Arab and Jewish Israelis Reconciliation as Economic factor

Status: 21.06.2021 6:04 p.m.

After the change of government in Israel, the multi-party coalition is faced with difficult tasks, above all the reconciliation between Israelis and Arabs. That would also help the country economically.

By Till Rüger, Muhamed Abofani and Mike Lingenfelser, ARD studio Tel Aviv

For the first time, Arab MPs are part of one Ruling coalition in Israel. The Islamic Ra’am party of Mansour Abbas provided the decisive votes for the so-called “Coalition of Change” of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. With a wafer-thin majority of just one vote it became so Long-term Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted out of the Likud. A historic moment for an underrated minority. Arab Israelis now make up around 21 percent of Israel’s citizens – and their number is growing. Officially, they have the same rights and duties as Jewish Israelis. But many feel disadvantaged, for example when it comes to job placement or training.

Feeling of second class citizens

The villages and residential areas of the Arab Israelis also usually have poorer infrastructure. They suffer from a high level of crime, which the police have so far failed to combat. Many Israeli Arabs therefore see themselves as second-class citizens. In its Inaugural address to the Knesset , the Israeli parliament, said the new Prime Minister Bennet of the right-wing Yamina party that his new government was opening a new chapter in relations with fellow Arabs. He wanted to eliminate imbalances in education and alleviate the housing shortage of the Bedouins in the south. Everyone has the right to live in dignity. During the eleven days of rocket bombardment from the Gaza Strip, the conflict broke out even more clearly than usual. Many cities and villages with a mixed population of Arab and Jewish Israelis such as Lod, Akko and Jaffo experienced the worst unrest in decades. The deep crack became visible even where both groups had previously lived largely peacefully together.

Deep distrust with historical roots

Almost all Arab Israelis lived in what is now Israel’s territory before the establishment of Israel in 1948. In the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, they did not flee and were not expelled. Many see themselves as sisters and brothers of the Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza Strip.

After the recent unrest, many Jewish Israelis avoided the Arab residential areas, including some areas of Jaffo, the district in the south of Tel Aviv. The pubs and restaurants in Jaffo had reported up to 70 percent fewer Jewish guests than before the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. During the unrest, the government imposed curfews and cordoned off entire streets, but otherwise did little to counter the deep-seated mutual distrust.

Arab Israelis as an important economic factor

Private initiatives are different. The Israeli insurance company Harel, for example, posted large posters on Tel Aviv’s city motorway in Hebrew and Arabic: “The best insurance against violence is coexistence.” Many other companies followed suit with commercials and newspaper advertisements. Because the Arab Israelis are an important economic factor.

It was not until the later 1970s that a visible number of Arab Israelis began studying at an Israeli university, primarily in engineering, pharmacy and teaching. In the early 1990s, agriculture and the textile industry went downhill in Israel. Many Arab Israelis were active there.

“The best insurance against violence is coexistence” – poster of the Harel concern. Image: Till Rüger

At the same time, Russian immigrants came into the country. More than a million new homes had to be built, and so the Arab Israelis got access to a new economic sector: housing, road construction, electricity and gas management.

Locked out of the software industry

Around the year 2000 there was a small high-tech miracle in Israel: Many Israeli software companies were able to establish themselves worldwide. But this industry remained closed to the Arab Israelis because, among other things, it had to do with security issues. Many Arab computer scientists were not permanently employed.

Since then, the Arab Israelis have almost only chosen professions in which they could certainly find a job, for example in medicine or pharmacy. Many saw a solid education as the only way to improve economically. The Arab villages in Israel are now competing with each other to see who has more doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. Pharmacy and medicine are often dominated by the well-trained doctors and pharmacists from the Arab minority. In recent years, the Arab Israelis have rediscovered the high-tech industry. This is suffering from underemployment in Israel, and many start-ups are desperately looking for well-trained employees – a new opportunity for the Arab Israelis.

Unequal distribution of the workforce

If you look at the total number of employees, then the Jewish Israelis come to a good 83 percent. Conversely, this would mean that the Arab Israelis, together with the large number of Asian guest workers, make up less than 17 percent of the workforce in the country.

If you take a look at the figures from the Israeli statistics agency exactly where and how Arab Israelis are employed today, the distribution looks like this: 13 percent are unskilled, 42 percent are skilled workers in industry and construction. Two percent work in agriculture, 15 percent in the service sector, three percent in administration, five percent are engineers, eleven percent are academics and five percent run a company. The labor force participation of Jewish Israelis aged 15 and over was 65.0 percent in 2019, while that of Arab Israelis aged 15 and older was only 43.4 percent, mainly due to the significantly lower labor force participation of women.

Reconciliation as the primary goal

The reconciliation of the two population groups – also for economic reasons – is likely to become one of the most important tasks of the new government of Prime Minister Bennett and his Vice Yair Lapid of the liberal Center Party.

Only when the inner-Israeli conflict has calmed down, according to Middle East observers, the new government can look to the West Bank and Gaza again and tackle the peace process with the Palestinians, which has come to a complete standstill

An area of ​​1,000m2 of melons is grown in a membrane house, applying advanced farming techniques according to Israel’s high technology, using organic fertilizers, misting irrigation of the Cooperative for Production and Consumption of Safe Vegetables Long Thuan, Hong District Ngu, after more than 70 days of cultivation, has now started harvesting to supply the market. In this crop, the weather is favorable, the melon yield is about 3.5 tons/1,000m2, of which the weight of each fruit is 1.7 – 2.5kg. With the selling price of 40,000 VND/kg, minus investment expenses, the cooperative earned a profit of over 20 million VND. In particular, the pairs of melons planted with pictures, engraved letters according to orders for double profits. Currently, in Hong Ngu district, some farmers have boldly converted traditional farming methods to organic farming to meet market demand. Investing in a membrane house to grow melons is initially costly (several tens of millions of dong/house, depending on the area) but in return, it limits pests and diseases, and produces safe products, so the cultivation efficiency after each crop is nearly high. twice that of the outside.

The ancient amulet has just been presented to the Israel Antiquities Authority. A bronze amulet engraved with God’s name and magical symbols for protection from evil spirits and the “evil eye” curse has been turned over to authorities after being unearthed in northern Israel 40 years ago. before. According to the IAA , the amulet once worn on a necklace is believed to date to about 1,500 years ago during the Byzantine period . At that time, the region was ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire after Byzantium, the old name of the city in which it was based (later Byzantium was renamed Constantinople and now It’s Istanbul now.) Although the amulet is engraved with Greek letters, they spell the Jewish name IAW, a form of the name “Yahweh” in the English alphabet. This bronze amulet, about eight centimeters long and four centimeters wide, was found near the site of an ancient synagogue at Arbel, just west of the Sea of ​​Galilee. Eitan Klein, an archaeologist with the IAA, said the location and inscriptions suggest that the amulet may have been worn by a Jewish, not necessarily Christian, regardless of its origin. its religion, “Although scholars often identify wearers of such amulets as Christians, the fact that the amulet was found in a Jewish settlement that had a synagogue in the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. might indicate that even the Jews of that period wore amulets of this kind to protect against the evil eye and the devil,” says Klein. Devil’s Eye This type of charm was relatively common at that time in Galilee and what is now Lebanon; They are sometimes known as a form of the “Seal of Solomon”, named after the legendary king of Israel. One side of this amulet features a galloping horseman with a halo on his head, thrusting a spear into a woman lying on her back. A Greek inscription carved above the rider’s head reads “The Only God Who Conquers Evil” and God’s name in Greek letters – IAW – is engraved underneath the horse’s feet. The other side depicts an eye pierced by an arrow and an object split in half. The eye appears to be threatened by two lions, a snake, a scorpion, and a bird below it, and a Greek letter abbreviation meaning “One Lord” engraved above it. above it. The amulet was probably made to protect people against evil spirits and a magical curse known as the evil eye, a long-held belief throughout the ancient world at least as far back as the sixth century. B.C. According to this belief, some magicians are said to be able to lift the curse with a malicious look, while those who receive it will be injured or have misfortune. “The equestrian is depicted conquering evil spirits, in this case a woman identified with the Greek mythological figure of Gello or Gyllou, who threatens women and children,” Klein said. and is related to the evil eye,” Klein said. “The eye on the back is identifiable as a demon eye that is attacked and destroyed in various ways. Therefore, the amulet was probably used to protect women and children.” A family member of the finder, now deceased, recently turned over the amulet to the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Klein encourages those with similar treasures to do the same. The amulet is believed to date back to the late Talmudic period in Jewish history, when traditional Jewish theology and law were formalized in a collection of written works known as the Talmud. The synagogue in Arbel is often mentioned in historical sources from Talmudic times, Klein said; where there was a linen manufacturing industry, and many Jewish sages visited or taught there.

