NoneSyrian President Bashar al-Assad oversaw a merciless crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt that morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century. After facing down nationwide protests demanding his ouster and an armed rebellion that he all but crushed, he had until this month taken back control of much of Syria in the civil war that began in 2011. Quiet in his demeanour, Assad is a political survivor who for years excelled in his alliance-building with Russia and Iran, and who knew just how to present himself as Syria's only viable leader in the face of the Islamist threat. But since November 27, an Islamist-led rebel offensive has wrested from Assad's control city after city, including Aleppo and Hama for the first time since 2011, leaving his grip on power severely under threat. Assad has cast himself as the protector of Syria's minorities, a bulwark against extremism and the sole possible purveyor of stability for the war-ravaged country. In multiple votes held over the years, conducted solely on government-held territory, he has taken the vast majority of the ballots, amid accusations from Western countries that the wartime elections were neither free nor fair. In appearance, whether in person or in the many portraits of him in the capital Damascus, Assad has typically eschewed military garb, opting instead for a sharp-cut business suit and sober tie. In official meetings, during interviews and even on the frontlines, the 59-year-old ophthalmologist by training conducts himself calmly and can almost appear timid. Behind the facade, however, is an astonishing ability to hold onto power amid multiple waves of violence and transformative change in Syria and the wider region. One journalist, who met with Assad on several occasions before and after war broke out in 2011, told AFP the president is a "unique and complex figure". "Each time I met him he was calm... even during the most difficult moments of the war," said the journalist, who declined to be named. Assad has "the same qualities" as his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly three decades until his death in 2000, the journalist said. "In politics, it's important to know how to shuffle cards, not just how to arrange them," he added. "Assad has mastered the shuffling game." Hafez al-Assad, head of the Syrian Baath Party, imposed in the country a secretive, paranoid regime where even the slightest suspicion of dissent could land one in jail or worse. Bashar al-Assad was never meant to become president, but his life changed radically when his older brother Bassel, who was being groomed to inherit power, was killed in a road accident in 1994. Bashar quit his studies in ophthalmology and left London, where he had met his wife, Asma, a British-Syrian and Sunni Muslim who worked for financial services firm JP Morgan. Back home, he took a course in military studies and was tutored in politics by his father. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! When the latter died, Bashar became president by referendum, running unopposed, then winning a second term in 2007. Sworn in at the age of 34, Assad was widely seen by Syrians pining for freedoms as a reformer, who could do away with years of repression and introduce economic liberalisation. In the early days, Assad would be seen driving his own car or having dinner at restaurants with his wife. He relaxed some of the heavy restrictions that existed under his father. But his initial image as a reformer quickly evaporated as authorities arrested and jailed academics, intellectuals and other members of what was then known as the Damascus Spring movement. When the Arab Spring reached Syria in March 2011, peaceful demonstrations broke out calling for change. Assad, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, responded by ordering a brutal crackdown on the protesters and civil war swiftly ensued. Throughout the war, which has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced half the population, Assad's position has not changed. He has been the subject of countless cartoons by dissident artists depicting him as a killer, not least in the aftermath of the 2013 chemical attacks on rebel bastions around Damascus. A Syrian researcher in Damascus, who asked to speak anonymously over security concerns, said: "Assad's personality played an undeniable role in his survival." His "persistence and rigour" were especially important in helping him "consolidate decision-making powers, and secure the army's full support", he added. Throughout the war, Assad has enjoyed military backing from staunch allies Iran and Russia, who helped him score a string of military victories. Since the start of the Islamist-led rebel offensive on November 27, Assad has echoed his long-held stance that the conflict in Syria is machinated from abroad. "The terrorist escalation reflects the far-reaching goals of dividing the region and fragmenting the countries in it and redraw the map in line with the objectives of the United States and the West," Assad said on Monday. He is the father of three children. His wife, Asma, was dubbed a "rose in the desert" by Vogue magazine before the revolt. bur/ser/jhb
