Inflation steady at 4.5 percent for 3rd consecutive month–PSA BYCAI ORDINARIO JUNE 4, 2021 3 MINUTE READ

THE country’s inflation rate was steady at 4.5 percent for the third consecutive month, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA data showed inflation at the same rate since March. However, inflation in May 2021 was still higher than the 2.1 percent posted in May 2020.

In a briefing on Friday, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told reporters this was the first time when inflation was at the same rate for three consecutive months.

“Movements of prices in the 11 commodity groups are different. There are prices that increased, there are prices that decreased,” Mapa said.

He explained that while there were price decreases in some commodities with higher weights in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), there are also commodities which saw increases and this kept inflation at the same rate for the past three months.

Mapa said inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages averaged 4.6 percent, which accounted for 39.5 percent of May 2021 inflation.

This was mainly driven by meat prices, which posted a growth of 22.1 percent in May 2021. Meat inflation, Mapa said, has been increasing in double digits since December 2020. Meat prices steadily increased from 10 percent in December 2020 to 17.1 percent in January 2021; 20.7 percent in February; 20.9 percent in March; and 22.1 percent in April and May.

For May, Mapa said, pork prices grew 58.4 percent, making this the main driver of meat prices. Beef and chicken prices, however, also recorded double-digit increases at 13.2 percent and 12.6 percent, respectively.

However, other food items posted contractions in prices in May 2021. Rice prices, which have a weight of 9.59 percent in the Consumer Price Index, contracted 0.8 percent in May.

Fruits and vegetables also contracted in May 2021—fruits contracted 1.1 percent while vegetables, 6.6 percent. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/06/04/inflation-steady-at-4-5-percent-for-3rd-consecutive- month-psa/

Philippine police to wear body cameras after calls for scrutiny grow

Hundreds of police in the Philippines will start wearing body cameras during operations, it police chief said on Friday, heeding demands from human rights groups for accountability after thousands of killings and allegations of cover-ups.

The announcement came after public outrage over the fatal shooting on Monday of a woman by an off-duty policeman, which led to condemnation from activists who say police brutality has become systematic under President Rodrigo Duterte and his bloody war on drugs.

The shooting of Lilibeth Valdez, 52, was recorded on a mobile phone and shared on social media.

Policeman Hensie Zinampan was seen in the video pulling Valdez's hair before he shot her in the neck. Administrative and criminal charges have been filed against him.

The Commission on Human Rights said it was investigating the killing.

Valdez was laid to rest at a ceremony on Friday.

Philippine police have been accused of executing suspects then staging crime scenes and fabricating reports, emboldened by what activists say is a culture of impunity under Duterte. Police and government reject that.

Police chief Guillermo Eleazar said to combat police abuses and erase doubts about the legitimacy of operations, more than 600 officers would be using body-worn cameras on Friday.

In a statement Eleazar also said the cameras were a tribute "to the policemen whose ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty were tainted by claims of extra-judicial killings, planting of evidence and other unfair allegations."

Carlos Conde, Philippines researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the killing of Valdez underscored the need for police body cameras.

"The case shows that police accountability may only be possible if the crime is caught on camera," said Conde.

"While cameras alone won't stop police abuses, they bring a measure of transparency during police operations." https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-police-wear-body-cameras-after-calls- scrutiny-grow-2021-06-04/

The Senate energy committee is looking for solutions to the perennial power shortage

Published June 4, 2021, 4:40 PM by Mario Casayuran The Senate energy committee on Friday stressed that the primary responsibility of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to assure the public that there would be constant supply of electricity at all times.

‘’One cannot blame the public of “dramatizing the brownouts” if there are unending threats of yellow and red alert hanging on your head while the whole country is struggling to go back to normal,’’ Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, committee chairman, said.

Gatchalian said his committee is looking for solutions to the perennial energy shortages, particularly in Luzon.

House Deputy Speaker, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, said Mindanao has a surplus of power, during a hearing by the House energy committee chaired by Rep. Juan Miguel ‘’Miokey’’ M. Arroyo.

It was during the hearing that DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi stated that people are ‘’dramatizing’’ the brownout situation.

To this, Gatchalian said ‘’we are ready to support the department with the powers they need to end this perennial problem of brownouts.’

‘’ Finger-pointing will not do the country any good. The last thing DOE wants is to end its term with a legacy of brownouts,’’ he added.

The Senate energy committee on Friday stressed that the primary responsibility of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to assure the public that there would be constant supply of electricity at all times. ‘’One cannot blame the public of “dramatizing the brownouts” if there are unending threats of yellow and red alert hanging on your head while the whole country is struggling to go back to normal,’’ Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, committee chairman, said.

Gatchalian said his committee is looking for solutions to the perennial energy shortages, particularly in Luzon.

House Deputy Speaker, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, said Mindanao has a surplus of power, during a hearing by the House energy committee chaired by Rep. Juan Miguel ‘’Miokey’’ M. Arroyo.

It was during the hearing that DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi stated that people are ‘’dramatizing’’ the brownout situation.

To this, Gatchalian said ‘’we are ready to support the department with the powers they need to end this perennial problem of brownouts.’

‘’ Finger-pointing will not do the country any good. The last thing DOE wants is to end its term with a legacy of brownouts,’’ he added. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/the-senate-energy-committee-is-looking-for-solutions-to-the- perennial-power-shortage/

'Dante' reenters PAR, weakens into tropical depression

By Ma. Cristina Arayata June 4, 2021, 7:29 pm

(Image grabbed from PAGASA's Facebook page) MANILA – Weather disturbance "Dante" has further weakened into a tropical depression (TD), and reentered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon, a state forecaster said.

"Dante" was last tracked 210 km. west-northwest of Basco, Batanes or 185 km West of Itbayat, Batanes. It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

"Due to Dante's location, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 has been hoisted over Batanes," said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Raymond Ordinario.

Batanes will experience strong winds, and a gale warning is in effect over the northern seaboard of northern Luzon. Ordinario said those venturing out to the sea must take precautionary measures as sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters.

"Dante" is expected to exit PAR by Saturday afternoon. It may also likely to downgrade into a low pressure area (LPA), according to Ordinario.

Meanwhile, Ordinario said Ilocos Region, Zambales, and Bataan may experience scattered rain showers due to "habagat" or the southwest monsoon.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have generally fair weather, but may also experience isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms, he said.

PAGASA also forecast the same weather condition over the rest of the country. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142654

'Dante's' damage to agriculture now at P82.46M

Published June 4, 2021, 7:58 PM by Betheena Unite The latest figures from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Friday night, June 4, showed that tropical storm “Dante” has caused at least P82.46 million in agricultural damage to the

Based on the department’s assessment report released at around 6 p.m., the losses to agriculture are now pegged at P82.46 million, up by nearly P20 million from Thursday’s figure. A total of 2,132 farmers have been affected by Dante, the DA said.

The losses covered 2,949 hectares (ha) of agricultural areas in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga. This translates to 3,060 metric tons worth of lost production.

The affected commodities include rice, corn, and other high value crops, even fisheries.

Meanwhile, 86,448 metric tons of produce amounting to P1.59 billion were harvested early in the bid to prevent further agricultural losses.

This covered around 20,000 ha of rice in Regions I, II, III, IV-A and VI. As for corn, a total of 7,758 ha have been harvested from Regions I and Mimaropa, with an equivalent production of 42,365 metric tons valued at P720 million. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/dantes-damage-to-agriculture-now-at-p82-46m/

16 areas register 41°C and above heat index as hot weather continues

Published June 4, 2021, 7:12 PM by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz Several parts of the country continue to experience hot weather as 16 monitoring stations registered above 40 degrees Celsius (°C) heat index on Friday, June 4.

The heat index is the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that the day’s highest heat index of 47°C was registered in Baler, Aurora and Casiguran, Aurora.

A heat index above 40℃ is considered “dangerous” due to the high likelihood of heat cramps and heat exhaustion. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/16-areas-register-41c-and-above-heat-index-as-hot-weather- continues/

Rainy season is officially here — PAGASA

Published June 4, 2021, 6:11 PM by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially declared the onset of the rainy season in the country on Friday, June 4.

“The passage of tropical storm “Dante” and the occurrence of widespread rainfall monitored by PAGASA in the last five days for areas under Type 1 climate confirm the onset of the rainy season,” PAGASA said in a statement.

Climate Type I areas, which are mostly those in the western section of the country, have two pronounced seasons–dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year.

The period of maximum rain in these areas also coincides with the peak of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” from July to September.

As the rainy season starts in the country, PAGASA said that intermittent rains, associated with the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will prevail over Metro Manila and the western section of the country.

“The probability of near to above normal rainfall conditions is high in the next two months, from June to July,” PAGASA said.

However, breaks in rainfall events, also known as monsoon breaks, which can last for several days or weeks, may still occur, it added. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/rainy-season-is-officially-here-pagasa/

PH space agency partners with UN body to step up disaster preparedness, response

Published June 4, 2021, 3:17 PM by Jhon Aldrin Casinas The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has partnered with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in a bid to boost the country’s emergency response and disaster preparedness.

In a virtual ceremony on Friday, June 4, PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. and UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which seeks to enhance the use of space science and technology for socio-economic and sustainable development objectives.

“One of the targets of the cooperation under the MOU is to further build capacity for the efficient and expanded use of space-based information [such as] satellite imagery,” Marciano said in a public briefing.

“The agreement between PhilSA and UNOOSA aims to further strengthen our capability to develop and use space technologies so that we can prepare agencies and communities during disasters, calamities and emergencies,” he added.

Likewise, he underscored the importance of the partnership in raising the productivity in agriculture, environmental protection and preservation, and other socio-economic programs of the country.

In an earlier statement, Marciano highlighted the significance of the agreement between the agency and the UN body in promoting space science in the Philippines.

“The MOU is an important step for the country as we continue to build the local space ecosystem and cascade the benefits of space science, technology and applications to society,” he said. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/ph-space-agency-partners-with-un-body-to-step-up-disaster- preparedness-response/

Wastewater from docked vessels could be polluting Manila Bay, too

Published June 4, 2021, 6:20 PM by Ellson Quismorio Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda is looking into the possible contamination of Manila Bay via wastewater coming from dilapidated vessels at local shipyards.

Antiporda, the head of the Manila Bay Anti-Pollution Task Force, visited on Friday, June 4 the marine vessels docked at the Navotas fish port as well as the batil or wooden cargo vessels in Delpan, Port Area, Manila.

The inspection was carried out with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG) ahead of Saturday’s celebration of World Environment Day.

While in Navotas, Antiporda observed the shipyards where large marine vessels undergoing repair and maintenance were docked. He said that the wastewater coming from the shipyard could include toxic compounds and may cause harmful effects to the ocean particularly the organisms there.

“There is no clear protection for our oceans from what we have seen in the shipyards that we have visited,” Antiporda pointed out.

“When it rains, the rust removed from the vessels will go directly to the ocean, thus contaminates the water,” he added.

Antiporda said the DENR will be calling the attention of the owners of the marine vessels from the Navotas shipyard, including those operating within the Manila Bay region. “We will summon the respective owners of the shipyard in Navotas area,” he said.

“Of course, within the Manila Bay area where there are established shipyards, we will also get their attention and ask for their support in our campaign to address the pollution in Manila Bay,” he added. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/wastewater-from-docked-vessels-could-be-polluting-manila-bay- too/ PCG personnel undergo maritime security study with Japan

Raffy Ayeng @tribunephl_raf

In order to equip maritime personnel in guarding the country’s waters, especially in its patrol in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technical Cooperation Project and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) have recently initiated an interactive online lecture to 50 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers.

In a statement, the PCG said beside lectures on EEZ, the JCG and JICA also discussed provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with a focus on maritime security, meant for PCG personnel to deepen their understanding of international law and improve their maritime security capability, particularly in the conduct of maritime security missions of frontline operational assets, including acquired multi-role response vessels (MRRVs).

Those who participated in the said lecture include front line officers engaged in maritime security, such as Commanding and Executive Officers of MRRVs and other patrol vessels, students of Senior Executive Course, and in-charge in maritime security functions.

Executive Director Masafumi Kuroki of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia – Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP – ISC) also graced the activity, as well as officers from the JCG, JICA Philippines Office, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, and other ReCAAP-ISC officials.

The lecture was addressed by Captain Kentaro Furuya, an adjunct professor of the Japan Coast Guard Academy and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.

He emphasized that in the absence of domestic legislation, Philippine authorities, in the conduct of maritime law enforcement operations in the EEZ, should have a reference or be aligned with recognized international law.

For his part, Senior Representative Kenji Kuronuma imparted to participants that illegal maritime activities and safety issues among coastal states should be monitored.

“Considering the vital role in maritime trade the Philippines play in the Southeast Asian region, maintaining peace and stability is essential. This can be further achieved through an awareness of the coastal states’ rights and duties over its maritime zones and conduct of patrol and surveillance which conforms to the rules and regulations established by the UNCLOS,” Kuronuma lectured.

“The PCG recognizes the essential benefit of understanding key issues, developments, and discourse on the law that governs the seas. It is crucial to maintain a credible, informed, and effective maritime law enforcement agency. As part of the global community, the PCG is always appreciative to learn from experts to discuss the undercurrent and shed light on the recent development, even amid the pandemic,” Captain Mitzi Campo, the PCG staff for maritime security services expressed.

The activity was also aimed to support the PCG in the conduct of maritime security- related missions and the effective utilization of the 44-meter MRRVs and upcoming 94- meter MRRV provided through Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Through the years, the government of Japan, through JICA, has been consistent in providing financial assistance to the Philippine government in purchasing the completed delivery of 10 44-meter MRRVs and the upcoming one 94-meter MRRV and other technical cooperation projects in order to enhance the PCG’s capability on vessel operations, maintenance planning, and maritime law enforcement operations. https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/06/04/pcg-personnel-undergo-maritime-security-study-with- japan/

Infra update: PCG boat house facility in Surigao City now 75-percent complete

Published June 4, 2021, 11:43 AM by Richa Noriega The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) disclosed on Thursday, June 3, that it is nearly finished with the construction of a boat house facility in Surigao City which will safeguard its floating assets and help them respond to maritime emergency incidents in the area.

In a statement, the PCG said its boat house facility was already 75-percent complete. It is being built at Nueva Extension in Brgy. Taft, Surigao City “where an influx of maritime traffic is present and visible.”

T

he PCG is nearly done with the construction of a boat house facility to safeguard its floating assets and help them respond to maritime emergency incidents in Surigao City. (Photo courtesy of the PCG)

The PCG is nearly done with the construction of a boat house facility to safeguard its floating assets and help them respond to maritime emergency incidents in Surigao City. (Photo courtesy of the PCG)

The facility will serve as a safekeeping area for the PCG’s floating assets, it said.

The PCG added that the facility will also help them to monitor maritime incidents in Surigao City.

“The construction of a PCG boat house in the area is significantly beneficial to Surigaonons as well as to PCG due to its location that is very ideal and strategic in monitoring all the maritime activities and address marine environmental concerns, which includes in the maritime safety administration and marine environmental protection mandates of the PCG,” the Coast Guard said.

The PCG said the construction of the boat house facility is being finished through the help of the Surigao local government unit. https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/infra-update-pcg-boat-house-facility-in-surigao-city-now-75-percent- complete/

AFP activates task force that seeks to unify EastMinCom, WestMinCom

By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA News

Published June 4, 2021 10:50pm

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday launched a new joint task force that aims to unify the efforts and resources of the Eastern Mindanao Command and the Western Mindanao Command.

AFP chief General Cirilito Sobejana said the Joint Task Force for Peace and Security in Mindanao (JTF-Mindanao) will help in widening the AFP’s reach in addressing peace and security problems, especially in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

According to the AFP, JTF-Mindanao aims to assist local government units and the Joint Normalization Committee in ensuring the success of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

The Task Force will also develop and implement a contingency plan against terrorist groups that pose a threat to the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement and the transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The AFP said Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr. will be the commander of the JTF Mindanao. “In order to lead this unit, we need a very capable, highly competent, and dependable leader– a leader who has forged his career under the banner of excellence and selfless service through his exemplary achievements making him truly worthy of being chosen,” Sobejana said in a statement.

The AFP said Faustino served as a Battalion and Brigade Commander in Western Mindanao and served in Eastern Mindanao as the Commander of the 10th Infantry Division.

In May, Faustino was relieved as the acting commanding general of the Philippine Army to follow the rule of law, particularly RA 8186 section 4 wherein the commanding general of the Philippine Army should have at least one year remaining in the service on the day of his assumption.

“Rest assured that Lieutenant General Faustino has the AFP’s vote of confidence and we are certain that he would be able to successfully achieve the two main objectives of the creation of this Joint Task Force,” Sobejana said.

“This is to establish a conducive environment in our continuing pursuit of lasting peace and the inclusive development for the entire Mindanao region,” he added. -- BAP, GMA News https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/790301/afp-activates-new-task-force-that- seeks-to-unify-eastmincom-westmincom/story/

Mental rehab for ex-rebels essential in reintegration process

By Priam Nepomuceno June 4, 2021, 9:51 am

MANILA – Taking care of former rebels' mental health is essential in their reintegration into mainstream society, a defense official said.

"Aside from deradicalization, psychosocial assistance is also integral for our former rebels to be able to start their lives anew. We want them to also live a life with an optimal state of mental health and overall well-being,” Defense Undersecretary and Task Force Balik-Loob chair Reynaldo Mapagu said in a statement Thursday night.

Mapagu's remarks came after the Philippine Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion and the JH Cerilles State College signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for a mental rehabilitation project for FRs dubbed as "Project Good Life".

The signing of the MOA took place at 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) Headquarters in Camp Maj. David Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur last May 28.

"I applaud the 53rd Infantry Battalion and JH Cerilles State College (JHCSC)'s recent Project Good Life. The psychoeducation program will be a huge help for the reintegration of former rebels, or rather, "friends rescued" into our society," said Mapagu, who is also head of the E-CLIP and Amnesty Program (EAP) Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC).

"Project Good Life" is a psychoeducation program for former rebels who surrendered to the 53rd Infantry Battalion which carries the theme "Threading the Path to Fulfillment and Authentic Happiness with FRs (Friends Rescued)".

The project takes a holistic approach to improve the mental health and overall wellness of the FRs, as well as address their other rehabilitation needs.

Mapagu hailed the unit's intervention program with JHCSC and commended its unwavering support to Executive Order No. 70 and sustained efforts to the whole-of-nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict in the country.

He added that "Project Good Life" is a fine example of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to end communist insurgency in the country. "This clearly shows that we can be all united to achieve the peace that we deserve," he said. (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142559

UNCLOS must take precedence in South China Sea dispute —British envoy

Published June 4, 2021 9:11pm

British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce has reiterated the United Kingdom’s position on the South China Sea issue, saying that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must take precedence.

Pruce issued the remark during an online call with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana after the latter shared the ongoing efforts in the country to raise understanding and build capacity in dealing with the situation on the disputed waters.

According to the Department of National Defense (DND), Pruce also expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness to provide support in related capacity-building efforts.

In 2020, the UK with France and Germany informed the United Nations of their rejection of China's "historic rights" in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Lorenzana welcomed the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which has set sail to the West Philippine Sea after Chinese ships swarmed the area.

The Philippines has filed numerous diplomatic protests over China’s continued presence and deployment of vessels in Philippine waters.

The DND said the two officials also exchanged updates on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout as well as other developments on the virus in the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

Lorenzana also expressed his appreciation for the UK’s role in the delivery of AstraZeneca vaccine in the country.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/790288/unclos-must-take-precedence-in-south- china-sea-dispute-british-envoy/story/

Facebook suspends Trump until 2023, shifts rules for world leaders Elizabeth Culliford

Facebook Inc (FB.O) on Friday suspended former U.S. President Donald Trump until at least January 2023 and announced changes to how it will treat world leaders who break the rules on its site.

Facebook had suspended Trump's account the day after the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot, determining he had incited violence. That suspension will last at least two years from the date of the initial block and would only be lifted if the risk to public safety has receded, Facebook said on Friday.

Trump criticized the decision as a form of censorship and an insult to his voters.

This new timeline denies Republican Trump a major social media megaphone ahead of the November 2022 congressional elections. However, it means he may be able to return to Facebook well before the next presidential election in late 2024.

Trump has been permanently banned by Twitter (TWTR.N) and remains suspended by Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) YouTube after the riot. Trump, who this week shut down his recently-launched blog, has teased plans to start his own platform.

"Given the gravity of the circumstances that led to Mr. Trump's suspension, we believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols," Facebook's head of global affairs Nick Clegg said in the post.

Facebook's oversight board, an independent group funded by the company who rule on a small slice of controversial content decisions, in May upheld the company's unprecedented block on Trump. However, the board ruled it was wrong to make the ban indefinite and called for a "proportionate response." In a statement on Friday, Trump slammed the decision and repeated false claims of voter fraud: "Facebook's ruling is an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win. Our Country can’t take this abuse anymore!" Several investigations have not found evidence of election fraud.

Trump added, "Next time I'm in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!"

Facebook said it would work with experts to decide when the public safety risk had subsided for Trump to be restored to its platforms. It said it would evaluate factors including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest.

It also said there would be a set of escalating sanctions that would be triggered if Trump broke further rules that could lead to his permanent removal.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters, said of Facebook's decision on Trump that it felt "pretty unlikely that the zebra is going to change his stripes over the next two years, we'll see." https://www.reuters.com/world/us/facebook-suspends-former-us-president-trumps-account-two- years-2021-06-04/

Facebook to hold politicians accountable for disinformation Glenn Chapman (Agence France-Presse) - June 5, 2021 - 9:50am SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Facebook said it will no longer give politicians blanket immunity for deceptive or abusive content based on their comments being newsworthy.

At the end of Trump's two-year ban, Facebook will enlist experts to assess whether his activity on the platform still threatens public safety, according to Clegg.

"If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded," Clegg said.

When Trump's suspension is lifted, he will face strict sanctions that could rapidly escalate to permanent removal for rule-breaking, according to Clegg.

Last month, the independent oversight board said Facebook was justified in ousting Trump for his comments regarding the deadly January 6 rampage at the US Capitol but that the platform should not have applied an "indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension."

Trump denounces 'insult' Trump said in a statement the ban was an "insult" to voters, renewing his false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

"They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing," Trump said.

Trump also took a jab at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who attended a White House dinner with the former president in 2019.

"Next time I'm in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife," Trump said. "It will be all business!" Zuckerberg has long maintained private companies should not be the arbiters of truth.

"American democracy doesn't belong to Silicon Valley; it belongs to the American people," Clegg said in a podcast with Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution.

"And it's the legislators and politicians of this country who in the end have to govern the rules that prevail."

Some activists criticized Facebook for even opening the door to reinstating Trump.

Angelo Carusone of left-leaning watchdog Media Matters for America called Facebook's move dangerous, saying if Trump is reinstated, "the platform will remain a simmering cauldron of extremism, disinformation and violence."

Activists in a group that calls itself The Real Facebook Oversight Board said: "Facebook shouldn't have needed a $130 million Oversight Board and a team of law professors to tell them dictators and authoritarians were running wild on their platform."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, when asked about the Facebook decision, said a social media platform which is disseminating information to millions of Americans, "has a responsibility to crack down on disinformation... whether it's about the election or even about the vaccine."

Trump was suspended from Facebook and Instagram after posting a video during the attack by his fired-up supporters challenging his election loss, in which he told them: "We love you, you're very special."

The oversight panel had called on Facebook to justify why his ban should be permanent.

"The steps Facebook has committed to today will contribute to greater clarity, consistency and transparency in the way the company moderates content, and promote public safety, defend human rights and respect freedom of expression," the board said in a release. Immunity revoked As part of its new policy, Facebook will step back from its "newsworthiness" exception which allowed false information from Trump and others to circulate.

Facebook will begin publishing the "rare instances" in which offending posts are tolerated, and will not treat content posted by politicians differently from content posted by anyone else, according to Clegg.

New York University Stern Center deputy director Paul Barrett welcomed the move.

"Donald Trump illustrated how a political leader can abuse social media to undermine democratic institutions such as elections and the peaceful transfer of power," he said. https://www.philstar.com/world/2021/06/05/2103321/facebook-hold-politicians-accountable- disinformation

Trump blasts Facebook ban, teases return to White House

By AFP - June 5, 2021 @ 8:54am SAN FRANCISCO: Former US president Donald Trump said Friday his two-year ban by Facebook was an "insult" to voters, as he signalled he sees himself making a return to the White House.

"Facebook's ruling is an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election," Trump said in a brief statement, renewing his false claims that last November's race was stolen from him.

"They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win. Our Country can't take this abuse anymore!"

Trump was kicked off the world's largest social media platform in January, when Facebook accused the Republican leader of stoking a deadly riot that month at the US Capitol.

Other media websites like Twitter also blocked him, but Facebook's two-year ban means the brash billionaire could be back on the platform by January 2023, early in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, 74, has repeatedly teased the prospect of another White House bid, despite being impeached by the House of Representatives – and acquitted by the Senate – for inciting the January 6 insurrection. https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2021/06/696022/trump-blasts-facebook-ban-teases-return- white-house

Landlord groups urge U.S. Supreme Court to end pandemic eviction ban Jan Wolfe

Michelle Conlin

A group of landlords on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to issue an order that would effectively end the federal government's national ban on residential evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

In an emergency petition, the landlord groups said a May 5 lower court decision nullifying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) eviction moratorium should go into effect immediately.

Led by the Alabama Association of Realtors, the landlord groups argued that the CDC exceeded its authority when it halted evictions to help renters during the pandemic.

Despite ruling in favor of the landlords last month, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich in Washington agreed to "stay," or halt, her ruling from taking immediate effect to allow the Biden administration to appeal.

"The stay order cannot stand," the landlord group argued in its petition.

"Every day the stay remains in place, applicants' property continues to (be) unlawfully occupied and their rental income continues to be unlawfully cut off," the landlords added. "Nine months of overreach is enough. This Court should vacate the stay."

The CDC's eviction ban, enacted in September while former President Donald Trump was in office, is set to expire on June 30.

In a blow to the landlords, an intermediate appeals court on Wednesday said it would not lift the stay order put in place by Friedrich. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/landlord-group-urges-us-supreme-court-lift-cdc- eviction-freeze-2021-06-03/

Attack on U.S. Capitol caused $1.5 million in damage, prosecutors say Jan Wolfe

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday said the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol caused $1.5 million in damages and indicated that individuals accused of participating in the riot will be asked to foot the bill.

The Justice Department disclosed the $1.5 million figure in a letter to a defense lawyer for Paul Allard Hodgkins, a Florida man who pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count of obstructing an official proceeding.

"Your client acknowledges that the riot that occurred on January 6, 2021, caused as of May 17, 2021, approximately $1,495,326.55 damage to the United States Capitol," stated the letter, sent on May 27 and made public on Wednesday.

Hodgkins' plea agreement calls for him to "pay restitution to the Department of Treasury in the amount of $2,000," according to the letter, which was first reported by the Washington Post.

The Justice Department letter did not indicate how investigators arrived at the $1.5 million figure.

A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

More than 440 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riots, in which throngs of Republican former President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

Few guilty pleas have been entered so far since the Justice Department launched its sweeping investigation into the deadly attack on the Capitol, in a sign that prosecutors are driving a tough bargain.

The charge against Hodgkins can carry a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss said federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence in the range of 15 to 21 months. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/attack-us-capitol-caused-15-million-damage- prosecutors-say-2021-06-03/

No seditious conspiracy charges emerge in U.S. Capitol riots cases Mark Hosenball

Police release tear gas into a crowd of pro-Trump protesters during clashes at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Nearly five months after hundreds of Donald Trump supporters launched a deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors have not carried out an early threat to charge some participants with seditious conspiracy. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/no-seditious-conspiracy-charges-emerge-us-capitol- riots-cases-2021-06-03/

White House to discuss supply chain review results, but there’s no ‘magic bullet’ for US reliance on China and other countries, Biden administration says

• Biden administration says it will discuss the results of a review examining America’s reliance on foreign countries such as China for critical products • ‘Some very concrete solutions’ were identified in the semiconductor supply chain, says White House’s top economic adviser

US federal agencies were asked to look into how much they depend on imports for semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, automobile batteries and rare earth elements. Photo: Reuters

The Biden administration said on Friday it has found some concrete solutions in addressing America’s reliance on foreign countries such as China for critical products, but there is not an instant remedy to solve broad supply chain issues.White House top economic adviser Brian Deese told reporters at a briefing that the administration will discuss supply chain problems more next week when the results of the 100-day review are released. The findings were due on Friday.

US President Joe Biden in February ordered federal agencies to look into how much they depend on imports for semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, automobile batteries and rare earth elements that are crucial to tech and defence. The agencies were also asked to find ways to increase domestic production in these four areas.

Deese said to address the semiconductor supply chain problems, “we’ve been spending enormous amount of time with industry participants up and down the semiconductor supply chain” and “have identified some very concrete solutions”.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3136152/no-immediate-magic-bullet-white-house- discuss-supply-chain-review

Biden Demands China Share Info, Lessons That Could Stop Next 'Catastrophic Biological Threat'

BY TOM O'CONNOR AND NAVEED JAMALI ON 6/4/21 AT 1:10 PM EDT

President Joe Biden's administration is demanding China share potentially critical information regarding the origins of COVID-19 and lessons learned from its handling in order to stop the next global health threat.

As the World Health Organization probes the roots of the pandemic, the White House has commissioned its own investigation led by the U.S. Intelligence Community and backed by National Labs into how the disease first emerged in late 2019. The findings are expected by late August.

In announcing this 90-day inquiry last week, Biden said he had "specific questions for

China."

Newsweek has since learned these questions included calls for Beijing to quit withholding key data that could potentially avoid upcoming disasters, and a call for the

People's Republic to take greater part in a global effort to get to the bottom of how the ongoing pandemic began.

"Importantly, we will continue pushing for a stronger, multilateral evaluation of the origins of the virus in China," a State Department spokesperson told Newsweek. "We need the PRC to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international study with the needed access to get to the bottom of a virus that's taken more than 3 million lives across the globe," the State Department spokesperson added, "and, critically, to share information and lessons that will help us all prevent future catastrophic biological threats."

Such an outcome, the State Department spokesperson emphasized, was the ultimate goal of the origin-tracing investigation not pointing fingers.

"Getting to bottom of the origin of this pandemic is not about assigning blame," the State

Department spokesperson said, "it is about understanding how to prepare for the next pandemic, and the next one after that."

https://www.newsweek.com/biden-demands-china-share-info-lessons-that-could-stop- next-catastrophic-biological-threat-1597709

China-US relationship needs ‘cool heads and new strategy’ from Beijing

• A state media commentary has welcomed a resumption in economic talks but warned against an emotional response to disputes • Taoran Notes said both sides had reacted emotionally in the past but now needed to find a better way to get along

Economics and trade remain the cornerstone of China-US relations, a state media commentary has said. Photo: AP

China needs to stay cool-headed in formulating its new strategy to engage with the US and avoid an emotional handling of disputes that could lead to bigger problems, Chinese state media said in the wake of two high-level talks between

the two countries.A commentary by Taoran Notes – a social media account affiliated with the state- run Economic Daily, used by Beijing to manage expectations on China-US trade talks – said both countries had responded emotionally when tensions were running high, but it was now necessary to calm down, especially as confrontations would not ease soon.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3136020/china-us-relationship-

needs-cool-heads-and-new-strategy

What's the key impetus for developing Chinese socialism? Without reform and opening-up, there would be no Chinese socialism, and the flourishing China we see today would not exist. - Chinese President Xi Jinping

We must comprehensively promote reform on various levels and in various domains, and constantly enhance the modernization of China's governance systems and capacity.

The development of our cause shows us what needs to be changed while furthering reform is the means by which we change it.

Revolving around new demands brought through the development of the Party and the country's undertakings, the 19th CPC National Congress put forward new tasks for comprehensively deepening reform.

All Party members must bear in mind the fact that reform and opening-up was the key maneuver for determining the fate of contemporary China, and remains the key determinant for realizing the "Two Centenary Goals" and bringing about national rejuvenation. Without reform and opening-up, there would be no Chinese socialism, and the flourishing China we see today would not exist.

After the 18th CPC National Congress, we incorporated comprehensively deepening reform into the "Four Comprehensives" strategy, and pushed forward all aspects of reform with a swift and steady pace, thus achieving striking results and injecting the progress of all of our endeavors with powerful momentum. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-04/What-s-the-key-impetus-for-developing-

Chinese-socialism--10N2cDMN7iM/index.html Timeline: China's Tiananmen Square Demonstrations and Crackdown

By Reuters

June 04, 2021 01:26 AM

FILE - In this June 5, 1989, photo, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Changan Boulevard in Tiananmen Square.

BEIJING - Friday marks the anniversary of China's bloody crackdown on pro- democracy demonstrations in and around central Beijing's Tiananmen Square, when Chinese troops opened fire on their own people.

The event remains a taboo topic of discussion in mainland China and will not be officially commemorated by the ruling Communist Party or government.

Here are some landmark dates leading up to the demonstrations and the crackdown that followed:

1988: China slides into economic chaos with panic buying triggered by rising inflation that neared 30%.

April 15, 1989: A leading reformer and former Communist Party chief Hu Yaobang, dies. His death acts as a catalyst for unhappiness with the slow pace of reform, as well as corruption and income inequality. April 17: Protests begin at Tiananmen Square, with students calling for democracy and reform. Crowds of up to 100,000 gather, despite official warnings.

April 22: Some 50,000 students gather outside the Great Hall of the People as Hu's memorial service is held. Three students attempt to deliver a petition to the government, outlining their demands, but are ignored. Rioting and looting take place in Xian and Changsha.

April 24: Beijing students begin classroom strike.

April 27: Around 50,000 students defy authorities and march to Tiananmen. Supporting crowds number up to 1 million.

May 2: In Shanghai, 10,000 protesters march on city government headquarters.

May 4: Further mass protests coinciding with the anniversary of the May 4 Movement of 1919, which was another student and intellectual-led movement for reform. Protests coincide with meeting of Asian Development Bank in Great Hall of the People. Students march in Shanghai and nine other cities.

May 13: Hundreds of students begin a hunger strike on Tiananmen Square. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/voa-news-china/timeline-chinas-tiananmen- square-demonstrations-and-crackdown

Hong Kong not dead yet, says Tiananmen veteran taking lone stand in park for June 4 vigil Jessie PangJames Pomfret

Han Dongfang, a veteran Tiananmen Square activist, says Hong Kong should not lose heart despite a heavy China-led crackdown on its freedoms, as he defied police warnings and sat quietly on a park bench to commemorate the victims of June 4. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-not-dead-yet-says-tiananmen-veteran- taking-lone-stand-park-june-4-2021-06-04/

Hongkongers defy Beijing to mark Tiananmen Square anniversary

Police move on a crowd that gathered in the Causeway Bay area of Hong Kong, where people have met every year to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989

ISAAC LAWRENCE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Didi Tang, Beijing

Friday June 04 2021, 12.00am BST, The Times

Defiant Hong Kong residents chanted and lit candles while churches held special services on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre last night, despite the deployment of 7,000 riot police to stamp out any commemoration of the tragedy.

Double the estimated number of officers were deployed across the city by the pro- Chinese government, while Victoria Park, where a candlelit vigil has traditionally been held on June 4, was closed with metal barricades and stood empty for the first time in 32 years. The authorities, citing the pandemic, had banned the gathering at the park for the second year in a row, and for the first time since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hongkongers-defy-beijing-to-mark-tiananmen-square- anniversary-c36hxzswx

Wang Yi hails China-Russia cooperation in phone call with Lavrov Updated 09:30, 05-Jun-2021

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd R) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2nd L) in the city of Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2021. /Xinhua

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged that the two countries remain unswervingly committed to upholding international fairness and justice and safeguarding world peace and stability in a phone conversation on Friday.

Wang said the all-weather China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has withstood numerous changes in the international landscape, emphasizing that China and Russia have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning their core interests.

Wang noted that the guidance of the heads of state is the fundamental guarantee for bilateral relations to develop in a steady and sustained way and enjoy long-lasting vitality.

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessed together via video link the ground-breaking ceremony of a China- Russia nuclear energy cooperation project, which injected strong "nuclear impetus" into the development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

He urged the two sides to focus on the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, prepare for upcoming key high-level exchanges, fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and advance cooperation in various fields in a coordinated manner in the post-pandemic era. https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-05/Wang-Yi-hails-China-Russia-cooperation-in- phone-call-with-Lavrov-10PtxB0ydwY/index.html

Taiwan will never forget China’s Tiananmen crackdown, says president Reuters

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at The Third Wednesday Club, a high-profile private industry trade body in Taipei, Taiwan, August 19, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Taiwan’s people will never forget China’s bloody crackdown on pro- democracy demonstrators in and around Tiananmen Square 32 years ago and will stick with their faith in democracy, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-says-people-will-never-forget- tiananmen-crackdown-2021-06-04/

Japan Olympic Committee board member blasts Tokyo Games organisers Chang-ran KimLinda Sieg

The emblems of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are displayed during an unveiling event of the items that will be used for the victory ceremonies, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan June 3, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool

A Japanese Olympic Committee board member on Friday blasted organisers of the Tokyo Games for ignoring public concerns about holding the global sporting showpiece amid a pandemic, as Japan’s top medical adviser urged new steps to reduce the risk.

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/japan-olympic-committee-board-member-games-losing- meaning-too-late-cancel-2021-06-04/

UN may probe possible sanctions violations by South Korean firms involving oil tanker transfer to North Korea Posted : 2021-06-04 16:56 Updated : 2021-06-05 10:23

The United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea may begin investigating allegations that at least two oil tankers previously owned by S. Korean companies were transferred to North Korea, which is a violation of U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang.

According to a report by Radio Free Asia, Friday, a spokesman for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Should these allegations be brought to the attention of the committee, they will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken." Norway is the chair of the committee.

The spokesman declined to comment directly on the allegations, but was quoted as saying, "We encourage the submission of relevant information and reports," adding, "Norway takes any possible violations of the sanctions regime seriously."

The allegations were raised in a June 1 report released by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), an arm of the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a U.S.-based think tank. The report said that Pyongyang had added two new vessels to its fleet for smuggling oil from China, which were previously owned by South Korean companies.

Of those tankers, the report said the Shin Pyong 5 was owned by Young Sung Global, a small shipper based in Busan, South Korea, before it was transferred to North Korea. The Shin Pyong 5, which is a 1,579 ton tanker, had been renamed Woojeong in 2019 when its last communication transmission was logged.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/06/103_309951.html

Myanmar junta opponents say no faith in ASEAN as envoys visit Reuters

Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on February 1, presides an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Opponents of Myanmar’s junta said on Friday they had lost faith in Southeast Asian efforts to end the crisis in the country, as two regional envoys met the military ruler Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyitaw. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-junta-opponents-say-no-faith-asean-envoys- visit-2021-06-04/

Myanmar coup latest: Suu Kyi's whereabouts unknown, lawyers say Election chief meets with Brunei delegation: Internet cut off during opposition news conference

Demonstrators demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi at a protest in Yangon on Feb. 13. Myanmar's de facto later was detained after the military took power on Feb. 1. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writersMay 17, 2021 10:10 JSTUpdated on June 5, 2021 02:26 JST

YANGON/BANGKOK -- Myanmar's military on Feb. 1 detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in the country's first coup since 1988, bringing an end to a decade of civilian rule.

The Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy had won a landslide in a general election in November. But the military has claimed the election was marred by fraud.

For all our coverage, visit our Myanmar Coup page.

Follow the latest developments here (Yangon time):

Friday, June 4

11:30 p.m. Ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from her home in Naypyitaw, where she has been held under house arrest, and is now in an unknown location, her legal team says.

The National Unity Government, a parallel government set up in opposition to the coup, has issued a statement expressing concern about her safety.

9:00 p.m. Members of a Brunei delegation that met with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing also held a meeting with election commission chairman Thein Soe on Friday, military-owned Myawaddy TV says. Brunei's Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Erywan Pehin Yusof and compatriot Lim Jock Hoi, the current secretary-general of ASEAN, spoke with the election chief.

"Procedures for an upcoming election," which the junta says it aims to hold in the future, and "ASEAN's cooperation" were discussed at the meeting, according to the report. https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/Myanmar-coup-latest-Suu-Kyi-s-whereabouts- unknown-lawyers-say

Pakistan premier ready for India talks if given Kashmir roadmap Gibran Peshimam

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that Pakistan is ready to restart talks with arch-rival India if Delhi provides a roadmap towards restoring the previous status of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-premier-ready-india-talks-if-given-kashmir- roadmap-2021-06-04/

Australian exporters eye pivot from ‘impossible’ China to Southeast Asia: report

• Exporters see the need to move into other markets because of trade disputes with China, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said • They were growing concerned that statements made by Scott Morrison’s government seemed to be stoking tensions, the chamber said in a report

A container ship is seen at Port Botany in Sydney, Australia’s New South Wales, last month. Photo: Bloomberg

Deteriorating relations, including trade-related friction, have made normal operations for Australian exporters in China “impossible”, according to a report from a leading network of business interests.

Exporters see the need to pivot from China into other markets, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, because of the trade disputes, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in the report released on Friday, which cited a survey of 189 Australian business operators. Tariff management is “costing firms dearly,” the chamber said.

“For those firms trading in the Asian region, especially with China, there is growing disillusionment with the difficulties of managing international relationships,” the report’s authors said.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3136010/australian-exporters-eye-pivot- southeast-asia-impossible-do

New Zealand court defers decision on China extradition for murder suspect Kyung Yup Kim

• The South Korean citizen who moved to New Zealand more than 30 years ago is accused of killing a 20-year-old waitress and sex worker in Shanghai in 2009 • His extradition case, which hinges on whether a fair trial in China can be assured, has big diplomatic implications for PM Jacinda Ardern’s government

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The landmark extradition case has big diplomatic implications. Photo: AAP Image/DPA

New Zealand’s top court on Friday left open the possibility that a man could be extradited to

Chinato face murder charges in a landmark case that has big diplomatic implications.

It remains uncertain whether the extradition of Kyung Yup Kimwill proceed in a case that has already dragged on for more than a decade.

The dispute hinges on whether New Zealand can be assured that Kim will get a fair trial if he is sent to China and will not be tortured. New Zealand does not have an extradition treaty with China.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3136052/new-zealand-court-defers-decision- china-extradition-murder

Putin says he wants to work with Biden to improve ties Updated 09:33, 05-Jun-2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he wants to find ways to improve ties with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden as the two leaders prepare to meet in person on June 16 in Geneva.

At the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said that he plans to discuss strategic stability, international conflict settlement, cooperation against COVID-19, arms control, anti-terrorism and climate change with Biden during their first summit.

"To a certain extent, Russian-American relations have become hostage to internal political processes in the United States. But I hope this will end someday," he told a plenary session of the forum.

"Fundamental interests in the fields of security, strategic stability and arms reduction are still more important than the current domestic political situation in the United States," Putin said. "We need to find ways to regularize these relations."

He told the forum that Russia-U.S. ties are currently at a "low level" and the American sanctions against his country driven by domestic political competition in the United States were an "enigma" to Moscow.

He also talked bout disagreements between the two countries, saying the only disagreement they have is that the U.S. wants to hold back Russia's development. "They talk about it publicly," he said. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-06-04/Putin-says-wants-to-work-with-Biden-to-improve-ties- 10PhSHD6h8I/index.html The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins

Throughout 2020, the notion that the novel coronavirus leaked from a lab was off-limits. Those who dared to push for transparency say toxic politics and hidden agendas kept us in the dark.

BY KATHERINE EBAN

JUNE 3, 20

ILLUSTRATION BY MAX LÖFFLER.

I. A Group Called DRASTIC

Gilles Demaneuf is a data scientist with the Bank of New Zealand in Auckland. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome ten years ago, and believes it gives him a professional advantage. “I’m very good at finding patterns in data, when other people see nothing,” he says.

Early last spring, as cities worldwide were shutting down to halt the spread of COVID-19, Demaneuf, 52, began reading up on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease. The prevailing theory was that it had jumped from bats to some other species before making the leap to humans at a market in China, where some of the earliest cases appeared in late 2019. The Huanan wholesale market, in the city of Wuhan, is a complex of markets selling seafood, meat, fruit, and vegetables. A handful of vendors sold live wild animals—a possible source of the virus.

How Jared Kushner Let the Markets Decide America’s COVID-19 Fate

That wasn’t the only theory, though. Wuhan is also home to China’s foremost coronavirus research laboratory, housing one of the world’s largest collections of bat samples and bat-virus strains. The Wuhan Institute of Virology’s lead coronavirus researcher, Shi Zhengli, was among the first to identify horseshoe bats as the natural reservoirs for SARS-CoV, the virus that sparked an outbreak in 2002, killing 774 people and sickening more than 8,000 globally. After SARS, bats became a major subject of study for virologists around the world, and Shi became known in China as “Bat Woman” for her fearless exploration of their caves to collect samples. More recently, Shi and her colleagues at the WIV have performed high-profile experiments that made pathogens more infectious. Such research, known as “gain-of-function,” has generated heated controversy among virologists.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-lab-leak-theory-inside-the-fight-to-uncover-covid-19s- origins

THE ORIGIN OF COVID-19 AND PREVENTING THE NEXT PANDEMIC AMANDA MOODIE AND NICHOLAS EVANS

JUNE 4, 2021

COMMENTARY

Did COVID-19 originate with bats or scientists? Most experts continue to contend that the most likely origin of SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19) is a natural zoonotic “spillover” event between an animal reservoir (most likely bats) and humans. But over the last year of the pandemic, another theory has gained momentum: The SARS-CoV-2 virus may have resulted from an accident in a laboratory in China where scientists were working with closely related viruses. In the wake of the World Health Organization-led mission to Wuhan to examine the origins of the pandemic, proponents of the lab-leak theory have charged the investigative team with conflicts of interest, and suggested that the team’s efforts failed to rule out the possibility of a lab release. Some have gone on to claim that scientists have maintained a conspiracy of silence about the possibility of a lab release in order to protect their funding or avoid a backlash from their government.

The desire to identify the origins of the novel coronavirus is perfectly understandable. COVID-19 has killed millions of people and upended everyday life. There’s an intuitive sense that finding out how the pandemic began might help to prevent another one from occurring. The Biden administration is redoubling efforts to determine the origins of COVID-19 after the intelligence community indicated that it had insufficient information to make a determination.

However, while answering the question of where the novel coronavirus came from is important, many of the most important policy decisions the United States needs to make to prevent future pandemics do not depend on viral origins. Very little about pandemic response or preparedness for future pandemics turns on the particulars of how this one started. Laboratory biosafety was already an issue before the pandemic, and the origins of this particular virus don’t change the need for reform to prevent these rare but potentially catastrophic events. Regardless of how COVID-19 began, U.S. policy priorities should focus on both identifying and preventing the spread of zoonotic pathogens and bolstering safety and security in high-containment laboratories.

https://warontherocks.com/2021/06/the-origin-of-covid-19-and-preventing-the-next-pandemic/

Duterte's decision on US defense pact to come 'anytime now' Manila and Washington officials tout improved Visiting Forces Agreement

A member of the U.S. Marine Corps waits to load a 105 mm high explosive round into a Philippine Marine Corps M102 105 mm howitzer during an exercise at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac, Philippines. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps)

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writerJune 4, 2021 14:59 JST MANILA -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to decide "anytime now" on the extension of a key military pact with the U.S., which has been improved following negotiations, diplomats said on Friday.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Duterte-s-decision- on-US-defense-pact-to-come-anytime-now

PH, Japan to enhance defense cooperation

By Priam Nepomuceno June 4, 2021, 10:19 am STRONGER ALLIANCE. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (right) and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi (left) discuss security issues and concerns in a video conference on Wednesday (June 2, 2021). Both officials agreed to intensify defense cooperation between Manila and Tokyo. (Photo courtesy of DND)

MANILA – The defense chiefs of the Philippines and Japan have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in all areas.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi made this commitment during a video conference on Wednesday.

"Both officials noted the increasing activities between the two countries' militaries across all major services and agreed that the Philippines and Japan should further deepen cooperation in all areas," Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement on Friday.

He added that both officials reaffirmed commitment to support the upcoming activities between "Philippine and Japanese defense establishments".

Lorenzana, Andolong said, also expressed his appreciation for Japan's continued support to the capability-upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He said the TC-90 aircraft donation from Tokyo is being highly utilized for the AFP's reconnaissance missions.

Meanwhile, Kishi noted that the transfer of radar systems to the Philippines is progressing smoothly.

Both officials also acknowledged the importance of cooperation in fighting the spread of infectious diseases in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Kishi also thanked Manila for its support and participation in the recently conducted virtual Japan- Asean Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Program, which focused on the military's role in addressing the pandemic.

The two officials also discussed various regional security issues, including the situation in Southeast Asia, Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS) and East China Sea (ECS).

Expressing grave concern over unilateral actions in the SCS/WPS and ECS, both Lorenzana and Kishi underscored the need for all parties to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and to exercise self-restraint in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142560 Philippine, Japan defense chiefs discuss South China Sea situation By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News Published June 4, 2021 10:37am

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi discussed the security issues over the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on Friday.

In a statement, the DND said the two defense chiefs met via video teleconference on Wednesday to discuss bilateral defense relations between the two countries and regional security concerns.

“The Ministers discussed various regional security issues, including the situation in Southeast Asia, Korean Peninsula, and the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, and East China Sea,” the DND said.

Lorenzana and Kishi both expressed grave concern over “unilateral actions” in these waters.

They emphasized the need for all parties to uphold the freedom of navigation and to exercise self-restraint in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/790195/philippine-japan- defense-chiefs-discuss-south-china-sea-situation/story/

Pinoy-themed desk of Japanese defense minister amuses Lorenzana in virtual meet

Published June 4, 2021, 10:46 AM by Martin Sadongdong Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana could not help but express his admiration for his Japanese counterpart, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, after the latter showed him just how courteous Japanese people can be.

The two defense chiefs held a virtual meeting last Wednesday, June 2, where the eagle-eyed Lorenzana noticed that Kishi’s desk was decorated with familiar Filipino items and symbols: a Philippine flag, banana, dried mangoes, and chips on one side and a traditional “jeepney” on the other side.

“During my meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi [Wednesday], I couldn’t help but notice how the Japanese express their respect and courteousness, even online. As you can see, they took the time and effort to decorate the minister’s desk with symbolic Filipino items. Nakakatuwang tingnan (It was amusing to see),” Lorenzana said in a social media post.

In a statement on Friday, June 4, Defense Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Lorenzana and Kishi discussed the bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and Japan, and various regional security concerns including the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Both officials noted the increasing activities between the two countries’ militaries across all major services and agreed that the Philippines and Japan should further deepen cooperation in all areas,” Andolong said.

Amid China’s aggressive behavior in the WPS, Andolong said that Lorenzana and Kishi both expressed “grave concern” over the unilateral actions of certain countries to change the status quo in the South China Sea (SCS) and East China Sea (ECS).

The two defense chiefs underscored the need for all parties “to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and to exercise self-restraint in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law,” specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Further, Lorenzana and Kishi acknowledged the importance of cooperation to combat infectious diseases amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Relatedly, Kishi thanked the Philippines for its support and participation in the recently conducted virtual Japan-ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Program, which focused on the military’s role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also discussed the regional security in Southeast Asia and Korean Peninsula, and reaffirmed commitment to support the upcoming activities between Manila and Tokyo’s defense departments.

Lorenzana also expressed appreciation for Japan’s continuous support to the capability- upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He said the TC-90 aircraft that were procured from Japan in 2018 were being highly utilized for the AFP’s reconnaissance missions.

Meanwhile, Kishi noted that the transfer of radar systems to the Philippines, which the latter bought for P5 billion and started delivering in 2020, was progressing “smoothly.”

“Thank you Defense Minister Kishi for your time and I look forward to the upcoming activities and projects between our two countries,” Lorenzana said.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/pinoy-themed-desk-of-japanese-defense- minister-amuses-lorenzana-in-virtual-meet/

Lorenzana takes up COVID-19 response, WPS security efforts with British envoy

Published June 4, 2021, 2:17 PM by Martin Sadongdong Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce recently met to tackle various issues of mutual concern including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the response to the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), among others, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced Friday, June 4.

Defense Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom (UK) to combat COVID-19 took the spotlight during a teleconference call attended by Lorenzana and Pruce last Wednesday, June 2.

Lorenana and Pruce exchanged updates on the vaccine rollout, the challenges encountered by both countries in the ongoing pandemic, and other COVID-related developments in the Philippines and UK, Andolong said.

Lorenzana expressed his appreciation to Pruce as he recognized UK’s “important role” in the delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines, which were manufactured by a British-Swedish company, to the country. A total of 2,556,000 AstraZeneca vaccines have been delivered to Manila through the COVAX facility since March 1.

“Both officials emphasized the importance of cooperation in dealing with common challenges such as the pandemic,” Andolong said.

Lorenzana also welcomed the deployment of UK’s biggest warship, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the Indo-Pacific Region on May 23. Included in the HMS Queen Elizabeth’s tour is its passage in the South China Sea (SCS) and the Philippine waters.

Lorenzana bared that a component vessel of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will conduct a port visit to Manila to “demonstrate freedom of navigation” in the SCS and “promote closer bilateral relations” between the Philippines and UK.

Lorenzana also shared to the envoy the government’s ongoing efforts “to raise understanding and build capacity” in dealing with its overlapping maritime claims with China in the SCS. For his part, Pruce reiterated UK’s support to the Philippines as he emphasized that internationally-recognized laws, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), “must take precedence.” The British Ambassador also relayed UK’s readiness to provide assistance to the Philippines’ “capacity-building efforts.”

Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic and the SCS tension, Lorenzana and Pruce also took up matters concerning both countries’ defense cooperation such as acquisition projects, counter-terrorism efforts, and the establishment of a resident defense attaché post in each other’s territory.

The Philippines and the UK will convene the 2nd Joint Defense Committee (JDC) meeting later this month.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/04/lorenzana-takes-up-covid-19-response-wps-security-efforts-with- british-envoy/

NATION UK carrier strike group to send ship for Manila visit — DND

The United Kingdom’s carrier strike group (CSG) will not only sail through the disputed South China Sea, but will also send one of its ships for a visit to Manila, the Department of National Defense said Friday.

“One frigate is expected to visit Manila by end-August,” the DND said.

That schedule remains tentative, but coordination for the port visit is ongoing between British officials and the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as between the Philippine Navy and U.K. Royal Navy, according to the DND.

The CSG-21 is led by aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and composed of destroyers HMS Defender and HMS Diamond; anti-submarine frigates HMS Kent and HMS Richmond; and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring.

It also includes 18 Lightning F-35B jets, including some from the U.S. Marine Corps; several Merlin and Wildcat attack and anti-submarine helicopters; and a missile-armed Royal Navy Astute-class submarine.

The planned visit would be part of CSG-21’s seven-month deployment which will see the naval flotilla pass through the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

The DND made the announcement as it related the recent online teleconference between Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and British Ambassador Daniel Pruce.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Lorenzana welcomed the CSG which will demonstrate freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, as well as the port visit of one of its component ships to promote closer bilateral relations between the Philippines and the U.K., the DND said.

Lorenzana shared efforts by the Philippines to raise understanding and build capacity in dealing with the situation in the South China Sea.

Pruce, on the other hand, reiterated the U.K.’s position as regards the South China Sea, with an emphasis that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea must take precedence, as well as the U.K.’s readiness to provide support in related capacity- building efforts. Lorenzana and Pruce also took up other matters concerning Philippines-U.K. defense cooperation, such as acquisition projects, counter-terrorism, and the establishment of a resident defense attaché post in the territory of the other.

Meanwhile, the DND said Lorenzana met with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi in another online teleconference, also on Wednesday.

Lorenzana and Kishi discussed bilateral defense relations and “regional security concerns,” the department said.

Lorenzana expressed appreciation for Japan’s continuous support to the capability upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and highlighted that the TC-90 planes from Japan are being highly utilized for reconnaissance missions.

Kishi, on the other hand, noted that the transfer of radar systems to the Philippines is progressing smoothly.

The defense chiefs also discussed the situation in Southeast Asia, Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, and the East China Sea.