The Iron Dome system tested to intercept missiles. (Photo broadcast by VNA) The Times of Israel on June 15 reported that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed several Iron Dome missile defense batteries near Jerusalem, before the anniversary parade Jerusalem Day takes place. The parade, originally scheduled for May 10, was postponed due to the 11-day Israel-Gaza military conflict. The parade, scheduled to start at 6pm on June 15 (Israel time), is one of the issues that threaten to escalate tensions between Israel and Palestine. In a related development, clashes broke out between a group of Palestinian protesters and IDF soldiers at the Gaza border. A Palestinian is said to have been shot in the leg and suffered minor injuries. Hamas Movement threatened to resume missile strikes on Israel if the parade continued. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on June 15 that dozens of Palestinians were gassed with tear gas when the Israeli army attacked a crowd protesting against a march that was about to take place in Jerusalem. According to WAFA, the Israeli military fired tear gas and hurled stun grenades at protesters at the entrance to the town of al-Ram in Northeast Jerusalem. In addition, the Israeli army also attacked and drove away Palestinian protesters at the Bab al-Amoud area (also known as the Damascus gate), one of the gates to the Old City of Jerusalem. At least two Palestinians were arrested in the incident.

After playing the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw against Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to be named in Portugal’s starting line-up in a friendly against Israel. He was side by side with Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva on the attack of the 4-3-3 formation. Ronaldo played energetically in 72 minutes on the field. He and his teammates created an overwhelming match against the away team. After a few missed opportunities, CR7 put his name on the scoreboard in the 44th minute. The 36-year-old striker received the ball from Bruno Fernandes before shooting decisively, leaving goalkeeper Ofir Marciano to his hand. This goal helped Portugal enter the break with a 2-goal lead. Ronaldo has 104 goals for Portugal. He is only 5 goals behind Ali Daei’s all-time record (109 goals for Iran). With the current state, the day CR7 surpasses the senior is not far away. When Ronaldo got his first goal for Portugal, full-back Nuno Mendes (number 25) was only 1 year old. Israel is the 42nd national team to be conceded by Ronaldo. The two teams that received many goals conceded by the superstar born in 1985 are Sweden and Lithuania (with 7 goals). Not only Ronaldo, but Bruno Fernandes is also a prominent player in the 4-0 win over Israel. The midfielder on the Man Utd payroll played for 90 minutes, contributing to the 3 goals of “Seleccao”. In the 42nd minute, Bruno cleared the deadlock for the home team with a precise one-touch finish from Joao Cancelo’s cross. Only 2 minutes later, the midfielder in 1994 continued to make a mark with a slot for Ronaldo to score. In injury time in the second half, the 26-year-old star closed the day with a sublime shot that defeated the entire defense of the visitors. Cancelo was also not to be outdone when he contributed a beautiful goal after an impromptu action from the right wing in the 86th minute. The main kick at the Euro 2020 finals is difficult to escape from the star who is wearing the Man City shirt. Portugal entered the Euro campaign with 6 consecutive unbeaten matches. On June 15, Ronaldo and his teammates will meet Hungary in the opening match of the “group of death”. Ronaldo warns teammates at Juventus In the latest press conference, Adrien Rabiot revealed Cristiano Ronaldo’s excitement before the confrontation between France and Portugal at Euro 2020.

With outstanding strength, Portugal turned the friendly match against Israel into a rehearsal of attacking options. “Seleccao” held the ball 61% in the first half and had 12 shots at the opponent’s goal. In the first 15 minutes, Ronaldo, Jota and Bruno approached the Israeli goal in turn, but this trio did not have the accuracy at the decisive moments. After a series of attacking situations from climbing the border, shooting from a distance, coordinating the middle, the goal also came to the homeowner. Joao Cancelo broke through on the right before stretching Bruno to finish with a touch to hit the visitors’ net. Bruno played prominently in the Portuguese attack. Photo: Getty. Two minutes after scoring, the Man Utd midfielder continued to shine with an accurate slot for Ronaldo to double the gap for Portugal. Unlike the 0-0 draw against Spain, the Euro champion’s play becomes much smoother with the appearance of Bruno Fernandes. The star born in 1994 successfully completed the task of distributing the ball, creating opportunities for the upper attacks. In addition, he can also create mutations by infiltrating situations full of mischief. The initiative was maintained by Portugal in the second half. The host still holds the ball 61% and hits 7 shots towards the opponent’s goal. Andre Silva came on for Jota, but the Frankfurt player also did not have an accurate aim when finishing. Ronaldo played 72 minutes before being withdrawn to ensure fitness. Photo: Getty. About the last 20 minutes of the game, Israel began to accelerate after the host withdrew a series of pillars. The army of coach Willibald Ruttensteiner made a dash into the middle and then shot a long shot. However, this option does not work well against a concentrated defense on the home side. In the 86th minute, Cancelo had an impromptu handle from the right wing. He swerved the ball past the defender, before firing a decisive left-footed shot that made it 3-0. Minute 90 + 1, Bruno closed the eye-catching match at Jose Alvalade with an unstoppable long shot. The match ended with a 4-0 victory for Portugal. Ronaldo and his teammates will have a rest before entering the first match in the Euro 2020 final against Hungary on June 15. Ronaldo warns teammates at Juventus In the latest press conference, Adrien Rabiot revealed Cristiano Ronaldo’s excitement before the confrontation between France and Portugal at Euro 2020.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai will not be present in the very important match of the Vietnamese team against Malaysia because he has received enough yellow cards. The question is who will replace Quang Hai in the match that will take place on June 11 next. As Coach Park Hang-seo Emphasizing that in his force there are always at least 2 players with equivalent in roles and positions. The Korean leader himself has considered who he will use to replace Quang Hai. Quang Hai played prominently in Vietnam’s 4-0 win over Indonesia. Photo: VFF At this time, the central midfield position of the Vietnamese team has Xuan Truong, Duc Huy, Trong Hoang, Minh Vuong and not to mention Tuan Anh if he recovers from his injury in time. If Coach Park Hang-seo wants more contention in the middle of the field, Duc Huy and Trong Hoang could be the right choice. On the contrary, if Mr. Park wants to continue to control the ball, Hoang Duc or Minh Vuong and Xuan Truong – players who have played very well in this role at HAGL deserve to be expected. Considering this group of midfielders, plus the mentality that is more likely to kick the upper door to control the midfield, the group of players Hoang Duc, Minh Vuong, Xuan Truong promises to be more favorable to the competition. fight. In particular, Hoang Duc is a player with the most similar qualities to Quang Hai, from the way he handles the ball with a soft first step to the strong shots from a distance like a hammer with a high degree of danger. Perhaps, the point that Hoang Duc is not equal to Quang Hai is just the sharpness in the passes that create great opportunities for teammates. Tuan Anh has to practice separately, it is difficult to play the match between Vietnam and Malaysia During the training session on the evening of June 9, Midfielder Tuan Anh had to practice alone. That more or less shows that he can hardly recover to enter the match against Malaysia on June 11 here. According to observation, Tuan Anh can only do light exercises and is recommended to limit contact with the ball. It seems that Tuan Anh’s ankle injury is unlikely to recover in time to play on June 11th. Midfielder Tuan Anh can hardly recover. Earlier, on the morning of June 9 local time, doctors announced the results of an MRI scan in the case of midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh. Fortunately for this player as well as the entire Vietnamese team, Tuan Anh did not have a fracture or a ligament problem. Specifically, Tuan Anh was concluded that his muscle was broken. With this type of injury plus a history of 12 different injuries on his body, Tuan Anh needs more time to recover. And it is not excluded that he will be coached by Park Hang-seo to play the match against the UAE on June 15. Vietnam increases the “opportunity” to continue in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers Vietnam increases the “opportunity” to pass 2022 World Cup qualifiers when Turkmenistan surprised with a 3-2 victory over Lebanon on the afternoon of June 9. The match between Lebanon and Turkmenistan took place on the neutral ground of Goyang, South Korea, this is the match in Group H. The audience witnessed a dramatic match, with the “backflow” of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan created an “earthquake” when it won against Lebanon. The first goal was scored by Zafar Babajanow (Turkmenistan) from a corner kick 59 minutes in. Lebanon quickly responded with two goals from Rabih Ataya and Ali Saad. However, the hero Guychmyrat Annaguliyev of Turkmenistan suddenly scored 2 goals in just 10 minutes of the match. This match makes the two teams still maintain their positions in Group H, Turkmenistan finishes the qualifying round in 3rd place, while Lebanon is in 2nd place with 10 points, the last match they will face a very strong opponent is the host. Korean house, on the afternoon of June 13. If it loses to South Korea, Lebanon still only has 10 points. While if Vietnam team If you beat Malaysia, you will have 17 points, definitely in the 2nd place in Group G despite a failure in the last match against the UAE. According to the rules, the top 5 second-placed teams in the group with high achievements will continue and Vietnam is facing a great opportunity. Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo shine, Portugal beat Israel This morning (June 10), Portugal had its last international friendly before entering the final round of EURO 2021. Ronaldo’s opponent and his teammates were Israel, who did not have a place in the EURO. Portugal has a good momentum for EURO 2021. Photo: Reuters Right in the first round of the ball, Ronaldo had a very good dribbling phase to penetrate the penalty area and then hit a shot, unfortunately, the striker’s shot born in 1985 was not difficult enough to bring home the goal. Not only Ronaldo but other Portuguese attacking stars also did not make good use of the opportunities created. It was not until the 42nd minute that Bruno Fernandes scored to help Portugal lead 1-0 and before the first half ended, Ronaldo scored to make it 2-0. After many stops, in the 86th and 90+1 minutes, João Cancelo and Bruno Fernandes put their names on the scoreboard to help Portugal set a 4-0 victory over Israel. A 4-star victory over Israel helps Portugal have a good momentum for EURO 2021, where they are in Group F of death. The first match of Ronaldo and his teammates at EURO 2021 is against Hungary on June 15. Thanh Hien (Compiled from Zing.vn/bongdaplus.vn)

