Vladimir Putin signs a strategic partnership with Kim Jong Un in North Korea. Texas is facing its first storm warning of the hurricane season. And baseball is losing one of its legends.
Here’s what you need to know today.
Kim Jong Un And Putin sign a pact to help each other if they are attacked during a rare visit to North Korea
The streets of the North Korean capital were packed with cheering crowds, mounted soldiers and grand portraits this morning – not for Kim Jong Un, but for his guest and growing ally Vladimir Putin.
In a rare visit to the reclusive nuclear-armed state, the Russian leader and his hosts signed a comprehensive strategic partnership that could deepen their military and economic cooperation as both countries face a slew of global sanctions and confrontations with the United States and its allies .
The deal could expand the transfer of military technology to Pyongyang in exchange for the supply of ammunition that the Moscow military desperately needs for the war in Ukraine. U.S. officials previously told NBC News that such transfers could vastly boost North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and threaten the Asia-Pacific region.
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Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years began with a handshake and hug at Pyongyang International Airport, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The two then “exchanged their deepest thoughts” during a limousine ride to the Kumsusan State Guest House, where Putin was to stay.
Read the full story here.
Texas is facing its first storm warning of the hurricane season as extreme heat grips the East Coast
South Texas is prepared for a major storm to hit late today into tomorrow, with significant flash flooding possible, during the first warning of hurricane season. The weather system is expected to later become a tropical storm and be named Tropical Storm Alberto.
Tropical warnings are in effect across the Gulf Coast state, with as much as 4 to 6 inches of rain and high winds expected in Corpus Christi. The state government carried out a large-scale emergency response in anticipation of widespread flooding.
The storm warning comes as 71 million people were under some form of heat advisory or warning today, as a severe heatwave is set to continue through Friday. Several parts of the Midwest, the inland Northeast and New England could reach temperatures of 95 degrees or higher today, with Bangor, Maine, expected to reach 106 on the heat index, a measure of how warm it feels, taking into account with the humidity.
NBC News meteorologist Michelle Grossman warned of extreme heat should not be taken lightly.
Baseball is losing one of its greatest: Willie Mays
Baseball lost one of its legends yesterday with the death of Willie Mays at the age of 93. Mays, a Hall of Famer who spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants, is widely considered one of the most talented players in baseball history. His combination of power with the bat, blinding speed and ferocious defense thrilled fans from coast to coast during a golden era in baseball.
His stats at the plate are remarkable and enduring: a career .301 batting average, 660 career home runs (sixth all-time), 3,293 hits (12th most) and 1,909 runs batted in (11th most). Mays also won 12 Gold Glove awards as a consummate fielder.
But it’s his over-the-shoulder catch while sprinting to center field during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series that immortalized him in baseball history. It is widely considered one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball, inspiring generations of young ballplayers to emulate his athleticism. David K. Li captures which made Mays a giant both on and off the field.
Growing ties between Mexican cartels and Chinese organized crime
New charges against Los Angeles-based associates of the Sinaloa cartel in a sophisticated money laundering scheme are evidence of a growing relationship between Mexican cartels and Chinese citizens in the U.S., federal prosecutors said.
Details of the case were laid out in a 10-count superseding indictment. Authorities alleged that more than $50 million in drug money was laundered through an underground banking system operated by Chinese nationals in the US. States are retreating to Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, “and wealthy Chinese nationals in this country are gaining access to virtually unlimited amounts of cash.” Read more about the case.
Chuck Todd: A lack of fear of a new Trump presidency
One of the biggest developments in the 2024 presidential campaign – and the biggest difference from the past two elections – is the lack of fear of a new election. Donald Trump term, NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd writes in an analysis. It might explain why President Joe BidenTrump’s campaign has struggled to turn voters away from Trump by reminding them of his questionable character traits and chaotic governing style. And right now, this lack of fear could be a real stumbling block for the Biden campaign.
It’s likely that much of the public has forgotten the daily chaos that Trump deliberately created with his presidency during the pandemic, Todd argues. Moreover, there is no clear consensus – or indeed no need for reflection – on why Trump lost in 2020. Meanwhile, growing acceptance of a possible second Trump term, even by those who previously spoke out against the former president, means Biden’s challenge is to scare voters even harder. Read the full analysis here.
More election news 2024:
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The Biden administration has no set plan to warn the public about deepfakes or other false information during the election, with some exceptions, current and former U.S. officials said. This is why.
Politics in brief
Primary Virginia: Republican Rep. Bob Good, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, was locked in a close primary battle for Virginia’s 5th District against his challenger, state Sen. John McGuire. Only a few hundred votes separated them last night.
Georgia primaries: Chuck Hand, a convicted defendant from January 6, lost a Republican primary seat for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Gun rights: Senate Democrats tried to pass legislation banning bump stocks for firearms after the Supreme Court struck down an earlier ban last week. but a single Republican objectedeffectively shutting down the account.
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Personnel choice: Meet the ‘Harriet Tubman of Texas’
Juneteenth is all about freedom – and in the 19th century, former slave Silvia Hector Webber made it her mission to help others feel free. With the help of her white husband, Webber was able to find freedom, and she used their land along the Rio Grande in Texas to help those fleeing slavery escape to Mexico. Thanks to new research, her descendants are only now learning about her and honor her legacy. —Michelle Garcia, NBC BLK Editor-in-Chief
NBC Select: Online shopping, simplified
With much of the country experiencing a heat wave, you may be looking for ideas to keep your cool. NBC Select employees tested cooling gadgets, such as personal fans. These are their favorites. And if you’re looking for a larger space cooler, check it out the best portable ac units.
Register with De Selection newsletter for practical product reviews, expert shopping tips and a weekly overview of the best offers and sales.
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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
