After China accused Beijing of destroying the shoal’s aquatic setting, the Philippines launched a protest against China on May 20. National Security Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya stated at a press conference that” we are alarmed and worried about the situation that is happening there.” Malaya claimed that there was now growingContinue Reading
Ebrahim Raisi, leader of Iran, was reported dead on May 19, 2024 when his plane crashed, and his passing will be a serious blast to the country’s conventional leadership.
While search and rescue team – hampered by rains, fog, forests and mountains – searched for aircraft, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the nation” if beg” for Raisi.
As an expert on Iran’s local politicians and foreign policy, I think Tehran’s problem does go beyond the crash’s possible mortal tragedy. The change that it will force will have significant effects on an Egyptian state that is consumed by regional and international conflict and local unrest.
Since the Persian Revolution of 1979, Raisi has served as Khamenei’s top adviser and protégé. As highest head, Khamenei holds the position of supreme authority in the Islamic Republic.
Prior to taking office as president in 2021, Raisi held various positions in the court system that the supreme chief ruled over. He served on the commission that sentenced hundreds of political prisoners to death in 1988 as a attorney and at the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq War.
He was given the nickname” Butcher of Tehran” after the deaths, which led to sanctions from the United States and condemnation from the UN and other international human rights organizations.
Since 2006, Raisi served on the Council of Professionals, a system that chooses and supervises the highest leader. And despite being seen as lacking personality and beauty, it was thought that Raisi, 63, was being groomed to achieve the 85- year- ancient Khamenei as high leader.
Domestically, Raisi’s president was both the cause and effect of a legality issue and cultural conflict for the program.
After receiving numerous prospect disqualifications from the Guardian Council, which reviews prospects, and having a generally low voter turnout of less than 50 %, he dubiously won the 2021 presidential vote.
Raisi and his administration reinvigorated the ethics authorities and put religious restrictions on world to appease his liberal base. Women, Life, Freedom protests were sparked by Mahsa Amini’s dying in police custody in 2022 as a result of this plan.
The presentations proved to be the largest and longest in the Islamic Republic’s almost 50- time past. They even resulted in extraordinary state repression, with over 500 activists killed and lots more hurt, disappeared and detained.
Raisi resisted the limitations and crackdowns throughout the protests, showing his devotion to the ruling party and the traditional elites.
However, under Raisi, Iran’s business continued to suffer due to a mixture of federal incompetence and problem, along with U. S. sanctions that have intensified in response to Tehran’s regional repression and international provocations.
Under Raisi’s presidency, there were changes in Iran’s regional and international roles.
As supreme leader, Khamenei has the final say on foreign policy. However, Raisi presided over a state that continued on the verge of conflict with its allies, particularly the United States and Israel.
Tehran has veered further away from any notion of rapprochement with the West, whether it is as a result of a choice or a fecundity.
Under Raisi, Iran has been reluctant to resume the nuclear deal because of increased US sanctions. Instead, Iran has increased uranium enrichment, blocked international inspectors, and become a nuclear threshold state.
Raisi also continued the” Look to the East” policy of his predecessor, Hassan Rouhani. He and his government sought further rapprochement with China to accomplish this. By facilitating a diplomatic agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023 and importing Iranian oil, Beijing has provided an economic lifeline.
Meanwhile, under Raisi’s presidency, Iran continued to serve as an ally and funder of anti- US and anti- West conflicts, delivering combat drones to Russia for use in Ukraine and providing arms to various regional proxies in the Middle East.
Under Khamenei and Raisi’s leadership, Iran has maintained a delicate balance between allowing its regional proxies to counter Israel and the United States and avoiding a direct confrontation with both nations, who are traditionally superior foes, since the war started on October 7, 2023.
In retaliation for a strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, the Islamic Republic launched drones and missiles directly at Israel in April, breaking the previous pattern in that country.
Raisi has long supported the Iranian regime in an effort to further distance itself from the internationally recognized order and form alliances with nations that are similarly hostile to the West, despite not being directly in charge of foreign policy.
Raisi and his team were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate the dam in the nearby Azerbaijan at the time of the helicopter crash. After taking a ambiguous, if not antagonistic, position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which ended in a convincing victory for Azerbaijan in late 2023, Iran presumably wanted to enmity itself with Azerbaijan.
In Raisi, Supreme Leader Khamenei had a longtime loyalist, regime insider and a prospective successor.
Under the Iranian constitution, any death of a president results in the first vice president serving as interim president. Mohammad Mokhber, a politician with a lot of the same qualities as Raisi and who has been a prominent member of the Iran team in the negotiations over weapons deals with Moscow, would be the victim.
Within 50 days, Iran would also need to hold presidential elections. Who would the supreme leader choose as a potential successor and future president remains to be seen. Given the internal and external pressure they are under, it is all but certain that Tehran’s conservatives will continue to march the wagons.
Domestically, this could take the form of greater state repression and election manipulation. I think it could mean strengthening ties with aspiring allies and pursuing a calculated confrontation against traditional adversaries, both regionally and internationally.
Eric Lob is associate professor of politics and international relations, Florida International University
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Biden ‘s very large tariffs on a number of Chinese-made products were the big financial news this year. Those taxes appear to have acted as a motivator for a bunch of different nations — India, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, the Union, etc. — to contemplate their own tariffs on China.
In other words, the majority of the world is now aware that the Second China Shock represents a threat to their own production sectors and is acting appropriately.
This is a great, momentous change. Some people thought I had overstated my claim a month and a half ago when I declared  that the global economic system that had predominated for the past two to three decades was now crumbling. Also move critics are now forced to acknowledge that we are entering a new era.