What about us Vietnam, besides the rich natural resources that we are still proud of, what other resources can help the country develop strongly, sustainably and make an impact on the world? Relying on wisdom? Is it possible when we have almost no inventions that contribute to human development? Relying on hard work? We have worked hard for thousands of years, but our labor productivity is still far behind other countries in the region. It was not until I read the book “Vietnam – the country of love” (Thanh Nien Publishing House) by Ha Huy Thanh that I realized something about my impossible approach. In this book, the author has shown us a ultimate secret – where the very source of the inexhaustible energy helps us and our country to achieve a lasting and distinct victory. The content of the book is distilled, with a simple, easy-to-understand style, a sequential and logical approach to the problem, perhaps because the author wants to target readers of all levels, wants to share the message as widely as possible. in the book. The book is divided into 13 chapters, but in general, focuses on 3 main parts, which are: Understanding, Sharing and Creating solutions. Right in the “Understanding” section, the author has analyzed in the chapters: Understanding, Understanding yourself, Understanding others about how to approach everything, every problem based on the “Love” principle. For example, with the problem of victory, the author analyzes: “We understand that life is a journey to find win-win solutions, not to find our own selfish victory and beat others down below. the ruins of war even if we are the victors. Because when we are intoxicated with victory, the demon of hatred is pregnant and it will grow up in that ruin with the goal of living, its reason for living is to find and destroy us.” Although this idea is not new, we may have heard or read it somewhere, but when illuminated by the author in the light of “Love”, it has unparalleled persuasion. Or in the comparison of economic growth figures with the countries mentioned above, which has led to long-term secret low self-esteem among many Vietnamese, author Ha Huy Thanh makes us Surprised to point out: “Sometimes we feel poor and miserable in the abundance and happiness that other people crave. So understanding others gives us more joy, more solutions, and more confidence. Understanding others is also how we love ourselves, respect ourselves and are the seeds of the solution.” That’s it, Singapore or Israel, no matter how much economic development, in your heart, you always yearn for the dream of a natural green forest, beautiful beaches. the enchantment we have. One person’s excess is another’s lack, and that’s why happiness can only come to everyone, when we know how to share to satisfy each other’s desires, when we understand to start each other. hand in hand, win together. With analysis: “Sharing is the result obtained after understanding and is also the source of solution creation, it is not only a constitutive of giving and gratitude but it is a measure of the distance from self to position. Buddha in himself. The more we share, the brighter our mind becomes so that understanding can be expressed in a higher realm …”, author Ha Huy Thanh has gradually revealed the ultimate secret – where the energy to help us originates. We practice sustainable “Love”, to achieve sustainable development and positive influence on the world. It is the culture of “Love” that is the light that illuminates the way for us to create a prosperous, classy and humane country. But what is to affirm that Vietnam is a country of “Love”, and with “Culture of Love”, which can affect the whole of humanity in its evolution? The author has opened a direction to create solutions from ourselves, from Buddha nature and Buddha power from each Vietnamese people. Love with the two characteristics of Buddha nature and Buddha power resides in the Buddha’s stupa in the heart of every Vietnamese. To build this stupa, it is necessary to build four really solid foundations: Healthy body Balanced love Clear wisdom Strong Spirituality The author also affirms with firm conviction that Vietnam is the first country to discover that “Love” is a form of Buddha’s energy described with three indivisible characteristics and structures: Insight. Understand, Share and Create Solutions. It is Vietnam that will help the world realize that our planet is the planet of “Love” that the world will have to recognize, respond to and awaken “Love” in every citizen of the world. And finally, in Vietnam’s quest to find its own strength, the ultimate secret has been revealed, which is the Buddha within each of us. But in order to find this Buddha, each of us needs to embark on a journey of “Love”, optimizing the wondrous machine that is the brain bestowed by the universe, in ultimate enlightenment. And so, we can safely, confidently go forward every day, confident with whatever we have, will have, and generously share with the world. Thank you, with a small book, the message is short and simple, but it shows a truly unique path that each of us Vietnamese can proudly walk and shine with “Culture of Love”. “.

The effectiveness of the vaccine so far cannot be denied. The United States, although not widely open to the world, has dragged down its number of infections in just the past few months. Based on data collected during vaccination, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that the effectiveness of major vaccines such as Pfizer or Moderna is up to 95%. even with new variants. This makes it possible for American people to comfortably go out without having to wear a mask, while the US Government considers lifting the ban on international movement. Similar effects have also been observed in Israel and Europe, where vaccination rates have reached 60% – that is, herd immunity can be generated. The “miracle” that brought life back to its normal rhythm seemed to be at last. Small doses of vaccines are becoming the hope of the whole world in the fight against COVID. However, at the same time, a new wave of infections broke out in India. Since mid-April, an additional 5 million new infections have been recorded in this South Asian country. The number of new infections continuously reached approximately 300 thousand cases per day, of which several thousand people died from the disease every day. The epidemic tsunami was so great that it knocked down India’s health system in just a few days, a real disaster. It is hard to believe, until the 4th wave of infections broke out, India was the country with the 3rd highest number of COVID vaccines in the world and was a hope for the whole world thanks to its huge vaccine supply. However, the number of nearly 100 million doses of vaccine administered out of a population of 1.3 billion is still too small to achieve a state of herd immunity, as epidemiologists hope. The government’s subjectivity then caused the contagion to erupt violently at a time when major religious ceremonies were held in this huge country. Consequences for the people and country of India so far have not been fully enumerated, but more dangerous, it is slowing down the whole world’s efforts to open up, when the supply of vaccines is mainly for people. Poor countries under the WHO COVAX program have stalled, because India has urgently applied a ban on vaccine exports to save itself first. In addition, the fourth wave of infections has also begun to spread around the world, from Asia, Africa to South America, where vaccination rates are far from reaching the thresholds that can create health problems. herd immunity. No one can stand alone The Indians cannot be blamed for the decision to close the vaccine supply at this time, because indeed the images and death figures every day in the newspaper make anyone horrified. Before that, it was India that took the lead in efforts to help the poorer people to have access to 66 million doses of vaccine in the first quarter of this year. Now that responsibility needs to be reinforced. In contrast, the US, UK, EU and Israel have come up with plans to reopen. Learning from India’s mistakes, these countries have been more cautious. From May 23, tourists can return to Israel and the EU if they comply with the mandatory conditions. The problem is that if that rule is followed, there are not many qualified guests. Because, in addition to having received the correct vaccines recognized by the EU, that traveler must also be from countries with the number of new infections below 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous 14 days. Those are the countries that the EU calls “safe”. However, there are currently only 7 countries outside the EU that meet this criterion, such as Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, etc., but that list does not include the US. That is, the invitation to travel to Europe is still only “give it up”. The door was opened but very few people could enter. The “Indian lesson” makes us realize that vaccination speed will determine the success or failure of a global vaccine strategy. As the United States and Israel quickly immunized the majority of the population, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was easily defeated. But, the drip vaccination rate will not be enough to create herd immunity and even allow the virus to mutate against the same old vaccines. Finding a vaccine for the poor is never easy. The fourth wave of contagion, therefore, has broken out in these very countries, with new variants that are more dangerous and could completely hit countries that already have high vaccination rates. Therefore, in order to solve the problem at the root, it is the rich countries that will have to take the lead in a new effort, to rescue the worldwide shortage of vaccines. Conflicts of interest A group of 13 countries has been identified by the World Bank (WB) as holding control and global distribution of vaccines. Among these, there are of course big countries like India, China, Russia, the G7 group and a few other European countries like Austria, Switzerland, Sweden. They are collectively known with a beautiful name, “The Club of Vaccine Producing Countries”. This club controls up to 88% of vaccines and 91% of vaccine companies in the world. Among them, mainly developed countries in the West. It is not surprising that the US and EU have achieved the highest vaccination rates in the world in a short time. Despite earlier claims to share vaccines with the world, “vaccine nationalism” prevailed initially. They have even started to have an oversupply of vaccine in their inventory after the last 3 months of intense vaccination. Therefore, when making the call for the rescue of vaccines in the world, both WHO and the United Nations are directly targeting this group of countries. Now it’s time for them to extend their hand to play the role of “saving the world”. However, this is also the time when the controversy broke out the most. The US has announced that it will deliver 70 million doses of its vaccine to developing countries between now and July. The EU will also contribute back to the COVAX program, after a temporary withdrawal to keep the vaccine for itself. But, even so, it’s still not enough. Because the most advanced vaccines being used by the US and EU require extremely complex preservation technologies that are not easy for poor or developing countries to meet. In Africa, hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccines have been destroyed, even though they still have their expiry date, because they cannot guarantee the storage conditions on the way to users. This situation may be even more serious, when the number of vaccines from the EU and the US is brought in in large numbers in the near future. And the cost of high-end vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna is never cheap, when Pfizer – BioNtech or Moderna apply the most advanced technologies that not even Russia or China have access to. A new call has been made, for rich countries to share vaccine copyrights with poor countries, in order to create a vaccine that suits them. However, advanced genetic technologies are copyrighted by major pharmaceutical companies, where they want to hold the secret not only for this COVID vaccine. As a result, the controversy has shifted from the states to the people of the vaccine-hungry poor countries, with the wealthy owners of the big pharmaceutical companies. Loss of motivation to research to find new products is the reason that big pharmaceutical companies rely on to protect their patents. Meanwhile, inequality in vaccine distribution has serious consequences for the lives of hundreds of millions of other people. Still, it wasn’t easy for those wealthy owners to give in. Therefore, before relying on the “kindness” of pharmaceutical companies, the most concrete thing that rich countries can do is probably just to try to fill this inequality by giving poor countries the opportunity to do so. access to their starting surplus vaccine resources. Saving people is actually saving yourself.
Tu Uyen

