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Superfically, at least, it is very like Afghanistan, 2021 - a tottering regime before the assault of committed para-military forces that have built capability over a number of years. Also, the power or powers (in this case, Russia and Iran) in retreat or over-extended. That has resulted in poor performance by the Assad's regimes own forces, which depended to a large extent to Iran's allies Hezbollah on the ground, Russian mercenaries and Russian air power. It has all the hallmarks of imminent regime collapse. In 10 days, the Bashar-al-Assad regime has lost control of 8 provincial capitals out of 13 (Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, Deir ez Zour, Hasakeh, Raqqa Suwayda). There are signs of a complete Russian withdrawal. The paymasters and main international supporters of the regime are over-extended and committed elsewhere. Russia is bogged down in Ukraine, and the Syrian imbroglio just shows how Vladimir Putin has made major strategic blunders, from which probably only Donald Trump can rescue him (Tartus is the main Russian naval base in Syria. Withdrawing heavy equipment there is a sign it is going to be shipped to Russia. Russia may try to bargain to keep Tartus as a strategic base). Iran and Hezbollah, which saved Assad from defeat by a popular revolt against his repression, are similarly over-extended elsewhere. Advancing from the north, and now possibly with a chance to take Damascus, are a hodge-podge of forces. The main ones are Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni jihadist offshoot of Al Qaeda and ISIS, which split from those organisations. Allied with them are the factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkey-backed disparate collection of groups. Reyyip Erdogan of Turkey definitely sees opportunity in Syria. Turkey’s Erdogan encourages Islamist rebels to continue advances as Assad regime scrambles to survive Amid a fast moving seizure of Syrian cities by a U.S.-classified Islamist terrorist movement, the power politics of the Mideast is rapidly changing quickly. www.foxnews.com In north-east Syria are the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Kurdish backed and no friend of either Turkey or Assad. But there are possibilities of them co-operating with HTS. Let's be clear. Syria has had a savage civil war with multiple atrocities, and there are no unspotted "good guys". But, if there are "good guys", the closest are the SDF, which battled ISIS and suffered more than any part of Syria. Russian and Iranian intervention were a disaster for Syria. The Assad regime, starting with al-Assad's father, have ruled Syria repressively for over 50 years. Such a regime did not deserve to survive, and it has been on foreign life-support from Russia and Iran. Having intervened, Russia and Syria (plus Turkey) tried to broker a settlement, which failed. IMO, Syria should become a federated state with autonomy for the Kurds. But that is to jump ahead. At the moment the future is unclear. Assad may even survive with a rump regime, or he may be forced to flee to whatever country will have him. Hatched Region = HTS & SNA (Turkish-backed) Yellow Region = SDF (US backed) Orange Region = Assad regime (Russian and Iranian backed) Assad was in Moscow last week, and in Tehran yesterday. He may be on a desperate round of vists to save his regime. Emerging into the light is the leader of HTS Mohammed al-Jolani, who many credit with the current success of his forces, and seems to be the only one at the moment with a vision for Syria's future. Who is Mohammad al-Jolani, the Islamist militant with a moderate approach - Times of India Middle East News: Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a radical group with Al-Qaeda roots, has adopted a milder approach to overthrow Syrian Presi timesofindia.indiatimes.com AANES = Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Erdogan is opposed to Jolani's Decentralisation vision. NYT are reporting that Iranian officials are departing Damascus, and the rebels, if they take Homs, will cut the capital from the supply route of Russian aid, which comes from the coastal region. I hadn't been paying this much attention, I assumed that Assad's forces were just temporarily unbalanced, but this does sound very serious. I am not sure that the toppling of Assad will improve the lot of ordinary Syrians. The rebels are s pretty varied lot, and some seem downright scary themselves. Could we see another Libya, where the country fractures into autonomous zones? S.U.L. said: NYT are reporting that Iranian officials are departing Damascus, and the rebels, if they take Homs, will cut the capital from the supply route of Russian aid, which comes from the coastal region. I hadn't been paying this much attention, I assumed that Assad's forces were just temporarily unbalanced, but this does sound very serious. I am not sure that the toppling of Assad will improve the lot of ordinary Syrians. The rebels are s pretty varied lot, and some seem downright scary themselves. Could we see another Libya, where the country fractures into autonomous zones? Click to expand... Really, it already has. Syria more fractured on ethnic and religious lines than Libya. A federated Syria on the lines of Iraq would be a viable solution. The departure of Assad may render it possible. But let's remind ourselves of Jeremy Bowen, Mid-East correspondent of the BBC: "The Middle East is a place where horrible things happen". We cannot rule out new horrors. But maybe there will be an opportunty when a peaceful solution is possible. But are there statesmen around to grasp it? Putin? Trump? Iranian