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Share Tweet Share Share Email Decks are a valuable part of any home, providing an outdoor space for relaxation and entertainment. However, exposure to the elements can cause significant wear and tear over time. Professional deck sealing services are essential to ensure your deck remains in optimal condition, preventing long-term damage from the sun, rain, and other environmental factors. We will explore the importance of deck sealing, why professional services from a deck sealing company are recommended, and how they can protect your investment. A well-maintained deck enhances your home’s aesthetic appeal and extends the structure’s lifespan, saving homeowners money in the long run . Protecting the Wood from Environmental Damage Wooden decks are constantly exposed to various elements, such as UV rays, rain, snow, and humidity, which can cause significant damage over time. Wood can dry out, crack, warp, and even rot without proper sealing. 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A neglected deck or signs of wear and tear can detract from the home’s value, making it less appealing to prospective buyers. By investing in professional deck sealing services, homeowners are protecting their investment and ensuring that the deck remains a valuable feature when it’s time to sell the home. Professional deck sealing services play a crucial role in maintaining your deck’s appearance, functionality, and value. By providing protection against environmental damage, preventing mold and mildew growth, and enhancing the deck’s aesthetic appeal, sealing helps ensure your outdoor space remains safe and inviting for years to come. Sealing also prolongs the deck’s lifespan, saving homeowners money on costly repairs and replacements. With professional services, the time, effort, and expertise required for proper deck maintenance are handled efficiently, giving homeowners peace of mind. Investing in professional deck sealing not only preserves the beauty of your deck but also protects its long-term value, making it a wise decision for any homeowner. Related Items: Business , Deck Sealing Services Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Condos for Sale Calgary: Top Neighborhoods and Realtors to Work With Critical Role of Productivity Tools in the Startup Success Professional Gas Fitting Services in Sydney CommentsDickey’s Barbecue Pit Celebrates National Lager Day with Legit. Texas. Lager.
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Crypto Adoption Is Surging, and Plus Wallet Is Leading the ChargeOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media sayReigning women’s world champion Nouran Gohar battled back to beat fellow Egyptian Nour El Sherbini in the final of the Hong Kong Squash Open on Sunday – ending an eight-year drought in the process. Victory will also earn Gohar a return to the world’s top spot, but there was no way through for Ali Farag in the men’s final, with top seed losing 3-1 to Mostafa Asal, leaving him to settle for the runner-up spot again in yet another disappointing outing in the city. Gohar began her day in fine form, and was leading 6-3 in the opening game before world No 1 El Sherbini reeled off eight points in a row. The world No 2 then regrouped to pull off three straight games to take home the title with a 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 win in 55 minutes. “I didn’t play badly in the first game but I lost concentration and went off my game plan a bit, the execution was off,” Gohar said. “Going off the first game, I was angry at myself a bit. “I knew I messed it up, but I knew at the same time that I was playing well, and I had a solid game plan. So I told myself, I need to start the second game very well and work hard digging.” The 27-year-old last won a title in Hong Kong in 2016, and her win at Edinburgh Place was her second consecutive final victory over El Sherbini, after their US Open Championships final in October.