“We no longer recognize our own city. The Israeli army has redrawn the map of Gaza,” the reporter of Guardian in Gaza opened their paper. No longer recognizing his own city This little place is so distorted that the previous map of its roads and landmarks is now useless. On the streets, crater-like bomb craters were scattered. Debris lay scattered on both sides of the road, or sometimes blocked the roads. The famous buildings here no longer exist. 11 days of shelling has displaced the city. The aerial attacks caused the ground to shake violently, to the point that at some bomb sites, buildings seemed to be pulled to the ground rather than being hit from above. The Al-Jalaa Tower in Gaza City, where Al Jazeera and the Associated Press were located, was leveled by an Israeli missile. Photo: REX. On one street, the curving walls of a kindergarten lean down at an angle until they disappear completely. Nearly a week after the attack, large concrete mounds still line Al-Wehda Road. A 7-story building is now just a giant pile of rubble on the corner of the street. In a house, all that remains is a stairway among the dust. Across the street are the ruins of another building. “It’s a very old medical clinic, possibly the oldest in Gaza,” said Abdel-Latif al-Hajj, director general of international cooperation at the health ministry in Gaza. “. Al-Hajj said the building is Gaza’s main Covid-19 testing center. “Anyone can imagine what would happen if we stopped testing,” he said. In addition, war means that thousands of displaced people are now crowded together, which can speed up disease transmission. The 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas has left more than 250 people dead, the vast majority of them Palestinians. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against militia targets in Gaza, while Hamas has fired more than 4,000 rockets towards Israel. “The Al-Wehda Carnage” According to the Guardian , Al-Wehda Street, is the main street in the center of Gaza City. At one end of Al-Wehda, Gaza’s largest medical facility, Shifa Hospital, is home to many survivors. Amjed Murtaja, 40 years old, lying on a hospital bed, legs covered with scratches. He said he was in his apartment on the fourth floor of the al-Wehda building when the bomb hit the balcony. “The building shook. My only thought at that time was to get to my wife and children,” he said. Just as Murtaja ran to another room and was just in time to hug his family, a second bomb fell, causing the entire structure to collapse. “We fell together,” he said. People in Beit Hanoun, Gaza return to their homes after the truce. Photo: Anadolu Agency. After landing, Murtaja’s hand was sandwiched between patches of cotton wool. They were stuck for about four hours, before neighbors and rescuers dug down and pulled them out. His wife Suza broke her back. In the same building, several members of the Al-Auf family, including one of Gaza’s most famous doctors, once the head of the anti-Covid-19 task of Shifa hospital, also died. Mr Murtaja said that while he was trapped, he could hear the screams of neighbors who were also trapped in the rubble like himself. Murtaja’s wife, Suza, is in the same hospital, but in a different women’s ward. Lying in an IV hospital bed, she said that after the sudden tremor, she was disoriented and at first thought she had been knocked over by a cupboard. One hand was stuck, the other hand held the phone and turned on the light, only to find that the building had collapsed. During the four hours she was trapped, she tried to coax her 2-year-old to sleep, but debris kept falling and waking him up. Israel said Thursday’s attack on Al-Wehda was aimed at destroying a vast network of tunnels it called the “Metro”, because it believed Hamas was hiding its military resources. The military said it had no intention of knocking down the building. So far, there has not been any clear evidence that Hamas is hiding what is in this tunnel system. The shelling on Al-Wehda Street was the deadliest attack in Gaza in the 11-day Israeli-Hamas conflict. Photo: AP. Nearly a week after the attack, a sign was erected in front of the building, bearing the names of those who died and the words “Al-Wehda massacre”. It was considered one of the deadliest attacks in Gaza in the 11-day Israeli-Hamas conflict, claiming the lives of 42 people. According to the United Nations, violence in Gaza has destroyed nearly 260 buildings. 53 schools, 6 hospitals and 11 health care centers were damaged. Nearly 80,000 people are displaced in the region, and about 800,000 have little access to tap water. The strip’s two million residents live inside what they call the “world’s largest prison,” with unemployment rates over 50%, health care systems collapsing, water sometimes poisoned and power is cut off continuously. Gaza Strip in ruins as seen from satellite Satellite images show the severity of damage in the Gaza Strip during more than 10 days of intense fighting.

The top four destinations, Spain, France, Italy and the United States, were eliminated, angering airlines and travel agencies as they continue to struggle to survive. Travelers returning from these four countries are still required to self-isolate upon their return to the UK. Turkey – a major destination is also off the list, tourists have to spend 10 days in quarantine and pay for themselves at the hotel. Despite lifting the ban on foreign travel, the British Government still advises people to avoid traveling to countries in the red or amber yellow bands on the Covid-19 warning map. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it was the first step in Britain’s cautious return to international travel, with measures prioritizing protecting public health and ensuring no damage. achievements in recent years. Comercio Square (Lisbon, Portugal) amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: Reuters Many travel centers, airlines and tour operators in Southern Europe have been eagerly waiting for the “big guests” from the UK, but they will have to wait a few more months. Meanwhile, after Portugal entered the UK government’s “green list”, bookings increased by 250% in just a few days, according to statistics from Thomas Cook and Club Med. TUI also said it has added more flights to Portugal. Airlines, airports and travel businesses think the UK Government is being overly cautious; and such limited opening will continue to hinder the tourism industry, which already has many effective solutions to ensure safety. Representatives from Heathrow Airport and British Airways both called on the government to add more countries to the “green list” and allow fully vaccinated people to travel without restrictions. An opinion piece from the British Airline Pilots Association said: “This excessive caution by the government is extremely disappointing to all who work in the travel sector.”

A shelter room in the basement of a building in Tel Aviv. Photo: Van Ung – P/v VNA in Tel Aviv During the conflict that has been going on for the past week, Hamas in the Gaza Strip fires hundreds of shells and rockets into Israel every day in retaliation for the Israeli army’s attack on this force. According to Israel’s Civil Defense Law, enacted in 1951 and subsequently amended several times, all homes, residential areas, offices and industrial buildings must have additional shelters built. In addition, Israel has also launched many propaganda campaigns, instructing people on how to stay safe whenever the sirens sound. In recent clashes with Hamas, the bunkers along with the Iron Dome (Iron Dome) interceptor missile system have helped Israel very effectively limit the number of casualties from Palestinian shells. The idea of ​​shelter was born after the First Gulf War, to help people quickly reach a safe place from bombs, bullets, missiles or chemical weapons. Later, with the development of the construction industry, Israelis tend to build shelter rooms right in their apartments. Whenever there is a missile alarm, people just need to quickly enter the shelter, close the door and wait until the alarm is over for 10 minutes to be able to go out safely. Currently in Israel there are some basic types of shelter works as follows: Shelter: All homes, residential areas and industrial buildings in Israel are required to have shelters built. The law also allows several houses or apartment buildings to share a bunker. In the event of war, the garages can be requisitioned as shelters or makeshift hospitals. The bunker must always remain closed so that anyone can quickly and easily access it when the sirens sound. Israeli children in a bunker. Photo: Jerusalem Post Shelter room: This is the most common form of shelter in Israel. Shelters are built right into apartments, floors of buildings or other public areas. The shelter room, built of reinforced concrete, is located near the entrance to the apartments. Usually these rooms are used by residents as storage, but when there is an incident, this place will be required to be cleaned up to be ready for people to enter the shelter at any time. Fortifications: Neighborhoods near the Gaza Strip often build fortifications, which are dome structures over buildings to avoid being penetrated by rockets. Since 2008, the Israeli government has built a solid bus stop with reinforced concrete to avoid being hit by shrapnel. Since 2009, all schools in the South have been fortified with anti-missiles. Migunit: This is a concrete structure shaped like a bell or box, with enough space for a small group of about 10 people to shelter. Migunit can be moved to place in vacant lots or near roads so that people can easily access when there is an alarm. Sewer pipes is a pipe several meters long placed near a house that can provide temporary shelter. At the request of the agency in charge of civil safety, the minimum size of the shelter room is as follows: Covered area 13m2 (3.6m x 3.6m), clear area 9m2 (3m x 3m) . Thickness of outer wall 25cm, thickness of inner wall 20cm, thickness of ceiling 30cm. The room must be built of solid materials, with metal-reinforced doors. Israelis take refuge in a sewer when rockets are fired from Gaza. Photo: Getty Images Normally, the shelter room will be the innermost room of the building, with limited wall area exposed to the outside, no windows or small windows, and the walls are not covered with fragile materials. shot causing injury such as porcelain, brick, mirror, glass… For old apartment buildings, the law stipulates that there must be shelter rooms with reinforced concrete walls at least 12 cm thick or at least under concrete stairs. cardboard with enough supports to keep the building safe enough from bombs and missiles. In the past, when there were no clear regulations, each shelter room was only 5m2 wide and was often used as a laundry room or storage. Later, the law stipulates a minimum area of ​​9m2, but most families still use the shelter room as an extra bedroom or office. In the event of a war, in each shelter people usually keep some items such as canned food, emergency lights, communication equipment, fire extinguishers, copies of important documents, phone chargers, and batteries. batteries, bottled water. There are also some personal items such as money, clothes, candles, medicine, first aid kit and important phone numbers.