What the age of decoupling, opposition, and separation means for the earth, and how to regulate it properly, will be the subject of a huge amount of discussion and analysis in the years to come. But for the moment, I think that this intriguing problem deserves more thought: Why is China exporting so far goods?  ,
Most of the innovative trade barriers and business plans that we see popping up all over the world are either directly or indirectly China- related. China’s enormous and expanding trade surplus in created goods is directly addressed by the new tariffs:
There are various theories floating around about why Chinese goods like cars, chips, metal, solar panels, equipment, and other goods are flooded with international markets. The principles are n’t typically mutually exclusive — it could be some mixture of any or all of these. However, I believed it would be helpful to compile all the arguments into a single listing.
In the 2000s, Chinese imports soared even as the Chinese market was even powering forward with rapid progress. The two exchanged hands. China’s export are booming even as the market is slowing down, which is unique in the 2020s. Official statistics say that the country is still growing at a fairly healthy rate of around 5 %, independent estimates put the number , closer to 1.5 %, or , even 0 %:
The cause of this sluggishness is a massive real property collapse. Real estate and related fields, such as finance and construction, now occupy China’s economy by combining their jobs program, individual savings accounts, and local government funding. In 2021 the economy started to experience a sharp decline that is , by no means over.
A significant amount of paper household wealth has been destroyed as a result of the slowdown, which has also led to a significant accumulation of essentially hidden bad debts within the banking system. This could lead to a rise in unemployment. In the past, China’s government responded to economic shocks by pumping up real estate, but that is n’t working now.
Therefore, it makes sense to induce another sector of the economy. The only way to keep young Chinese people employed is to manufacture a lot of stuff, especially since Xi Jinping does n’t seem to believe that consumption and service industries make a country strong.
Since real property began to fall, there has been a large surge in commercial lending in China. A large part of this has been used as a covert rescue for troubled industries, but a large part has been devoted to manufacturing:
Even if this expansion is n’t entirely effective from a supply-side or productivity standpoint, it might be worthwhile from a demand-side perspective, i .e., keeping Chinese people working so they do n’t become angry with the government.
So this is the first concept: Commercial growth as a replacement for the real estate growth.
There is a minute, closely related concept that is typically referred to as “overcapacity.” In a nutshell, the plan is that China’s use has slowed down as a result of the real estate bust, but due to government grants and other factors, production has n’t slowed.
Therefore, Chinese manufacturers who are paid to make goods but are unable to do so directly will simply dump their goods on the global market and hope someone buys them. In his most recent conversation, National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard cited overcapacity as the main cause of the new taxes.
In part, China’s overcapacity is achieved by firms selling at or , below cost—enabled by policy decisions that badly depress capital, labor, and energy costs…By , undercutting world prices , for these goods, Chinese policy- powered overcapacity disrupts the required demand signal that would enable market- based investment to be practical.
It’s pretty difficult to tell whether this is actually taking place. In a statement titled” Overcapacity at the Gate,” The Rhodium Group claims that power usage at Chinese factories in subsidized business has significantly decreased. That suggests that Chinese businesses have built a bunch of companies they’re never using — quite common for a nation in a downturn.
However, if they are n’t using the factories, they ca n’t use them either to fulfill export orders, at least not yet. Therefore, it’s still unclear why they should start using the free manufacturer capacity rather than simply shutting it down.
One possible answer is” subsidies”. A Chinese automaker that should have gone bankrupt but was saved by federal aid appeared in a fantastic content by Yoko Kubota and Clarence Leong in the WSJ:
In 2019, a little-known Chinese carmaker named Zhido went bankrupt after Beijing cut subsidies for the small electric vehicles it produced, causing its sales to decline. Despite mounting mounting pressure on China to increase its production, the government continues to support Zhido and various manufacturers, encouraging unprofitable carmakers to maintain producing as officials attempt to bolster its position and expand China’s role in the global electric vehicle industry.  ,
This is not a common circumstance in China. A CSIS statement from 2022-2022 attempted to assess China’s full support to manufacturing companies, and the results were eye-poppingly large:
But a lot of overcapacity perhaps been driven by these incentives.
However, there is actually a second, much more innocuous, policy-relevant cause for overcapacity. A nation with a sizable local market may experience rapid consumption swings, making it difficult for producers to adjust their manufacturing plans to meet the changes in demand.
This can result in swings in imports and exports that look great from an international standpoint but are actually small compared to the local marketplace.
For instance, sales of Chinese domestic vehicles have recently decreased, likely as a result of the country’s sluggish economy. Even though auto exports account for only one-sixth of domestic consumption, this slowdown, coupled with roughly flat production, has led to a sizable percentage increase in exports:
Similar patterns can be found in industries like steel and bp, among others.
In fact, China accounts for far more than countries like Japan or Germany in terms of exports, fewer than China does. But because China is just so huge, what look like small swings to China are huge, disruptive swings for other countries around the world.
It’s difficult to tell in the short term whether overcapacity is being caused by subsidies or simply by companies adjusting quickly to declines in domestic demand. These are referred to as” structural” versus “temporary” overcapacity by The Rhodium Group.
But both versions manifest as a seemingly huge flood of cheap Chinese goods glutting world markets and threatening other countries ‘ manufacturing industries.
Of course, China’s leaders are fiercely opposed to the notion that their nation is experiencing overcapacity. In , a speech on April 30, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian argued that China’s exports simply represent the country taking its natural place as the world’s manufacturer:
The” China overcapacity” claim may seem like an economic one, but in reality, it is based on false logic and ignores the fundamental idea of comparative advantage for more than 200 years in Western economics. All nations produce and export goods using their own comparative advantages, and this is the nature of international trade.
Lin is slightly misapplying the theory of comparative advantage here. I give you soybeans because I grow them, you give me cars because you’re good at making cars, and so on. Compare the advantages. It ca n’t explain why you give me cars in exchange for IOUs. It’s unbalanced. Trade surpluses and deficits require ideas that go beyond comparative advantage.
Lin’s underlying theory is that China’s top manufacturing enterprise is what it does best, and that other nations should do the same amount as China does. In the end, China may balance out trade, leaving other nations turning to farming and financial services, and so on.
