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Chinese military practised Taiwan invasion manoeuvres in 2023, says US general
International desk
31 May 2024, 18:19
Photo: Reuters
Chinese military drills in the straits of Taiwan in 2023 practised manoeuvres key to an invasion of the island, although an actual attack was not imminent or inevitable, a senior US general in the region said on May 23.
In the exercises, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulated a maritime and air blockade of Taiwan, amphibious assaults and counter-intervention operations, Lieutenant-General Stephen Sklenka, Deputy Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, said in a speech in Canberra.
“The PLA continues to exercise critical elements of a potential military invasion of Taiwan,” he said.
Hours before his remarks, Taiwan’s military mobilised its forces on May 23 after China started two days of “punishment” drills around Taiwan in what it said was a response to “separatist acts”.
The latest Chinese military drills come three days after Mr Lai Ching-te – a man Beijing detests as a “separatist” – took office as Taiwan’s new president. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan’s government says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
China’s military exercises are part of a sustained pressure campaign against Taiwan stretching back to 2022, said Lt-Gen Sklenka, adding that once-rare incursions into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone have become normal.
Although President Xi Jinping’s order for China’s military to be prepared for invasion of Taiwan by 2027 needs to be taken seriously, an actual attack is not inevitable or imminent, he said.
“I cannot underscore enough how devastating conflict in the Indo-Pacific region would be,” Lt-Gen Sklenka said in the speech to Australia’s National Press Club.
“At stake would be untold numbers of lives, trillions of dollars in global economic damage, and maintenance of an international order that has delivered relative peace and stability over the past 80 years,” he said. “And that is why we need to work together to prevent conflict.”
China ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in April and May in the lead-up to the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president. Fighter jets staged mock attacks on foreign vessels while ships and planes encroached close to the island.
Only weeks earlier, China clashed with the Philippines in the contested South China Sea, triggering a diplomatic row and commitments from Japan and the United States to deepen security ties with the Philippines.
Lt-Gen Sklenka said China repeatedly used its ships to harass and coerce its neighbours in pursuit of “excessive, illegal and revisionist” maritime claims, and called it an “equal opportunity bully” to its neighbours ringing the sea.
Less than a month after Australia criticised China for an unsafe aerial confrontation over the Yellow Sea, Lt-Gen Sklenka said the US military had logged roughly 300 such intercepts since 2021.
Source: Reuters
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Nobel Prize: / Baker, Hassabis, Jumper Win Award for Chemistry
David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research into computational protein design and protein structure prediction.
"This research is a landmark moment, as it was considered impossible for years to predict the structures of proteins," said the Chair for the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, Heiner Linke, who also explained how proteins serve as building blocks of all bodily functions.
"I was sleeping when the phone rang. And my wife began screaming very loudly," Baker told reporters. "I stood on the shoulders of giants," he said, as he gave credit to his fellow researchers. "I love all the proteins, I cannot pick a favorite," he added.
Proteins and their structures — simply explained
Proteins are made-up of strings of amino acid molecules, which then form complex sequences. These sequences help read, copy and repair DNA. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that contains the genetic code that is unique to every individual.
"These proteins consist of hundreds of thousands of atoms that are responsible for every biochemical function in the body," Linke said.
AI helped crack the code
Avancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, for which the 2024 Physics Nobel Prizes were awarded, also helped Baker, Hassabis and Jumper with their research. Baker and his fellow laureates cracked the code of what protein structures may look like with the help of AI.
"They used neural networks and deep learning to train a database that then showed how close two amino acid structures were to each other in space," said Johan Aqvist, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
From predicting protein structures to designing new ones
David Baker created computational tools to predict protein structures, building on the 1972 Chemistry Nobel Prize discoveries. Those findings revealed the link between amino acid sequences and the way they fold into biologically active 3D protein structures. Efforts to identify protein structures began in 2003 when Baker and his team created a computer program called Rosetta.
Combined with X-ray crystallography, a technique focused on uncovering atomic-level structures, Baker successfully predicted a protein structure that matched its actual form. Before Baker could design new proteins, their real structures had to be predicted with high accuracy, which remained low until 2018.
This changed with AlphaFold, an AI tool developed by Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper from DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet. AlphaFold, a deep learning system, demonstrated that neural networks can model the complex process of protein folding.
AlphaFold 2 further improved accuracy by enhancing its internal representation and incorporating key structural knowledge into the model. Thanks to the works of Hassabis and Jumper, protein structure predictions can now reach an accuracy of 90%, enabling Baker to design new protein structures.
A nasal spray that prevents viruses
His work, thanks to advancements in AI, is being used to engineer medications. Baker and his team have come up with a nasal spray which contains proteins designed specially to ward off most pandemic viruses, like the coronavirus.
Predicting and designing protein structures can aid in identifying enzymes that contribute to antibiotic resistance, while also helping to develop new vaccines and treatments.
Ratan Tata Dies at 86, His Legacy Endures
Veteran industrialist Ratan Tata passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86 in a Mumbai hospital after battling age-related issues. He is survived by his younger brothers, Jimmy and Noel Tata, and stepmother Simone Tata.
In a heartfelt tribute, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran expressed deep sorrow, calling Ratan Tata "a mentor, guide, and friend." He praised Tata for his commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, noting that under Tata's leadership, the Tata Group expanded globally while maintaining strong ethical values.
Tata’s contributions to philanthropy, especially in education and healthcare, have touched millions and will continue benefiting future generations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among many others, paid tribute, describing Tata as a "visionary business leader" and "compassionate soul." Tributes from across India and the world have poured in, honoring him as a hero, a rare soul, and the “Kohinoor of India.”
Born in 1937, Ratan Tata studied architecture at Cornell University before joining Tata Industries in 1962. He trained at a Tata plant in Jamshedpur before working at Tata Steel, TCS, and Nelco. In 1991, he succeeded JRD Tata as the head of the Tata Group, and in 2008, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor.
Tata's leadership was marked by a commitment to ethics and trust. He was instrumental in shaping a corporate culture centered on fair wages, sustainable technologies like the Tata Nano, and philanthropy through the Tata Trusts. His vision of "Leadership with Trust" became the guiding principle for the Tata Group's success, influencing the lives of millions at a grassroots level.
Cyclone 'Milton' Hits with Winds of 205 km/h
Cyclone 'Milton' has struck near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, along the western coast of Florida, USA, with maximum wind speeds reaching 205 kilometers per hour.
According to a BBC report citing the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), 'Milton,' classified as an extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane, made landfall, causing massive waves that pose a life-threatening risk.
The hurricane center has also issued flash flood warnings for the Central Florida peninsula. NHC experts say the cyclone is moving northeast at a speed of 15 miles per hour, but there remains a significant threat to life, with warnings of flooding. The destructive storm could cause storm surges of up to 10 feet or more over a wide area.
Several regions have already experienced landslides due to the hurricane, though the extent of damage is yet to be reported.
The cyclone has weakened from a Category 5 to Category 3 after two downgrades, but there are still concerns about severe casualties and damage. Residents in high-risk areas have been urged to seek shelter in safe locations.
The National Hurricane Center had predicted that the storm would make landfall late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning local time. Before 'Milton' hit, a tornado had already struck Florida, accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that dozens of shelters have been prepared across the state to protect residents from this massive storm, providing safe havens for those in danger.
Nobel Prize in Literature to be Announced Today
The Nobel Prize winners are announced annually on the first Monday of October. Accordingly, last Monday (October 7), Tuesday (October 8), and Wednesday (October 9), the names of Nobel laureates in medicine, physics and chemistry were announced respectively. The name of the Nobel laureate in literature will be announced today (October 10) at 5 pm Bangladeshi time.
In 2023, Norwegian writer and playwright Jon Fosse won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Appreciating his plays and literature, the Swedish Academy said Jon Fosse brought out many things that remained unspoken in his writings.
All information about the award announcement can be seen directly on the Nobel Prize website. All announcements of this year's Nobel Prizes are broadcast live on nobelprize.org and the Nobel Prize Committee's YouTube channel.
Two American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were jointly announced on Monday as the 2024 Nobel Prize winners in medicine or pharmacology.
The Karolinska Institute's Nobel Assembly said the prize was awarded to them 'for the discovery of microRNAs and their role in post-transcriptional gene regulation'.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Tuesday decided to jointly award the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton.
"The award was given to them for 'fundamental discoveries and innovations that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks," the academy said.
The Academy on Wednesday announced US scientist David Baker for computational protein design and British scientists Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper as joint winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 'protein structure prediction'.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has been awarding this prize every year since 1901, 5 years after the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish scientist, and inventor of 'Dynamite'. The award is given in his name and legacy. The prize money is handed over to the winners every year on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. Prize winners in each case receive a gold medal, a diploma with a certificate, and currently 11 million Swedish krona.
A shortlist of 300 people is made every year for the Nobel Prize. After the screening, the award is given to one or more people in different categories. French poet and essayist Sully Prudhomme (1839–1907) won the first Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901.
Nobel Prize in Literature 2024: Who's Predicted to Win
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 is just around the corner, with frontrunners like Can Xue and Gerald Murnane making headlines.
Each year, bookies release their predictions for who will claim the most prestigious prize in literature, and each year, they're completely off the mark.
Tomorrow, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature will be revealed as part of the Nobel committee's annual announcements. Once again, Chinese author Can Xue leads the odds as the frontrunner for the award.
At 71, Can was also the top pick for last year's prize, but she lost out to Norwegian writer Jon Fosse.
Fosse's win was seen as a surprise, given that his body of work—spanning plays, novels, poetry, and essays rarely reached beyond his large Norwegian readership. However, the Nobel committee praised his extensive bibliography, particularly his 'Septology'. This seven-part, 1,250-page epic, first released between 2019 and 2021 and published in English by Fitzcarraldo Press, was hailed as his "magnum opus."
The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded since 1901 and is traditionally the last of the Nobel prizes to be announced. To date, it has been awarded 116 times to 120 individuals—103 men and only 17 women. This year’s winner, revealed at the Swedish Academy, will also receive 11 million SEK (approximately €9.7 million).
A glance at the bookies' odds a day before the announcement shows that the frontrunners are almost identical to last year's. Notably, Jon Fosse, last year's unexpected winner, barely appeared in the running beforehand, so take these odds with a grain of salt.
Haruki Murakami, despite being a perennial favorite in the top three for years, seems unlikely to claim the prize anytime soon.
When reviewing past winners, the Swedish Academy tends to either choose a relatively obscure figure like Jon Fosse or surprise with a popular yet unexpected choice.
In 2017, few anticipated the win for widely acclaimed English-Japanese author Kazuo Ishiguro. The year before, Bob Dylan’s selection was an even greater shock.
That said, here are the leading contenders for the 2024 prize:
1. Can Xue
Can Xue's odds for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature range from 10/1 to 4/1, but regardless of the variation, the Chinese author is widely regarded as the most likely candidate for the prize this year.
Born Deng Xiaohua in 1953, Can Xue's upbringing was shaped by her parents' persecution as rightists by the Communist Party, a defining experience that influenced her avant-garde literary style, which departs from traditional Chinese norms.
Renowned for her short story collections, Can Xue’s work is often considered challenging to translate, with many arguing that her unique style is difficult to capture in English. However, her 2019 novel 'Barefoot Doctor' has solidified her position as a strong contender for the Nobel.