Facebook may be fined $ 1.8 million in Israel for “acquiring” 2 companies without permission According to Reuters, Facebook is facing a fine of up to $ 1.8 million for its act of acquiring two Israeli companies, RedKix Inc in 2018 and Service Friend Ltd in 2019 but without approval and violating the law. clause in the Economic Competition Law of Israel. Authorities in the country argue that Facebook has a market share in Israel in excess of 50% and that the group must report transactions and obtain consent before any merger in the country. . The authorities also said that Facebook and Istagram are two exclusive social networks in Israel. Facebook will face a hearing soon and the company will have 60 days to appeal the charges before serving the fine. Talking about this, Facebook has denied allegations of antitrust behavior and said that Facebook is still cooperating with the investigations of the authorities. In addition, Facebook believes that there is no reporting obligation in relation to these transactions and hopes that the competent authorities will come to the right conclusions. Last year, Facebook was also fined by the US federal court up to $5 billion related to data privacy violations and forced Facebook to strengthen privacy protections, provide quarterly report on the implementation of the agreement and the establishment of an independent monitoring board. In Canada, Facebook was also fined $6.5 million by the Competition Bureau for sharing user information with other companies.

Located behind a thick iron door in the lobby of the building, the bunker ensures the safety of the building’s residents in the event of attacks. While some residents have their own private cellars in their homes, shared shelters in the lobby of buildings can help anyone, even passersby, quickly enter. Usually, this bunker is locked and becomes the people’s storage. However, when there is an emergency situation, the main door will be opened. Each building resident has a key to the bunker. Inside, residents leave luggage bags containing essential supplies such as water, snacks and spare batteries to be able to sustain life for a period of time. The cellar also installed two air conditioners to ensure air for people sheltering inside. The bunker has only one window and is surrounded by an “iron wall”. From the moment the rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip, the people of Tel Aviv had about two minutes to get to the shelter. Meanwhile, those who are closer, such as those living in the cities of Ashkelon or Sderot near the Gaza Strip, have less than 30 seconds to reach safety. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system is said to be able to intercept about 90% of incoming missiles, but the constant rain of rockets from Gaza in recent days seems to pose a challenge. defense system that Israel has always been proud of.

His arguments include Phoenician mining activities along rivers, Biblical names in mining-related areas, to passages in the Hebrew Scriptures that seem to be related. to King Solomon and the seafaring Phoenicians, a potential Spanish city famous for its rich mineral wealth in the Hebrew Bible. King Salomon, a rich king according to the Hebrew Scriptures. If this claim is true, it means King Solomon was an ancient shipping tycoon. The Hebrew Bible says that King Salomon was extremely rich and undertook many construction projects and his role in transportation could explain his wealth. Arguments for the Solomon’s mining expeditions The Phoenicians flourished throughout the Mediterranean world from about 1,500 BC to 300 BC. According to present-day Lebanon, they sailed across the Mediterranean, establishing settlements and trading networks as far back as Portugal. Kingsley started his research about 10 years ago. It seemed that King Salomon had been wise in his maritime plans, he noticed. He recorded the trips from Jerusalem and the Phoenician sailors took all risks at sea. Archaeological excavations over the past century have unearthed remains of Phenicia mining operations near the Rio Tinto River in southwest Spain, he said. Some places today along the river of Spain have biblical names – such as “Solomon’s Hill”, says Kingsley. Furthermore, he claims, silver artifacts found in Israel contain lead isotope patterns suggesting that silver came from Spain. However, researchers have done the analysis that silver from Spain did not come to Israel during King Solomon’s time, but after he ruled. Then there is a Hebrew Bible, which describes how David and his son Solomon took raw materials for construction projects from a man named Hiram, the king of a Phenicia city named Tire in present-day Lebanon. . Kingsley hypothesized that Hiram would send mining expeditions to Spain with the financial assistance of Solomon. Passages in the Hebrew Bible also mention a place called Tarshish, where the Bible says there are many minerals. This is also the place where Johna tried to run away when God told him to come to Nineveh, according to the Hebrew Bible. Tarshish claimed that Tarshish was located in what is now Spain and Solomon financed Phenicia’s travels to the area. Kingsley argued that passages in the Hebrew Bible discuss how Hiram provided materials for David and Solomon for their construction projects, giving the idea that Solomon had sponsored Phoenician journeys. . Confirming Tarshish’s place in the Bible, Kingsley notes that a Phoenician inscription, dating back to the ninth century BC and found in Sardinia, refers to a Phenicia military force fleeing to Tarshish. after a failure. Ancient Greek records also mention a city called Tartessos – sounding similar to Tarshish – thrived in southern Spain, Kingsley wrote in an article in Spain. From historical research, Kingsley said he could say that biblical landmarks (like the Solomon Hills) were in use since at least the 17th century and possibly much earlier. Skeptic scholars Some archaeologists and historians believe they were skeptical of Kingsley’s claims. While no one doubts that the Phoenicians were present in Spain, scholars note that there is no direct evidence regarding King Solomon to the region. “It’s still not clear that there is a Solomon kingdom,” said Steven Weitzman, director of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Morphological Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. “I don’t know any evidence of an Israeli presence in Spain at this time,” Weitzman said. There are Phoenician settlements in Spain as early as around 1100 [trước Công nguyên] and certainly for many centuries to come, but it would be too much to argue that the source of Salomon’s wealth came from there. ” In fact, the Bible says that King Salomon sent ships to the East, not to the West. Solomon’s ships were dispatched from a place called Ezion-Geber, a port town on the Red Sea, and they returned from a place called Ophir, filled with gold and other treasures. Wherever the Ophir was located, the ships Weitzman explained would go in the opposite direction from Spain, east not west. Archaeologists also rejected Kingsley’s arguments regarding silver artifacts found in Israel and Spain. “Based on all available scientific data, silver in the Solomon era,” said Ayelet Gilboa, professor of archeology at the University of Haifa, Israel. [thế kỷ 10 trước Công nguyên] not coming east from Iberia ”. Only after that, after King Salomon ruled, did silver from Spain begin to reach Israel. Gilboa worked with Tzilla Eshel, a researcher specializing in antique silver analysis at the University of Haifa, to determine the origin of ancient silver in Israel, and they published an article on this topic in 2019. that silver came from Sardinia to Israel in the 10th century BC but it was not until the ninth century BC that silver came from Spain.

“We were at the door and wanted to go out, but the police blocked the door. Therefore, no one can go to pharmacy, ”said this person. “In a panic, we fell into each other. I thought I would be trampled to death. “I saw the dead right next to me,” he recalls. “I feel like I’m going to die” A man named David said to him Ynet that the stomping happened when people came to see the fire. “Suddenly a wave of people came. We were swept away. Some people were thrown into the sky, others were crushed on the ground, ”he described. “There was a baby trying to hold onto my leg for life. We waited for our rescue within 15-20 minutes amidst this insane crowd. It was terrible, ”he recalls. Aid workers tried to remove the injured from the scene. Photo: Reuters. “Time seems endless, around us are paralyzed dead,” another witness said Ynet . He was dragged out of the crowd by the police to avoid suffocating. “Some people were on me. I was on someone who couldn’t breathe anymore. Surrounded with screams, I could see the children below me. At that time, I just thought of not wanting my children to die. orphan, “another witness shared with Israeli media. A 24-year-old witness named Dvir recounts that a bunch of people have been cornered. The first row collapsed under the pressure of the crowd, then the second row, where he was standing. “I felt like I was going to die,” he said. The disaster caused rescuers to struggle to disperse the crowd and rescue victims from the scene. “We are holding about 30 children and cannot reach their parents,” said a relief worker Channel 12 . “I’ve never seen anything like this. We are not sure what happened, but the consequences are unimaginable, ”he said. “We think there is a warning about a suspicious package of bombs,” a pilgrim named Yizhak told. Channel 12 . Meanwhile, follow New York Times, It seems that the trampling happened when some people slipped over the stone steps leading into a narrow, steep, metal floor. Ynet describes this as a “waterfall stream”. A witness named Chaim Vertheimer said the ramp was slippery due to water, including fruit juice being spilled onto the floor. “Everyone stopped, but many people continued to come. I remember hundreds of people exclaiming: I can’t breathe, ”she said Ynet. The festival turns into a tragedy From the night of April 29, about 100,000 radical Orthodox Jews gathered in Mount Meron, northern Israel to hold a traditional religious festival. Around 1 am on April 30 (local time), disaster happened. Thousands of people stepped on each other, killing 44 people and injuring hundreds. There is currently no official conclusion on the cause of the case. Extreme orthodox Jews celebrate the Lag b’Omer festival on the 18th day of the month of Iyar on the Jewish calendar. Pilgrims set fire to fire and dance around the tomb of a second-century rabbi to commemorate the clergy’s death. This year, the festival is still held, although Israeli health officials warn of the danger of this event becoming a reservoir of Covid-19 infection. Bodies of the victims were removed from the scene. Photo: Times of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a terrible catastrophe”. He came to the scene to directly direct the rescue work. The leader also declared 1/5 as a national mourning day for victims of the disaster. Some of the pilgrims present at the scene questioned and chanted slogans against him, according Times of Israel . The area around the scene is divided into several small areas for crowd control. The disaster has raised many questions about weakness, even negligence in planning. The recorded videos show police trying to block people who want to escape from the scene. They may not be aware of the severity of the situation and wish the chaotic crowd did not spread to other areas. Some images also show a locked door in the emergency exit. Eli Levy, spokesman for Israeli police, said investigations were underway, but it was too early to blame or indictment of negligence. He also said that many of the pilgrims refused to leave despite the calls to evacuate. For the survivors, they were unable to understand what happened. “Nobody imagined it could happen. The glee turned into mourning. The bright light turned into a deep night,” the witness named Yitzhak told him. Channel 12. Deadly trampling at Israel’s largest religious festival At least 38 people were killed, 103 were injured in the trampling at Israel’s largest religious festival. Tens of thousands of people joined the event, despite the warnings.