This is n’t  , such , a far- fetched notion. The majority of the world’s manufactured goods were produced in Europe, the US, and a few countries in East Asia during the 20th century, making it possible for manufacturing to be very geographically concentrated. China’s vast internal market is a major asset that no other nation possesses ( except perhaps a future India ).
China has a vast number of consumers, who will tend to prefer Chinese products ( out of cultural proximity, even without taking nationalism into account ). Chinese manufacturers can reach a vast  scale, lowering their costs in comparison to those of businesses in other nations, even before they export anything.
Without having to send numerous parts and materials abroad, China also has access to a vast network of suppliers and manufacturers for every kind of manufacturing. And it tends to create , clustering effects, where all the EV makers or chipmakers want to go to China because that’s where the greatest numbers of their competitors are located, companies like to poach employees and appropriate ideas from their competitors.
Therefore, it’s possible that China’s enormous export surge is merely a transitory stage in a long-term shift in global manufacturing to its original location. Chinese economic planners may believe that the best way to promote their nation’s growth is to accelerate this unavoidable shift:
” China wants to be the Amazon of countries — Amazon is the everything store, China wants to be the ‘ make everything’ country”, said Damien Ma of US think tank Macropolo, who met senior policymakers in Beijing last year. The objective is to introduce a complete supply chain to China.
Of course, this theory has some flaws. Why would an inevitable transition need such massive subsidies? Why would comparative advantage show up as a long history of unbalanced trade? However, in my opinion, this theory is basically what many Chinese policymakers either hold or declare to be true in order to shield China from “overcapacity” accusations.
The” comparative advantage” theory has a more nuanced, darker version. In order to gain a military advantage over its geopolitical rivals, China is allegedly trying to intentionally devastate the country’s manufacturing sectors.
In any major protracted war, industrial capacity becomes extremely important. Manufacturing from civilians is repurposed for military purposes. The most well-known instance is when the US manufactured its rivals during World War 2. The US still has a law called the Defense Production Act that’s supposed to allow a repeat of the civilian- to- military factory conversion.
The better chance it has of outshining its rivals in a war the higher the percentage of global manufacturing China has, and the lower the percentage of its competitors.
China’s leaders have repeatedly said they want to do the same, and it might even do so if it takes over the US and its allies as the world’s dominant power without a fight. Currently, the blocs are about evenly matched:
The Second China Shock might significantly shift that balance in China’s favor.
Comparative advantage, on its own, probably wo n’t suffice to achieve that. Usually, when new countries added themselves to the roster of high- output, high- tech manufacturers, they did n’t cause wholesale deindustrialization in other countries. Although US manufacturing employment decreased significantly during the First China Shock, manufacturing output remained roughly unchanged.
Subventions could come in at that point. If Chinese government subsidies make it essentially impossible for any non- Chinese company to compete, it could artificially tip the balance of comparative advantage, to the point where the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea could be inefficiently bereft of manufacturing industries — at least as long as China keeps up the subsidies.
China might be able to achieve its military goals ( such as capturing Taiwan ) while maintaining its position as the world hegemon.
A situation like this is something that the US and others would naturally want to avoid, and I’m willing to wager that those responsible for creating the new tariffs had a lot in mind about the threat of forced deindustrialization.
One possibility that we can never rule out is that China does things because it has an absolute ruler who makes those decisions. The Center for Strategic Translation’s director, Tanner Greer, holds the view that Xi Jinping and his hand-picked subordinates are obsessed with monopolizing a few high-tech sectors of the future.
Endorsed by President Xi Jinping and popular among Chinese policy elites, this set of ideas argues that there are hinge points to human history. Emerging technologies, according to the Chinese leadership, can overthrow an existing economic order in these flimsy situations.
The past has now returned. Humanity again finds itself on the precipice of scientific upheaval. The foundations of global economic growth are about to undergo a transformation, and Xi is determined to lead it.
Xi explained the rationale behind [all this ] to a gathering of Chinese scientists held in 2016… Xi argued that “historical experience shows that]these ] technological revolutions profoundly change the global development pattern”.
Some states” seize” this “rare opportunity.” Others do not. Those who recognize the revolution before them and actively take advantage of it “rapidly increase their economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and defense capabilities, thereby quickly enhancing their composite national strength”.
Although this may seem like a bunch of Marxist mumbo-jumbo, the national interest, and technology are not very different from how other nations view things.
For instance, if you read the White House’s report on” critical and emerging technologies,” the language is a little less millenarian, but the underlying premise is that if you want your country to be powerful, it’s good to monopolize strategic cutting-edge high-tech industries as much as you can.
As to what those key technologies are, neither the Chinese government nor the US government appears to be quite sure — instead they’re placing diversified bets across a number of industries, in case any of those turn out to be the key to the future. Greer’s essay:
When the Chinese government discusses the upcoming techno-scientific revolution, they only mention AI in the context of a long list of promising technologies. These include materials science, genetics and plant breeding, neuroscience, quantum computing, green energy, and aerospace engineering. None of these are privileged over the others in Xi’s rhetoric.
That’s a incredibly broad list. But maybe Xi and the Politburo think China needs to massively subsidize , all , of these things in order to maximize its chances of being a superpower in the world of tomorrow. That choice may have a bearing on the export boom.
There is one last theory that is the darkest of all, which I only hear muttered in hawkish national security circles. This is the theory that China’s boom in manufacturing and subsidies is the start of war production.
This theory basically has two parts. First, as I mentioned, countries at war convert civilian production lines to military production. Therefore, it might be possible to build up civilian industries like steel and computer chips for military use. In The National Interest, Nathaniel Sher hypothesizes , something along these lines:
China’s slowdown masks a worrisome trend under the surface: Beijing is pouring investment into high- tech manufacturing at an accelerating pace…China’s new industrial policy could help it narrow the capabilities gap with the United States…Weakness in the property sector is freeing up resources—land, labor, capital, and intermediate inputs—to invest in dual- use sectors.