Both expressed “grave concern over unilateral actions in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea and the East China Sea, and underscored the need for all parties to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and to exercise self-restraint,” the DND said. https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/06/04/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-send-ship-for-manila-visit-dnd/

White House says report on strange aerial objects not yet finalized

The White House declined comment on reports on Friday about a series of sightings of mysterious unmanned aerial objects, saying a soon-to-be- released government report on the subject has not yet been finalized. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-says-report-strange-aerial-objects-not-yet-finalized- 2021-06-04/

Biden urged to bring missile defense reductions to Putin summit

By: Joe Gould 2 days ago

1 WASHINGTON ― Ahead of President Joe Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, more than 60 advocates, former military officers, lawmakers and government officials are asking Biden to put missile defense reductions on the agenda. The letter targets, for one, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which saw a plan to upgrade its interceptors cancelled amid technical problems in 2019. Since, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman were selected to compete for a next-generation interceptor to be fielded in 2028, and the Missile Defense Agency’s FY22 budget request last week included $926.1 million for the program. But advocates see a potential off-ramp from a burgeoning arms race. “This presents an opportunity to halt the current arms race between U.S. missile defense systems and new offensive systems being built by Russia and China to overcome U.S. defenses,” they wrote in a letter to Biden on Thursday. Since the U.S. withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 ― a move Biden opposed as a senator ― “the GMD system has proceeded in a rushed, chaotic and ultimately counter-productive manner that has resulted in a failed test record, wasted billions of dollars, and accelerated an arms race with Russia and China, leading both adversaries to expand their offensive nuclear weapons programs to counter U.S. missile defenses,” the letter reads. Notable signatories include former Defense Secretary Bill Perry; Obama-era Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes; former Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Thomas Countryman ― and several former lawmakers who served with Biden in the Senate, including Tom Harkin and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. The Council for a Livable World organized and released the letter. The signatories argue the Navy’s successful test interception last year of a SM- 3 Block IIA missile against an intercontinental ballistic missile, from a ballistic missile defense-capable destroyer at sea, “has threatened Russia’s and China’s confidence in their strategic deterrent.” They urge Biden to delay new work on the Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system by capping production of the Aegis SM-3 Block IIA interceptors and BMD-capable vessels, “as a first step to restoring strategic stability and stopping a nuclear arms race.” The Biden budget proposal included $1 billion for the Lockheed-made Aegis BMD and $647 million for the sea-based interceptors. The letter flags a 2001 speech from then-Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Biden that blasted the absurdity of a “theological allegiance to missile defense” in Washington. “You were right then, and you have the power to walk us back from the brink now,” the letter reads. How this appeal lands when the Biden budget proposal appears headed in the opposite direction is unclear, but Republicans in Congress and perhaps some Democrats would likely oppose it, according to Rebecca Heinrichs, a missile defense analyst at the Hudson Institute. Heinrichs argued that there’s nothing provocative about building a defensive system, meant to focus on threats from rogue states like North Korea. “It makes no sense to put on hold the U.S. homeland missile defense system to try to please Putin when the immediate effect would be to leave Americans exposed to Kim Jong-Un’s always-improving missiles,” she said. “The argument to drop our defenses to placate our enemies by giving them a wider open shot at us has always been foolish, but it’s hard to overstate the madness of making that argument at a time like now when the result is to give Pyongyang that wide open shot.” https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2021/06/03/biden-urged-to-bring-missile-defense- reductions-to-putin-summit/

With Austin’s signature on JADC2 strategy, top general says it’s ‘delivery time’ Andrew Eversden

1 day ago

U.S. Army Col. Matt Eberhart, the Commanders Initiatives Group director with North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) NORTHCOM, speaks with reporters in 2020 about the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) Onramp 2, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. ABMS is the Air Force's contribution to Joint All- Domain Command and Control. (Sr. Airman Daniel Hernandez/U.S. Air Force) WASHINGTON — It is time for the Pentagon to deliver on its joint war-fighting concept after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed off on foundational strategy behind Joint All-Domain Command and Control, the three-star leading the effort said Friday.

With the JADC2 strategy in place, the Pentagon and its military services can focus on building the network of networks it believes it needs to fight highly capable adversaries such as Russia and China, a fight powered by high- bandwidth, resilient communications networks that pass mass amounts of data to help commanders make fast decisions. Lt. Gen. Dennis Crall, CIO/J6 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon now has a document that ensures the services’ efforts are in “compliance [with] the direction that we set inside of JADC2.”

“This really starts our work. It’s now implementation time,” Crall told reporters. “Planning is good. Talk is good. Now it’s delivery time, and we’ve been given a clear signal to begin pushing these outcomes to the people who need them.”

Austin signed the strategy May 13, Crall said, and while the plan is classified, the Pentagon will share an unclassified version this summer. The concept of JADC2, in which data passes through secure networks to forces working together from any location, is how Pentagon leadership envisions potential battles against near-peer threats such as China and Russia.

JADC2, led by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, consists of a series of efforts by the military services: the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, the Army’s Project Convergence and the Navy’s Project Overmatch. The strategy gives each of those projects a guiding foundation. Before “we had no northern star,” Crall said. “So specifically, what it does now is allowed me to take that JADC2 strategy at a specific line of effort and place it directly over the top of this experimentation and vet it and say, ‘What parts of those are in compliance today and which parts are not?’”

Although the specifics are classified, top officials have provided insights into what the Pentagon needs to do to connect disparate battlefield systems. Brig. Gen. Rob Parker, the head of the JADC2 Joint Cross-Functional Team, said at an event hosted by the Army Network Cross-Functional Team on Wednesday that the strategy has five key lines of effort: data, human enterprise, technology, nuclear command and control, and the mission partner environment.

As the department starts to roll out JADC2, Crall said the services need to solve several issues. First, the DoD needs to settle on the definition of a federated data fabric, which is a data management environment with common standards and tools. Officials across the services and the Pentagon have worked on the issues since January, and the challenge, he said, is finding the balance between being too prescriptive and too open.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2021/06/04/with-austins-signature-on-jadc2- strategy-top-general-says-its-delivery-time/

China will only benefit from the US Navy’s shipbuilding budget

By: Everett Pyatt 1 day ago

23 The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Kidd transits the South China Sea in November 2017. (MC3 Kelsey J. Hockenberger/U.S. Navy) The proposed U.S. Navy shipbuilding budget for fiscal 2021 contains only good news for China. The threat of a larger U.S. Navy has disappeared. Reductions of cruisers eliminate long-range offensive and anti-submarine warfare ships. Frigates and Marine expeditionary ship programs are delayed. Force assessments form the plan for the Navy. An assessment conducted in the 1970s and implemented in the 1980s defined the 600-ship, Cold War-ear Navy. The bottoms-Up assessment conducted in the early 1990s defined a 350-ship Navy for the post-Cold War environment, but was not executed. The Navy continued to decline over the next decades. Another assessment in 2016 defined a 355-ship Navy for the current environment involving Russia and China and con-firmed in law. The last administration did not implement it. The current administration is not implementing it. Rather, the ship production and retirement rates indicate a Navy of about 250 ships, declining over the next few years from the current level of 290. Early retirement of six littoral combat ships is planned. There are eight new ships. Based on a 30-year life expectancy, this extrapolates to a 240-ship Navy. Some will argue that can be recovered in the future, but past reliance on that hope has proved fruitless for the last 20 years. The conceptual Navy envisioned in the 355-ship law cannot happen within current budget expectations. The combination of increased ship cost — typified by the constant dollar growth of the warship Bonhomme Richard and replacement from $900 million to $3.2 billion, and seen in many other cases — dooms hope. Only large unit-cost reductions and/or large budget increases can result in the hoped-for 355-ship Navy summarized from many analyses. Increased funding could come from a reduction in fleet operating tempo. A reduction of 20 percent would yield $7 billion for recapitalization rather than annual operations. An alternative is elimination of the third nuclear triad leg, reduction in Army programs, and elimination of nonproductive research and development projects. Why is more R&D being spent on Ford-class carriers? https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/06/04/china-will-only-benefit- from-the-us-navys-shipbuilding-budget/

US Navy not ready to repair ships damaged in ‘great power conflict’ with China or Russia, watchdog reports

• US Government Accountability Office reports shortfalls in US Navy's wartime battle-damage repair capabilities • The US Navy put decreased emphasis on maintaining this capability after the Cold War

The US Navy is not ready to do repairs on vessels damaged in battle with a great-power rival like China or Russia, a US government watchdog reported.

“The ability to repair and maintain ships plays a critical role in sustaining Navy readiness,” the Government Accountability Office said in a new report

, but that critical capability is not currently where it needs to be, especially when it comes to fixing ships damaged in combat and getting them back into the fight.

The US Navy has not needed to quickly repair ships damaged in a great-power conflict since World War II, when warships were less advanced and complex than today's modern vessels and the US had a much more robust industrial capacity.

After the end of the Cold War, the service shifted its focus from wartime repairs to peacetime maintenance, reducing the number of public shipyards and divesting of some of its important naval repair assets. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3136022/us-navy-not-ready- repair-ships-damaged-great-power

US, UK, French navies agree to bolster joint operations, tech collaboration

By: Megan Eckstein 3 days ago

25 From left, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday meets with Chief of the French Navy Adm. Pierre Vandier and U.K. First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Adm. Tony Radakin on June 3, 2021. (Cmdr. Nate Christensen/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON — The chiefs of the U.S., U.K. and French navies met in France on Thursday to affirm their commitment to deeper collaboration and interoperability between their fleets to address some of the most vexing maritime security issues around the globe.

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, British Royal Navy First Sea Lord Adm. Tony Radakin and Chief of the French Navy Adm. Pierre Vandier signed a trilateral agreement noting their common values, interests and global responsibilities in the areas of the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, High North, Caribbean and Africa.

“No one nation can shoulder this burden alone. Our naval power is amplified by sailing and integrating with like-minded navies. Together, we strive to combat the challenges posed by an increasingly uncertain world. Even during the global pandemic we increased interoperability through exercises in the Indian Ocean enhancing maritime domain awareness, through continued operations across the spectrum of naval functions in support of NATO, and most recently through a carrier operations exercise which concluded today,” read the agreement, referring to an exercise between the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth and the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

“We will continue to strengthen our enduring partnership to ensure we prevail across the continuum of day-to-day competition, crisis, and conflict to keep the world’s oceans open and free. We must continue operating together to expand the reach and capability of our naval forces across the globe,” the document added.

As the three leaders signed the agreement in Toulon, the Queen Elizabeth — carrying a squadron of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters as part of the carrier air wing for its maiden deployment — and the Charles de Gaulle were holding a joint exercise in the Atlantic Ocean in a demonstration of what this trilateral collaboration could look like. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/06/03/us-uk-french-navies-agree-to-bolster-joint- operations-tech-collaboration/ USMC mounting Tamir launcher on to trailer for cruise missile interceptor by Ashley Roque

The US Marine Corps is ‘repackaging' key components of Rafael's Iron Dome on to a trailer so that it is more suitable for expeditionary operations and can be used with the service's AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and its Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S). If all goes as planned, the service will decide if it wants to deploy the capability in 2022.

Over the past several years, Janes has reported on the USMC's effort to determine if it can integrate Iron Dome's Tamir launchers and interceptors with existing equipment in its arsenal for a medium-range interceptor capability. Then, on 11 and 12 May, the service conducted a “successful” design review and greenlit production of a Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) prototype, Program Manager for Ground Based Air Defense and the Program Executive Officer Land Systems Don Kelley said during a 2 June interview.

This prototype includes two key components that the service will work on to improve the interfaces in-between. The first component is a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) integrated with a ‘shelter' that houses the CAC2S and a mini-battle management control system (BMC) for the Tamir missile.

To construct the second component, the Tamir launcher will be moved off its “heavy base” and “on to the back of a trailer” for expeditionary operations, Kelley explained.

“It's not cemented to the ground and stationary, it is able to be moved,” David Forrest, the Capabilities Development Directorate's deputy director for the aviation combat element, said during the interview. “If we can move it easier, that's the ultimate objective …and it can defend a host of sites but primarily temporary [and] fixed sites.” https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usmc-mounting-tamir-launcher-on-to-trailer- for-cruise-missile-interceptor

Multibeam antenna to improve communication passes first Air Force trials Nathan Strout

WASHINGTON — A prototype multibeam antenna passed its first tests, bringing it one step closer to filling the U.S. Air Force’s desire for ensured connectivity through multiple satellite constellations.

Working in collaboration with satellite operator SES Government Systems, Isotropic Systems is assessing whether its new multibeam antenna can connect to multiple satellites simultaneously, even if they are in vastly different orbits, the developers explained in a June 3 announcement about the tests.

The Air Force doesn’t want to rely on any single constellation in any single orbital range. As laid out in the U.S. Space Force’s Fighting SATCOM Vision, the military wants to ensure that it’s systems can communicate via satellite even if one satellite — or even a whole constellation — is disabled. In order to get there, the military needs antennas that can connect to multiple satellites in multiple orbits. For example, if a weapon system is primarily using a government satellite in geostationary orbit to communicate and that satellite is taken offline, then the antenna could ensure connectivity by switching to a commercial constellation in low Earth orbit or medium Earth orbit.

In September 2020, SES and Isotropic announced they had been issued a two- phase contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory to evaluate the use of Isotropic’s prototype multibeam antenna over the SES O3b medium Earth-orbit constellation. That contract is part of the Air Force’s Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, designed to leverage commercial satellite broadband providers to connect it’s legacy systems.

SES declined to share the value of the antenna contract, but according to a federal database the company was awarded a $1.7 million contract in July 2020 for work on commercial space internet project.

The first phase of assessments took place over two tests. The first, at the Harwell Science, Technology and Innovation Campus in the United Kingdom, demonstrated that Isotropic’s multibeam terminal can connect with multiple satellites simultaneously. A second test in Port St. Lucie, Florida, showed that the system meets military requirements for acquiring and tracking the MEO satellites from SES. “Interoperability and multi-orbit capabilities are essential to achieving this vision, and these collaborative trials with the armed forces demonstrate how Isotropic Systems’ multi-beam antenna can successfully deliver robust connectivity across our vast MEO and GEO fleet,” said SES Government Solutions President and CEO Pete Hoene.

The second phase of assessments will test whether the prototype can connect with satellites in multiple orbital layers, demonstrating seamless transition between connecting to SES satellites in MEO and GEO. The trials are set to finish by the end of the year. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/06/03/multibeam-antenna-to-improve- communication-passes-first-air-force-trials/

JUST IN: New Air Force Program to Explore Using Commercial Rockets to Supply Troops

6/4/2021 By Mandy Mayfield The Air Force announced June 4 its new Rocket Cargo program intended to study the use of commercial rockets to transport supplies and equipment to military personnel.

The initiative has been designated a“Vanguard” program, making it one of a select group of high priority science-and-technology projects.

“Vanguard initiatives lead to game-changing breakthroughs that preserve our advantage over near-peer competitors, and this latest addition is also a significant milestone as the first Vanguard evaluated under the Space Force’s oversight,” Acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth said in a statement. “The Air Force has provided rapid global mobility for decades, and Rocket Cargo is a new way the department can explore complementary capabilities for the future.”

The Space Force currently falls under the Department of the Air Force.

For the new Vanguard program, the Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Force, Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force Materiel Command will work together to explore leveraging capabilities from commercial space launch providers for delivering cargo to military personnel, according to the Air Force.

As part of the effort, Air Force Material Command will "provide some of the use cases for what it would take to either move humanitarian or large tonnage of cargo into an area of the field and support someone,” said Gen. Arnold Bunch Jr., commanding general of Air Force Materiel Command.

The main focus of the Rocket Cargo program will be science-and-technology work to explore whether the envisioned capability is reliable and executable, Bunch told reporters during a Defense Writer’s Group event June 4.

The Air Force and Space Force want to determine the viability of utilizing commercial rockets to transport items to the "frontlines of the battlefield, or to resupply or wherever we need to go in a very quick manner, and it being cost- effective to do,” he said.

The Defense Department aims to heavily leverage developments from the commercial space sector to fulfill its ambitions.

“We're not going to get into the rocket launch business, that is not what we want to get into,” Bunch said. “The commercial industry is driving that [and] we're not going to get in the way of that in any way, shape, or form."

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/6/4/new-air-force-program-to-use- commercial-rockets-for-cargo-delivery

US approves potential sale of 29 AH-64E Apache attack helos to Australia by Gabriel Dominguez & Julian Kerr

The US Department of State has approved a potential USD3.5 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Australia of 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters along with related equipment and services.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 3 June that Canberra has requested to buy the rotorcraft, along with 64 T700-GE 701D engines (58 installed, 6 spares); 29 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS); 16 AN/APG- 78 fire-control radars with radar electronic units; 29 AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI); 70 embedded global positioning systems with inertial navigation systems plus multimode receiver (EGI+MMR) (58 installed, 12 spares); 35 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (29 installed, 6 spares), and 70 AN/ARC-231A very-high frequency/ultra-high frequency (VHF/UHF) radios (58 installed, 12 spares).

A CGI showing two AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters in Australian Army livery. The US State Department has approved a potential USD3.5 billion FMS to Australia of 29 AH-64Es along with related equipment and services. (Boeing Australia)

Also included in the proposed deal, which still needs to be approved by the US Congress, are 85 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; 29 M36E8 Hellfire captive air training missiles; 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Guidance Sections (APKWS- GSs); AN/APR-39 radar signal detecting sets; AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets; AN/APX-123A identification friend-or-foe (IFF) transponders; IDM-401 Improved Data Modems; the Link-16 small tactical terminal KOR-24-A; the Improved Countermeasure Dispensing System (ICMD); AN/ARN-149 (V)3 automatic direction finders; ASN-157 Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors; AN/APN-209 Radar Altimeters Common Core (RACC); the AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation Set (TACAN), and the AN/PYQ-10(C) Simple Key Loader. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-approves-potential-sale-of-29-ah-64e- apache-attack-helos-to-australia

Space Force seeks $832 million in classified spending, new missions and more in annual wish list Nathan Strout and Joe Gould

2 days ago

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off in 2020 from Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission's primary payload was the X-37B spaceplane. (John Raoux/AP) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is asking Congress for $832 million over its $17.4 billion budget request for its unfunded priority list, an annual wish list of spending every service sends lawmakers.

The request sent June 3 to Congress includes additional funding for dozens of programs, repairs to Space Force facilities and $279 million in classified spending to “develop a war fighting punch.”

Intriguingly, the wish list sets aside $113 million to grow new missions. That includes $28 million toward radio frequency payloads for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack program, which seeks to demonstrate the utility of a proliferated constellation of networked satellites in low Earth orbit for the military. With this request, Space Force would test new space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities on orbit in fiscal 2022 and 2023 to inform future investment. Space Force leaders have stated in recent months that it needs to develop a tactical ISR mission, which could involve building out its own constellation of imagery satellites.

Nathan Strout The other big mission area is cislunar awareness — essentially knowing what is happening beyond geostationary orbit and within the orbit of the moon. The Space Force is seeking $61 million, which it will put into the Air Force Research Laboratory’s WARTECH program, which develops advanced technology demonstrations for the Department of the Air Force. Those demonstrations then have the opportunity to grow into Vanguard programs — AFRL’s designated high priority transformational technologies. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/06/04/space-force-seeks-832-million-in- classified-spending-new-missions-and-more-in-annual-wishlist/

Now boarding: Space Force wants to turn launch ranges into rocket ‘airports’ Rachel S. Cohen

3 days ago

The military’s space launch bases are halfway through what promises to be a busy year for orbital operations, as the coronavirus pandemic eases in the U.S. and the commercial space industry continues to rise.

Officials at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, are preparing for nearly 70 launches in 2021 if all goes to plan. In adjusting to a more constant launch pace, leaders are beginning to see the installations as a different kind of transportation hub: airports.

“I’m actually trying to change the thinking and nature of the base,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy, commander of Space Launch Delta 45 — the former 45th Space Wing — at Patrick. The unit runs the nation’s historic rocket launch range at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Commercial business, not national-security missions, now comprise more and more of the Space Force’s workload. The Cape has about 53 launches slated for this year, Purdy said, but he doesn’t like pegging expectations to a particular number.

The Eastern Range received 317 requests to launch from the base in the past 365 days, Purdy said May 12, though nearly all were withdrawn or rescheduled. Cape Canaveral prepared for launch 235 times in the past year, and began counting down 60 times before scrubbing 20 of those, he added.

Patrick and Cape Canaveral aimed to support 49 military and commercial launches in 2020, but fell short of that at 31 launches.

Purdy argues launch requests and approvals are a better metric for gauging launch demand than estimating how many will go up as planned. He’s particularly eager to ditch the unit’s “Drive to 48” slogan, which he says is an outdated view of the launch schedule. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/06/03/now-boarding-space-force- wants-to-turn-launch-ranges-into-rocket-airports/

US government has no evidence mystery UFOs were alien spacecraft, report says

• US officials still can’t explain numerous sightings of mysterious craft • Unusual vessels apparently not secret Pentagon technology

US intelligence officials found no evidence that unidentified aerial phenomena observed by US Navy aviators in recent years were alien spacecraft, but the sightings remain unexplained in a highly anticipated government report, The New York Times said on Thursday.

The report also found the vast majority of incidents documented over the past two decades did not originate from any American military or other advanced US government technology, the Times said, citing senior administration officials briefed on the report headed to Congress this month.

Many of the 120-plus sightings reviewed in the classified intelligence study from a Pentagon task force were reported by US Navy personnel, while some involved foreign militaries, according to the Times. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3136032/us-government-has-no- evidence-mystery-ufos-were

US general says China seeks return to era of vassal states

• General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, says recent PLA military flights close to Malaysia and Taiwan are ‘escalatory’ and ‘destabilising’ • He also expresses sympathy for Hongkongers prevented from joining the annual Tiananmen vigil at Victoria Park

The commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces has accused China of seeking to return to the era of vassal states, likening the Communist Party to Chinese emperors that demanded fealty from their neighbours.

During a conference call with Asia-based media, General Kenneth S. Wilsbach said on Friday it was “clear” Beijing aimed to be the sole superpower and expected other countries to “kowtow” to it.

“They don’t believe there can be multiple superpowers, they believe that there can only be one, and they want to return back to the glory days of [imperial] China where everybody else was a vassal state and everybody [kowtowed] to the emperor,” Wilsbach said. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3136041/us-general-says-china-seeks-return- era-vassal-states

US condemns 'escalatory' Chinese military flights off Malaysia and Taiwan

By AFP - June 4, 2021 @ 11:56am

This handout photo from the Royal Malaysian Air Force taken on May 31, and released on June 1 shows a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft that Malaysian authorities said was in the airspace over Malaysia's maritime zone near the coast of Sarawak state on Borneo island. - AFP pic/Royal Malaysian Air Force SYDNEY: The US Air Force's Pacific commander condemned Chinese military flights off Malaysia and Taiwan, describing them on Friday as "escalatory" and "destabilising."

This week, 16 Chinese military aircraft flew over hotly contested waters off of Borneo prompting Malaysia's air force to scramble its jets.

General Kenneth Wilsbach said these activities and an increased number of incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone "adds to the list" of Chinese "destabilising activities and also escalatory activities" in the region.

"We set ourselves up for miscalculations around the region when we have some of these activities when we're getting into people's airspace that we shouldn't," said Wilsbach.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China and has said the aircraft that appeared off Borneo over the South China Sea were on routine training and did not enter Malaysia's territorial airspace.

Beijing has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its historical claim over nearly all of the South China Sea to be without basis.

There is growing concern in the West that China's ever-more-powerful military may try to retake Taiwan by force. In recent months, the tempo of Chinese flights across the strait has increased dramatically, straining Taiwan's air defence capabilities.

"I believe this is a strategy by China to invoke cost for the Taiwan airforce," Wilsbach said, by forcing the Taiwanese airforce to react each time an incursion occurs.

Faced with dramatically improved Chinese military capabilities, Wilsbach also said the US Air Force was looking to cycle assets around the region and away from large bases, to make them more difficult to target. https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2021/06/695792/us-condemns-escalatory-chinese- military-flights-malaysia-and-taiwan

US commander blasts China's 'nefarious activities' in South China Sea Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jun 04 2021 05:55 PM

MANILA - The commander of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) has confirmed that the US Air Force has been conducting reconnaissance sorties in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, criticizing China for its "nefarious activities" in the waters.

Speaking to reporters in a teleconference from his headquarters in Hawaii, US Pacific Air Forces Commander General Kenneth S. Wilsbach also blasted the Asian nation for “taking over islands” that “do not belong to them.”

Wilsbach also justified these sorties, saying the United States wanted a “full understanding” of such Chinese activities in the South China and East China Seas.

"We’d like to know a lot of the other what I think is nefarious activities by the Chinese Communist Party... making islands in their international water space that never belong to them," the air force commander explained. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/04/21/us-commander-blasts-chinas-nefarious-activities-in- south-china-sea

China military uses AI to track rapidly increasing UFOs

• To the People’s Liberation Army they are ‘unidentified air conditions’ and artificial intelligence is the best way to keep up with them • Chinese researchers confirm that sighting reports from across the country are on the rise but aliens are unlikely to be responsible

As the Pentagon artificial intelligence to track and analyse the increasing number of unknown objects in China’s airspace.To the People’s Liberation Army, they are “unidentified air conditions” – a phrase which echoes the US military’s “unidentified aerial phenomena” – but to the public they are better known as unidentified flying objects, or UFOs. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3136078/china-military-uses-ai-track-rapidly- increasing-ufos

China’s Marines add armored firepower

Advanced lightweight Type 15 tank excels at amphibious landing and fast reaction attacks

By DAVE MAKICHUKJUNE 5, 2021

China is arming its Army and Marine forces with greater numbers of a new Type 15 lightweight mobile tank platform, which is considered on par with the American MPF tank. Credit: Twitter.

US forces take note, China’s most advanced lightweight tank, the Type 15, is no longer just deployed on plateau missions with the PLA Army, it is now being commissioned into the Navy Marine Corps, according to a report in Global Times.

The tank, which was independently developed, also excels at amphibious landing and fast reaction tasks, making it very suitable for the Marine Corps.

Having participated in many key missions including multinational joint exercises, escort tasks in the Gulf of Aden and the Yemen rescue mission, the Marine Corps brigade is transforming its amphibious- only role to an all-terrain role, China Central Television (CCTV) said, but did not elaborate.

The Type 15 is the latest entry to the PLA’s tank family, and made its first public appearance at the National Day military parade in Beijing in October 2019.

It produces oxygen, uses new armor materials, has advanced weapons and fire control and is somewhat stealthy, National Interestreported. On the weapons front, it fires a wide range of ammunition from a 105mm rifle gun with a “thermal sleeve and fume extractor” with a range of 3,000 meters [9,843 feet].

The rounds include Armor Piercing, High-Explosive Anti-Tank and High Explosive rounds, somewhat analogous to US tanks and Army plans for the MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower).

The Type 15 can launch guided-missiles with a tandem warhead out to a range of 5km [3.1 miles]. The gun is also fin-stabilized with a modern Fire Control System including a ballistic computer, laser rangefinder and thermal sights for the gunner.

https://asiatimes.com/2021/06/chinas-marines-add-type-15-firepower/

PLANMC may be re-equipping for combined arms, multidomain operations by Gabriel Dominguez & Samuel Cranny-Evans & J Michael Cole

A report by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) on 2 June suggests that the People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) has started re-equipping to perform combined arms, multidomain operations.

As part of this, the corps may also be operating the China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) ZTQ-15 (also known as Type 15) lightweight battle tank, several examples of which were shown by the broadcaster being inspected by members of a PLANMC brigade at an undisclosed base. In this context CCTV stated that an infantry battalion had been re-equipped as a combined arms battalion.

A screengrab from footage released by CCTV on 2 June showing PLANMC personnel inspecting ZTQ-15 light tanks. (CCTV)

The CCTV report was about how the corps is being modernised to fulfil its expanding role – from an amphibious to a combined arms, multidomain combat force – as part of a reorganisation drive that began in 2017.

More specifically, CCTV noted that the corps has moved beyond conducting a single “pure mission”, i.e. amphibious assaults, and is now moving towards the ability to conduct multiple overseas operations.

As evidence of this, the report referred to recent exercises conducted in “high-altitude” areas: language typically used to refer to Tibet or Xinjiang. The corps has also conducted training exercises to co-ordinate the effects of battle tanks with those of long- range artillery assets: a ubiquitous capability practised by most PLA Ground Force (PLAGF) units.

Moreover, footage made public by Chinese state media on 2 June showed a PLANMC brigade conducting a co-ordinated landing attack by land, sea, and air against enemy fortifications. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/planmc-may-be-re-equipping-for-combined- arms-multidomain-operations

Chinese electronic warfare plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, deployed air defense missile systems to track PLAAF aircraft

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By Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

2021/06/04 13:26

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese military plane entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Thursday morning (June 3), marking the first intrusion this month.

A single People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense(MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the PLAAF plane.

A total of 29 Chinese planes were tracked in the identification zone in May, including 25 slow-flying turboprops, two fighter bombers, and two fighter jets. Of the slower-flying planes, anti-submarine warfare variants were tracked 14 times, electronic warfare variants eight times, reconnaissance types twice, and an airborne early warning and control variant once.

Since September of last year, Beijing has stepped up its gray zone tactics by frequently sending planes into Taiwan’s ADIZ, with most instances taking place in the southwest corner of the zone.

An ADIZ is an area that extends beyond a country’s air space where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves. Gray zone tactics are defined “as an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”

According to MND data, Chinese aircraft were tracked in the zone 18 times in May, 22 times in April, 18 times in March, 17 times in February, and 27 times in January. Last year, they were observed 19 times in December, 22 times in November, and 22 times in October. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4216203

South China Sea: Chinese warplanes near Malaysia ‘aimed at showing dominance’

• Mobilising aircraft near Malaysia may have been intended to show China’s growing ability to escalate dominance, observer says • But Malaysia’s need for Covid-19 vaccines and economic recovery may prevent the matter taking off

China’s military aircraft manoeuvre over contested waters off the

Malaysiancoast is probably aimed at showing its growing ability to assert its territorial claims against those of its neighbours, an observer said.

But the two countries are likely to avoid escalating matters, observers say, partly because Malaysia – battling its worst coronavirus outbreak so far – is under growing economic pressure and has reasons for maintaining a cordial relationship with China.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday summoned Chinese ambassador Ouyang Yujing for an explanation after saying that

16 Chinese military aircraft had flownwithin the country’s exclusive economic zone, about 60 nautical miles (111km) off the coast of the state of Sarawak. The ministry called it a “breach of Malaysian airspace and sovereignty”. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3136133/south-china-sea-chinese- warplanes-near-malaysia-aimed-showing

A year after a showdown on 'the roof of the world,' India is gearing up to take on China at sea Benjamin BrimelowJun 3, 2021, 18:23 IST

BU Indian Navy destroyer INS Ranvir fires a rocket during an exercise in the Bay Of Bengal, April 18, 2017.ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images • A months-long clash between India and China on their Himalaya border has dramatically increased tensions. • But the growing rivalry between the two Asian powers is also likely to play out in the Indian Ocean. • China's navy is capable and only getting bigger, and India is trying to catch up.

Last year, an all-out brawl between Chinese and Indian troops along the disputed Sino-Indian border killed 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers.

The medieval-style battle in the Himalayas showed that the countries' rivalry is entering a new phase of intensity.

https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/a-year-after-a-showdown-on-the-roof-of-the- world-india-is-gearing-up-to-take-on-china-at-sea/amp_articleshow/83205062.cms

Moon visits Korea's spy agency for briefing on its reform steps Posted : 2021-06-04 19:19 Updated : 2021-06-04 19:19

President Moon Jae-in visited the headquarters of South Korea's state spy agency in southern Seoul and received a briefing on its reform measures Friday.

It was Moon's second visit to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) since he took office in May 2017.

Reforming the powerful body is one of his major campaign pledges. The NIS was accused of having been a hotbed of deep-rooted evils, including operations to oppress political dissidents.

Under a revision to the NIS-related law in late 2020, the agency is prohibited from undertaking domestic surveillance operations. It is instead required to focus its capacity on collecting information related to North Korea and overseas interests.

The liberal Moon administration describes the move as the rebirth of the NIS.

Park Jie-won, director of the NIS, reported to the president that it has reorganized the overall operation system to place more emphasis on such fields as counterterrorism, cybersecurity and space, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

The agency's capability on gathering and analyzing science-linked information has been improved, with a special program to train "white hackers" running in local mission centers, Park added.

Regarding its obligation to transfer the right to investigate illegal pro-Pyongyang activities to the police, the two authorities are conducting a joint probe this year with the aim of completing the transition by the end of 2023.

The president replied that the NIS is now back as an intelligence agency for the state and the people, and called on it to become a "future-oriented" body faithful to its duty.

"The NIS will not go back to the past," Moon was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mee.

The reform measures represent the "precious fruit" of NIS officials' dedicated efforts and the government's strong will, which would serve as a brilliant milestone in its history, he added.

He recalled his previous visit to the NIS in July 2018, during which he pledged to guarantee its "political neutrality" without using it for political purposes. He said he has kept that promise.

The president expected the agency to help advance South Korea's emergence as a "pacesetting" nation via intelligence activities in the cyber and aerospace sectors.

He also pointed out that the NIS has monitored other countries' responses to COVID-19, protected South Koreans abroad and supported the procurement of vaccines, while playing a pivotal role in defending manpower and technologies in such high-tech industries as semiconductors, biohealth, batteries and 5G networks, according to Park.

Moon then attended a ceremony to unveil a stone with the agency's new motto inscribed, as it marks the 60th founding anniversary next week. It reads, "Serving Our Nation and People with Unwavering Loyalty and Devotion." (Yonhap)

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/06/356_309968.html S.Korean air force chief resigns over death, sexual abuse of sergeant

Sangmi ChaHyonhee Shin

3 minute read South Korea's air force chief resigned on Friday, apologising and taking responsibility for the death of a member of the force who took her own life, according to her family, after being sexually harassed by a colleague. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorean-air-force-chief-offers-quit-over-death-abuse- sergeant-2021-06-04/

Two US airbases shortlisted to host new RSAF F-35B aircraft

A US F-35B fighter jet in Singapore in 2018. Singapore expects to take delivery of four F-35B aircraft in 2026.PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - Two airbases in the United States have been shortlisted to host the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) next- generation F-35B fighter aircraft and its F-16 training detachment, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in a statement on Friday (May 4).

The preferred location is the Ebbing Air National Guard Base at Fort Smith in Arkansas, although Selfridge Air National Guard Base at Harrison Township in Michigan is also an option, should an environmental impact assessment find the Ebbing base unsuitable.

The decision was made by the US Defence Department in consultation with Mindef, with the move to be finalised in 2023. The new training centre will have space for up to 36 aircraft, including those purchased by other countries under the US' Foreign Military Sales programme. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/two-us-air-bases-shortlisted-to-host-new-rsaf-f-35b- aircraft

Indonesia acquires A-220M naval guns for KCR-60M attack craft by Ridzwan Rahmat

Two KCR-60M vessels, KRI Tombak and KRI Halasan , at the IMDEX 2019 exhibition. Tombak is undergoing an installation process for the A-220M 57 mm naval gun. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) has acquired two A-220M 57 mm naval guns from Russia, and is now installing the first unit on a KCR-60M fast-attack craft.

Images provided to Janes from two separate industry sources confirm that one of the naval gun units is being incorporated as the primary weapon for the second-of-class, KRI Tombak (629).

Janes first reported in February 2018 that the TNI-AL was considering the A-220M for two vessels in the KCR-60M class.

These new weapons are replacing the vessels' older Bofors 40 mm cannons that were salvaged from the decommissioned landing ship tank (LST) vessel, KRI Teluk Semangka (512), as an interim measure to provide the KCR-60M with naval gunfire support capabilities.

According to product literature published by JSC Central Research Institute Burevestnik, the А-220М is designed to engage air, surface, and coastal targets. It has a maximum range of up to 12 km when engaging surface targets, and 8 km when engaging aerial targets.

Janes understands that the A-220M that was supplied to Indonesia features a deck mounting and a barrel-cooling system that has been customised specifically for the KCR-60M class, given space constraints beneath the vessel's deck.

The weapon is also equipped with its own electro-optical and radar-guided weapon control system and can accommodate up to 400 on-mount ammunition rounds. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesia-acquires-a-220m-naval-guns-for- kcr-60m-attack-craft

Welcome to the jungle: Myanmar rebels teach coup protesters to make war • • An anti-coup activist aims a weapon while undergoing basic military training at a camp of the Karen National Union, an ethnic rebel group, in Karen state in May. | AFP-JIJI • AFP-JIJI • SHARE • Jun 4, 2021 BANGKOK – Nervous laughter breaks out in Myanmar’s eastern jungle as a young man training to overthrow the junta is knocked backwards by the kick of a rifle he has just fired at a target painted on a tree. Waiting behind him for their turn with the weapon are others who have fled the cities and reappeared in rebel-held jungle territory, now training for combat against the military regime.

“We had never heard the sound of gunshots,” Min — not his real name — said at the training camp hidden in the thickly-forested hills of Karen state along the border with Thailand.

But four months after the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and unleashed a brutal crackdown on dissent that has killed hundreds, the 23-year-old is now “very used” to their sound. He has also been convinced of their power.

It is gunshots — not protests — that “will end the military dictatorship in our country,” he said.

Many anti-coup protesters share Min’s anger and resolve. Reliable estimates are hard to come by but analysts suspect hundreds of people have trekked into insurgent-held areas to receive crash courses in combat.

Last month, celebrity beauty queen Htar Htar Htet posted a photo to Facebook showing her dressed in black combat fatigues and carrying an assault rifle.

“The time has come to fight back,” wrote the gymnastics instructor, who represented Myanmar in the first Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Thailand.

But the odds are stacked against them in any confrontation with one of Southeast Asia’s most battle-hardened and brutal militaries.

Myanmar’s armed forces have waged almost constant war against insurgent groups since the country’s independence from Britain in 1948. An open fight is likely to end in a “bloodbath,” said David Mathieson, an analyst formerly based in the country.

Target practice

A day in the Karen boot camp starts before dawn.

Volunteers are trained in jungle tactics — crossing muddy streams by shimmying along a rope, taking cover in the undergrowth and carrying injured comrades to safety.