This huge tender is to supply hundreds of active defense systems. It is unclear whether Israeli companies will participate in the competition.

The picture shows the Russian T-90A tank with the “Curtain-1” active defense system on the front

The Israeli “Trophy” active defense system on the US Army M1A2C. “Trophy” is the leading product of Israel’s active defense system.

The Indian Army has invited companies to provide 818 active defense systems for its T-90/SK main battle tank. The military clearly stated in the document that 50% of the system planning and development must cooperate with local industries and will allow potential suppliers to “reach arrangements” with foreign companies on equipment development.

According to Jane’s website, Indian regulations require defense systems to include “soft kill” and “hard kill” capabilities. “Soft kill” includes smoke release, infrared jamming devices, and audio-visual warnings when tanks are attacked. “Hard kills” include (intercept) rocket-assisted grenades (RPG-7), anti-tank missiles, and explosive anti-tank bombs (HEAT, also known as armor-piercing bombs) and other anti-tank ammunition. The system should include defense against kinetic energy ammunition.

India’s own T-90 is not equipped with an active defense system, but is supplemented with explosive reactive armor. The small piece on the right of the turret prevents the driver from getting on and off the vehicle. In the tank two items, Russia’s own competition T-72 page such.

This competing T-72B3 removed a piece of explosive reaction armor on the right side of the turret to facilitate the driver to get off the car quickly.

To be honest, the early “Curtain-1” active defense system had poor effect, high power consumption, and could not interfere with more advanced or upgraded missiles (such as the Red Arrow-73C/D missile with a TV CCD goniometer) , It is expected that two useless “red eyes” will occupy the defensive position in vain. It is better to dismantle and replace it with explosive reactive armor. When India just bought the T-90S tank, this choice was no problem.

However, with the continuous advancement of offensive and defensive technology, the active defense system of tanks has continued to mature, and the pressure on anti-tank missiles faced by India is also increasing, and traditional tank armor hard defense alone cannot prevent it.

Due to the size of the country, the number of armored forces in Pakistan is far less than that of India. Therefore, it has chosen to purchase a large number of anti-tank missiles, including Pakistan’s authorized production version of “Red Arrow-8” anti-tank missile “Green Arrow” (Baktar-Shikan, literally translated in fact) It does not mean “Green Arrow”) and the US-made “Tao” anti-tank missile.

Pakistan has produced a large number of “Green Arrow” anti-tank missiles. As of 2015, the total number of production has reached at least more than 22,000. The production has not stopped. Not only is it more than sufficient to equip the entire Pakistani army, but it can also be exported. In the frontline areas of the confrontation between India and Pakistan, Pakistan often uses “green arrows” to attack Indian military bunkers and conduct “cold guns and guns” operations.

This situation is very common at the India-Pakistan border

In addition, Pakistan has more than 4,000 “Tao” anti-tank missiles. It should be said that the Pakistan Army’s anti-tank missile firepower is still very sufficient. Although both models are second-generation/second-generation semi-anti-tank missiles, they are also sufficient for India. The T-90S poses a threat.

In addition, Pakistan is likely to purchase more advanced anti-tank missiles, such as the Red Arrow-12. It is not impossible to use hard armor for this kind of top offensive anti-tank missile, but the accumulation of a large amount of explosive reaction armor on the roof will cause the weight of the tank to increase significantly and affect the layout of the equipment. It is more cost-effective to use an active defense system.

And the firepower of another imaginary enemy anti-tank missile in India…does it need to say more?

Not only has a long range, but its power is currently beyond the armor of any main battle tank.

Indian tanks have to face the threat of a large number of anti-tank missiles, so active defense systems must be considered.

At the same time, compared with the early days, after technical iteration and actual combat experience and lessons, the active defense system of the tank has now made considerable progress, and its performance has been greatly improved. It not only has a good interception effect on anti-tank rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles, which are low-speed armor-piercing weapons, but can even intercept kinetic energy ammunition fired by tank guns to a certain extent, but the interception rate is not as high for low-speed targets.

There is even discussion about whether the future main battle tank can completely delegate the task of defending armor-piercing ammunition to the active defense system. The main armor of the tank only needs to consider the defense of armor-piercing ammunition.

Therefore, it is justified for India to purchase an active defense system now, and wait until it is ripe before picking the fruit.

India currently has two better options.

One is Israel’s “trophies” system, which is currently one of the best-selling active defense systems in the world. In addition to the United States mentioned above, Germany has also purchased a batch of Leopard 2A7 tanks and Israel’s own Merkava tanks. It is also widely equipped. Moreover, the “trophies” system has been tested in actual combat. Israeli tanks equipped with the “trophies” system intercepted more than 300 missiles and RPG rockets. It can be said that the Trophy Active Defense System is the world’s first active defense system that has been tested in actual combat, which has greatly reduced the casualties of the Israeli army.

On February 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced an intergovernmental agreement with the German Ministry of Defense. The German Leopard 2A7 tank was equipped with the Israeli Rafael Company’s “Trophy” active defense system.

The other is Russia’s “Afghanistan” stone system, which is Russia’s latest active defense system. Used on the T-90M and T-14 “Amata” tanks, Russia is very confident in its performance, and even on the T-14 “Amata” tank, it has partially achieved the above-mentioned “completely smashing defenses.” The task of ammunition is handed over to the active defense system”-the turret of the T-14 “Amata” tank is a shell that can defend against shrapnel and small-caliber weapons, and the defense depends entirely on the “Afghan stone” system.

The “Afghan Stone” system on the “Amata” tank

Moreover, India has confirmed that the T-90MS purchased by India, that is, the foreign trade model of T-90M (in fact, foreign trade came out first) has the “Afghan Stone” system, which shows that it has good compatibility with the T-90 series, and Russia can be used as The upgrade kit is sold to Indians.

The two “black spots” on both sides of the T-90MS tank turret are the radar of the active defense system.

However, the installation of the active defense system is not the same as building blocks. It requires a lot of other work, such as an independent power supply system (this is especially important, the M1A2 tank installs an independent generator for the’trophy’ system), installation angle and walking Line problems and so on.

India’s bidding will definitely attract various manufacturers, including Israel and Russia, to participate in the bidding. India may delay and may spend a lot of money, but it will definitely purchase.

Pakistan and his “weapon outfit providers” also need similar equipment.

GL5 active defense system

Israeli security forces patrol the Citadel in Jerusalem. Documentary photo: AFP / VNA This square is originally a traditional gathering point for Palestinians during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In recent days, the city of Jerusalem has seen its worst violence in years, stemming from Israel’s decision to block Palestinians from entering the Damascus Gate after praying. Tensions are heightened after a series of videos posted online showing Arab youths attacking radical orthodox Jews, then violent Jews also went down the street to attack Arabs. On April 22, at least 125 Palestinians were injured in repeated clashes with Israeli police. A police spokesman said the decision to remove the barrier was made by police after consulting with local leaders, religious leaders and assessing the situation. “Our forces are still deployed in the field and it is impossible for the violence to increase,” the official added. Several young Palestinian men have been arrested by police. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 24 called for “restraint on all sides” after several nights of clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in its annexed areas in East Jerusalem.