Particularly strong was growth in industries , including aviation, electronics, and communication equipment. The government intends to increase the output of” strategic emerging industries” as a share of GDP from 13 % to 17 % by the end of the year.
Historically, the United States ‘ dominant industrial base allowed it to play a pivotal role in great power wars…Today, the United States ‘ consumer and services- led economy is ill- suited to sustain a major war.
China, in contrast, now accounts for 31 % of global manufacturing, despite its industrial and capacity utilization levels are below potential. Continued investments in advanced manufacturing will only serve to strengthen China’s strategic position.
Second, any country at war is vulnerable to having its supply lines cut, so building up domestic manufacturing of critical components like chips is a way to insulate a country against sanctions and blockades. Under Xi Jinping, the main thrust of Chinese industrial policy has been to offshore entire supply chains, and the current big manufacturing push is , continuing that trend:
Perhaps the most illustrative of all the indicators of war preparation is Xi’s absolute prioritization of security over the economy. In the last 18 months alone, Xi has undertaken massive efforts to insulate the Chinese economy from potential external vulnerabilities, stressing self- reliance at the expense of growth.
This strategic shift is not just related to de-risking dynamics, perceived supply chain vulnerabilities, or trade wars. Xi appears to have taken the sanctions plan the West used against Russia in relation to Ukraine into account before launching long-lead protective measures to stow away pressure on the Chinese economy.
This is the most ominous theory of all. It suggests that China’s development of the biggest military production facility the world has ever known may have contributed to the export boom.
It’s important to reiterate that none of these theories are mutually exclusive. The leaders of China may have a tendency to align their goals with those of war production, industrial policy, forced deindustrialization of rivals, and recession-fighting.
And it’s possible that natural forces, such as China’s recession and a protracted shift in manufacturing to China, are assisting the government’s efforts.  , All of these theories could be true at once. Or perhaps just a small portion of them.
However, I believe presenting the options in this way as a helpful prelude to carefully weighing the potential benefits of tariffs and other protectionist measures.
This , article , was first published on Noah Smith’s Noahpinion , Substack and is republished with kind permission. Read the original and subscribe to here.
Social observers claimed that the opposition does not want to fit into the BJP’s collective language, but that speaking out against the temple might actually work in the opposition’s favor.
According to writer and researcher Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay,” I think the opposition parties are seeing that the Ram church concern is not resonating in this vote as much as the BJP anticipated.”
The opposition even comprehends that financial issues like rate increase and unemployment are what are appealing to voters and are actually a very significant issue, and are delaying the BJP.
CNA spoke to voters who voted in agreement, with polls highlighting the issue of the lack of work and rising living costs as major concerns.
One vote named Yash said:” This day, people will never vote on spiritual lines. Individuals will vote for growth and against poverty, prices and cost rise.
People may voting with these things in mind because the cost of living is rising in the nation.
According to experts, battling elections over person’s issues is proving to be advantageous for the empire.
Being more coherent and avoiding vote-splitting may cause the opposition to reject the BJP’s plan to improve its performance from 2019 by being more effectively divided, they said.
A lower voting participation in the first four stages of election, compared to the 2019 election, has likewise made Mr Modi’s ruling group vulnerable.
Mr. Mukhopadhyay noted that the BJP is “very really concerned” about the criticism, but that he does not already know how fighting on people’s issues may affect the election results.
” I had really brand Mr Modi as the biggest writer of the Congress manifesto”, the researcher quipped.
” He may have mentioned the Congress charter more than any other older Congress head has.”
In a move towards financial inclusion aligned with Islamic banking principles, Zurich Malaysia through its family takaful business, Zurich Takaful Malaysia Berhad (ZTMB) and its general takaful business, Zurich General Takaful Malaysia Berhad ( ZGTMB) has entered into a strategic partnership with Aeon Bank ( M ) Berhad, Malaysia’s first Islamic digital bank.
The partnership between Zurich Malaysia and Aeon Bank shows that the two companies are working together to provide Syariah-compliant solutions to protect the personal and financial security of local customers. The bilateral agreement signifies all parties ‘ commitments to the emergence of financial implementation, which includes offering digital-first security products within Malaysia’s powerful Islamic finance ecosystem.
Shamsul Azman, CEO of ZGTMB, stated,” We are honoured to spearhead the takaful modernization for the region, leveraging on our worldwide network, local modern capabilities to grow takaful cover for all Malaysians. We’re delighted to take our Zurich Edge argument to Aeon Bank, enabling a smooth, tailored and more important person experience.  ,
He added that the partnership between the business and Aeon Bank highlights its commitment to supporting Malay in protecting their assets and creating new opportunities for the growth of the Muslim banking business in the modern place.
Echoing this attitude, Nur Fatihah Mustafa, approved agent of ZTMB, said”, In this fast age of digitalisation, we at Zurich Malaysia are constantly on the lookout for partners that coincide with our brand campaign ethos to ‘ Care For What Matters’.  ,
” Our collaboration with Aeon Bank represents a shared vision for promoting Syariah-compliant financial inclusion for Malaysians of all walks of life, not only for Islamic communities, but also for Malaysians of all kinds. Through this multi- year collaboration, we are ready to meet the dynamic needs of today’s digital- savvy customers and be at the forefront of digital innovation. There is no greater priority than protecting our loved ones and our families, and we’re excited and proud to be able to do this through our partnership with Aeon Bank,” she continued.
The CEO of AEON Bank, Raja Teh Maimunah, stated in a statement that his focus is on the expansion and development of Islamic digital banking.” This collaboration between Aeon Bank and Zurich Malaysia’s takaful arms reaffirms our efforts to provide Malaysians with accessible and inclusive Syariah-compliant takaful solutions. We notice a lack of micro coverage and protection on the market, so we aspire to make it easier for Malaysians to have access to affordable options. We also look forward to working with Zurich Malaysia to realize this shared commitment.