In addition to her fiction, Can is also celebrated for her literary criticism, offering deep insights into authors from the Western canon such as Dante, Jorge Luis Borges, and Franz Kafka. She has twice been longlisted for the International Booker Prize for her novel 'Love in the New Millennium' and the short story collection 'I Live in the Slums'.
Though she’s the frontrunner, Can was in this same spot last year, when the prize ultimately went to Jon Fosse, an unexpected choice. Strong odds don’t guarantee this will be her year either.
2. Gerald Murnane
Gerald Murnane has once again appeared in the bookies' predictions, frequently hailed as the "greatest living English-language writer." At 85, Murnane remains a perennial favorite for the Nobel Prize, and with no Australian winner in over 50 years, many believe his time may have come.
Though not widely known, those familiar with Murnane’s work regard him as one of the finest writers of our time. His 1982 novel 'The Plains' and 1988's 'Inland' are prime examples of his unique, self-referential style, which often reflects on the nature of his artistry.
3. Haruki Murakami
Once again, there’s talk that this might finally be Haruki Murakami’s year for the Nobel Prize.
Murakami gained international fame with his 1987 novel 'Norwegian Wood', and has since become renowned for his signature blend of magical realism, seen in works like 'Kafka on the Shore' and 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle'.
Despite being consistently tipped for the Nobel and having already won nearly every other literary award, Murakami remains an elusive choice for the prize. His works have also made a significant impact through film adaptations, including 'Burning' and the Oscar-winning 'Drive My Car'. His latest novel, 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' (released in English in 2023), may have garnered attention, but it likely won’t change the outcome this time either.
Source: TN
South Korea's Han Kang Wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature
South Korean author Han Kang has won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature "for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." Al Jazeera news.
Mats Malm, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy's Nobel Committee, announced the prize in Stockholm on Thursday.
Han, 53, is the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel Literature Prize.
Nobel committee chairman Anders Olsson praised her "physical empathy for the vulnerable, often female lives" of her characters.
He said her work "confronts historical traumas and in each of her works exposes the fragility of human life. She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and in a poetic and experimental style, has become an innovator in contemporary prose."
She began her career in 1993 with the publication of several poems in the magazine Literature and Society, her prose debut coming in 1995 with the short story collection, Love of Yeosu.
Her major international breakthrough came with the novel, The Vegetarian. Written in three parts it is an unsettling novel in which a woman's decision to stop eating meat has devastating consequences.
The committee said her work is characterized by a "double exposure of pain, a correspondence between mental and physical torment with close connections to Eastern thinking."
The 2023 prize went to Norwegian author and dramatist Jon Fosse, who was honored for "his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to the unsayable."
The literature prize has long been male-dominated, with just 17 women among its laureates. The last woman to win was Annie Ernaux of France, in 2022.
The prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1m) from a bequest left by the award’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Alongside the cash prize, the winners will be presented with a medal on December 10.
World Egg Day 2024: 5 Egg-Cellent Protein-Packed Recipes to Elevate Breakfast
World Egg Day 2024 is celebrated annually on October 11. This occasion highlights the nutritional benefits, versatility, and significance of eggs in diets around the globe. The day emphasizes how eggs provide essential nutrients and affordable protein to people worldwide. The theme for 2024 is "United by Eggs," which was chosen to reflect how eggs are a staple in various cuisines across different cultures and countries, showcasing their universal popularity and health benefits.
If you're tired of the same old egg dishes, we've got you covered! Here are some easy, protein-packed recipes that will take your breakfast to the next level for a healthier start to your day.
1. Egg and chips
Egg and chips is a simple yet satisfying combo of crispy fries and a perfectly cooked egg.
Ingredients:
3 eggs
Potato chips for garnishing
Corn chips for topping
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion
2 medium tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves
Salt to taste
2 tbsps tomato ketchup
4 bread slices
3-4 fresh parsley sprigs
Crushed black peppercorns to taste
Roughly chopped fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
Method:
1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick pan. Slice onion and add and sauté till it turns translucent.