Mullahs? Erdogan? Assad is a paper tiger at this point. Is HTS talking about a tolerant, decentralized state a Talibanesque move to keep the West out of this phase of the war? Religious minorities must be concerned. On the other hand, Erdoğan certainly doesn’t want more Syrian refugees in his country so support from him for a prolonged campaign is unlikely. In any case, it sounds like good news, for now, for the SDF and the Kurds. owedtojoy said: Really, it already has. Syria more fractured on ethnic and religious lines than Libya. A federated Syria on the lines of Iraq would be a viable solution. The departure of Assad may render it possible. But let's remind ourselves of Jeremy Bowen, Mid-East correspondent of the BBC: "The Middle East is a place where horrible things happen". We cannot rule out new horrors. But maybe there will be an opportunty when a peaceful solution is possible. But are there statesmen around to grasp it? Putin? Trump? Iranian Mullahs? Erdogan? Assad is a paper tiger at this point. Click to expand... Good point. I will continue to hope for the best and fear the worst. The post Gadaffi Libya is, as far as I am aware, in a dreadful state, so any change is drought with dangerous possibilities. The Israelis are beefing up their forces in the Golan as Assads men do a runner.. .. and the Islamists take over. If the rebels take Damascus in the next few weeks then we are looking at the prospect of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing - to God knows where.... Syrian army, Iranian militias retreat from several areas, IDF calls up troops to Golan - report The IDF announced that following a situational assessment, the military would call up additional soldiers for defensive missions in the Golan Heights. The Syrian army began retreating from the Quneitra province bordering Israel on Saturday, Israeli state broadcaster KAN News reported, citing Syrian opposition sources. Two rebels and a Syrian officer confirmed to Reuters that rebels took over the city of Quneitra in the governate of Quneitra in the Syrian Golan. Syrian army, Iranian militias retreat from several areas, IDF calls up troops to Golan - report The IDF announced that following a situational assessment, the military would call up additional soldiers for defensive missions in the Golan Heights. www.jpost.com I think the ukraine crisis was started to distract Putin from Syria. Now, after a decade it is finally bearing fruit. Assads support must be pretty thin with the speed of the rebel advance Russia & Iran were just propping him up wonder will he make a run for it? Reports are growing more pessimistic about the survival of the Assad regime. Apparently, his family are already in Russia, at least according to one report. Assad’s family ‘flees’ to Russia – but Kremlin ‘won’t come’ to Syrian leader’s rescue Putin ‘disgusted’ by fleeing Syrian army as Jihadist-led rebel forces advance on city of Homs www.telegraph.co.uk Iranians are pulling out. Iran Begins to Evacuate Military Officials and Personnel From Syria The withdrawals by one of President Bashar al-Assad’s key backers come amid a resurgent rebel offensive. www.nytimes.com Iran began to evacuate its military commanders and personnel from Syria on Friday, according to regional officials and three Iranian officials, in a sign of Iran’s inability to help keep President Bashar al-Assad in power as he faces a resurgent rebel offensive. Click to expand... Russians, too. Tartus and Latakia are their main naval bases. Adandoning them leaves a big hole in Russia's Mediterranean strategic architecture. First Signs Russia Is Evacuating Navy Ships From Syria - Naval News The Russian Navy's base at Tartus in Syria is crucial to its support of the Assad regime, and its ambitions on the world stage. The dramatic shift in the front lines in Syria now puts the base at risk. There are indications that Russia may be evacuating its naval vessels. www.navalnews.com The Russian Navy base at Tartus in Syria appears under imminent threat as the civil war turns against the Assad regime. As the front lines draw closer , Russia is already taking precautions. Russia currently has five naval ships and a submarine based in Tartus . Click to expand... Putin blaming the Syrian Army echoes the Americans blaming the Afghan Army for its swift collapse in 2021. But this is probably just the latest manifestation of what has been happening gradually since Putin invaded Ukraine. Hampered by sanctions, and a tough war on his doorstep, Putin's ability to subsidise his ally (like paying its soldiers and supplying it with weapons) must have been severely curtailed. Trump making the connection between Ukraine and Syria. Iran are probably afraid that a full-on intervention in Syria would give Israel an excuse for an full-on intervention of their own. On the back of an already-shaky ceasefire in Lebanon, that might just be the spark that sets off the powder keg. And even if they did intervene, they probably won't be able to mobilise in time before Assad's either in exile in Moscow or swinging in the wind. At that point, it becomes a war between Iran, Iran's proxies, Israel and a myriad of rebel groups supported by every country under the sun. It just isn't worth it. And they have reached the suburbs of Damascus. The regime denying Assad has fled. There was a bunch of protesters waving Hezbollah flags at a protest in the centre of Dublin earlier. What a huge defeat they have suffered against the Israelis and now against their ally in Syria. Kabuto said: Iran are probably afraid that a full-on intervention in Syria would give Israel an excuse for an full-on intervention of their own. And even if they did intervene, they probably won't be able to mobilise in time before Assad's either in exile in Moscow or swinging in the wind. At that point, it becomes a war between Iran, Iran's proxies, Israel and a myriad of rebel groups supported by every country under the sun. It just isn't worth it. Click to expand... The government have denied he has fled. The fact they have had to deny it at all is a massive indicator that the situation is very grave. The manner of his demise will give us an idea of what is in store for the country. It could be brutal and chaotic like Gadaffi. S.U.L. said: The government have denied he has fled. The fact they have had to deny it at all is a massive indicator that the situation is very grave. The manner of his demise will give us an idea of what is in store for the country. It could be brutal and chaotic like Gadaffi. Click to expand... He could be swinging in the wind by Monday morning at this rate. S.U.L. said: The government have denied he has fled. The fact they have had to deny it at all is a massive indicator that the situation is very grave. The manner of his demise will give us an idea of what is in store for the country. It could be brutal and chaotic like Gadaffi. Click to expand... Seeminly wife and kids gone to Russia and brothers gone to UAE The WSJ describing this as a ‘Saigon moment’ for Putin and Russia https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/retreat-of-syrian-forces-threatens-saigon-moment-for-russia-c17ccc22?st=2wHhyN&reflink=article_copyURL_share parentheses said: Trump making the connection between Ukraine and Syria. Click to expand... .... Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years. ..... There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia... In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED! Click to expand... I hope he realises that Putin, the man he hailed as a "genius", actually made a balls of it. You can see the spin starting that being out of Syria is of advantage to Russia and its "genius". Apparently, and I just found this out myself, the USSR and then Russia have had a base in Tartus for fifty years. It has a major role in Putin's plans to be a power in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Now that seems to be turning to ashes, mainly because Putin's capabilities were considerably less than his ambitions. PS There could be a role for the US in brokering a peace and reconstruction deal that could extend to other parts of the region. But that is not Trump's style. owedtojoy said: I hope he realises that Putin, the man he hailed as a "genius", actually made a balls of it. You can see the spin starting that being out of Syria is of advantage to Russia and its "genius". Apparently, and I just found this out myself, the USSR and then Russia have had a base in Tartus for fifty years. It has a major role in Putin's plans to be a power in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Now that seems to be turning to ashes, mainly because Putin's capabilities were considerably less than his ambitions. PS There could be a role for the US in brokering a peace and reconstruction deal that could extend to other parts of the region. But that is not Trump's style. Click to expand... Theres an argument can be made that Maidan and subsequent events were started to tie down Putin and prevent him from helping Assad. It took 10 years but the plan finally bore fruit.CS takes appraisal of issues confronting J&K Universities Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a meeting with all the Vice Chancellors and heads of line departments to expedite the resolution of issues faced by different Universities functioning here. Besides the VCs the meeting was attended by ACS, Jal Shakti Department; Principal Secretary, Finance; Principal Secretary, APD; Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education; Secretary, PWD; Secretary, Health; MD, JPDCL; MD, KPDCL; DG Codes and other concerned officers. Dulloo seized this occasion to impress upon the Vice-Chancellors of these varsities to follow the pattern of placements their students are able to fetch once they complete their courses. He suggested to create online platforms for this purpose as this would guide us in developing relevant skilling courses based on the feedback of both industry and alumni. He advised them to develop crash courses for capacity building of the government servants working in different departments. He also asked for taking documentation initiatives pertaining to the ideas of innovations, patents or start-ups emanating from these higher educational institutions of the UT. While taking assessment of the issues faced by these institutions the Chief Secretary impressed upon the line departments to make concerted efforts in coordination with the Universities to iron out issues hindering their process of development. He took University wise stock of issues faced by these institutions and took up the same with the concerned departments for their early resolution. He also provided instant directions necessary for making the process swift and time-bound. The issues that were raised by the Universities includes those related to land transfer, creation of posts, seeking additional Capex grants, augmentation of existing infrastructure, construction of hostel blocks along with several other individual necessities of these institutions. The Universities which participated in this session includes University of Kashmir, University of Jammu, Cluster University Srinagar, Cluster University Jammu, Central University of Kashmir, Central University of Jammu, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Islamic University of Science & Technology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) Kashmir and Jammu.
