The New Sino-Russian Alliance

China and Russia evidently have concluded a 30-year gas deal which shifts the balance of Russian hydrocarbon exports eastwards, but that's not the thing to focus on. Pravda reports:

The central themes of the talks between the two leaders will be two projects in the field of aviation - the creation of a joint wide-body long-haul aircraft and the production of Mi-26 heavy helicopter in China, the Kommersant reports.

Russia, entering into such cooperation with China, indicates that it is ready to open access to Russian aircraft technologies, despite the fact that China previously resorted to building unlicensed copies of well-known Russian aircraft.

Energy is important, but military and aerospace technology may be even more important. As the Russian newspaper observes, Russia had restricted exports of its bestPARIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper has been placed on leave after his arrest Monday morning in Henry County.

Paris police say Daryl Veliz, 36, was charged with DUI first offense and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.

Police say an officer saw a gray Ford truck off the roadway Monday morning, with the vehicle running.

The driver was slumped over in the seat, and noticed open containers of alcohol in plain view in the vehicle, according to police.

The driver, identified as Veliz, also did poorly on a field sobriety test, police say.

Officers also found a loaded Smith & Wesson .380 handgun in the vehicle.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed Veliz is a trooper and was off-duty at the time of his arrest. THP says Veliz