Baker Mayfield mocks Tommy DeVito's celebration as the Bucs embarrass the Giants 30-7NATO countries should look at Russian "hybrid threats on their borders," a key adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, as concerns deepen over Russia's suspected hand in attacks on critical alliance infrastructure. "When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders," Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said in a post to social media. Hybrid warfare refers to a range of activities stopping short of open fighting, like cyberattacks, information campaigns or the targeting of vulnerable infrastructure, such as undersea cables. Why It Matters NATO countries, particularly those close to Russian territory on the alliance's eastern flank, have been warning about Moscow's skill in hybrid warfare. Officials have suggested that the Kremlin could attack NATO soil using hybrid warfare tactics, rather than launching a more conventional military attack. What To Know "The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia," Yermak said on Sunday. Earlier this week, a power cable and several data cables in the Baltic Sea were disconnected in the latest round of disruptions of critical undersea infrastructure in the area dubbed the "NATO lake." Russia has a significant military presence at its Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic, but it is surrounded by NATO member states. When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders. The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia. Finland's coast guard on Thursday intercepted and boarded the Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S, a vessel believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" of ships intended to skirt oil sanctions leveled against Moscow. The tanker crossed the Estlink 2 power cable at the exact time the disruption was reported on Christmas Day. The vessel was detained in Finnish waters, Helsinki said on Friday. In November, two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea were disrupted in quick succession, raising concerns over possible sabotage. A Chinese bulk carrier, the Yi Peng 3, is being investigated in connection with the severing of these cables. "There are multiple options for Russia to test the cohesion of the alliance," including limited land grabs, the now-former head of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast based in northwest Poland, Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, told Newsweek just before leaving his post in November. Russia is adept at this type of warfare, and NATO knows it. In May, the alliance held a meeting dedicated to strategizing how to protect the alliance's critical undersea infrastructure. James Appathurai, a senior NATO official tasked with tackling hybrid warfare, told Sky News in an article published on Sunday that there was a "real prospect" that Russia could launch some form of unconventional attack against the alliance and cause "substantial" casualties. What People Are Saying Andriy Yermak in a statement: "When we talk about what European countries and NATO states should consider, it is essential to assess the risks of emerging hybrid threats on their borders. The shadow fleet, responsible for sabotaging cables, may not be the only such threat from Russia. "The appearance of soldiers disguised in Russian uniforms, but actually from North Korea or Iranian proxies near NATO borders, is entirely plausible if Russia is not stopped now. North Korean soldiers are already fighting on European soil. Who could have imagined this before? "Impunity breeds permissiveness. This is the moment that demands strong decisions and decisive action." The European Commission in a statement: "We strongly condemn any deliberate destruction of Europe's critical infrastructure. The suspected vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, which threatens security and the environment, while funding Russia's war budget. We will propose further measures, including sanctions, to target this fleet. "In response to these incidents, we are strengthening efforts to protect undersea cables, including enhanced information exchange, new detection technologies, as well as in undersea repair capabilities, and international cooperation." What Happens Next Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary-general, has said the alliance will "enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea."
Jon Coupal: The Gann Limit is back in the news
After Midnight’s Plan to Fix America Won Late Night This WeekWith summer upon us, cranking up the air conditioning is the most comfortable option, but the electricity bill that goes with it can be shocking. That’s why Australians who have a house, a roof and some money are increasingly getting solar panels. But there is a problem because there is a thing as too much solar. Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer explains that the surge of solar power is risking stability of the power grid and it’s a bit like riding a bike. Featured: Dan Mercer, ABC energy reporter on the . With summer upon us, cranking up the air conditioning is the most comfortable option. But the electricity bill that goes with it can be, well, rude. That's probably why more Australians than ever now have solar panels. But while that sounds pretty good, there is a problem. Because, yes, there is a thing as too much solar. Today, energy reporter Dan Mercer explains why. I'm Sam Hawley on Gadigal land in Sydney. This is ABC News Daily. Dan, it's getting really hot now, of course, because summer is here and we know in Australia there is going to be a heap of sunshine, which is really good news if you have solar panels on your roof. And, oh, my, there are so many people that actually have that now, aren't there? Yeah, it's a remarkable number of people, Sam. By the federal government's estimates, a couple of weeks ago we had our four millionth rooftop solar installation, which is a big number in a country like Australia. And certainly a bunch of them are on