In their downtime they rest on wooden beds and gaze at their smartphones.

Their instructors are members of the Karen National Union, one of more than 20 ethnic rebel groups across Myanmar that have an often fractious relationship with each other.

Some groups have condemned the coup and offered shelter to dissidents after the junta’s lethal crackdown on early mass protests in the cities. The KNU has hosted boot camps in its stronghold along the Thai border, although a spokesperson declined to comment when asked how many protesters it had trained.

“All the sessions are very difficult but we are learning hard,” Min said.

Anti-coup activists undergo basic military training at a camp of the Karen National Union, an ethnic rebel group, in Karen state in May. | AFP-JIJI Target practice takes place on a makeshift range, with enemy soldiers represented by a square of white paint.

Resources are limited, with volunteers wearing flip-flops instead of combat boots.

One volunteer sits cross-legged and loads shells carefully into a magazine, the Arsenal football club badge on his shorts hinting at his abandoned civilian life.

‘Our bones and blood’

“I wanted to encourage the people who are still protesting against the military not to give up and to keep this revolution going,” Khine — not her real name — said at the camp.

“We will help you in some way and please keep your strength until we win.” But analyst Mathieson questioned how effective rebel tactics born in the mountains and jungles would be when it comes to confronting the junta in towns and cities.

While the training “might be a maturing experience for you personally, it’s not going to transform you into an urban warfare operator,” he said. Short-term training was also unlikely to instill the discipline and toughness needed to go toe-to-toe with the military, he added.

“I think there will be a lot of hotheads and hormones,” Mathieson said. “It could be a recipe for chaos.” In the hidden camp, the young protesters are nonetheless resolute.

“We will end the military dictatorship, root it out,” Min said.

“We have decided to give our lives, our bones and our blood for this, to finish them off.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/06/04/asia-pacific/myanmar-protester-military-training/

Putin says Russia ready to continue peace treaty talks with Japan

• Vladimir Putin | SPUTNIK/VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/KREMLIN/VIA REUTERS

• KYODO • SHARE • Jun 5, 2021 MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that his country is ready to continue talks with Japan toward a postwar peace treaty despite speculation in Moscow that last year’s– constitutional amendment would prohibit the country from committing to negotiations to resolve a territorial dispute with Tokyo. “Both Russia and Japan share the strategic interest in concluding a peace treaty,” Putin said in response to a question from Kyodo News during an online news conference involving major press agencies around the world.

“We are ready to continue negotiations,” he said.

A longstanding territorial dispute over islands off Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido has prevented the two countries from concluding a peace treaty after World War II.

Russia’s constitutional amendment, which took effect in July last year, bars the country from transferring territory to any foreign power. Putin said he does not think Moscow should suspend talks with Japan, although he will take the amendment into account.

It is the first time since the constitutional change for the Russian leader to say the bilateral talks should go on.

Russia wants Japan to recognize that the islands — called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan — were legitimately acquired following Tokyo’s 1945 surrender in World War II. Japan, however, has taken the view that the seizure was illegal.

In 2018, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Putin agreed to step up peace treaty negotiations based on a 1956 joint declaration between Japan and the former Soviet Union. The document states that of the group of four islands, the smaller two — Shikotan and the Habomai islet group — will be handed over to Japan following the conclusion of a peace treaty.

The two larger of the disputed islands are Etorofu and Kunashiri.

During phone talks shortly after he took office in September last year, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told Putin he was eager to resolve the territorial dispute. Speaking to reporters after the conversation, Suga said he told Putin that he wanted to develop Japan-Russia relations and that the row over the sovereignty of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido “should not be left for later generations to deal with.” Putin said he was ready to continue dialogue on all bilateral issues and the two agreed to meet in person soon to hold “frank discussions,” according to Suga. Suga and Putin have yet to meet in person. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/06/05/national/politics-diplomacy/russia-putin-peace- treaty-japan/

Eyes on China as British Aircraft Carrier Group Heads to South Sea for Military Drill By Ralph Jennings

June 04, 2021 08:59 AM

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - A British-led aircraft carrier group voyage that will take the HMS Queen Elizabeth to the disputed South China Sea would push Beijing further into an angry defensive position, analysts believe.

The 65,000-ton aircraft carrier with more than 30 aircraft plans to visit the Asian waterway for military drills with the U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces, British media outlets say. The ships set sail in May for a world journey of seven months, the Royal Navy said on its website without specifying when it would reach the South China Sea. A Dutch frigate and an American destroyer have joined the group.

China will see the voyage as a sign that Western allies are marshaling forces against it, experts say. Chinese officials claim 90% of the sea as China’s, citing historic usage records. Militarily weaker Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all or parts of the same sea, overlapping Chinese claimed waters.

As China builds up islands in the 3.5 million-square-kilometer, resource-rich sea for military installations and expands its navy, Western countries have been sending ships over the past half year as a warning against that expansion and a gesture of support for the smaller claimants.

British and French warships will sail to the disputed South China Sea in a display of naval strength that may satisfy domestic audiences but ruffle the waterway’s major stakeholder, China, and lead to more militarization, analysts say.Vessels from the two European naval powers, which have no South China Sea claims of their own, will use the event to justify military spending at home, experts say.

“I think the Chinese will be upset,” said Stephen Nagy, senior associate professor of politics and international studies at International Christian University in Tokyo. Chinese officials will say the voyage reflects a “Cold War mentality” and a “containment mentality” aimed at China, he said.

“It will reaffirm their view that the United States is now clearly intent on stopping China’s rise and preventing China’s development, but the reality is the U.K. has limited resources it can lend to the region and it’s more symbolic than a tangible increase,” he said. https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/eyes-china-british-aircraft-carrier-group-heads- south-sea-military-drill

US's base search amid Afghan pullout stirs debate in Pakistan Experts' views split over impact on China's Belt and Road from American presence

Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, has recently held high-level defense and national security talks with officials from the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writerJune 4, 2021 13:22 JST

KARACHI -- When U.S. defense official David Helvey told the Senate that the Pentagon was exploring the possibility of basing U.S. forces in neighboring countries to provide over-the-horizon counterterrorism support to the Afghan government, he stirred debate in Pakistan, which has provided similar arrangements to the U.S. in the past, and caused some experts to wonder whether such a scenario might alter the U.S.'s position on China's Belt and Road Initiative. https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-s-base-search-amid-Afghan-pullout- stirs-debate-in-Pakistan

Drone Dilemma

The Risks of Washington’s Favorite Counterterrorism Tool Often Outweigh the Rewards By Anouk S. Rigterink

June 4, 2021

The United States’ use of airstrikes carried out by drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, to kill suspected terrorists abroad began during the George W. Bush administration but picked up speed during the Obama era. These strikes target high-value terrorist leaders as well as rank-and-file terrorists and terrorist infrastructure. Since 2004, the United States has reportedly launched over 14,000 such strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen alone. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden ordered a review of this practice and announced that until the review is completed, all U.S. drone strikes outside active war zones must be authorized by the White House. The review will likely assess what conditions justify the authorization of a drone strike. How much certainty should the United States have that a drone strike will not cause civilian casualties? Are the military and the CIA obliged to report the number of casualties to the public? What level of threat must the target pose to justify a strike? But the review may not ask the most important question: Do drone strikes further the United States’ military and counterterrorism goals?

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2021-06-04/drone-dilemma

Conversations on National Security: Part One, General Larry D. Welch (USAF, Ret.)

By David Trachtenberg

June 04, 2021

U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Jacob M. Thompson

Part One of an Interview with General Larry D. Welch (USAF, Ret.), former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and former President and currently Senior Fellow of the Institute for Defense Analyses. In this installment, Gen. Welch discusses sustaining an effective nuclear deterrent, emphasizing the importance of confidence in the face of uncertainty.

This is one of a series of interviews with key national security experts conducted by David Trachtenberg, Vice President of the National Institute for Public Policy.

Q. In response to critics who have argued that our ICBMs are unlikely ever to be used or are too dangerous to maintain, you have noted that our ICBMs are “used” every day to ensure the continued functioning of deterrence. In light of this, what do you think of proposals—made by former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry and others—to eliminate ICBMs because they are needlessly redundant, expensive, and subject to accidental launch?

What is the value of the U.S. extended deterrent or “nuclear umbrella”? Does it remain a credible deterrent to aggression and a disincentive to nuclear proliferation as some suggest? Or is its value diminishing in light of more aggressive behavior by great power adversaries and concerns over U.S. credibility by allies? The questions within the two presented for the interview can be summarized as being about the needed composition and size of U.S. nuclear forces. The core question should be: “What is required for the involved parties to be confident in the adequacy of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent?” The sub-questions, differences in views, and differences in positions associated with this core question are secondary. https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/06/04/conversations_on_national_security_part_ one_general_larry_d_welch_usaf_ret_780077.html

Special forces and their role in the history of warfare Eric Sof

May 30, 2021

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition challenged the skill level, training and knowledge of participants. (Photo: Army/Spc. Alleea Oliver) Special forces and their role in the history of warfare had not much changed throughout history. From the very beginning, they receive priority when it is desirable to liquidate the enemy in “hit and run” actions or to perform different kinds of sabotage. In such cases, the deployment of large-scale conventional military formations met the required targets. In contrast, not numerous specially trained units could bring much greater benefits.

The activities of special forces are not confined only to the killing and destruction but include, among others, reconnaissance missions, providing other valuable components of military intelligence. In recent years, their most famous mission medially fight against terrorism and the insurgency. This is in many situations, leads to a “very gray” area of law … https://special-ops.org/special-forces-in-history-of-warfare/

Terrorists are hiding where they can’t be moderated The rise of the DWeb – the decentralised web – will make it harder to stop terrorists online

At Tech Against Terrorism we’re gravely concerned about the terrorist use of the internet, but perhaps not for the reasons imagined. Given the increased clamour for government regulation of citizens’ online content in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada and many other jurisdictions, you might think that terrorists and violent extremists are rampaging across social media with impunity. This could not be further from the truth.

Despite appearances, over the past decade governments have done very little to define criminal thresholds for online content and to enforce existing laws; “designation lists”, whereby groups are defined as terrorist in law, are often the only legal basis available to platforms to determine what constitutes terrorist content.

Over the past decade, big tech has filled this void by devising its own rules and regulations. In most cases, tech companies decided to tackle terrorist content years before governments even started to acknowledge the threat. The violent far-right is a good example: to date there are only a handful of terrorist-designated far-right organisations globally, and most of these are already defunct. At the international level, governments can’t even agree on the definition of terrorism, so Facebook was forced to make its own.

Today, the vast majority of content that incites violence or is affiliated with designated terrorist organisations is automatically removed from large platforms before anyone sees it. The minority of content that does get through has typically been significantly altered to evade detection. Most designated terrorist organisations have long since abandoned mainstream social media in favour of alternative platforms or self-developed technologies that rely on decentralisation and enhanced levels of encryption. The most persistent examples of terrorist content are confined to smaller messaging apps and social media platforms that have limited funding and resources to moderate content at scale. Terrorists and violent extremists are also increasingly developing their own apps and running their own websites. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/terrorists-dweb

US names PH as vax recipient; delivery expected 'soon'

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora June 4, 2021, 11:33 am

(PNA file photo)

MANILA – White House has officially named the Philippines as one of the recipients of its vaccine donation, with the delivery expected soon, according to the United States Embassy in Manila.

"The President's been very clear on the US commitment to help countries throughout the world on this. We're going to be seeing vaccines in significant numbers arriving in the Philippines and countries all around the world," Embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Law said in a virtual briefing Friday.

Law expects Manila's portion to be delivered "soon" but he did not provide a specific date, citing the logistical aspects that the White House needs to sort out first. "The White House is currently looking at not only the logistical aspects but also, of course, each country may have different regulatory aspects, we're talking about different as well, so I think the White House needs a little bit of time to sort those out but I would expect the announcement very soon," he said.

The US is donating about 80 million doses of US-made coronavirus vaccine worldwide by end of June 2021.

Last June 3, it announced that the initial 19 million doses will be shared through COVAX Facility while approximately six million doses will be sent directly to countries in immediate need or those experiencing surges.

To be coursed through COVAX Facility, approximately seven million doses will be donated to Asia, including the Philippines, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands.

Its direct donation, meanwhile, will be targeted toward regional priorities and partner recipients, including Mexico, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, West Bank and Gaza, Ukraine, Kosovo, Haiti, Georgia, Egypt, Jordan, India, Iraq, and Yemen, as well as for United Nations frontline workers. (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1142570 Pfizer Covid jab produces less antibodies against Delta variant: Lancet study | Key findings

• The research paper was published on the backdrop of the UK's decision to reduce the gap between two doses of vaccine to address the concerns about the spread of the B.1.617 variant, first detected in India.

By hindustantimes.com | Written by Kunal Gaurav, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

PUBLISHED ON JUN 04, 2021 05:57 PM IST

Individuals fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are likely to have nearly six times reduced levels of neutralising antibodies against the coronavirus variant first detected in India, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The team, led by researchers from the Francis Crick Institute in the UK, determined neutralising antibodies in the blood of 250 healthy individuals, who had received either one or two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, against five SARS-CoV-2 strains. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pfizer-covid-jab-produces-less-antibodies-against- delta-variant-lancet-study-101622809201346.html

Covid origin: What do we know about Wuhan CDC cave expedition in search of viruses?

• In December 2019, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired a video, titled ‘Youth In the Wild - Invisible Defender’, which showed researchers scaling cavern walls in search of unknown viruses.

By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

PUBLISHED ON JUN 04, 2021 09:52 PM IST

A video, meant to promote China’s world-leading viral research, was aired in December 2019 by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and was widely circulated on social media. The video titled ‘Youth In the Wild - Invisible Defender’ shows researchers scaling cavern walls in search of unknown viruses and the basis of new vaccines. Tian Junhua, one of the bat hunters, boasts about the extreme efforts taken to discover new viruses, calling the caves their “main battlefields.” “Among all the known creatures, the bats are rich in various viruses inside. You can find most viruses responsible for human diseases like Rabies, Sars, and Ebola. Accordingly, the caves frequented by bats became our main battlefields,” says Tian, a researcher at Wuhan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in the over seven-minute-long video. “If our skin is exposed, it can easily come in contact with bat excrement and contaminated matter, which means this is quite risky,” he continues, as background music enhances the dramatic effect. While the researcher was shown in the video handling sample vials without wearing full protective equipment, he underscores the need for caution during such expedition, saying, “It is while discovering new viruses that we are most at risk of infection.” The high-quality video was aired around the time when Wuhan residents started turning up at hospitals with pneumonia-like symptoms. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/covid-origin-what-do-we-know-about-wuhan-cdc- expedition-in-search-of-viruses-101622819353984.html

Malaysia warns of rising number of COVID-19 deaths, cases among children Reuters

2 minute read

Medical workers collect swab samples from people to be tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, June 2, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng

Malaysian health authorities have raised concerns about a growing number of coronavirus deaths and serious cases involving children, after a surge in overall infections forced the Southeast Asian nation into a strict lockdown. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-warns-rising-number-covid-19-deaths- cases-among-children-2021-06-04/

Indian panel says global response needed to contain more infectious virus variant

Tanvi MehtaManas Mishra

3 minute read

The coronavirus variant first identified in India is highly infectious and can be caught by people who have already had the disease or been only partially vaccinated, a panel of Indian government scientists said in a report published on Friday. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-posts-daily-rise-132364-new-covid-19-cases-2021-

06-04/

Analysis: India’s vaccine inequity worsens as countryside languishes Krishna DasAbhirup RoyRajendra Jadhav

4 minute read

1/2 Suresh Kumar, 43, ties up the hair of his wife Pramila Devi, 36, who is suffering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), before taking her to a local government dispensary, at their home in Kaljikhal, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, May 23, 2021./File Photo Read More

Urban Indians are getting COVID-19 shots much faster than the hundreds of millions of people living in the countryside, government data shows, reflecting rising inequity in the nation’s immunisation drive.

https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-vaccine-inequity-worsens-countryside-languishes-

2021-06-04/

Mapping the Coronavirus Outbreak Across the World Updated: June 7, 2021, 3:23 PM GMT+8

Brazil 2,251 80,584 150.8 N/A

U.K. 1,958 69,270 2,777.0 2.5

U.S. 1,810 101,017 1,360.7 2.8

France 1,629 85,406 N/A 6.0

Germany 1,111 46,181 763.4 8.0

Russia 857 35,699 956.6 8.1

India 266 22,042 272.5 0.5

Japan 108 6,063 110.1 13.1

Mainland China 3 66 N/A 4.3

Testing data as of June 4, 2021, 6:23 PM GMT+8

Sources: OECD for number of hospital beds (2016 for the U.S., 2017 for other countries), government agencies and the COVID Tracking Project via Our World in Data for testing data (various recent dates) (reported in the past 45 days) and the U.S. Census Bureau for population figures (2019).

The world is bracing for a new wave of Covid-19 infections, as the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 170 million people and killed more than 3.7 millionglobally since late January 2020. Efforts many countries took to stamp out the pneumonia-like illness led to entire nations enforcing lockdowns, widespread halts of international travel, mass layoffs and battered financial markets. Recent attempts to revive social life and financial activities have resulted in another surge in cases and hospitalizations, though new drugs and improved care may help more people who get seriously ill survive.

Getting to a Flatter Curve 

The first 506 days with more than 100 confirmed cases

• Asia

• Other

Show deaths

01002003004005001 yrDays since 100 confirmed cases1001,00010,000100,0001,000,00010,000,00030,000,000CasesMainland ChinaFranceU.K.Hong KongU.S.AustraliaBrazilIndiaRussiaTaiwanNew Zealand

Note: JHU CSSE reporting began on January 22, 2020, when mainland China had already surpassed 500 cases.

Source: Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering

173,318,508

Confirmed cases worldwide

3,729,486

Deaths worldwide

Jurisdictions with cases confirmed as of June 7, 2021, 3:23 PM GMT+8

1–99

100–999

1,000–9,999

10,000–99,999

100,000–999,999

1,000,000–9,999,999 10 million or more Where deaths have occurred Deaths Cases U.S. 597,628 33,362,629 Brazil 473,404 16,947,062 India 349,186 28,909,975 Mexico 228,804 2,433,681 Peru 186,511 1,983,570 U.K. 128,103 4,532,802 Italy 126,523 4,232,428 Russia 121,711 5,067,246 France 110,160 5,774,361 Colombia 91,961 3,571,067 Germany 89,249 3,708,898 Argentina 81,214 3,955,439 Iran 81,063 2,966,363 Spain 80,196 3,697,981 Poland 74,152 2,875,136

Show more

Note: Totals for Denmark, France, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S. include overseas territories and other dependencies. Cases and deaths for cruise ships have been separated in accordance with JHU CSSE data.

The epicenter of the pandemic has continued to shift throughout the year, from China, then Europe, then the U.S., and now to developing countries like Brazil. Cases globally surpassed 10 million in late June, but ever since infections have been multiplying faster. The U.S. and India have the most infections, accounting for more than a third of all cases combined.