Everyone knows the best accompaniment to Thanksgiving turkey, and all the trimmings, is the one thing that makes this holiday truly special: wall-to-wall live sports! I'm going to watch Thanksgiving Day sports on TV – and not just the NFL – around the clock and you can join me on my streaming odyssey with this, my (pretty ambitious) 24-hour Thanksgiving viewing schedule. Below, I've compiled all the best Thanksgiving Day games, from football to soccer , boxing, golf , snooker and cricket – along with the best Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals for each streaming service you'll need. Ready? Here we go... THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2024 (All times ET) 2:30 a.m. South Africa vs Sri Lanka – Test Cricket You're not going to find much sports on TV at this crazy hour but if you insist on getting up seriously early on Thanksgiving because you've forgotten to brine the turkey or you just can't sleep, then let's try a little gentle Test cricket from sunny South Africa as we pull ourselves together. It's Day 2 of the second Test but you probably don't know how the game works anyway, so who cares? Just enjoy the sound of the clunk of leather on willow as you rub the sleep from your eyes. Don't worry, the proper sports start soon. Willow TV via Sling TV ( save 50% – $10 for your first month ) 5 a.m. Eastern SC vs Sydney – AFC Champions League soccer Look, U.S. athletes are still asleep, so sports from the other side of the world are all we're getting right now. You've just managed two and a half hours of cricket, how bad can a soccer match between a team from Hong Kong and Australia really be? Maybe don't answer that. Look, it's this or Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Dynamic Herb Cebu. Believe me, this is the better option. Sydney F.C. have some players that used to be good! Paramount+ ( save 76% – $2.99/mo for your first two months ) 6:45 a.m. Live racing from Taunton – U.K. horse racing OK. Everyone else in the house is going to start getting up soon. This might be our last chance of watching some pretty fringe sports before the late evening. This race meeting from Somerset, U.K. (not far from where the summer Glastonbury Festival takes place) is going to take us to a seriously muddy corner of Great Britain while we eat our cornflakes. Just thank your lucky stars you're not trackside in the cold and you can switch over whenever you like. If you need to spice things up, there's always the option of checking out the odds... Free on ITVX in the U.K. ( save 71% on NordVPN and watch from anywhere ) 8 a.m. Spanish Open – Ladies European Tour golf I'd like to tell you that this is going to be a classic but it's Day 1 of the Spanish Open and, with Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu or other U.S. athletes not involved, it's going to be one for the purists. If British horse racing didn't put you to sleep, then this one might. That or maybe get to peeling the potatoes. You've got an hour. There's a big fight next... Fox via Sling TV ( get your first month from only $20 ) 9 a.m. Gib vs Slim – Misfit boxing The biggest YouTuber beef since KSI vs Logan Paul gets underway at Misfit 019 in Qatar today. American Slim Albaher is unbeaten (7-0) and fights, having served up a plateful of punches against Salt Papi (Nathaniel Bustamente to his friends) last time out. Saudi AnEnson Gib, with just the one defeat to Jake Paul on his record, returns after a unanimous decision vs Jarvis back in 2023. The sport of kings or boxing's latest freakshow? Not sure, but it's a great excuse to crack into the drinks and snacks supplies. DAZN ( save up to 50% for Black Friday ) 11 a.m. UK Championship Snooker – Last 16 The Gibs vs Slim main event doesn't actually get into the ring until 5 p.m.. If the quality of the undercard has the consistency of my mother-in-law's gravy, then we might want to switch between the boxing and the snooker championships in the U.K.. It's one of the big three events in the snooker calendar and, if you've never watched the masters of the baize before, then give it a try. It's a game of extreme skill like no other and a very nice pace for background viewing if your guests are insisting on actually talking to you. Matchroom.live (Fans in the U.K. can watch for free on BBC iPlayer ) 12:30 p.m. Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions – NFL Ah, finally, an American sport! Customarily little more than stuffing, the Lions are the best team in the NFL right now, and look primed to break a seven-year Thanksgiving Day losing streak this time around. While Thomas Brown has already had a positive impact on Caleb Williams, it’s the Bears defense that’s largely to blame for their five-game skid. You might want to think about putting the turkey in the oven... CBS via Fubo ( reduced from $79.99 to $49.99 for Black Friday ) 1:30 p.m. South Carolina vs Iowa State – College Football Or, you could watch College Football . UCLA ended top-ranked South Carolina’s historic winning streak last weekend courtesy of a 77-62 stunner, which means the body-language and hindsight merchants will be out in force for the Thanksgiving clash with No.8 Iowa State. This is a whole different kind of pressure for the national champions. Fox via Sling TV ( get your first month from only $20 ) 3 p.m. Man Utd vs Bodo/Glimt – Europa League soccer Talking of turkey, never underestimate Manchester United's ability to gobble up a smaller team. Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt will be dreaming of stuffing the Red Devils but new coach Ruben Amorim, who led Sporting Lisbon to a sensational 4-1 thrashing of Man City a matter of weeks ago, will want to improve on his first game in charge which was a rather bland 1-1 draw against Ipswich. Paramount Plus ( save 76% – $2.99/mo for your first two months ) 3 p.m. Tottenham vs Roma – Europa League soccer Getting hungry? There's yet more European football to be served up – namely a mouthwatering showdown between England's Tottenham Hotspur and Italy's Roma. Spurs' last six games have included wins over Man City (twice) and Aston Villa, and defeats to Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Galatasaray. My point? Ange Postecoglou’s men aren’t so much inconsistent as mind-bogglingly volatile. There's no telling what we'll see today but expect some great entertainment! Paramount Plus ( save 76% – $2.99/mo for your first two months ) 4:30 p.m. Giants vs Cowboys – NFL My turkey is burnt to a crisp but that's ok, because my butt is well and truly glued to the couch for another helping of NFL. Dallas might be the 14th seed in the NFC (a distant 3rd in the NFC East) with seven games to play, but their near-miraculous victory over the Commanders has given them a huge lift. Better yet for Texas, the hapless Giants have incomprehensibly picked Tommy DeVito ahead of Drew Lock in the aftermath of Daniel Jones’ departure. Fox via Sling TV in selected cities ( get your first month from only $20 ) 8:20 p.m. Dolphins vs Packers – NFL The Dolphins looked as lifeless as my half-eaten sweet potato pie a month ago. But Tua Tagovailoa’s return has been the ultimate second helping, delivering three straight wins and reviving their playoff hopes. Now the 8th seed in the AFC, they’re preparing to face the NFC’s 6th-seeded Packers in what’s shaping up to be the Thanksgiving Day game of the year. But while the Dolphins are heating up, there’s one thing they can’t seem to handle: the cold. And Lambeau Field? That place is going to be colder than my Aunt Linda’s casserole that she insists on bringing every year. NBC via Sling TV (first month half-price) in selected cities / Fubo ( save $30 ) 11: 30 p.m. Australian Open – DP World Tour golf If the game winds down in the fourth quarter with either the Dolphins or Green Bay running away with it, you might want a change channel ahead of the final whistle. The good news is that sports on the other side of the planet are picking up about now. The DP World Tour is Down Under for the Australian Open. Ryggs Johnston, of the USA, is one of the early tees on what's Friday over there. The 24-year-old former Arizona Sun Devil is a relative newbie to the pro tour but it's been a season of promise so far. Maybe a little Thanksgiving spirit on his side is all he needs to push for something special? Peacock ( save 76% – get a whole year for $19.99 ) 12 a.m. Katompa vs Sabelo – South African boxing Still with me? Good, because South African boxing is about to be the best thing you've never watched. 'African Nights' pitches undefeated Congolese prodigy Ardy 'The Eagle' Katompa (6-0) against South Africa's Sabelo Ngebinyana (15-9-2) in a huge super-bantamweight bust-up at Sandton Shui Hall, Johannesburg. A win for Katompa could set the young buck on the path to boxing superstardom. DAZN ( save up to 50% for Black Friday ) Ok, it's bedtime. But there's a ton more Thanksgiving sports on TV this weekend and like 'The Eagle', I don't plan on throwing in the towel. Join me tomorrow if you think you can go again... 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What to know about a Wisconsin man who faked his own death and fled to Eastern EuropeStill aiming to become a global leader in AI, the United States announced it will be moving forward on initiatives to incorporate generative AI into the inner workings of the Department of Defense (DoD)— just as AI's creators pitch their offerings to major defense contractors . Announced today, the office will be moving ahead with a new $100 million AI Rapid Capabilities Cell "focused on accelerating DoD adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence," including generative AI. It will be led by the department's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The announcement comes as a result of Task Force Lima, a Department of Defense generative AI task force established in 2023 to "assess, synchronize, and employ generative AI capabilities" in the DoD. "DIU's role is bringing the very best commercial tech to bear to meet critical warfighter problems with the focus, speed, and scale required to meet the strategic imperative," said DIU Director Doug Beck. "The result will help us scale the tech faster and more reliably, and will also help change the way the Department thinks about software development and delivery tempo for the future." The department's AI applications will include "decision support, operational planning, logistics, weapons development and testing, uncrewed and autonomous systems, intelligence activities, information operations, and cyber operations," as well as administrative purposes. Under the Biden Administration, the U.S. endorsed the international Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy, a best practices initiative to explore the development of AI's military capabilities — despite already using the technology in warfare applications. In a Nov. 2023 statement, the Department of Defense announced its intention to explore "the responsible military use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems." AI watchdogs have warned of the accelerated use of AI in warfare and its global repercussions. One month prior, the White House announced an extensive regulatory executive order outlining risk and safety standards for AI, cybersecurity provisions, and various guidelines that spanned the Department of Commerce, Homeland Security, and Energy. The administration announced even more AI initiatives soon after , including the creation of a United States AI Safety Institute (US AISI). This was later followed by a warning to Big Tech to curb the spread of synthetic, AI-generated content. While it's uncertain whether President-elect Donald Trump will uphold the Biden administration's national and international AI commitments, the soon-to-be sworn in leader has already announced his pick for a position he's calling the "White House AI Czar." As for his picks for the country's defense leaders, Trump is rumored to be eyeing Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Shankir for a top spot in the Pentagon — Shankir is a proponent of the Department of Defense's rapid adoption of commercial tech, including AI. "The DoD has an imperative to responsibly pursue the adoption of generative AI models while identifying proper protective measures and mitigating national security risks that may result from issues such as poorly managed training data," said DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer Dr. Radha Plumb. "We must also consider the extent to which our adversaries will employ this technology and seek to disrupt our own use of AI-based solutions."
As usual, the disclaimer: In this article, I share my personal experiences navigating Japan’s age obsession as a hafu woman in her late 20s. For further context, please refer to my previous articles on being hafu in Japan and dating as a hafu . Age is more than just a number in Japan — it’s a narrative. For someone like me, with a multifaceted cultural identity, these norms around aging add another layer to an already complex relationship with self-perception and acceptance. Let’s start with the “Christmas cake rule” in Japan. While perhaps not a rule per se, it’s a well-known expression. For those unfamiliar, in the 1990s and 2000s, women were often expected to marry young. Those who remained unmarried past 25 were metaphorically referred to as “(unsold) Christmas cakes ,” referencing items unsold after the 25th. If a woman reached 26 without marrying, she was considered “too old.” The logic? Just as no one would buy a Christmas cake after December 25, society implied that no one wanted a woman over 25 — both were seen as “left on the shelf,” so to speak. Charming, right? Though this idea has fortunately faded, especially with Japan’s falling marriage and birth rates, I still occasionally hear the expression. I have friends and cousins who feel the pressure to find a partner as they age, often enduring match-making and blind dates, knowing others are watching. The saddest part of the “Christmas cake” analogy is its targeting of women alone. While I’ve had family members and even distant acquaintances say things like, “You’re not getting any younger,” my male friends and family members face much less marriage pressure, in comparison. Luckily, I let it go in one ear and out the other. Why should I listen to this nonsense? Am I “old goods” just because I’m in my late 20s and unmarried? It’s laughable, though still unpleasant to hear. Taboo Topic Is It Not? Having lived in the UK for most of my life, I was taught that asking someone their age is considered very rude. So, I felt a certain shock upon returning to Japan, where people openly and, I might add, obsessively ask how old I am. Japanese women don’t seem to ask each other as much. However, I remember when I was younger, experiencing jealousy and malicious comments from women as if my young age made me a competitor. Yet then, as now, it’s typically men who feel comfortable asking my age—and often in a not-so-pleasant, sleazy manner. In fact, my reason for writing on this topic stems from recent personal experiences. Ones that have occurred a bit too often. How old are you? In bars or social settings, the first question is always, “Where are you from?” They usually guess that I’m fully Western, which I’ve come to expect. The second question? “How old are you?” Before I even answer, they begin guessing. Once, two bartenders and a customer turned my age into a guessing game, with estimates hovering around the mid-30s. When they found out I was half Japanese, the guesses suddenly dropped to the mid-20s. I was told it was because my “strong facial features,” “aura,” and “confidence” made them think I was older. Right. So, apparently, not being shy, acting “cute,” or looking fully Japanese equates to “looking old.” I was left speechless. I told my Japanese friend about this incident, and she was appalled. She was shocked at how rude they were and said that it wasn’t normal for men to start guessing a woman’s age in Japan. She shared that she’d never experienced anything similar and that men wouldn’t dare try to guess her age, especially as I was clearly showing discomfort. I also confided in my Japanese mother. She told me that she was rarely asked about her age because people understand it’s considered impolite. She emphasized that in Japan, asking a woman her age is often avoided due to cultural sensitivities around age and youth. This led me to wonder... is it because I’m not fully Japanese that men feel more comfortable openly asking my age, despite it being rude? Hierarchy & Formality Click here to read more.Kirklees Council set to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent and agree Dewsbury Blueprint plans as budget proposals revealed