small businesses and commercial buildings. But, you know, any way you dice it, there's just no doubt that Australia has an extraordinary amount of solar on rooftops. And when you think that just 20 years ago there were barely any panels anywhere, it's incredible. That's brilliant, isn't it? And it's really providing relief for people on their bills because, of course, if you don't have it, the electricity bill, the power bills, you know, they can come as a pretty big shock most of the time. Yeah, I think in the main that's right. The rule of thumb is that solar will cut your bills these days by about 30 odd per cent. There's probably still a perception, I reckon, in some circles that you can somehow win by selling the surplus solar back to the grid. But the reality is there's now so much solar being generated in the middle of the day across Australia that the output is valued at close to zero by the market. You know, so using the power yourself is really the ticket and it sure beats buying the electricity from the grid. I spoke to one Sydney householder, Kerry Bradbury. I live in Chifley, New South Wales, and I work for the New South Wales Health. She was getting stung by very high bills until recently, like many Australians have been. And it got to the stage where you're actually afraid to open your electricity bill because in those days it came in the mail. She's got three kids. I think they're all adults. And they don't strictly live at home with her, but they are occasional tenants. And also having three transient children, for want of a better word, coming in and out. I've had huge bills when they're here and not-so-huge bills when they're not here, when it's just me. And when they are there, or, you know, certainly until recently, when they were there, she said she was getting bills of up to $2,000 a quarter. So she decided to take matters into her own hands. So she's basically what set herself up to use solar as much as she possibly can. So just tell me what she's got. She shelled out for a system that could basically take care of all her power needs. She installed batteries. She got new solar panels. She bought smart appliances and invested in some tech that could coordinate all of this for her. It's a smaller power provider that runs it all for her. And it wasn't cheap. It cost her about $28,000. Not the sort of money that the average person necessarily would have lying around. But she says she now won't have to pay a power bill for the next seven years. It is quite expensive, but you have to weigh up the cost, A, to the environment, if you can afford it, and how big your actual bills are. If you're getting hammered every time, you've got to look at other solutions. Yeah, that sounds pretty good. But then what happens after the seven years? Because $28,000, as you say, that's a pretty big number. I mean, to a large extent, it'll depend on her circumstances after seven years. But she might not have to pay any bills for a few more years after that. She might, on the other hand, have to replace the batteries because batteries do degrade. That's just a reality with them. But even then, batteries are likely to be much cheaper by then, Sam. That's certainly the forecast. All right. Well, Dan, Kerry, of course, was sick of her massive power bill. So she's done what lots of Australians have done and has tried to take advantage of the sun. And of course, we expect that number to keep growing. But things can get tricky because there is such a thing as too much solar. Yeah. I mean, it becomes a problem when solar supply eclipses demand for power from the grid. And you've got no way of using that excess generation or storing it somewhere. And realistically, we are reaching that point in Australia. At times. It's made worse or it's really kind of characterised by a technical phenomenon known as minimum demand. Now, energy nerds, and that's not the vast majority of Australians. That's you though, Dan, right? Well, you know, perhaps that's an uncharitable interpretation. It's a compliment. It's a compliment. But yeah, I mean, they have been talking and warning about this phenomenon for years. But it basically refers to demand for electricity from the grid. Yeah, that's key. And, you know, therefore it excludes demand for power that is being met behind the meter. So not on the grid. And that's basically a reference to rooftop solar. And, you know, as we've been discussing, the amount of rooftop solar in the system is now at such monumental levels. It's pushing that minimum demand to lower and lower and lower levels. The problem is we still need the grid. We need it to be there when the sun stops shining. And right now the grid is being propped up still by coal and gas-fired power plants to a very significant extent. But of course, solar is increasingly squeezing the sorts of conventional power plants out of the system. And so more and more of them are closing. Yeah, OK, but just explain that a bit further, because that actually sounds like a good thing, because aren't we meant to be reducing our reliance on coal and gas? Yes, but what we're basically seeing at the moment is a mismatch between the system we're trying to build and the one we've already got, the one that we're using right now. I mean, this energy transition is basically a story about rebuilding the entire electricity system from one that runs on fossil fuels to one that runs on renewable energy. And right now the old system is just struggling to cope with those vast amounts of solar power that are flooding onto the grid daily. Now, that's generally true. There is that much solar washing through the grid every day, even through winter a lot of the time, that it's almost invariably depressing wholesale prices in the middle of the day. But it's especially true in certain conditions. Think spring or autumn days when there's plenty of sunshine and output from solar is peaking, but demand for power is fairly subdued because the temperature is mild and people aren't using their air conditioners, which suck up an enormous