Global Cases Added Per Day New cases: 323,057 Jan 21, 2020 Jun 6, 2021 India New cases: 100,636 Jan 21, 2020 Jun 6, 2021 Brazil 39,637 Russia 9,025 Iran 5,612 U.S. 5,395 U.K. 5,225 France 5,070 Germany 1,964 Mainland China 19

Note: On February 14, 2020, Hubei officials changed their diagnostic criteria, resulting in a spike in reported cases.

Countries took drastic measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on their homefront— with varying degrees of success. More than 140 governments placed blanket bans on incoming travelers, closed schools and restricted gatherings and public events, according to data compiled by Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government and Bloomberg reporting.

As countries loosen lockdowns in an effort to reboot their economies, many have seen a resurgence of infections. The number of new daily cases in the U.S. rose to record highs after some states relaxed social distancing requirements. Even places that successfully contained infections earlier in the year, like China and South Korea, have seen cases bubble back up. Theories that warmer weather in the Northern Hemisphere would bring relief appear to be unfounded.

Mar 2020Jan 2021Jun 600.5K1.0K1.5K2.0K2.5K3.0K3.5K4.0KNew deaths by dayU.S.IndiaRussiaU.K.

Note: Shown are the 15 places with the highest totals of confirmed cases, as of June 6. Negative values resulting from governments revising their totals have been excluded from rolling average calculations.

The “worst is yet to come” given a lack of global solidarity, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, said at a briefing in Geneva on June 29.

In May, the WHO emphasized the need for a plan that includes testing for the virus and its antibodies, effective contact tracing and isolation, and community education. Antibody tests on the market that could potentially indicate a person’s immunity have been unreliable so far. Researchers and drugmakers are racing to develop treatments that could hold the key to recovery. Gilead Sciences Inc.’s antiviral remdesivir is one of the first widely used drugs for Covid- 19. It received an emergency use authorization from U.S. regulators in May, after a trial found it sped recovery by about four days in hospitalized patients. It was also part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s treatment after he tested positive for the coronavirus in early October, along with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody cocktail and the generic drug dexamethasone.

Vaccines are also in development, though the study of one leading candidate from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc is on hold in the U.S. while regulators investigate a potential safety issue. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-coronavirus-cases-world-map/?srnd=coronavirus

Covid map: Coronavirus cases, deaths, vaccinations by country

By The Visual and Data Journalism Team BBC News

Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with more than 170 million confirmed cases and 3.5 million deaths across nearly 200 countries.

The US, India and Brazil have seen the highest number of confirmed cases, followed by France, Turkey, Russia and the UK. Very few places have been left untouched.

In the table below, countries can be reordered by deaths, death rate and total cases. In the coloured bars on the right-hand side, countries in which cases have risen to more than 10,000 per day are those with black bars on the relevant date. Scroll table to see more data *Deaths per 100,000 people Filter:

New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** US 594,942 181.9 33,211,839 JAN 2020 JUN 2021 Brazil 473,404 226.0 16,947,062 India 349,186 25.8 28,909,975 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Mexico 228,804 181.3 2,433,681 Peru 186,511 583.0 1,983,570 UK 127,840 190.4 4,516,892 Italy 126,523 208.7 4,232,428 Russia 121,711 83.5 5,067,246 France 109,998 169.3 5,712,753 Colombia 91,961 185.2 3,571,067 Germany 89,249 107.4 3,708,898 Argentina 81,214 183.1 3,955,439 Iran 81,063 99.1 2,966,363 Spain 80,196 171.8 3,697,981 Poland 74,152 195.5 2,875,136 South Africa 56,974 98.6 1,696,564 Ukraine 53,291 120.4 2,274,243 Indonesia 51,612 19.3 1,856,038 Turkey 48,164 58.5 5,287,980 Romania 30,815 158.0 1,078,863 Czech Republic 30,159 282.8 1,663,517 Chile 29,937 159.8 1,427,956 Hungary 29,854 307.5 806,008 Canada 25,694 69.3 1,400,093 Belgium 25,033 218.0 1,070,802 Philippines 21,898 20.5 1,269,478 Pakistan 21,323 10.0 933,630 Ecuador 20,809 121.8 432,353 Bulgaria 17,820 252.7 419,473 Netherlands 17,695 103.7 1,664,666 Portugal 17,034 166.1 852,646 Iraq 16,538 43.0 1,224,992 Egypt 15,352 15.6 267,972 Bolivia 15,024 132.3 387,162 Sweden 14,523 145.6 1,078,062 Japan 13,531 10.6 762,995 Tunisia 12,980 112.2 355,732 Bangladesh 12,839 8.0 810,990 Slovakia 12,404 227.5 390,436 Greece 12,277 116.7 409,368 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Switzerland 10,832 127.1 697,292 Austria 10,639 119.7 646,800 Paraguay 9,874 141.9 373,165 Jordan 9,530 95.6 739,847 Bosnia and 9,374 282.0 204,304 Herzegovina Morocco 9,178 25.5 521,426 Guatemala 8,294 48.1 261,958 Croatia 8,086 194.5 357,565 Nepal 7,898 28.1 588,124 Lebanon 7,763 113.2 541,557 Saudi Arabia 7,456 22.1 457,546 Serbia 6,917 99.1 713,678 Honduras 6,479 67.6 241,826 Israel 6,418 76.6 839,571 Panama 6,402 153.3 382,475 Moldova 6,134 151.4 255,453 North Macedonia 5,455 261.9 155,417 Azerbaijan 4,941 49.7 334,715 Ireland 4,941 102.5 264,498 Georgia 4,910 122.7 349,098 China 4,846 0.3 103,176 Uruguay 4,640 134.5 316,535 Armenia 4,458 151.0 223,180 Slovenia 4,388 211.2 255,375 Lithuania 4,307 153.8 276,453 Ethiopia 4,209 3.9 272,914 Costa Rica 4,153 83.1 327,979 Dominican Republic 3,654 34.4 301,078 Algeria 3,518 8.3 130,958 Palestinian Territories 3,517 72.3 310,026 Kazakhstan 3,473 19.0 450,868 Malaysia 3,378 10.7 616,815 Kenya 3,287 6.4 172,491 Myanmar 3,225 6.0 144,317 Afghanistan 3,145 8.5 79,224 Libya 3,143 47.1 187,281 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Belarus 2,910 30.8 399,852 Venezuela 2,719 9.4 242,138 Sudan 2,697 6.5 35,656 Denmark 2,518 43.8 286,489 Albania 2,451 85.0 132,379 Oman 2,413 50.0 223,879 Latvia 2,413 125.1 134,812 El Salvador 2,270 35.4 74,141 Kosovo 2,249 121.9 107,058 Nigeria 2,117 1.1 166,767 South Korea 1,974 3.9 144,637 Kyrgyzstan 1,852 29.4 107,335 Kuwait 1,795 43.4 317,197 Syria 1,793 10.6 24,659 Sri Lanka 1,742 8.2 205,333 United Arab Emirates 1,699 17.6 583,071 Zimbabwe 1,606 11.1 39,189 Montenegro 1,592 253.6 99,812 Yemen 1,329 4.7 6,787 Zambia 1,308 7.5 100,278 Cameroon 1,275 5.1 78,929 Estonia 1,263 95.5 130,119 Thailand 1,236 1.8 177,467 Malawi 1,157 6.4 34,390 Senegal 1,146 7.2 41,680 Bahrain 1,119 71.3 251,078 Cuba 1,012 8.9 148,918 Jamaica 960 32.7 48,810 Finland 959 17.4 93,226 Namibia 912 37.3 58,707 Australia 910 3.7 30,191 Botswana 866 38.4 56,217 Madagascar 861 3.3 41,690 Mozambique 837 2.8 71,114 Luxembourg 818 135.4 70,182 DR Congo 804 1.0 33,202 Angola 797 2.6 35,772 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Ghana 787 2.6 94,228 Norway 785 14.7 126,817 Somalia 773 5.2 14,748 Uzbekistan 696 2.1 101,964 Eswatini 673 59.2 18,653 Trinidad and Tobago 577 41.5 26,410 Qatar 569 20.5 218,627 Mali 519 2.7 14,298 Mauritania 468 10.6 19,817 Malta 419 95.4 30,571 Guyana 409 52.5 17,665 Uganda 383 0.9 52,935 Cyprus 363 30.5 72,779 Rwanda 360 2.9 27,245 Suriname 350 60.8 16,541 Lesotho 326 15.5 10,837 Belize 325 84.8 12,861 Haiti 323 2.9 15,282 Mongolia 313 9.9 66,443 Ivory Coast 306 1.2 47,490 Cape Verde 267 49.1 31,097 Cambodia 266 1.6 34,833 Guadeloupe 260 65.0 17,108 Taiwan 260 1.1 11,298 Bahamas 232 60.2 11,930 Réunion 203 23.0 26,075 Niger 192 0.9 5,439 Nicaragua 187 2.9 7,481 Maldives 185 35.9 67,950 Gambia 179 7.9 5,999 Chad 174 1.1 4,939 Mayotte 173 66.7 19,347 Burkina Faso 167 0.8 13,453 Papua New Guinea 164 1.9 16,327 Guinea 162 1.3 23,255 Congo 155 3.0 11,920 Gabon 154 7.3 24,591 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Djibouti 154 16.1 11,562 Comoros 146 17.5 3,888 French Polynesia 142 51.1 18,889 Andorra 127 164.9 13,758 Togo 125 1.6 13,539 Curaçao 123 75.6 12,279 French Guiana 121 42.8 24,534 Equatorial Guinea 118 9.0 8,626 South Sudan 115 1.0 10,688 Aruba 107 101.1 11,057 Benin 102 0.9 8,082 Central African 98 2.1 7,091 Republic Martinique 97 25.8 12,060 Gibraltar 94 278.8 4,300 Tajikistan 90 1.0 13,308 San Marino 90 266.4 5,090 Channel Islands 86 50.4 4,066 Liberia 86 1.8 2,250 Saint Lucia 80 44.0 5,133 Sierra Leone 79 1.0 4,201 Guinea-Bissau 68 3.6 3,787 Liechtenstein 58 153.0 3,022 Vietnam 53 0.1 8,791 Barbados 47 16.4 4,031 Seychelles 42 43.3 12,158 Antigua and Barbuda 42 43.6 1,263 Sao Tome and Principe 37 17.5 2,353 Singapore 33 0.6 62,196 Monaco 33 85.3 2,508 Bermuda 33 52.6 2,494 Iceland 29 8.6 6,555 Saint Martin 29 77.8 2,479 Isle of Man 29 34.5 1,598 New Zealand 26 0.5 2,682 Tanzania 21 0.0 509 Mauritius 18 1.4 1,458 New Cases 0 10 100 1k 10k Country Deaths Death rate* Total Cases ** Timor-Leste 17 1.3 7,740 Turks and Caicos 17 45.1 2,421 Islands Eritrea 14 0.4 4,427 Diamond Princess 13 712 cruise ship St Vincent and the 12 10.9 2,076 Grenadines Burundi 8 0.1 4,905 Fiji 4 0.5 687 Laos 3 0.0 1,963 Brunei 3 0.7 244 Cayman Islands 2 3.1 587 MS Zaandam cruise 2 9 ship Bhutan 1 0.1 1,687 Saint Barthelemy 1 10.2 1,005 Faroe Islands 1 2.1 743 British Virgin Islands 1 3.4 248 Grenada 1 0.9 161 Montserrat 1 20.0 20 Vanuatu 1 0.3 4 Dominica 0 0.0 188 New Caledonia 0 0.0 128 Anguilla 0 0.0 109 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0 0.0 83 Falkland Islands 0 0.0 63 Greenland 0 0.0 43 Vatican 0 0.0 27 Saint Pierre and 0 0.0 25 Miquelon Solomon Islands 0 0.0 20 Marshall Islands 0 0.0 4 Samoa 0 0.0 3 Kiribati 0 0.0 2 Micronesia 0 0.0 1 Show more

This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.

** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.

Source: Johns Hopkins University, national public health agencies and UN population data Figures last updated: 7 June 2021, 09:13 BST

ADVERTISEMENT Note: The map, table and animated bar chart in this page use a different source for figures for France and the UK from that used by Johns Hopkins University, which results in a slightly lower overall total. The revised figures for deaths in Peru are not yet reflected in the figures above from Johns Hopkins. US figures do not include Puerto Rico, Guam or the US Virgin Islands.

Confirmed cases have been rising steeply since the middle of last year, but the true extent of the first outbreaks in 2020 is unclear because testing was not then widely available. The 100 millionth Covid case was recorded at the end of January - about a year after the first officially diagnosed case of the virus.

Deaths have also been rising, however official figures may not fully reflect the true number in many countries. Data on excess deaths, a measure of how many more people are dying than would be expected based on the previous few years, may give a better indication of the actual numbers in many cases. This week, following a review which took into account excess death data, Peru revised its official death toll up from nearly 70,000 to more than 180,000.

Who has vaccinated the most? Several coronavirus vaccines have been approved for use, either by individual countries or groups of countries, such as the European Union and the World Health Organization (WHO). Of the 190 countries and territories administering vaccines and publishing rollout data, 67 are high-income nations, 100 are middle-income and 23 low-income. The map below, using figures collated by Our World in Data - a collaboration between Oxford University and an educational charity - shows the total number of doses given per 100 people, mostly first doses. Click or tap the map Reset Total doses per 100 people No data 0 10 20 30 40 50+ Scroll table Filter table:

Location Doses per 100 people Total doses World 26.3 2,049,105,453 China 50.2 726,176,267 US 89.0 297,720,928 India 15.8 218,344,384 Brazil 32.4 68,919,860 UK 99.1 66,180,731 Germany 63.7 53,404,798 France 56.4 38,087,228 Italy 60.2 36,392,761 Mexico 25.5 32,874,857 Russia 20.6 30,001,530 Turkey 35.5 29,960,321 Spain 60.3 28,182,345 Indonesia 10.2 28,027,750 Canada 66.1 24,933,524 Poland 56.4 21,326,996 Chile 99.8 19,077,745 Japan 11.7 14,775,865 Morocco 39.9 14,742,792 Saudi Arabia 42.0 14,629,297 United Arab Emirates 133.0 13,154,465 Argentina 28.9 13,079,195 Colombia 21.0 10,697,683 Israel 122.4 10,591,833 Bangladesh 6.1 10,020,942 Netherlands 58.0 9,934,313 South Korea 18.2 9,333,300 Hungary 92.7 8,959,570 Romania 41.5 7,981,963 Location Doses per 100 people Total doses Pakistan 3.6 7,953,574 Belgium 60.3 6,984,494 Portugal 58.7 5,985,025 Greece 56.5 5,888,281 Czech Republic 52.8 5,656,413 Austria 60.2 5,419,428 Sweden 53.5 5,400,436 Philippines 4.7 5,180,721 Switzerland 55.5 4,802,652 Cambodia 28.6 4,782,587 Serbia 69.4 4,720,552 Australia 18.2 4,642,703 Dominican Republic 42.6 4,625,387 Peru 12.6 4,145,744 Singapore 69.2 4,047,651 Thailand 5.2 3,609,882 Denmark 61.4 3,557,425 Malaysia 10.4 3,361,316 Mongolia 100.8 3,305,569 Kazakhstan 17.5 3,276,918 Iran 3.7 3,141,577 Finland 55.9 3,094,854 Myanmar 5.5 2,994,900 Uruguay 85.0 2,953,852 Nepal 9.7 2,827,243 Norway 51.4 2,786,708 Egypt 2.6 2,698,411 Slovakia 48.8 2,664,934 Qatar 91.0 2,622,285 Ecuador 13.9 2,447,889 Azerbaijan 23.8 2,418,082 Ireland 47.6 2,349,207 Uzbekistan 6.4 2,136,423 Sri Lanka 9.9 2,117,653 Nigeria 1.0 2,110,141 Cuba 18.0 2,037,745 El Salvador 31.1 2,015,408 Jordan 18.7 1,904,235 Croatia 45.2 1,855,003 Ethiopia 1.6 1,853,259 Kuwait 42.6 1,820,000 Bahrain 105.1 1,788,987 Location Doses per 100 people Total doses Bolivia 15.2 1,776,677 Lithuania 63.7 1,734,236 Costa Rica 32.6 1,658,685 Bulgaria 20.6 1,429,105 Ukraine 2.9 1,265,723 Ghana 4.0 1,228,216 South Africa 2.0 1,193,352 Vietnam 1.2 1,156,056 Slovenia 55.2 1,147,145 Panama 25.1 1,083,856 Zimbabwe 7.1 1,048,504 Tunisia 8.6 1,016,860 Kenya 1.8 973,987 Laos 12.6 914,014 Angola 2.8 909,215 Lebanon 12.3 840,916 Latvia 43.1 812,355 Albania 27.4 787,321 Estonia 55.8 740,331 Belarus 7.5 710,922 Uganda 1.5 677,084 New Zealand 13.9 668,115 Cyprus 72.2 632,437 Afghanistan 1.6 626,290 Taiwan 2.6 621,322 Iraq 1.4 582,537 Ivory Coast 2.2 567,488 Guatemala 3.1 561,976 Malta 122.6 541,178 Palestinian Territories 10.6 540,908 Senegal 3.1 522,575 Bhutan 62.6 482,716 Maldives 89.0 480,939 Moldova 11.2 451,006 Paraguay 5.7 407,644 Sudan 0.9 402,114 Mauritius 31.5 400,801 Rwanda 3.1 400,096 Mozambique 1.3 394,312 Guinea 2.8 365,261 Luxembourg 58.3 364,909 Malawi 1.9 357,015 Location Doses per 100 people Total doses North Macedonia 15.9 331,034 Honduras 3.2 317,257 Venezuela 1.1 316,000 Togo 3.8 311,938 Oman 5.8 296,894 Guyana 34.9 274,625 Iceland 78.9 269,324 Libya 3.5 243,891 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.1 232,706 Montenegro 36.6 229,803 Equatorial Guinea 16.0 224,503 Georgia 4.8 193,318 Jamaica 6.0 177,883 Nicaragua 2.5 167,500 Niger 0.7 159,525 Zambia 0.8 147,115 Botswana 6.1 142,864 Barbados 49.2 141,282 Somalia 0.9 137,618 Fiji 15.2 136,247 Seychelles 136.7 134,475 Mali 0.6 127,042 Jersey 107.4 108,577 Trinidad and Tobago 7.7 107,766 Yemen 0.3 104,070 Suriname 15.4 90,052 Isle of Man 105.5 89,727 Cayman Islands 127.8 83,970 Comoros 9.6 83,907 Namibia 3.3 82,907 Sierra Leone 1.0 79,762 Gibraltar 230.7 77,717 Belize 19.3 76,787 Cameroon 0.3 75,215 Algeria 0.2 75,000 Tajikistan 0.8 74,403 Bermuda 114.2 71,114 Kosovo 0.000 69,686 Guernsey 101.3 67,926 Timor-Leste 4.8 63,753 Liberia 1.1 56,144 Bahamas 14.0 55,037 Location Doses per 100 people Total doses Kyrgyzstan 0.8 54,101 Brunei 12.1 52,775 Antigua and Barbuda 51.4 50,329 Saint Lucia 26.0 47,828 San Marino 126.5 42,935 Turkmenistan 0.7 41,993 Gambia 1.6 38,490 Congo 0.7 38,268 Mauritania 0.8 37,331 Dominica 51.6 37,126 Lesotho 1.7 36,759 Madagascar 0.1 36,640 Turks and Caicos Islands 93.4 36,170 Andorra 46.5 35,916 Saint Kitts and Nevis 66.6 35,408 Eswatini 3.0 35,227 Armenia 1.1 33,529 Samoa 16.4 32,627 Faroe Islands 66.7 32,593 Monaco 76.5 30,029 Tonga 28.4 29,980 Grenada 22.7 25,544 Greenland 44.6 25,335 Syria 0.1 24,781 Cape Verde 4.4 24,382 DR Congo 0.026 23,197 Gabon 1.0 22,524 Djibouti 2.2 21,357 Liechtenstein 55.8 21,281 St Vincent and the Grenadines 18.7 20,768 Sao Tome and Principe 8.6 18,888 Central African Republic 0.4 18,408 Solomon Islands 2.4 16,581 British Virgin Islands 53.9 16,302 Anguilla 96.3 14,443 Benin 0.1 12,934 Papua New Guinea 0.1 11,537 South Sudan 0.087 9,744 Cook Islands 47.2 8,291 Nauru 68.2 7,392 Saint Helena 116.8 7,091 Guinea-Bissau 0.3 5,889 Location Doses per 100 people Total doses Falkland Islands 126.5 4,407 Montserrat 50.5 2,522 Tuvalu 20.4 2,400 British Indian Ocean Territory 0 0 Burkina Faso 0 0 Burundi 0 0 Chad 0 0 Eritrea 0 0 Haiti 0 0 Kiribati 0 0 Niue 0 0 North Korea 0 0 Pitcairn 0 0 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 0 0 Tanzania 0 0 Tokelau 0 0 Vanuatu 0 0 Vatican 0 0

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This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country. Total vaccinations refers to the number of doses given, not the number of people vaccinated. It is possible to have more than 100 doses per 100 population as some vaccines require two doses per person.

