afghanistan. Source: Australian Department of Defense

Since the US launched the war in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban, along with the US and its allies, Australia has sent more than 39,000 troops to the country to join the war, of which 41 soldiers were killed.

Starting two years ago, when Australia had 1,500 troops, the country began the process of withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to the current 80 soldiers.

Although from September 2021 there will be no Australian military presence in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia continues to support the peace process in this country.

“Australia continues to support peace negotiations between the Australian government and the Taliban. We encourage both sides to join the peace process in which many Australians have died for it. While reducing the military’s contribution to this process, we continue to support Afghanistan’s stability and development through our bilateral partnership programs as well as through coordination with other countries ” said Mr. Morrison.

The United States and three European powers, Britain, France and Germany, oppose Iran’s decision to increase the purity of enriched uranium to 60%, the news agency said. Reuters said.

US Foreign School Antony Blinken said the decision to increase uranium enrichment was a “provocative” move and raised questions about the seriousness of Tehran with nuclear talks.

“We take their (Iran’s) provocative statement very seriously regarding their intention to start uranium enrichment at 60%. I must say that this step raises the question of the seriousness of the uranium level.” of Iran for the nuclear talks “- Mr. Blinken said.

American Foreign School Antony Blinken. Photo: US Department of Foreign Affairs

Britain, France and Germany – the three countries of the P5 + 1 group that signed the historic nuclear deal – made a joint statement, concerned about Iran’s raising uranium enrichment levels and earlier mass activation of the machine. Advanced centrifugation at the Natanz (Iran) factory. These three countries said that Tehran’s moves were “contrary to the constructive spirit and goodwill to discuss”.

“Iran’s announcements are particularly unfortunate because they come at a time when all parties are involved in the deal and the US has begun substantive discussions, with the aim of finding a diplomatic solution. quick to renew and reinstate agreement “- UK, France, Germany wrote in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Archbishop Ali Khamenei criticized that the United States was trying to impose terms favorable to Washington during the negotiations, while Europe was said to be “bowing to people. America and does not act independently “.

Khamenei reiterated Iran’s stance, demanding that the sanctions be lifted before Tehran can fulfill its commitments to the P5 + 1.

The decision to begin enriching uranium at 60% was announced by Iran on April 14, just three days after the Natanz nuclear plant was “under terrorist attack”.

Before Iran made this decision, Iran enriched uranium at 20%, which is 3.67% higher than as bound in the nuclear agreement but much lower than the 90% required to be usable. in nuclear weapons.

However, both the US and Iran confirmed that they would continue to pursue the dialogue. On April 14, the White House Press Secretary said the indirect negotiations between the US and Iran would be resumed from April 15.