With plans for a second aircraft carrier, India is pursuing an American strategy to defend its defenses, underscoring Delhi’s geopolitical concern that a two-front naval conflict with Pakistan and China exist in the Indian Ocean.
According to a report from Naval News, India is considering purchasing a second aeroplane carrier based on the design of its INS Vikrant. The assimilation plan includes local manufacturing of launching aircraft’s arresting and restraining equipment, both of which were originally purchased from Russia. By 2028, India aims to had three of each program available, according to the report.
Naval News notes that India is pressing to expand its use of Precision Approach Radar for plane companies in its own country in 2031 as a result of the country’s trade restrictions on the systems.
However, different parts of the MiG- 29K provider- based warrior may be made in India, including the Multi- Function Display, Integrated Standby Instrument System, tires, ground support equipment, chaff and flares.
India is furthermore putting in a bid to repair the MiG-29K landing gear, self-protection transceiver, air creation system, and Optical Locator Station on its own.
In addition, according to Naval News, India intends to purchase six additional P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime patrol aircraft ( MPA ), while DRDO and India’s Defense Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) are developing medium-range MPAs based on the Airbus C-295.
India’s programs for a second aircraft carrier may encounter the same difficulties as its long-awaited INS Vikrant, its second aircraft carrier made entirely in India.
In August 2022, Asia Times outlined the problems encountered over the 13 times it took India to create the INS Vikrant, ranging from professional issues, financing and getting challenges, and fraud.
To maintain constant security on its maritime borders, India requires three aircraft carriers. One carrier would be maintained and refitted while the other would be deployed at sea.
A larger 55, 000-ton version of the INS Vikrant design, according to Cochin Shipyard Limited ( CSL), could be finished in five years.
Plans for a third carrier may take some time because the Indian Ministry of Defense is currently working toward advancing the development of nuclear-powered submarines.
The scope of India’s ambitions as an aircraft carrier will be affected by a number of factors. Sarabjeet Parmar claims in a September 2023 article for the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies ( RSIS ) that plans for a third Indian carrier may quickly rekindle the debate between defense planners and policymakers regarding costs and operational efficiency.
Parmar points out that due to a lack of funding and training facilities for officers and sailors, the previous fleet expansion plans for the Indian Navy had to be broken up into several phases.
He claims that India’s current need for a strong and well-rounded military, with aircraft carriers playing a crucial role, is underpinned by the rapidly changing security landscape in relation to China and Pakistan.
The Indian Navy places an emphasis on establishing sea control or denial in more than one area while adhering to a carrier-centric sea control naval operational concept.
India can use aircraft carriers to combat a two-front naval conflict between Pakistan and China, which both have important roles to play.
Sanjay Sachdeva claims in an article for the Indian Naval War College Journal that the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers could provide power projection and blockade enforcement in a conflict with Pakistan.
Sachdeva warns against this because geography favors Pakistan because it can quickly re-route maritime trade routes closer to its littorals.
Robert Beckhusen mentions that Pakistan has several ways to attack India’s aircraft carriers in a March 2021 article for The National Interest ( TNI).
In a conflict, Beckhusen claims that India’s small deck carriers would have to maneuver close to Pakistan’s borders and be within striking distance of anti-ship missile and aircraft from Pakistan.
He adds that Pakistani aircraft’s threat could cause India’s carriers to devote a sizable portion of their wings to fleet air defense, limiting their ability to strike at Pakistani targets.
Prashant Suhas and Christopher Colley mention in a War on the Rocks article that while China’s People’s Liberation Army ( PLA-N) is both qualitatively and quantitatively ahead of the Indian Navy, it is not yet prepared for a conflict in the Indian Ocean.
The authors note that China is slowly addressing its shortcomings, including the lack of resupply bases and inadequate air cover for its warships operating in the Indian Ocean, despite India’s persistent home field advantage.
Noting India’s home- field advantage in the Indian Ocean, Yang Zhen notes in a November 2021 Cfist. According to an article on The New York Times that India uses three concentric “fences” to assert its maritime denial strategy.  ,
Zhen refers to the first fence as the” total control zone,” which extends from India’s coasts to the sea area up to 500 nautical miles. The second fence is the “medium control zone”, defined as sea areas within 500- 1, 000 nautical miles. The” soft control zone,” which includes the rest of the Indian Ocean, is the third fence.
He claims that the Indian Navy uses sea denial as a successful method to secure the medium control zone and stop potential adversaries from advancing to the total control zone.
While four carrier battlegroups can control almost one million square kilometers of sea space, carrier-based aircraft can control 800 x 1, 000 kilometers of airspace. She adds that airstrikes can be carried out on aircraft carriers as well as as platforms for conducting land attacks.
Simplify unveiled its Thunderbird 5G network, which it has hailed as a cutting-edge breakthrough in communications systems. The launch was in conjunction with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day ( WTISD ) 2024 on 16 May, which celebrated the theme” Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development” . ,
Simplify’s founder and CEO, Yen Pei Tay, noted how the WTISD design had a strong resonance with him. ” It , completely encapsulates our quest at Simplify— bringing systems for great, and bridging the digital divide”.
He noted that the Thunderbird 5G router, is not , only , fast, with its top download speed of 4.7 Gbps over 5G network, but how its Fixed Wireless Access ( FWA ) technology helps accelerate 5G adoption across Malaysia rapidly, and affordably.
According to him, “the Thunderbird 5G router connects to the 5G network, and broadcasts it as ultrafast Wi-Fi, enabling as many as 128 devices connecting to it, all at the same time. That also means, 4G users and Wi-Fi devices at home are able to enjoy multi-gigabit 5G speed, with Thunderbird 5G router acting as a bridge.”
The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation ( MDEC ), which was accompanied by Tuan Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, the company’s chairman, to demonstrate its support for Simplify. The startup, which was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by Fast Company magazine in 2017, made an appearance to support its goal. Additionally, simple lovers from China and Finland flew in to help the product launch.
” It is MDEC’s important role to accelerate Malaysia’s online business forward. Our responsibility to fostering innovation and modern change across the country is demonstrated by working closely with esteemed companions like Simplify, an MDEC AgTech Ecosystem Partner and MD standing business. By addressing the evolving needs of our micro, small, and medium enterprises ( MSMEs ), we aim to fortify their position in today’s dynamic global landscape. Through such cooperation, we strive to understand Malaysia’s broader vision of becoming the modern gateway of ASEAN”, he said.
With a maximum download rate of 4.7 Gbps, the Thunderbird 5G network achieves a new level of connectivity by utilizing MediaTek’s 5G Release 16-compatible chipset for top-tier performance. This network was created to facilitate and facilitate Internet access, and it offers multi-gigabit speeds and strong safety features that make it now easier and faster than ever.
Smarter WiFi, Monetize Wi- Fi network
The impressive Better WiFi feature that makes the Thunderbird 5G modem a revenue-generating engine. This characteristic makes Wi-Fi into a shared service where users can interact and spend for Internet access. The Smarter WiFi have includes a complete use monitoring tool to control the amount of data and speed you can communicate with other Internet users, as well as a double-encryption engine for the Wi-Fi password for improved connection security.
Simplify was recently recognized at the Beijing 2024 ZGC International Technology Trading Conference, where it was recognized as one of the” 100 Best Innovative Technologies for International Cooperation,” making it the only Indonesian organization to receive the award.
Increasing the international 5G Set Wireless Access business
FWA technology, specifically over 5G networks, is essential in bridging the modern separate and accelerating 5G implementation. FWA enables Wi-Fi networks to support devices that do n’t support 5G. This method provides broadband broadband access to the masses at scale while lowering the cost of gadget update.
With the growth of the global 5G FWA business, FWA-based service providers are expected to earn an estimated US$ 67 billion by 2028. This development is not just major but revolutionary, as it leverages wireless broadband property thoroughly. In Malaysia, Simplify is at the forefront of developing innovative options.
Varied applications and genuine- world demonstrations
Simplify claimed that its Thunderbird 5G router offers quick, dependable connections in settings ranging from airports and food trucks to pop-up locations and electric vehicle ( EV ) charging stations. It is not just a gateway to the Internet but also a bridge to technological equity.
Its plug-and-play deployment in such diverse environments highlights its versatility and crucial importance of 5G in improving intelligent infrastructures. Through live demonstrations, including a COFE mechanical coffee shop and an interactive holographic activity by Holomonsters, the launch event gave attendees firsthand knowledge of the potential of the Thunderbird 5G.
Simplify Thunderbird 5G router is more than just a product; it is a vision that has been realized, pushing the boundaries of what digital connectivity for sustainable development is.
For inquiries, kindly contact Chan Shir Ley
Canada’s federal government established the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, led by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue, in September 2023.
In Canada, foreign interference is defined as “harmful activities undertaken by foreign states or their proxies that are clandestine, deceptive, or involve a threat to any person to advance the strategic objectives of those states to the detriment of Canada’s national interests.”
These threats and activities of state or non-state entities foster polarization, distrust and erode faith in democratic systems.
Hogue’s initial report found that foreign interference occurred in both of the last two federal elections — held in 2019 and 2021 — and is expected to continue.
In contrast to former Governor-General David Johnston’s separate report on foreign interference, the commission made public the bulk of security and intelligence reports during the first stage of the hearings. Most of these documents were declassified and unredacted.
Among the few countries that the commission examined, the People’s Republic of China was found to be “the foremost perpetrator” of foreign interference. Its sophisticated, pervasive and persistent activities target government officials, electoral candidates, political organizations and diaspora communities.
With billions of dollars poured into its global operation, China expends significantly more resources on foreign interference-related activities than any other country.
The commission’s first-stage hearings featured a panel of diaspora community representatives who have been affected by foreign interference and transnational repression. Together with witness statements from members of Parliament and an ex-MP who dealt with foreign interference, a diaspora perspective emerged from this initial phase of the commission’s hearings.
In her report, Hogue noted some diaspora communities are disproportionately affected by foreign interference. Targeted by China in its transnational repression efforts, five groups — dubbed the “Five Poisons” by Chinese authorities — particularly bear the brunt:
It was chilling to hear Mehmet Tohti from the Uighur community tell the commission about a threatening phone call from Chinese state police announcing the death of his mother and two sisters in his homeland.
Grace Dai Wollensak from the Falun Gong community broke into tears when she recounted 25 years of foreign interference and transnational repression in Canada.
Hogue’s report validated the Chinese diaspora group’s lived experiences and their observations about China’s power and motivation to silence dissidents, amplify Chinese Communist Party narratives, control public opinion and sow discord in diaspora communities.
Through its United Front Work Department, an entity under President Xi Jinping’s direct command that’s aimed at shaping international discourse and orchestrating transnational repression, China manipulates democratic institutions to serve Communist Party interests by using rewards and punishments.
Via friendly community organizations or trusted contacts working on behalf of China, the United Front Work Department co-ordinates its foreign interference activities via Chinese embassies or consulates to target activists, dissidents and politicians.
The commission heard that Chinese diaspora members face frightening overt and covert tactics from Chinese consulates, dissuading them from full participation in Canadian public life if they don’t align with China’s interests.
While Hogue determined that foreign interference didn’t determine which party formed a government in either 2019 and 2021, results in certain ridings may have been impacted. For instance, misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeted former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole and Kenny Chiu, a former MP from British Columbia, due to their criticisms of China’s human rights record.
Hogue recognized that foreign interference in the last two elections has tarnished Canada’s electoral ecosystem, compromising some voters’ rights to make independent choices. That’s a detriment to democracy.
From a diaspora perspective, protection from foreign interference and transnational repression is of the utmost importance.
As revealed in Hogue’s initial report, there were obvious communication gaps among related government departments and agencies during both election periods. There was also a lack of co-ordinated effort and attention to specific warnings about foreign interference that were provided by security and intelligence agencies like the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) before and during both election campaigns. Diaspora communities were left unprotected because there were no warnings.
Diaspora communities have been failed by the government’s efforts to address foreign interference. The government and political parties have seemingly only been concerned about the political implications and consequences, and not the harm caused to diaspora communities.
Ample intelligence reports on foreign threat activities have reached monitoring bodies such as the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force and the panel of five senior public servants tasked with monitoring foreign interference and issuing public warnings if they felt there was a threat to the integrity of the vote. The Prime Minister’s Office was notified about these reports.
But the commission heard that no incident had been found warrant a public statement.
This is likely because protocols on what does warrant a public statement do not reflect the realities of diaspora communities. There was also a probable under-reporting of cases and evidence because diaspora community members lack access to public information. Tip lines are available only in English and French.
Despite the fact that the commission’s mandate in the first stage was confined to the last two general elections, there may now be greater public awareness of the damage foreign interference has done to Canada’s democratic system.
The commission heard about several disturbing incidents, including:
But they’re only the tip of the iceberg.
Hogue’s initial report did not mention the struggles of diaspora communities because the members of those communities weren’t sworn in as witnesses — they appeared at the first-stage hearings to raise awareness and provide context. They will likely appear as witnesses in the next phase of hearings, and their lived experiences should augment the intelligence reports and widen the scope of understanding about the threats and activities of state entities and their proxies in Canada.
Hogue has warned that foreign interference will not stop and indeed may become more intense in the future. The perspectives of those from diaspora communities on how to stop foreign interference can help strengthen Canadian democracy.
Maria Cheung is a researcher on social work at the University of Manitoba and Kawser Ahmed is an adjunct professor in the the Political Science Department at the University of Winnipeg.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Vladimir Putin’s new attend to Beijing was a stirring victory, according to Russian and Chinese internet.
That’s what they always say.  ,
But what’s the truth? Are the Chinese and Russians actually a” no boundaries partnership” or is it just a shotgun relationship that lasts until one is free to attack the other in the back?
A friend asked for my get, so here it is:
This is not great. Putin’s and Xi Jinping’s corporate interests align – and they both smell failure and distress. They’ll stay pushing – including using proxy Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and others.  , And they’ll gentle more fires as they go along, including  , encouraging separatists from New Caledonia to Whine to Guam.
And since the early 2000s, Russian and Chinese forces have been conducting combined education and exercises in earnest since the 2010s.  , They held combined naval and air businesses near and around Japan, and further away in the South Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, South China Sea, Indian Ocean and yet near Alaska.  , And there are surface activities in Siberia.
One suspects that both leaders see a window of opportunity that they could n’t have imagined four years ago and are trying to take advantage of their adversaries, particularly America and its friends.
Do n’t the Russians have a visceral dislike of Chinese? Sure they do. But it does n’t matter.  , No right today, anyway.
Do n’t the Chinese want to retake the land they once lost to the Russians through conquest and unfair agreements in the past? Yes, they do – and they think that, when the day comes, they’ll take it back.  ,
For now it does n’t matter. When Portugal offered to give up Macau but Beijing wanted to resolve the Hong Kong problem second, they will get it” when the time is right,” as they said in 1974.
Is n’t Putin afraid of getting rolled by the Chinese, who see him at a disadvantage? Or, if you wake up and discover that there are five Shenzhens on the other side of the northeast borders, where there are few Russians and tens of millions of Chinese, Perhaps. Is that going to change his selections?  , No.
He and Xi Jinping see a chance to reset the earth, and they’re going to continue to put pressure on as much as possible.
As he bade adieu to Putin at the Kremlin in March, 2023, Xi said:” Right now there are changes – the likes of which we have n’t seen for 100 years– and we are the ones driving these changes together”.
Putin reportedly replied:” I agree”.
This really n’t had surprised everyone, considering the nature of the two systems.  ,
Yes, there may be restrictions on their military assistance, but they are finally mutually beneficial because they put the United States and its allies ( and potential friends ) on the back foot.  , However, a good part of the therefore- called Global South ( developing countries ) sees the Russians and Chinese as having the speed.
Look what happened late in Niger, where the Americans were told to find lost – and the Russians,” Welcome aboard”.
And it’s the political back- preventing that really matters. Acquire how the UN has been completely destroyed, as if that were actually possible.  ,
North Vietnamese punishment?  , Dead.
Eventually, the two nations are sanctions- proofing themselves – more weakening the US and the completely world’s ability to deter, significantly less prevail against, China and Russia– one- on- one or against both.
Take into account the financial benefits for Beijing and Moscow.  , Low energy and meals from Russia, while Russia gets essential components for its defense.  , And China’s intermediaries, Iran and North Korea, provide the Russians with all the drones, weapons, weapons and ordnance shells they need.
Then there is the possibility that Russia and China can break free of the US dollar, which is perhaps the biggest nail the country also has in its toolkit.
Putin is brutal and even smart.  , Maybe he was just a late- level KGB official, but he has played and gotten the better of earth leaders for 25 years.  ,
Recall George Bush?” I was able to acquire a sense of his soul,” he said. Remember Barack Obama’s statement regarding controversial missile defence that Putin assistant Dmitri Medvedev delivered as his” this is my last election… After my election, I have more flexibility” . , France’s Emmanuel Macron and Japan’s Shinzo Abe fared no better in dealing with Putin.
Xi Jinping has n’t been at it as long as Putin, but he’s been no less successful.
Who on Team Biden frightens the Russians and the Chinese? Anyone.
Biden’s international policy staff crowed that” the people” were in charge once they arrived in 2021.  ,
In 2022, while Putin was putting up forces along Ukraine’s border, they actually revealed US intelligence to the PRC. Beijing allegedly used its effect to deter Putin from entering;  , Rather, the Chinese passed along the apple and gave Putin the go- away.