RT reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that an SA-5 long-range surface-to-air missile was launched from Syria towards the Israeli fighters while they were in progress. attack in the Golan Heights of Syria. The missile exploded in a village in the Negev desert on the morning of April 22, just a few miles from Israel’s nuclear reactor. The explosion did not cause any serious injury or damage. IDF does not believe a nuclear reactor or any other ground site is the target for the missile. Photo of a missile explosion from Damascus, Syria. Photo: REUTERS Israel’s radar detected at least one of the missiles heading towards the Negev desert and triggered sirens in the area. IDF air defense crews were also involved. However, defensive measures have failed to stop the SA-5 missile. During a press conference in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Benny Gantz admitted that the missile interception attempt “was unsuccessful” and that IDF is investigating the cause. In response to the other missile, Israel aimed to fire at a Syrian battery about 24 miles (40 km) from Damascus. Many Syrian soldiers were injured in the Israeli attack. Syria’s air defense forces intercepted “most of the enemy’s missiles”, a military spokesman said. Israel often uses its Iron Dome missile defense system to avoid the attacks by the Hamas Islamist movement. In February, Israel’s internal security agency arrested an Arab on charges of espionage and provided information on the country’s missile defense system to Hamas. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Photo: REUTERS The missile responses come amid constant tensions between the two countries. Israeli fighters routinely carry out airstrikes on Syrian territory, although IDF rarely comment on these operations. Earlier this month, four Syrian servicemen were injured in a missile attack believed to have originated from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

West Bank, and… Arctic Ocean One thing is easy to see: When the Egyptian dredgers devote themselves to “working day and night” to bring that 400m long and 220,000-ton ship back into the ocean, they don’t just forget to sleep. because the Suez Canal is one of the country’s greatest pride, not only because there is $ 9 billion of cargo stuck every day, but because the circulation of boats on the Suez Canal is closely related. to their own piece of rice. As Eslam Negm – an Egyptian sailor involved in dredging and rescue – shared: “We – that is the majority of Egyptians – live off this canal”. From there, no need for accurate data, anyone can imagine the huge profits that this artery maritime route brings. And therefore, it should not be surprising, given the immediate alternatives to the Suez Canal (or at least the worst case scenario) proposed in the vehicles. international mass news. First is Israel. According to The Arab Weekly on March 30, 2021, the congestion of the Suez Canal prompted discussion of alternatives to the Suez Canal – including Israel’s Ben Gurion Canal project linking the Red Sea. with the Mediterranean (also known as the Israel Canal) – come alive. The Israelis see this route as a competitor to the Suez Canal. Tel Aviv intends to turn the Israeli canal into a multifaceted project, such as building small towns, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs around the waterway. Outline of the Israeli canal project. Before that, on March 25, Business Insider (USA) announced the content of a secret memo written in 1963, which was declassified in 1996. Accordingly, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of America used to study a project using nuclear explosions to dig a 160-mile (257 km) canal across the Negev desert in Israel, connecting the Mediterranean with the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea (Red Sea). Historian Alex Wellerstein – who also mentioned that profile on his personal social networking site Twitter – thinks this is a model option. However, in 1967, when the Arab-Israeli war broke out, the Suez Canal had to be closed for eight years, no one said anything about the Israeli canal. That is not difficult to understand, because in the 60s of the last century, trade activities as well as the volume of goods and especially the interdependence of all factors are not rich and diverse. form, development, complexity … as present – 21st century. The problem is: Because of the implications of nuclear radiation, there is no guarantee that neighboring (and still skeptical or hostile) Muslim Arab countries will allow Israel to redeploy the mining project. Ben Gurion channel. Meanwhile, when 380 ships were waiting at the Suez Canal, Russia announced: Bringing the project of the Northern maritime route along the North North Ocean connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, and committed Russia will ensure the safety of this new traffic route, as well as ensure that transportation costs will be cheaper. This sea route shortens 40% of the journey from China to Egypt to Europe, and the journey time is less than 15 days. Due to climate change, the amount of floating ice on the above line is less and less, the travel will be easier and easier. The Russian side pledged to let the icebreaker come to save any merchant who got caught in the ice on the way. Russia alone plans to use this maritime route to export its oil and gas. Those are the inevitable movements stemming from the fact, when everyone has seen how vulnerable the modern global supply chain is. That fact makes any country have conditions to prepare a backup plan, at the same time looking for opportunities to startle on the logistic “piece of cake”. Eternal aura However, we can believe that every Suez Canal project may not be of reference value, but will never achieve its goal of completely replacing the 193.3 long sea journey. km, connecting the Hong Hai with the Mediterranean. Just as the Panama Canal passing through Central America connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific, history and reality give the Suez Canal an incomparable position, by any competitor. Compared with the northern maritime route that Russia is planning to deploy, the absolute advantage of the Suez Canal is not not afraid of freezing in winter, but … near the “oil navel” of the planet. The position on the European – Asia – African junction of the Suez Canal is also extremely important, when North Africa – Middle East has never been a “hot spot”, never a place in the Middle East. The world’s leading power mind competes for influence on the global geopolitical map. Above all, the Mediterranean is the most important commercial center (if not the most important commercial center) of humankind since ancient times, also the site of a series of ancient civilizations. . 19,000 ships pass through the Suez Canal each year Israel may still proceed with the digging of the Ben Gurion Canal. However, “human peace” will be the biggest obstacle facing the Jewish state. On March 29, when Egyptian President El Sisi announced: “Egypt has succeeded in ending the crisis of the ship stranded in the Suez Canal, and bringing everything back to normal. This is all about it.” the world is reassured about the transportation of goods and their needs through this lifeline “, it can be said that he has made all the friendly Muslim Arab states reassured to” ignore them. “with every other alternative, especially the idea of ​​using another canal to benefit Israel. Old habits and relationships, whatever you say, always play a core role, even in terms of interests. Of course, Egypt would have to do much better than its part, to make sure as much as possible that an incident like the Ever Given ship ran aground – that is, the global supply chain was interrupted by a very windy night. But, of course, the era when famous maritime restaurants such as Vasco da Gama, Bartholomeus Diaz or Ferdinand Magenllan had to go around the Cape of Good Hope in the southern end of Africa to reach India was also far in the past. . Mankind will not return to those days, but it is not necessary to have another way, after more than 100 years familiar with the Suez winds … * Every year, the Suez Canal brings Egypt an average profit of about $ 6 billion, with about 19,000 ships passing, carrying goods equivalent to 10% of the total global trade turnover. In 2020, under the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the paralysis of the global trade machine, this figure will still reach USD 5.61 billion. * Since digging canals by traditional methods will be extremely expensive, the Americans are expected to use the Peaceful Nuclear Explosions (Pneums) method. This is a viable option, because this nearly 160-mile canal, 130 miles of uninhabited desert, could have nuclear detonation. According to calculations, to dig each mile of the canal, it is necessary to detonate 4 nuclear devices (temporarily called the atomic bomb) of the size of 2 million tons of TNT. So a total of 520 atomic bombs or 1.04 billion tons of TNT need to be detonated to dig this canal.

The event was attended by Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar, Secretary of Hoan Kiem District Party Committee Vu Dang Dinh, Vice Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee Nguyen Anh Quan. With events Clean & Green , Israel will launch a solar drip irrigation system for flower plants at the Uncle Co flower garden as a gift to Hanoi city. Drip irrigation is an Israeli invention to save water for crops, bring high efficiency to plant health and reduce emissions of environmental pollution. The irrigation system uses electricity from pre-programmed solar panels and pumping stations. Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar and guests take photos at the event. Israel is a world leader in water conservation, water reuse and smart water use. Offering the city an economical irrigation system affirms Israel’s commitment to support Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general in environmental protection, creating a green, clean and beautiful society. On the same day at the Uncle Co flower garden, the Embassy of Israel in collaboration with the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the non-governmental organization Green Life organized the activity “Redeem paper for trees”. Each resident brings paper, plastic, metal and battery items to the activity to be collected and sorted for recycling, and at the same time receive a decorative stone lotus tree. Activities aimed at raising public awareness and action on recycling. Uncle Co Flower Garden is also a space for biogas technology demonstration and photo exhibition of eco-friendly technologies in Israel. Add some photos of the event:

Damage aboard Israel Hyperion Ray after being attacked

In response to Israel’s recent attack on Iran’s nuclear facility in Natanz, Isfahan province, Tehran launched a missile strike against an Israeli cargo ship off the coast of the UAE. , the Arab TV channel Al-Mayadin TV reported.

According to Israel’s Kan TV, the Mossad special forces were behind the attack at the uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan.

Official representative of the Iranian government, Ali Rabiyi, later announced that there would be a hard reaction from the Islamic Republic to the actions of the organizers and perpetrators of the Natanz nuclear facility.

The Hyperion Ray of Israel

Mr. Rabiyi threatened: “There will be retaliation and retaliation in the territory of the invader.”

Another response to such attacks would be the further development of Iran’s nuclear program and the show of determination not to give up, a government spokesperson added.

Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was attacked by Israel

Tehran quickly turned from words to actions and promises to respond. So Israel’s Hyperion Ray, operating near the UAE territory of the Emirate of Fujairah, traveling from Kuwait, was attacked.

None of the ship’s crew members were injured and the ship itself was slightly damaged. According to Israel, the Iranian army was behind the attack and fired missiles at Hyperion Ray from a ship or drone.

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US President Joe Biden. Photo: AP

CNN said the U.S. fell into confrontation with China and Russia, negotiating a return to the 2015 nuclear deal adding to obstacles when Iran’s nuclear plant came under surprise attack, North Korea returned to test ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, President Biden plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan on September 11 but experts warn the Taliban could have an impact on weakening the government in U.S.-backed Kabul.

Mr. Biden’s handling of these situations will help shape the legacy of his term. The U.S. president has publicly said his goal is to defeat COVID-19, revive the economy, and shape foreign policy around the needs of American workers.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s Office on April 13 released a report that named the four countries as Washington’s main security challenges in the coming years: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

On April 11, Iran declared the Natanz nuclear plant under “terrorist attack” after a power outage at the facility. Israeli media cited an unnamed source as reporting that the country’s Mossad intelligence agency was behind the attack. The New York Times also cited an unnamed source as “having an Israeli role” in the incident. Israel has not responded to the allegation.

