Bloomberg reports that China’s President Xi Jinping has initiated the largest purge of military leaders since Mao Zedong, removing nearly a fifth of the generals he personally appointed. This has resulted in the smallest number of members on the Central Military Commission in the post-Mao era, raising questions about the implications of Xi’s actions. The purge follows concerns about corruption within the military, which has led to investigations and the ousting of high-ranking officers, including those appointed to key positions. With a major military parade approaching, the world is watching to see if Xi trusts his own generals, while also assessing the impact of the shakeup on China’s military readiness.
Read More
China is set to unveil an array of “new-generation” military hardware, including previously unseen weapons, during its September 3 parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender. This display, the most comprehensive since 2019, will highlight the advancements of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), showcasing domestically developed systems, including unmanned and “intelligent” capabilities. The parade will emphasize the PLA’s advancements in deterrence through the presentation of air- and missile-defense assets, alongside strategic missile forces. Images from rehearsals suggest a focus on advanced missiles and unmanned undersea vehicles, further demonstrating China’s rapid military modernization.
Read More
According to a government minister, the rapper Ye has had his Australian visa revoked. The decision came after the release of his song “Heil Hitler,” which was viewed as promoting Nazism. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the song prompted officials to reassess Ye’s visa, given the offensive nature of the lyrics. The revocation aligns with Australia’s Migration Act, which enforces security and character standards for non-citizens.
Read More
The Daily Princetonian reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s 2003 Princeton senior thesis contains eight instances of plagiarism, according to three expert reviewers. These instances included uncredited material, sham paraphrasing, and verbatim copying from sources such as a Washington Post article. While experts disagreed on the severity of the violations, some passages were deemed serious breaches of Princeton’s academic honesty policy, while others were considered minor. The thesis, a significant requirement for graduation, analyzed modern presidential rhetoric and its relationship to global threats.
Read More
Following US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Asia and vow to counter Chinese aggression, the Chinese military launched joint exercises around Taiwan. These drills, involving all branches of the PLA, simulated attacks and blockades, serving as a “stern warning” against Taiwanese independence. Taiwan condemned the exercises as reckless and illegal, deploying its own forces in response. The maneuvers are viewed by some as a signal to the US, coinciding with heightened tensions and recent incidents between the two sides.
Read More
Adele and Greg Kurstin face a plagiarism lawsuit in Brazil alleging their song “Million Years Ago” infringes on Toninho Geraes’s “Mulheres.” A judge initially ordered the song’s worldwide removal, a decision that has since been challenged. A subsequent conciliation hearing failed to reach an agreement, with the defendants’ absence and conflicting expert opinions on melodic similarity contributing to the impasse. The case highlights ambiguities in Brazilian copyright law and the potential ramifications of setting a precedent for removing songs based on perceived similarities.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker