Early last year, the greatest challenges to world peace and international security were widely seen to be threats like nuclear proliferation , terrorism and climate change . Outbreaks of infectious disease were simply not on the global security agenda. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated what a massive oversight that was; the speed and ferocity with which it has destabilized the world caught us all off guard and triggered the biggest global crisis of our time. And now global access to COVID-19 vaccines is in danger of becoming a new social divider that will only further exacerbate this. The United Nations Secretary General and the United Kingdom’s call for “ vaccine ceasefires ”, to give people living in conflict zones a chance to be protected against COVID-19, is one much-needed solution to this and an example of how vaccines can be a powerful force for peace. But while there is a long established relationship between conflict and infectious disease — Yemen and Syria as just two current examples — the link between infectious disease and global security goes much deeper. ADVERTISEMENT In terms of the potential for loss of life, disruption to society and livelihoods and its impact on economies, outbreaks of infectious disease have in fact long posed one of the biggest — and increasingly most likely — threats to global and economic security. We now need to start treating it like one. With each day of this pandemic, COVID-19 is pushing millions more people closer to poverty . When combined with unprecedented global restrictions on people’s movements , there is an increasing risk that even in the most stable democracies there is a risk of sporadic civil unrest, disorder and violence erupting. Clearly, we need to stop outbreaks from escalating into pandemics before they become threats to global security, but that will require a new way of thinking. Unlike traditional security threats, ...
Science
Lawmakers gird for spending battle over nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons are emerging as one of the top political brawls in the brewing battle over next year's defense budget. Democrats have been introducing bills to curtail costly nuclear modernization programs, as well writing letters urging President Biden Joe Biden Biden to sign executive order aimed at increasing voting access Myanmar military conducts violent night raids Confidence in coronavirus vaccines has grown with majority now saying they want it MORE to support their efforts. But Republicans are shooting back with their own letters and op-eds calling on Biden to stay the course on programs that largely originated during the Obama administration. They’re also working to pin down Pentagon nominees on where they stand. ADVERTISEMENT The back-and-forth over nuclear modernization is providing a lens into the larger fight that’s taking shape as the Biden administration prepares to present its first defense budget in the spring. Expectations are that the administration will keep funding flat. In one of the latest salvos, top Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee said Biden should boost defense spending by 3 to 5 percent, in part citing nuclear modernization needs, as well as bolstering cyber and naval capabilities. “As you prepare your administration’s fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget for submission to Congress, we urge you to reject demands from many on the left to cut or freeze defense spending at current levels,” ranking member Rep. Mike Rogers Michael (Mike) Dennis Rogers Overnight Defense: Tim Kaine moves to claw back war powers authority | Study on sexual harassment and assault in the military Commissioners tasked with scrubbing Confederate base names sworn-in at first meeting China has already infiltrated America's institutions MORE (R-Ala.) and the top Republicans on each of the panel’s subcommittees wrote in a Thursday letter to Biden. “The next four years are going to be ...
Sunday shows preview: Manchin makes the rounds after pivotal role in coronavirus relief debate
The Senate’s approval of President Biden ’s sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill is expected to dominate this Sunday’s talk shows, with a round of appearances from Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Sunday shows preview: Manchin makes the rounds after pivotal role in coronavirus relief debate Biden takes victory lap after Senate passes coronavirus relief package Schumer insists Democrats unified after chaotic coronavirus debate MORE (D-W.Va.), who over the weekend played a critical role in advancing — and delaying — the legislation. The 50-49 party-line vote on Saturday followed a more than 24-hour session in the Senate, with Democrats resisting attempts from GOP senators to make changes to the legislation. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton Hoyer Sunday shows preview: Manchin makes the rounds after pivotal role in coronavirus relief debate House to vote on revised COVID-19 bill Tuesday Senate approves sweeping coronavirus measure in partisan vote MORE (D-Md.) said in a statement Saturday that the House plans on voting on the relief bill Tuesday before sending it to Biden’s office for a signature. Biden in remarks from the White House Saturday called the Senate’s vote a “giant step forward,” in delivering relief to Americans struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. “This plan puts us on a path to beating the virus. This plan gives those families who are struggling the most the help and the breathing room they need to get through this moment. This plan gives small businesses in this country a fighting chance to survive,” Biden said. The package includes another round of stimulus checks, additional aid for state and local governments and support for reopening schools across the country. The vote came after Democrats huddled with Manchin , the lone holdout, for hours before ultimately reaching a deal on unemployment benefits Friday evening ...
Europe Staggers as Infectious Variants Power Virus Surge
MILAN - The virus swept through a nursery school and an adjacent elementary school in the Milan suburb of Bollate with amazing speed. In a matter of just days, 45 children and 14 staff members had tested positive. Genetic analysis confirmed what officials suspected: The highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in England was racing through the community, a densely packed city of nearly 40,000 with a chemical plant and a Pirelli bicycle tire factory a 15-minute drive from the heart of Milan. "This demonstrates that the virus has a sort of intelligence. ... We can put up all the barriers in the world and imagine that they work, but in the end, it adapts and penetrates them,'' lamented Bollate Mayor Francesco Vassallo. Bollate was the first city in Lombardy, the northern region that has been the epicenter in each of Italy's three surges, to be sealed off from neighbors because of virus variants that the World Health Organization says are powering another uptick in infections across Europe. The variants also include versions first identified in South Africa and Brazil. Europe recorded 1 million new COVID-19 cases last week, an increase of 9% from the previous week and a reversal that ended a six-week decline in new infections, WHO said Thursday. "The spread of the variants is driving the increase, but not only,'' said Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, citing "also the opening of society, when it is not done in a safe and a controlled manner." 50% more transmissible The variant first found in the U.K. is spreading significantly in 27 European countries monitored by WHO and is dominant in at least 10 countries: Britain, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Israel, Spain and Portugal. It is up to 50% more transmissible than the virus that surged last spring and again in the fall, making it more adept at thwarting measures that were previously effective, WHO experts warned. Scientists have concluded that ...
Pandemic Forces Route Change, Other Precautions for Iditarod Sled Dog Race
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Traveling across the rugged, unforgiving and roadless Alaska terrain is already hard enough, but whatever comforts mushers previously had in the world’s most famous sled dog race will be cast aside this year due to the pandemic. In years past, mushers would stop in any number of 24 villages that serve as checkpoints, where they could get a hot meal, maybe a shower and sleep — albeit “cheek to jowl” — in a warm building before getting back to the nearly 1,609-kilometer Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. When the race starts Sunday, north of Anchorage, they will spend the next week or so mostly camping in tents outside towns, and the only source of warmth — for comfort or to heat up frozen food and water — will come from their camp cookers. “It’s a little bit old school,” said Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach. This year’s Iditarod will be marked by pandemic precautions, a route change, no spectators, the smallest field of competitors in decades, the return of one former champion and the swan song of a fan favorite, all against the backdrop of pressure on the race and sponsors by an animal rights group. The most noticeable change this year will be no spectators. The fan-friendly ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, which draws thousands of people, has been canceled, and the actual start in Willow of the race is being moved to a boat dock 11 kilometers out to help cut down on fans who would normally attend the race start just off a main highway. Urbach is encouraging fans to watch the race start and finish live on TV or on the Internet. The route has also been shortened to 1,384 kilometers. For the first time in the race’s 49-year history, the finish line will not be in Nome. Instead, mushers will go from Willow to the mining ghost towns of Iditarod and Flat, and then back to Willow for the finish. This, Urbach notes, was the original vision of the race co-founder, the late Joe Redington. Howard Farley, 88, of Nome remembers that well. He ...