2. Finely chop tomatoes. Roughly chop garlic and add to the pan and sauté for a minute.
3. Add the tomatoes and cook till they become soft. Add salt and tomato ketchup and mix well.
4. Cut bread slices into small cubes and arrange them in the center of a serving platter.
5. Finely chop parsley sprigs add to the pan and mix well. Add crushed peppercorns and mix again.
6. Break eggs and add to the pan. Cover and cook till eggs and tomatoes are fully done.
7. Arrange potato chips on one side of the serving platter.
8. Switch off the heat and place the eggs on top of the bread, crush the corn chips, and put on top of the eggs. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
2. Hash brown eggs
Try crispy hash browns topped with perfectly baked eggs for a deliciously hearty breakfast.
Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes, peeled and grated
Crushed black peppercorns to taste
Salt to taste
3-4 green chillies, finely chopped
2 tbsps red chilli flakes
4 tbsps refined flour (maida)
2 small onions, chopped
4 eggs
4 tbsps butter
4 tbsps oil
Mustard paste to serve
Tomato ketchup to serve
Chopped chives to sprinkle
Method:
1. Take potatoes in a large bowl. Add crushed black peppercorns, salt, green chillies, red chilli flakes, refined flour, onion, and bread in 2 eggs.
2. To make one portion, heat 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan. Add a portion of the mixture and shape it into a disc. Cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes. Flip the disc, and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. Make a hole in the center. Break in one egg in the center, sprinkle salt and crushed black peppercorns. Cover and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Transfer on a plate, garnish with chives, and serve hot with mustard paste and tomato ketchup.
3. Cheesy egg roast
Cheesy egg roast is a flavourful dish of roasted eggs smothered in melted cheese.
Ingredients:
8 hard-boiled eggs
2 cheese slices, quartered
1½ tbsps red chilli paste
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
Salt to taste
Crushed black peppercorns to taste
½ tsp red chilli powder
¼ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp chaat masala + to sprinkle
½ tsp garam masala powder
½ tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp gram flour (besan)
2 tbsps yogurt
Melted butter as required
1 lemon
Mayonnaise as required
Chopped fresh coriander to sprinkle
Onion rings for serving
Green chutney for serving
Method:
1. For the marination, take red chili paste in a bowl. Add ginger-garlic paste, salt, crushed black peppercorns, red chili powder, turmeric powder, chaat masala, garam masala powder, cumin powder, gram flour, and yogurt, and mix well.
2. Give crisscross marks on the egg without cutting through. Add in the prepared marinade and mix well. Set aside for 10-15 minutes.
3. Heat a nonstick grill pan. Add melted butter, place the eggs, drizzle some more melted butter, and cook on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
4. Flip, drizzle some more butter, and cook for 2-3 minutes more on the other side.
5. Place a quarter of a cheese slice on each egg and cook till the cheese melts.
6. Transfer on a worktop and cut into half without cutting through.
7. Squeeze lemon, sprinkle chaat masala, and stuff mayonnaise in the gap.
8. Sprinkle coriander leaves and serve hot with onion rings and green chutney.
4. Tortilla baked eggs
Tortilla-baked eggs are eggs baked in a crispy tortilla shell, topped with your favorite veggies
Ingredients:
6 eggs
Butter for greasing
2 tortilla
4 tbsps pizza sauce
1 small green capsicum, cut into strips
1 small red capsicum, cut into strips
1 small yellow capsicum, cut into strips
Salt to taste
Crushed black peppercorns to taste
½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
4-5 black olives, pitted and sliced
Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC
2. To make 2 portions, grease a 4-inch shallow round cake tin with some butter. Arrange a tortilla.
3. Apply 2 tbsps pizza sauce and spread it evenly. Add a few green capsicums, red capsicums, and yellow capsicums, break in 3 eggs at a distance, and sprinkle salt and crushed black peppercorns.
4. