I Spy: The Justice Department this morning announced espionage charges against five members of China’s People’s Liberation Army, accusing them of stealing trade secrets from American companies. It’s unprecedented to remotely indict officials of a foreign government, but needless to say, the Chinese defendants won’t be showing up for trial. A report last year said hacking attacks on US companies had been engineered by a unit of the Chinese army sometimes known as the “Shanghai Crew.” This stuff goes both ways. The NSA has hacked the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.

Sunk: South Korean President Park Geun-hye made the dramatic announcement yesterday that she wants to disband the country’s coast guard and end the cozy relationship between regulators and shipping companies that many South Koreans believe led to last month’s ferry disaster. Park spoke to the country on television, beginning her speech with a bow. She apologized for the failure to save the 286 passengers who died and the 18 still missing. The ferry was routinely overloaded and the practice was overlooked by authorities. Park said, “We failed to rescue students who we could have saved. The ultimate responsibility for not properly dealing with this incident is mine.”

World: Syria’s chief of air defense Gen. Hussein Ishaq has been killed in fighting near Damascus. While air defense has not been necessary for the government, this is considered a psychological victory for rebel forces who’ve taken a pounding and suffered big strategic losses in recent months, including the surrender of the city of Homs.

Money: AT&T yesterday agreed to buy DirectTV, the satellite television company, for $48 billion. AT&T is trying to stay competitive with Comcast, which has bid $45 billion for Time Warner Cable. It’s the battle of the bigs. While increasing numbers of Americans are cutting the cord and abandoning paid television service, it’s still a very profitable business, as evidenced by your monthly bill. If you’re wondering where AT&T and Comcast will get the billions, ultimately they’re going to get if from you.

Breathe Right: California Chrome might not run the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, if he’s not allowed to wear the adhesive nasal strips that open his nostrils and help him breathe easier. Chrome has won six straight races wearing the strips. Although there’s no specific rule against the nasal strips, Chrome’s owners will have to ask the New York Racing Association for permission, and there seems to be some question whether it will be granted. Essentially, NYRA will be deciding whether to pass on hosting a possible Triple Crown win.

Monster at the Box: The latest incarnation of Godzilla earned $93 million at the box office over the weekend. Stomping on cities is very popular with males under 25. At least 28 Godzilla features have been made since the monster was created in the shadow of the nuclear ending to war with Japan. Our favorites are Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, and, of course, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. 

Leave Us Kids Alone: Former Princeton President William Bowen told graduates at Haverford College that fellow seniors who protested the originally scheduled speaker were “immature” and “arrogant.” Former UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau was made unwelcome at Haverford because his campus police had used force against “Occupy” protesters.

Dumping the speaker has been bigger than beer pong on campus this spring. Brandeis cancelled human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali because she’s been less than adoring of Islam. Former Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice was branded an “imperialist” and pulled out of her speech at Rutgers. IMF chief Christine Lagarde kissed off Smith rather than listen to the noise. It seems that the graduates don’t want to hear anything they don’t want to hear. Just wait until these kids have to listen to a boss.

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