Source: Our World in Data, ONS, gov.uk dashboard

Last updated: 4 June 2021, 12:10 BST

Overall, China and the US have given the most doses, with about 725 million and 300 million respectively, while India has administered nearly 220 million so far. But when breaking the figures down by doses per 100 people in countries with a population of at least one million, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain top the list. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105

More Than 2.12 Billion Shots Given: Covid-19 Tracker In the U.S., 302 million doses have been administered

Updated: June 7, 2021, 3:53 AM GMT+8

The biggest vaccination campaign in history is underway. More than 2.12 billiondoses have been administered across 176 countries, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 38.9 million doses a day.

In the U.S., 302 million doses have been given so far. In the last week, an average of 996,357 doses per day were administered.

World Map of Vaccinations

More than 2.12 billion doses have been administered—enough to fully vaccinate 13.8%of the global population

• no data01102030%of population covered

Note: “Population covered” divides the doses administered for each vaccine type by the number of doses required for full vaccination. Data gathered from government agencies, public statements, Bloomberg interviews and the World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins University.

Enough doses have now been administered to fully vaccinate 13.8% of the global population—but the distribution has been lopsided. Countries and regions with the highest incomes are getting vaccinated more than 30 times faster than those with the lowest.

Note: Vaccine access calculations account for the number of doses needed for full protection; some vaccines require a two-dose regimen while others require just a single dose. Countries and regions are ordered by GDP per capita (PPP). When will life return to normal?

While the best vaccines are thought to be 95% effective, it takes a coordinated campaign to stop a pandemic. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious-disease official in the U.S., has said that vaccinating 70% to 85% of the U.S. population would enable a return to normalcy.

On a global scale, that’s a daunting level of vaccination. At the current pace of 38.9 million a day, it would take another year to achieve a high level of global immunity. The rate, however, is steadily increasing, and new vaccines by additional manufacturers are coming to market. The Path to Immunity Around the World

In the U.S., the latest vaccination rate is 996,357 doses per day, on average. At this pace, it will take another 6 months to cover 75% of the population.

Note: Immunity calculations take into account the number of doses required and the current rate of administration for each vaccine type. The “daily rate estimate” is a seven-day trailing average; interpolation is used for jurisdictions with infrequent updates. *Coverage may exceed 100% in some places, as shots may be administered to non-residents. Data are from Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker.

Israel was first to show that vaccinations were having a nationwide effect. The country has led the world in vaccinations, and by February more than 84% of people ages 70 and older had received two doses. Severe covid cases and deaths declined rapidly. A separate analysis in the U.K. showed similar results.

It’s now a life-and-death contest between vaccine and virus. New strains threaten renewed outbreaks. In the early stages of a campaign, the effect of vaccinations are often outweighed by other factors of transmissibility: virus mutations, seasonality, effectiveness of mask use and social distancing. In time, higher vaccination rates should limit the Covid-19 burden around the world.

Vaccinations vs. Cases

Covid rates have generally flattened or declined where vaccination rates are highest. Currently, 14 places have administered enough shots to cover at least 40% of the population.

Note: “People covered” divides the doses administered for each vaccine type by the number of doses required for full vaccination. Vaccine data from Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Tracker. Cases data: Johns Hopkins University.

Since the start of the global vaccination campaign, countries have experienced unequal access to vaccines and varying degrees of efficiency in getting shots into people’s arms. Before March, few African nations had received a single shipment of shots. In the U.S., 90.9 doses have been administered for every 100 people.

Delivering billions of vaccines to stop the spread of Covid-19 worldwide will be one of the greatest logistical challenges ever undertaken.

Race to End the Pandemic

Seychelles leads the world, with enough vaccinations to cover 70.0% of its population

Note: “People covered” divides the doses administered for each vaccine type by the number of doses required for full vaccination. Data from Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker % of population

Enough for % given Daily rate of Doses of 1+ fully doses Countries and regions administered people dose vaccinated administered

Global Total 2,123,495,588 – – – 38,945,102 763,065,000 27.3 20,298,714 Mainland China – – U.S. 301,638,578 47.1 51.5 41.9 996,357 EU 269,727,534 30.4 40.8 20.8 3,725,341 India 231,322,417 8.5 13.5 3.4 2,750,829 Brazil 70,567,492 16.8 23.1 10.9 680,378 U.K. 67,994,584 50.9 60.4 41.4 486,081 Germany 54,240,350 32.6 45.5 20.7 782,523 France 40,223,452 31.0 43.1 21.1 573,564 Italy 38,032,517 31.5 43.0 21.5 542,529 Mexico 33,779,982 13.2 18.6 10.8 689,111 Russia 33,000,000 11.2 12.3 10.2 529,412 Turkey 30,717,441 18.5 21.2 15.8 270,252 Spain 28,752,570 30.9 41.0 22.1 471,653 Indonesia 28,741,451 5.4 6.6 4.2 301,000 Canada 25,761,797 34.3 57.5 5.8 372,220 Poland 22,025,871 29.0 38.3 21.5 316,845 Chile 19,462,408 50.9 58.3 43.9 142,685 Japan 15,607,525 6.2 9.2 3.1 759,477 Morocco 15,007,487 21.1 25.6 16.6 164,069

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Note: Population coverage accounts for the number of doses required for each vaccine administered. The daily rate is a 7-day average; for places that don’t report daily, the last-known average rate is used. U.S. Vaccinations: State by State

Roughly half of the U.S. population has now received at least one dose, and states are flush with supply. Drugmakers have promised to deliver enough shots to fully vaccinate more than 300 million people in the U.S. by the end of June. That’s enough to cover everyone ages 12 and older—the entire population for which vaccines are currently approved.

Distribution in the U.S. is directed by the federal government. Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, as well as Moderna’s shot both require two doses taken several weeks apart. J&J’s inoculation requires just a single dose.

Time to Deliver

Vaccine makers pledge 700M doses for the U.S. by the end of July—enough to cover 400M people

Note: Targets are provided by the manufacturers and don’t always align with government forecasts for availability.

The introduction of J&J’s one-shot option should make it easier to vaccinate hard-to- reach populations. So far, 171 million Americans have received at least one dose of a vaccine—66.3% of the adult population. At least 139 million people have completed a vaccination regimen.

Vaccines Across America

Across the U.S., enough doses have been administered to cover 47.1% of the population, and 81% of the delivered shots have been used

Note: “Population covered” divides the doses administered for each vaccine type by the number of doses required for full vaccination. Data added after Feb. 20 is from the CDC and includes doses administered by federal entities in state totals. Prior data from the Bloomberg Covid-19 Tracker. It can take several days for counts to be reported through the CDC database. A new beginning

It takes about two weeks after a final vaccine dose for immunity to fully develop. After that, masks and social distancing are no longer necessary, according to the latest CDC guidance issued on May 13. It’s a dramatic change in guidance that caught many by surprise. Life can begin to return to normal. Grandparents can spend time with their grandchildren again.

Unvaccinated people, including children, should still wear masks indoors, according to the CDC. Masks are still required by many businesses and state or local governments. U.S. Vaccinations vs. Cases

Covid rates have generally flattened or declined in states with the most vaccinations. Currently, 21 places have administered enough shots to cover at least 50% of the population.

Note: “People covered” divides the doses administered for each vaccine type by the number of doses required for full vaccination. Vaccine data from Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Tracker. Cases data: Johns Hopkins University.

Younger, unvaccinated populations are increasingly viewed as key to heading off a future resurgence. Until recently, vaccine eligibility was mostly based on age, occupation, and underlying medical conditions. Now, across the U.S., anyone can sign up for a shot at their local pharmacy with little or no wait.

How State Vaccinations Stack Up

Vermont leads all states, with enough vaccinations to cover 66.3% of its populations

Note: Two doses are needed for full protection with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, while the J&J shot requires a single dose. Data from Bloomberg’s Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker

After focusing first on hospitals and other institutional health-care settings, states expanded the number of places that offer the shots. Mass vaccination centers were created from sport stadiums, theme parks, convention halls and race tracks. Now those sites are beginning to close, as millions of doses are shipped each week directly to local pharmacies. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/?srnd=premium- asia

Galvez’s math leaves much to be desired

By: Solita Collas-Monsod - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:06 AM June 05, 2021 From the reports by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and NTF chair Carlito seemed to be cause for celebration. The Philippines, at least from the perspective Galvez Jr. during President Duterte’s address to the nation last May 31, there of two indicators, no longer seemed to be the laggard in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

-19 vaccine doses

What are these two indicators? (1) The “daily COVID now the best among the top five Asean members in giving jabs (150,000 administered per 100 people,” from which Galvez concluded that the Philippines is jabs/day); and (2) the International Budget Partnership (IBP) report, from which Galvez concluded that this showed that there was no corruption in the vaccine procurement by the Philippine government.

Other slides (from Duque) showed that the Philippines was shaping up in the fight against COVID-19, with a marked decrease in the health care utilization rate (use of ICUs, ward beds, isolation beds, mechanical ventilators), nationally and more in the NCR. Although Duque also pointed out the regions where the pandemic was still raging, and had some very pointed recommendations (especially on detection and isolation) that needed to be enforced.

fter all, good news these days come few and far between. But I made the mistake of checking Galvez, however, was bursting with “good news.” I was impressed. A out his data sources, and was brought up short.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/140885/galvezs-math-leaves-much-to-be-desired

A culture of violence SENTINEL - Ramon T. Tulfo (The Philippine Star ) - June 5, 2021 - 12:00am Despite the intense denial of its spokesman, there really is a culture of violence and corruption in the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Abusive and corrupt policemen seem to outnumber the good ones.

Police Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said the PNP is still a credible institution and can be trusted by the citizenry.

Usana was reacting to the grisly killing of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio by M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, on Dec. 20 last year.

His words now sound hollow, with the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Lilybeth Valdez by M/Sgt. Hensie Zinampan being the current talk of the town.

Zinampan was holding the woman by the hair when he shot her pointblank on the neck.

The incident happened in Barangay Greater Fairview, Quezon City on May 31.

Zinampan was drunk.

I’m a dyed-in-the-wool journalist and had witnessed several people killed when I was a police reporter decades ago, but I retched when I saw the shooting of the housewife which was recorded on video.

It was an example of police brutality to the nth degree. It was horrible beyond description.

That incident in Quezon City and the one in Paniqui, Tarlac with Police M/Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, both of which were recorded on video, never happened during my time as a police reporter.

Add those two murders to the shooting of an autistic young man in Valenzuela and numerous other killings of innocent civilians by policemen, and you now have a complete picture of how the present crop of policemen has become a pack of hideous monsters. When I covered the police beat from 1978 to 1986, I never came across grisly killings of innocent civilians by policemen of such magnitude.

“What’s happening to our country, general?” former vice president Emmanuel Pelaez asked Brig. Gen. Tomas Karingal, Quezon City police chief, as he was being wheeled into the operating room at St. Luke’s Hospital after he was ambushed on his way home during the martial law years.

What’s happening to our police force may well be the question the citizenry should ask the PNP, whose motto is “to serve and protect.”

Who do the citizens run to for protection, when the people who are supposed to protect them are themselves the criminals?

* * *

A certain legislator has offered to bankroll the electoral campaign of a presidential wannabe who’s leading in the surveys.

The wannabe was dumbfounded by the offer since the legislator is just a newbie.

The minimum amount to be spent for a presidential run is P10 billion.

Where in heaven’s name did the tyro legislator get all that money? https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/06/05/2103206/culture-violence

‘Lumad’ schools and the right to education

By: Meggie Nolasco, Tony La Viña - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM June 05, 2021 Last May 26, the committee on human rights of the House of Representatives

what the conducted a hearing on the Feb. 15 raid of the “bakwit” school in Cebu. Under the able leadership of Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay, the public finally understood At“lumad” the heart community of lumad and schools bakwit has schools always are been all theabout. right to education. Lumad schools uphold the idea that the right to education is both a right in itself and an to education enables a person to gain the skills, capacity, and confidence to secure other rights. The right to education is “enabling” right that is, access fundamental for human, social, and economic development and a key element to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development. It is a powerful tool in developing the full potential of everyone and ensuring human dignity, and in promoting individual and collective well-being.

Within the context of the right to education, the building of the lumad schools has been a social and historical necessity. For a long time, the lumad have experienced one, there are few such schools in the places where the lumad live, so that the difficulties in enrolling or entering “mainstream” public or private schools. For lumad have had to travel long distances and incur additional travel and living expenses to keep their children in school. Many lumad students have suffered from discrimination in mai students, but from a curriculum that does not reflect their unique cultural and nstream schoolsʍnot only from their teachers or fellow historical contexts. Many times, lumad students have lagged behind other students because, having lumad languages as their mother tongues, they have had difficulty with the language of instruction used in mainstream schools. https://opinion.inquirer.net/140876/lumad-schools-and-the-right-to-education

Why century-old CPC enjoys vigorous support of Chinese youth

By Xinhua

June 5, 2021

BEIJING: The century-old Communist Party of China (CPC), the world's biggest Marxist ruling party, enjoys vigorous support of the Chinese youth, which the party deems its own, as well as China's, "future and hope."

Recently, youngsters have been actively creating and sharing video clips to introduce the party's history online, paying respects to the numerous heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Some of these videos have been viewed over 20 million times on Bilibili, a popular video- sharing platform with over 200 million monthly active users.

Looking back at history, the Chinese youth has been a crucial source of strength for the CPC since its inception. The average age of the 13 delegates of the 1st CPC National Congress in 1921 was only 28. Those young founding members were a fresh force representing the Chinese people in the search for the future of the nation, which was at that time beset by warlords and the plundering of Western powers.

After a century, the CPC's unremitting efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the land still resonate with the Chinese youth, who are expected to carry on the spirit of the revolutionary martyrs and bear their responsibility to strive for national rejuvenation.

Nurturing the young generation has always been the political responsibility of the whole Party. They care for the growth of the youngsters, addressing their concerns and supporting them in pursuing their own dreams. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/06/05/opinion/why-century-old-cpc-enjoys-vigorous-support- of-chinese-youth/1801957

China can earn world’s respect by ending one-way diplomacy Beijing needs to respect the norms of international behavior by recognizing other countries’ sovereignty instead of just asserting its own

The late George Shultz, US secretary of the treasury under former US president Richard Nixon and secretary of state under former US president Ronald Reagan, was one of the finest public servants in recent US history. When I was the last British governor of Hong Kong, he once offered me wise advice about dealing with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Shultz told me that, in his long experience in business and government, Chinese communists always tried to define other countries’ relationship with them entirely on their own terms. They wanted the rest of us to regard our ties with China as the political equivalent of a beautiful and priceless Chinese vase. They would allow us to look at or even touch it, provided we did not risk dropping it by saying or doing anything that they believed should disqualify us from the honor of the Middle Kingdom’s favor.

In my experience, that is a pretty fair summary of Chinese attitudes, but it is not how sovereign states usually conduct their relations with each other.

Bilateral relationships are normally aggregates of the decisions that countries separately and jointly make to protect and advance their own interests. That includes the occasions when it suits each to accommodate the other side’s interests. There is sometimes a bit — or with friends, sometimes a lot — of give and take.

Moreover, a mature sovereign state does not automatically cast others into outer darkness if they disagree with its narrative about its place in the world, vote in a different way at the UN, or criticize its domestic policies when they contravene international rules and standards. It does not threaten to stop trading with them, or instruct its ambassadors to spit insults. Nor does it say that it will stop tourists from visiting the other country or students from attending universities there. Such behavior demonstrates no comprehension of the essential quality of esteem that civilized, collaborative nation- states must display toward one another. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/06/05/2003758612

Why the Western narrative of China’s ‘debt trap diplomacy’ is another big lie

• Claims that China nefariously plans to ensnare developing countries with shady infrastructure deals are not supported by the evidence • The world needs China at the table as the debts of troubled economies struggling with the pandemic recession are restructured or written off

One of the first laws of politics must be that a lie that is well-told, and told often enough, can muffle any truth and contradict a thousand facts.

I am too young to have seen this law at work with Adolf Hitler. I remember it well with Margaret Thatcher, though, and more recently with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his call to nostalgic Britons that Brexit could rejuvenate a once-great nation.Of course, it is former US president Donald Trump and his loyal conspiracy theorists who provide a masterclass with the breathtaking audacity of their claim that widespread voter fraud stole the presidency. There can be no more frightening evidence of the law’s perplexing power than to watch so many US political leaders in high places prostrating themselves before Trump’s “big lie”

. https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3136024/why-western-narrative-chinas-debt- trap-diplomacy-another-big-lie

We would all be better off if politicians left history alone

Teaching the past is best left to professionals

Andrew North

June 5, 2021 05:00 JST

Indian and Pakistani flags are lowered during a daily retreat ceremony at the India-Pakistan joint border check post of Attari-Wagah in July 2015: if this colorful spectacle does not come back to life, that may be no bad thing. © AP

Andrew North is a journalist based in Tbilisi and a regular commentator on Asian affairs. He has reported widely from South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/We-would-all-be-better-off-if-politicians-left-history-alone