China's export juggernaut is thundering ahead but as the empires strike back, will the mainland's kings of involution, who have conquered the world with their cheap electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, retail goods, clothing and more, come crashing down to earth? Or, is the world simply unable to live without them? China's exporters have disrupted world trade with their distinctive competitive ethos - to win at all costs - that's come to be known as involution in the mainland. But the stakes are getting higher, with the European Union and the US upping the ante in their trade war against China. Last month, European, Canadian and American business and trade officials got together in a huddle in Brussels to discuss ways to tackle "global non-market overcapacity." EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told the forum that overcapacity was a major threat that needed to tackled "head on" with a unified response. To put it into perspective, the EU and US consider China as a non-market economy as it does not operate on the principles of supply and demand. The US slapped 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs in September, and Canada followed suit in October to the dismay of the Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta, which said that while the government is trying to encourage Canadians into EVs, it was closing doors to a "high-quality, low-cost option." Canada has also slapped a 25 percent tariff on Chinese aluminum and steel, US president-elect Donald Trump is threatening "an additional 10 percent tariff, above any additional tariffs" on all imports from China, which were worth US$427 billion (HK$3.3 trillion)last year, after previously touting a tariff in excess of 60 percent, and Turkey has a 40 percent tariff on Chinese EVs in place. But while the West frets and fumes about the existential threat to their own manufacturers, their consumers have been embracing cheap Chinese goods with great fervor, as data shows. ELECTRIC REVOLUTION Involution has become a catch-all term to describe price wars, unhealthy competition, overcapacity, deflation, the 996 culture of working from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week, fewer career prospects and even the grueling education system that burns out youngsters. China is well aware of that oversupply and price wars are fueling deflationary risks, and its leaders have repeatedly urged manufacturers and retailers to "avoid the vicious competition of involution." Perhaps no other industry epitomizes excessive involution in China better than green energy, with manufacturers of electric cars, solar panels and batteries producing more than what the market needs and selling excess stock overseas at dirt-cheap prices. Chinese EV makers are engaged in a bruising price war at home and 80 percent of the 118-odd brands are likely to fall by the wayside by the end of the decade, according to AlixPartners. Around 11 EV majors including SAIC, Chery, BYD (1211) and Great Wall Motor (2333), meanwhile, are battling for dominance in Europe by offering cars at much cheaper prices than local manufacturers. The average price of a European-made battery EV was around EUR47,000 (HK$385,000) in 2023 while the average cost of a feature-packed Chinese EV was a tad under EUR30,000. Chinese battery EV exports into the EU grew by nearly 1,700 percent between 2020 and 2023, with sales worth EUR11 billion last year, according to a report titled "The EU's drive on China: What EV tariffs mean for Europe," published by the Centre for European Reform, a think tank. One of the reasons behind the phenomenal success is that Europe's consumers are increasingly opting for Chinese EVs as they are "more affordable - yet technologically competitive," according to the report's author, CER associate fellow and economist Anton Spisak. The report also states that it remains to be seen whether the tariffs will impact prices or make Europe's EV sector competitive, and warns that EU consumers will be "left in the backseat." China's EV firms have also taken their price war to Thailand, where they dominate 80 percent of the market, with Great Wall Motor slashing prices by 18 percent in October and Changan retaliating with a whopping 20 percent cut in November. BYD already has a plant in Thailand and SAIC Motor, Great Wall Motor, Neta, Aion and Chery are all following suit. BYD, MG, Guangzhou Automobile (2238), Seres, Neta, and BYD's Denza have also opened shop in Hong Kong. Everbright Securities International securities strategist Kenny Ng Lai-yin is not too worried about US EV tariffs as China barely sells any electric cars in America. He worries more about the EU hiking EV tariffs by up to 47.6 percent, negotiations for which are still ongoing, but believes exporters will continue their overseas push amid China's economic slowdown. However, EVs made by some Chinese firms are expected to remain cost-competitive despite the higher taxes, thanks to their better control of the supply chain and technological innovation, says UBS Investment Bank's head of Internet research in China Kenneth Fong Kam-chung. Also, plants set up outside China would help avoid higher tariffs, such as those set up by BYD and Nio (9866) in Hungary. However, these investments are not without risks: last month, Leapmotor (9863) halted production of a second EV model with partner Stellantis in Poland after Beijing told automakers to halt investments in European states that backed the higher tariffs. CHARGING AHEAD China dominates the global battery market with the value of exports rising by 28 percent to US$65 billion in 2023 from a year earlier. The EU claims that Chinese EVs benefit from cheap subsidized batteries and France, Germany and Sweden are urging the new European Commission to nurture