SAM545 USAF C-40B sw from JBA depart and began descent for MacDill AFB
SAM699 USAF G5 ne across the pond from JBA depart
morning
Russia Launches Biggest Pacific Exercise Since Cold War As Putin And Biden Meet
On the other side of the world, President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin are meeting for their first face-to-face talks since Biden ascended to the American presidency. But 300 miles off the coast of Hawaii, Russia is quietly launching one of the largest naval exercises since the Cold War.
Russian ships have been dispatched to conduct the largest military exercises since the Cold War off the coast of Hawaii, sending the US Air Force scrambling F-22 stealth fighters from its base in Hawaii just hours before the two world leaders were set to meet. They were sent to meet a contingent of assets that included long-range bombers, surface ships and anti-submarine aircraft on the mission.
Though the provocation was unmistakable, Russian bombers were careful not to enter the Air Defense Identification Zone, which could have prompted the US Air Force to scramble interceptors. Ironically, Biden appeared to walk back some of his more aggressive criticisms of his Russian counterpart, calling Putin "bright," "tough" and "a worthy adversary."
Putin has been flexing his military muscle around the world in recent months, though mostly closer to Russia's shores. Forces have massed on the border with Ukraine, raising anxieties about a Russian escalation in the still-smouldering Ukrainian civil war, which prompted Biden to call a national emergency before slapping sanctions on dozens of Russians and expelling diplomats. But we can't help but notice the similarities between Wednesday's exercise, and the "Freedom of Navigation" operations that the US Navy used to run against China in the Pacific.
Meanwhile, back in New York, the American media is doubling down on its criticisms of Putin, as NYT columnist Thomas Friedman, a longtime Russia hawk (and friend of the Saudi Royal Family) essentially read off the talking points from a February editorial, while cracking jokes about "mistresses", during an interview with his NYT colleague, Andrew Ross Sorkin.
"The most effective message would be for Biden to reach into his breast pocket and pull out transcripts of Putin's last 10 conversations with his mistress and let him know we are on to him," says @TomFriedman on his advice to @POTUS ahead of his meeting with Putin. pic.twitter.com/Or2GLw6DJt
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) June 16, 2021
With Putin still clearly seething over Biden's recent heavy-handed provocations, it's clear that today's naval exercise - the biggest naval exercise in the Pacific since the end of the Cold War - is intended to "rub salt in the wounds" of the Americans, while proving that America and China aren't the only global powers who can operate on multiple fronts.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/russia-provokes-us-navy-pacific-meeting-between-putin-and-biden-begins
>>63166, >>63173 pb
BOXER40 USAF C-40C departed Sigonella AB, Sicily sw after a ground stop
This AC departed Tunis, Tunisia after an overnight
Chines will shake sticks at Taiwan moar overtly and then it will take dat.
Blackstone to buy office developer SOHO China in $3 billion deal
Blackstone Group Inc (BX.N) will buy all issued shares in SOHO China Ltd (0410.HK) for HK$23.7 billion ($3.05 billion) and maintain its stock market listing, the Chinese office developer said in a filing on Wednesday. The U.S. private equity firm will offer HK$5 per share, 31.6% higher than the last closing price of HK$3.8 on Friday, in what would be its largest real estate deal in China.
Blackstone, which currently owns around 6 million square meters of properties in China, is seeking to expand there as it is confident about the country's long-term economic prospects and the Beijing and Shanghai office market, the filing said. SOHO China, a major developer well known for its futuristic office buildings on the mainland, has 1.3 million square meters of commercial properties in the country. The company is 64% owned by the husband-and-wife founding team of Chairman Pan Shiyi and Chief Executive Zhang Xin. They will together retain a stake of about 9% in the company and become its second-largest shareholder. The offer is conditional on Chinese competition authorities granting clearance, the filing added. SOHO China said its shares would resume trading on Thursday, after being suspended since Tuesday. Founded in 1995, SOHO China went public in Hong Kong in 2007. Its shares have gained 62% in the past month and it had a market value of $2.55 billion at the stock's last close, according to Refinitiv data.
The company has been scouting for buyers for its prime commercial property assets as the founders looked to shift their focus to overseas markets. Reuters reported last year Blackstone was in exclusive talks to take SOHO China private in a $4 billion deal, but later halted the talks.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/blackstone-nears-3-billion-deal-soho-china-bloomberg-news-2021-06-16/
BOXER40 USAF C-40C returning to Tunis after a ground stop at Sigonella AB
Tunisia releases ex-presidential candidate Karoui: lawyer
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tunisia-releases-ex-presidential-candidate-karoui-lawyer/ar-AAL4pvK
embarrassing
Myanmar coup latest: Junta calls G-7 memo 'fabricated and biased'
Trade declines by billions of dollars; temporary ceasefire in ravaged Kayah State.
Wednesday, June 16
7:50 p.m. "China's response to the Myanmar coup reveals how far ASEAN's preeminent regional role has been eroded," writes Jason Tower, Myanmar country director for the United States Institute of Peace, in commentary for Nikkei Asia. "This leaves ASEAN effectively right where China and Min Aung Hlaing want it: using the group's veneer of centrality to entice others into supporting a futile and divisive process that will delay efforts to prevent the junta from establishing rule by violence," Tower argues. Read more here.
3:30 p.m. Four and half months after the junta seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, bombings are on the rise in Yangon, Mandalay, Bago and other cities in Myanmar, targeting government offices, schools and security forces. There were four times more bomb attacks in May than in April.
12:00 p.m. The junta-appointed Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds to the G-7 summit communique, saying the statement by the leaders of seven industrialized nations is based on "fabricated and biased information." The junta denies that it staged a coup on Feb. 1. "The ministry strongly objects to the inaccurate and one-sided views regarding the situation of Myanmar," the ministry says. The G-7 leaders issued a communique that "condemn[s] in the strongest terms the military coup in Myanmar, and the violence committed by Myanmar's security forces." It goes on to say that the G-7 nations "pledge our support to those advocating peacefully for a stable and inclusive democracy." It also says the G-7 governments will pursue "additional measures should they prove necessary," hinting at the possibility of additional sanctions.
10:00 a.m. Myanmar records its first variant transmissions, according to a news release from the junta-appointed Ministry of Health and Sports that was released on Tuesday. The 11 infections were found in five cities, including Yangon and Mandalay. According to laboratory results from the Defense Services Medical Research Centre on June 3, two Alpha variants, five Delta cases and four Kappa infections were found.
8:00 a.m. Exports and imports took drastic year-on-year tumbles during the period from Oct. 1, the beginning of Myanmar's fiscal year, to June 4, the state-run Global New Light newspaper reports. The value of maritime exports fell by $1.28 billion, to $4.45 billion, while that of imports dropped by $3.49 billion, to $7.82 billion, according to the junta mouthpiece, which blamed the pandemic and "political changes."
1:10 a.m. The U.S. and the European Union "intend to work together to promote a swift return to democracy in Myanmar," leaders from both sides say in a statement following a summit in Brussels.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/Myanmar-coup-latest-Junta-calls-G-7-memo-fabricated-and-biased
Korean AF KAF001 747 President Moon Jae-in leaving Madrid and heading for Barcelona
Arrived yesterday from Vienna, Austria where it was from it's 0613 depart from Cornwall
Spain, South Korea agree to strengthen ties on state visit
Spain and South Korea agreed Wednesday to open an era of cooperation and joint prosperity between the two countries. South Korean president Moon Jae-in’s three-day state visit to Spain is an opportunity for the countries to strengthen their trade and investment ties in the post-pandemic era, Moon and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. Spain and Korea committed to a $4.8 billion dollar trade agreement, which is “only the first step” in building relations between the countries, according to Moon. Moon also highlighted the importance of Spanish renewable energy companies and digital infrastructure, which he said he would “actively” support. Spain and Korea have economic and political similarities and can help each other in the recovery of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Sanchez. The South Korean president is the first foreign official to make a formal state visit to Spain since the pandemic began.
https://www.laprensalatina.com/spain-south-korea-agree-to-strengthen-ties-on-state-visit/
Brazil exporters demand $3.8 bln from banks for currency manipulation
Brazil's biggest exporters, including Vale SA (VALE3.SA) and Suzano SA (SUZB3.SA), are demanding 19 billion reais ($3.77 billion) from a series of foreign and domestic banks in a lawsuit accusing them of manipulating foreign exchange rates, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters.
Exporters' association AEB, which had initially filed the lawsuit in 2018 without specifying damages, said Brazilian exporters suffered 107.4 billion reais in losses from banks' alleged manipulation of currencies between 2010 and 2011. AEB's compensation calculations took into consideration that the association represents 20% of Brazilian exporters. Among the banks named in the lawsuit are Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ITUB4.SA), Banco Santander Brasil SA , HSBC (HSBA.L) (whose Brazilian unit was acquired by Banco Bradesco SA (BBDC4.SA) in 2016), Citigroup (C.N) and BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA). Citi said its conduct complies with rules. Bradesco declined to comment. Santander said it is still unaware of the class action, while Itau said it will contest the accusations. Other banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
AEB has not yet been able to make calculations for the period between 2008 and 2012, the full period it believes a cartel to manipulate exchange rates was in place, AEB's lawyer Bruno Maggi said. Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA) made similar allegations of manipulation in a lawsuit filed in April separately from AEB's, which represents 50 companies. Brazilian antitrust watchdog Cade is also investigating potential currency manipulation by banks. The compensation demanded by Brazilian exporters is the latest development in a global foreign exchange scandal, which has led to billions of dollars in penalties for banks worldwide. Allegations of widespread manipulation in the spot foreign exchange market were first reported in 2013. read more
Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico first reported this class action on Tuesday.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-exporters-demand-38-bln-banks-currency-manipulation-report-2021-06-16/