The “adults” have n’t done anything since then that has slowed down the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans, or anyone else.
Putin and Xi may be forgiven for thinking,” If not now, when”?
But come on, Newsham, are items that bad?
There may be a bright side to all this, I’ll admit.  , But if there is one it appears to be properly hidden.
One hopes” the adults” do n’t get another four years to work more of their magic.  , Though Putin and Xi would n’t mind.
Vladimir Putin’s new attend to Beijing was a stirring victory, according to Russian and Chinese internet.
That’s what they always say.  ,
But what’s the truth? Are the Chinese and Russians actually a” no boundaries partnership” or is it just a shotgun relationship that lasts until one is free to attack the other in the back?
A friend asked for my get, so here it is:
This is not great. Putin’s and Xi Jinping’s corporate interests align – and they both smell failure and distress. They’ll stay pushing – including using proxy Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and others.  , And they’ll gentle more fires as they go along, including  , encouraging separatists from New Caledonia to Whine to Guam.
And since the early 2000s, Russian and Chinese forces have been conducting combined education and exercises in earnest since the 2010s.  , They held combined naval and air businesses near and around Japan, and further away in the South Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, South China Sea, Indian Ocean and yet near Alaska.  , And there are surface activities in Siberia.
One suspects that both leaders see a window of opportunity that they could n’t have imagined four years ago and are trying to take advantage of their adversaries, particularly America and its friends.
Do n’t the Russians have a visceral dislike of Chinese? Sure they do. But it does n’t matter.  , No right today, anyway.
Do n’t the Chinese want to retake the land they once lost to the Russians through conquest and unfair agreements in the past? Yes, they do – and they think that, when the day comes, they’ll take it back.  ,
For now it does n’t matter. When Portugal offered to give up Macau but Beijing wanted to resolve the Hong Kong problem second, they will get it” when the time is right,” as they said in 1974.
Is n’t Putin afraid of getting rolled by the Chinese, who see him at a disadvantage? Or, if you wake up and discover that there are five Shenzhens on the other side of the northeast borders, where there are few Russians and tens of millions of Chinese, Perhaps. Is that going to change his selections?  , No.
He and Xi Jinping see a chance to reset the earth, and they’re going to continue to put pressure on as much as possible.
As he bade adieu to Putin at the Kremlin in March, 2023, Xi said:” Right now there are changes – the likes of which we have n’t seen for 100 years– and we are the ones driving these changes together”.
Putin reportedly replied:” I agree”.
This really n’t had surprised everyone, considering the nature of the two systems.  ,
Yes, there may be restrictions on their military assistance, but they are finally mutually beneficial because they put the United States and its allies ( and potential friends ) on the back foot.  , However, a good part of the therefore- called Global South ( developing countries ) sees the Russians and Chinese as having the speed.
Look what happened late in Niger, where the Americans were told to find lost – and the Russians,” Welcome aboard”.
And it’s the political back- preventing that really matters. Acquire how the UN has been completely destroyed, as if that were actually possible.  ,
North Vietnamese punishment?  , Dead.
Eventually, the two nations are sanctions- proofing themselves – more weakening the US and the completely world’s ability to deter, significantly less prevail against, China and Russia– one- on- one or against both.
Take into account the financial benefits for Beijing and Moscow.  , Low energy and meals from Russia, while Russia gets essential components for its defense.  , And China’s intermediaries, Iran and North Korea, provide the Russians with all the drones, weapons, weapons and ordnance shells they need.
Then there is the possibility that Russia and China can break free of the US dollar, which is perhaps the biggest nail the country also has in its toolkit.
Putin is brutal and even smart.  , Maybe he was just a late- level KGB official, but he has played and gotten the better of earth leaders for 25 years.  ,
Recall George Bush?” I was able to acquire a sense of his soul,” he said. Remember Barack Obama’s statement regarding controversial missile defence that Putin assistant Dmitri Medvedev delivered as his” this is my last election… After my election, I have more flexibility” . , France’s Emmanuel Macron and Japan’s Shinzo Abe fared no better in dealing with Putin.
Xi Jinping has n’t been at it as long as Putin, but he’s been no less successful.
Who on Team Biden frightens the Russians and the Chinese? Anyone.
Biden’s international policy staff crowed that” the people” were in charge once they arrived in 2021.  ,
In 2022, while Putin was putting up forces along Ukraine’s border, they actually revealed US intelligence to the PRC. Beijing allegedly used its effect to deter Putin from entering;  , Rather, the Chinese passed along the apple and gave Putin the go- away.
The “adults” have n’t done anything since then that has slowed down the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans, or anyone else.
Putin and Xi may be forgiven for thinking,” If not now, when”?
But come on, Newsham, are items that bad?
There may be a bright side to all this, I’ll admit.  , But if there is one it appears to be properly hidden.
One hopes” the adults” do n’t get another four years to work more of their magic.  , Though Putin and Xi would n’t mind.
Grant Newsham , is a resigned US Marine agent and former US minister. He is the creator of the book , <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-China-Attacks-Warning-America/dp/1684513650″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>When China Attacks: A Warning To America.
Subscribe now , for access at a special price of only$ 99/year.
Volatility is low
According to David P. Goldman, market volatility is at sudden highs, aside from gold rates, which suggests that central banks have a plan to build up their assets, such as China. He advises using buying volatility to hedge portfolios against political shocks.
Russia tries to overextend Russian forces in Kharkov drive.
James Davis evaluates Russian actions to launch a new front in the Kharkov area. Moscow’s intention appears to be to create a buffer zone and thinn Russian forces, possibly launching a southern offensive.
Biden’s great tariffs and China’s retribution
Scott Foster writes that the US Commerce Department’s steps against China, like as revoking Intel’s license to sell chips to Huawei, have harmed American firms ‘ profits and market opportunities, probably Intel in the line of fire.