the battery sector and avoid being over reliant on China. Now, the higher tariffs could force Chinese battery firms to accelerate their expansion overseas, with battery giant CATL building a second European factory in Hungary. China also commands a 98 percent share of the EU solar panels market, with the EU importing EUR19.7 billion worth of photovoltaic panels from China in 2023. The EU and US accuse Beijing of subsidizing the industry and flooding the world with cheap solar exports, which were worth a record US$49 billion to China last year. In response, the US has doubled tariffs on solar panels to 50 percent while the EU is probing the alleged subsidies. The mainland's solar market, however, remains awash with overcapacity and cut-throat price wars have led to a wave of closures, with new solar projects diving by 75 percent in the first half of the year. CONSUMER CONQUESTS Chinese food, phone and fashion exporters are also flattening the competition overseas. After beating Foodpanda and Deliveroo in Hong Kong in 10 months flat, food delivery giant Meituan's (3690) Keeta has now entered Saudi Arabia and aims to expand into Bahrain, the UAE and Jordan. Luckin Coffee, which beat Starbucks in the mainland with 9.9 yuan (HK$10.5) coffee coupons, is opening three stores in Hong Kong while bubble tea giant Mixue Bingcheng selling desserts and beverages at prices ranging from HK$9 to HK$20 compared to market rates of HK$25 to HK$46. Mixue is now the largest beverage chain in Vietnam with 1,000 stores and has also swept through Indonesia and Laos. Among phone manufacturers, Oppo is boosting production as it set sights on South America. It was the top smartphone brand in Indonesia in July-September quarter with a 22 percent market share and the No 2 brand in India with a 13.9 percent share over the same period, data from Canalys and IDC reveal. Meanwhile, the EU is targeting Chinese online retailers like Temu and fashion giant Shein, who have won over European buyers en masse in the absence of taxes on low-cost imports, and wants to scrap all exemption for packages valued at below EUR150 from 2028. ADVANTAGE CHINA Hong Kong Baptist University associate professor Billy Mak Sui-choi believes Chinese exporters should focus more on markets without trade barriers. There are more than 150 nations outside of the EU and US, he points out, adding that feature-laden Chinese EVs hold the edge as they offer more bang for the buck. Morgan Stanley's chief China economist Robin Xing Ziqiang says overseas expansion can only ease part of the pressure on China's manufacturers, as markets such as South East Asia are not as large as mainland China's. Nevertheless, he believes Chinese enterprises will continue to expand overseas for survival. The Mercator Institute for China Studies last month released its Global China Competition Tracker, tracing the various measures taken by some of the world's 50 largest economies over China's exports. While many had curbs in place ranging from moderate to strict, it also showed, perhaps unsurprisingly, that developed nations like Australia and New Zealand and developing ones like Bangladesh and Tanzania were "doing little or nothing and instead embracing the cheap goods that China's overcapacities and subsidies bring to their economy." China may be locked in a vicious cycle of increasing output and diminishing returns, but with its exporters showing no signs of slowing down, and buyers across the world voting with their wallets in favor of their staple of Chinese cars, smartphones and consumer goods, it will perhaps take a lot more than tariffs and trade wars to wean the world off Made in China, at least in the foreseeable future.
Sad day for markets: Art Cashin dead at 83The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Katsina State has expressed concern over proposed 2025 budget for the health sector, saying it is inadequate. The Chairman of the coalition, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdullahi, expressed the coalition’s worry in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Katsina. READ ALSO: Anambra police nab kidnapping suspects, rescue victims The state Governor, Dikko Radda, had on Nov. 25, presented a proposed budget of more than N682.2 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the state’s House of Assembly. The budget breakdown indicates that education has the highest allocation of more than N95.9 billion, while Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has over N81.8 billion. However, the Ministry of Health has over N43.8 billion as proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year, occupying 8.8 per cent of the budget. READ ALSO: Court nullifies NBC’s 2.5% annual gross income demand on MultiChoice Though the coalition commended the allocation for education, agriculture and other critical sectors, it noted that the health sector needed to be looked at again. Abdullahi said “with the rampant cases of different illnesses in the state and increasing need for healthcare services, the sector needs more funds to ensure serious attention for the citizens. “Health as one of the critical sectors of social protection which focuses mostly on the public, especially the vulnerable, deserves the highest allocation. READ ALSO: Bill for FCT Satellite Towns Development Commission passes second reading at Senate “We are, therefore, appealing to the state assembly to consider an upward review of the sector’s proposed budget during its scrutiny.” He stressed the need for more investments in social protection sectors, especially health, education, agriculture and other sectors.
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