The incident occurred at a time when U.S. and Iranian officials had indirect dialogue in Vienna (Austria) to establish a roadmap for “bilateral compliance” for the two sides to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 Group countries (including the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) in 2015. In the event that Tel Aviv is indeed behind the attack, President Biden could face new minor friction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The attack on the Natanz nuclear plant is believed to have influenced U.S. negotiations back to the 2015 nuclear deal. Photo: AP

As for China, it is stepping up its military activities, in addition to making more impact through the “Belt and Road” initiative. The meeting between senior U.S. and Chinese representatives during a two-day conference in Alaska that closed on March 19 represented a clear message from Washington to Beijing that President Biden is not easily “bullied.” It was the first face-to-face meeting between American and Chinese officials since Mr Biden assumed the presidency. At the event, in front of a slew of world media cameras, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken bluntly said that China’s actions “threaten a rules-based order to maintain global stability.”

In March, U.S. President Biden also said that China has ambitions to “become a world leader, the richest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world.” “This is not going to happen under my supervision,” the U.S. leader insisted.

Not only China, North Korea is another country in Northeast Asia that makes the U.S. keep an eye on it. At the 8th Workers’ Party of Korea Congress held in January, Pyongyang stressed its commitment to developing “strategic weapons” in preparation for a long-term confrontation with the U.S. South Korea’s intelligence agency said the new missile North Korea tested in March could carry a nuclear warhead.

Pyongyang has rejected a offer of dialogue from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration and stressed that Washington should first eliminate hostile policy. According to experts, diplomacy and negotiations are the most practical way to solve the problem of the North Korean nuclear program. This does not mean the complete removal of sanctions but can be the application of a sustainable diplomatic process that includes high-level dialogue, step by step.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed legislation facilitating his re-election. This development paves the way for the possibility of Mr. Putin continuing to lead Russia more time and achieve the goal of restoring the position the Kremlin lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Experts say President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan appears to be a foreign policy influenced by domestic affairs. The U.S. and the Taliban signed the agreement in February 2020. Under the agreement, the U.S. pledged to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan by mid-2021, while the Taliban offered security guarantees and conducted talks with the Kabul authorities.

The U.S. currently has 2,500 troops stationed in Afghanistan. The Taliban will have to abide by certain commitments before the U.S. withdraws. But many experts warn that if the U.S. removes troops from Afghanistan without a peace deal that comes with the Taliban, there is a risk that civil war will occur in the country.

Newspapers World & amp; Vietnam highlights of the day:

Russia-Ukraine Ukraine: Russia won’t dare attack

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov insisted that, although Russia has been ablediving a large number of troops to the border, there will be no large-scale offensive.

According to Mr. Reznikov, Russia’s concentration of troops on the Ukrainian border is just “a show of force without intention of use,” although there will be minimal probabilities of an attack to occur.

However, Mr Reznikov stressed, the main target remains a “signal” from Russia, which suggests Moscow may attack but that it will prioritise negotiations. (TASS)

Russia ‘reveals’ reasons for marching troops to border

On April 13, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Moscow’s large-scale military push in the West was part of exercises to assess readiness amid threats from NATO.

Speaking in a meeting with senior generals, Mr Shoigu said the ongoing exercise was a response to what he called relentless efforts by the US and NATO allies to strengthen their forces near Russia’s borders.

“Russian soldiers are ready to complete the task of protecting the security of the country,” Shoigu asserted. (AP)

Moscow warns West over Ukraine issue

On the same day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US and EU are stepping up tensions in Ukraine by increasing military support for the country.

“We want to reiterate that NATO countries, who use the fallacy to speculate on the defense of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, should think about Kiev’s belligerent attitude, while ensuring the implementation of the Minsk Measure Package that Kiev is deliberately ignoring,” Ryabkov said.

He added that, in the worst assumption, “Kiev and its allies in the West will be fully responsible for the consequences.” (TASS)

US-Russia: What’s in the Biden-Putin radio?

During the April 13 phone call, U.S. President Joe Biden proposed to his Russian ally Vladimir Putin to hold a summit in a third country.

The White House statement stated: “During the talks, President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable, predictable relationship with Russia and in line with American interests.”

At the same time, the White House boss asserted, the U.S. will act “resolutely” to protect national interests, responding to Russian actions such as cyber intrusion and election interference.

On the Ukraine issue, the U.S. President emphasized Washington’s relentless support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In addition, President Biden proposed that the leaders of the two countries meet for a third summit in the next few months to discuss a range of issues in U.S.-Russia relations. If held, it would be the first meeting between Mr Biden and Mr Putin.

For his part, the Kremlin announced, during the talks, that the US President had told Mr Putin that Washington wanted to normalize relations and cooperation on arms control, the Iranian nuclear program, the Afghan issue and climate change.

In addition, President Putin has outlined approaches to solving politics in Ukraine and outlined approaches to solving political problems rooted in the Minsk Measures Package. (Reuters/TASS)

U.S. intelligence puts China at the top of threat list

According to the 2021 Annual Assessment of Threats report, China will continue to increase its influence while trying to undermine U.S. influence, “dividing” relations between Washington and its partners, as well as allies.

China’s promotion of power globally is a leading threat to U.S. national security, the report said.

Regarding Russia, the report said, Moscow “does not want a direct conflict” with the U.S., though it will continue its destabilizing efforts toward Ukraine.

As for North Korea, the report said, Pyongyang will likely consider whether it should resume its nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests this year, amid efforts by the Northeast Asian nation to negotiate with the new U.S. administration on its own terms. (Reuters)

American c’Official’ delegation to Taiwan

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on April 13 sent an official delegation to Taiwan, a move seen as a “personal signal” of the President’s commitment to the island.

The delegation included Senator Chris Dodd and two former Deputy Foreign Ministers, Richard Armitage and James Steinberg.

In addition, according to a senior official in Mr. Biden’s administration, the U.S. sent the delegation as the U.S. and Taiwan celebrated the 42nd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act that Mr. Biden voted to pass as a senator.

“The dispatch of these three individuals – senior politicians, longtime friends of Taiwan and close personal ties to President Biden – sends an important signal of America’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy,” the official said. (Reuters)

Iran-Israel Iran produces 60% uranium in response to Israel

On April 14, Iran announced next week it would begin producing uranium enriched in purity of up to 60 percent, three days after an attack that Tehran accused of being caused by Israel against a key nuclear facility in Natanz. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani explained that the decision to enrich uranium was in response to Israel’s “nuclear terrorism.”

Speaking on television, Mr Rouhani stressed: “Activate IR-6 (centrifugal machines) in Natanz on April 14, or raise the level of enrichment to 60%… to respond to malice. What (Israel) did was nuclear terrorism. What we do is legal.”

In a report sent to member countries, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said iran had informed the agency that it planned to start enriching uranium at a maximum of 60 percent. (AFP)

Israeli ship attacked, suspected Iran culprit?

The Israeli-owned Hyperion vessel was attacked off the UAE coast, according to the channel TV 12, this missile was launched from Iran.

The ship suffered minor damage. Channel TV 12 Israeli sources on the same day cited security sources as reporting that the missile had been launched by Iran.

According to the news channel, several unnamed Israeli officials accused Iran of carrying out the attack. (Al-Mayadeen)

South China Sea NATO condemns China in South China Sea

On April 13, speaking online at the Raisina Dialogue (India’s conference on geography and economics), NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that china’s rise is seen as a global issue, all countries need to pay attention to this.

The NATO secretary general said, “we must be clearly aware of the challenges that come with china’s rise.”

According to Jens Stoltenberg, China is strengthening its military strength along with economic development. The country has tripled its military spending over the past decade, now has the world’s second-largest defense budget and continues to massively invest in military modernization.

Besides, Mr. Stoltenberg asserted, NATO is an important foundation for responding to the security effects of a rising China. “NATO wants to interact closer with partners around the world, because it is the best way to protect the rules-based international order, protecting society and democracy,” Said Stoltenberg. (Business Standard)

China fires real ammunition in South China Sea

The website of China’s Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) on April 14 posted a notice of the country’s schedule of real-life ammunition firing exercises in the South China Sea.

Accordingly, live-fire exercises in the South China Sea take place in an area limited by coordinates 23-18-007N 117-16-00E, 23-18-00N 117-24-00E, 23-10-00N 117-24-00E and 23-10-00N 117-16-00E from 0h-10h daily UTC (7h-17h Hanoi time), from April 15-20.

The above notice states that during the exercises, MSA of Shantou city banned boats from entering the above area. (THX)

Afghanistan: US, UK, NATO simultaneously schedule withdrawals

On April 13, U.S. President Joe Biden decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan before 9/11, exactly 20 years after the Al-Qaeda attack sparked America’s longest war.

However, according to unnamed sources, the withdrawal will be based on specific assurances on security and human rights, before formalizing the decision. The sources did not provide further details.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to announce the decision with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels on April 14. President Biden may also announce his decision.

Following in the U.S., Britain and NATO also announced they would withdraw almost all forces from Afghanistan.

Speaking to a TV channel Ard, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer stated: “We always declare: we will go together, we will withdraw together… I support an orderly withdrawal and that’s why I think today (April 14) we (NATO) will be united on that.” (Reuters/AFP)