amount of juice. In these circumstances, the demand for power from the grid, that is, demand for power that is not being met by rooftop solar, it's falling to extraordinarily low levels. OK, so then what happens when that happens? Why does that matter? it's a question of physics, basically. Now, I was no exemplary physics student at school. I bet you were. No, no, I most definitely wasn't. I don't believe you. But, you know, the people who run the system, you know, they understand these things thoroughly. And, you know, running a power system isn't just about generating electricity to meet demand. That's obviously,that's its most obvious purpose. It's also, though, about ensuring that, you know, that electricity is provided at a consistent frequency and at a safe voltage so our appliances work properly and don't get cooked. The system needs this really steady heartbeat to keep everything on an even keel. To do this, the system relies on things like inertia, which is basically the physical property that makes balancing a moving bike much, much easier than balancing a stationary one. And the simple reason for that is, you know, like the moving bicycle, these coal and gas and hydro plants are big pieces of spinning metal. They take a long time to get up and running and they take a long time to slow down once they've got a head of steam. But this helps keep the grid stable. You know, it helps it ride through shocks. And it's always been provided by these conventional power plants basically as a byproduct. So coal and gas power stations provide stability, but renewables don't. Yeah.The reality is that clean energy sources, wind, batteries, but particularly solar, they just don't intrinsically provide those services. They're connected to the grid by these bits of kit known as inverters that basically try to convert the electricity from the solar panels, for example, into a type that can be used in the grid. And they try to follow what's happening on the grid. And because the system, the grid, that is, is almost invariably up and running and ticking along nicely. These solar panels through the inverters can just plug in and follow along. But for the most part, they don't and they can't provide those sorts of system security services. They can't help maintain that heartbeat of the grid. I spoke with Alex Wonhas, who is a former executive at the Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO. It basically becomes unstable and you have to either increase the load during that time to make it more stable or you have to basically reduce the solar output. So, Dan, let's look then at how we address this, because we want to use as much renewable energy as we can, right? We want to use as much sun as we can. That's right, Sam. Well, we're really only getting into the teeth of the transition now. Alex Wonhas says we're on the cusp of much better integrating all of this intermittent renewable energy. For starters, he says that inverter technology is actually getting much more sophisticated. By some accounts, there are now inverters that can provide a type of synthetic system security. And there's a view that these kinds of inverters will soon just become the norm. And so a lot of these problems might start to fall away. But then, of course, there's just something as simple as batteries. Alex Wonhasreckons batteries will be able to take care of a lot of these problems for us, because they'll be able to store so much of that excess solar power for use later in the day. Batteries can also go even further. They can, with the latest technology, they can actually provide inertia so that it can basically pretend to be a coal or a gas plant and provide that inertia. And they can also provide something which the technical people call system strength. So that's really the ability to keep the electricity waveform really nice and smooth, which is also something that you want in an electricity system. But importantly, there are other solutions that are out there. One of the biggest ones involves us as consumers, actually, Sam. We just have to change the way we use power. Historically, the supply of power has been there to meet demand. But increasingly, there's a view that demand should be much better at meeting supply. In other words, we should use as much of that renewable energy as we can while it's being generated. And for that, you can really read in the middle of the day when solar output is highest. Now, this doesn't mean we shouldn't use power outside of those times, of course. We can build storage to stash as much of that as possible away for later in the day. But storage costs money. You know, we don't try to capture every drop of water that falls out of the sky in dams. It would be cost prohibitive. And the same sort of thinking applies to solar power. So finding clever and equitable ways of shifting demand seems to be the key. All right. And that, of course, brings us back to Kerry, because she's someone who is really doing this well, isn't she? I'm sure she feels that way. And, you know, when I spoke to her, she certainly did feel that way. But, you know, she's got in her house smart tech that can do a lot of this heavy lifting for her. For example, she's got software that can automatically turn off or on appliances or can cycle them up and down, depending on the circumstances, how sunny it is, what time of the day it is, for example. More broadly, it could be as simple as a householder soaking up as much of their solar as they can during the middle of the day, pre-cooling their home in summer, pre-warming it in winter. The promise of this solution in particular, you know, changing how we use energy is really enormous, but it's only if we can get it right. The jury is out at the moment, Sam, on whether we can do that. It's a bit of an open question. Dan Mercer is the ABC's energy reporter based in WA. This episode was produced by Sydney Pead, Kara Jensen-MacKinnon and Anna John. Audio production by Sam Dunn. Our supervising producer is David Coady. I'm Sam Hawley. Thanks for listening.
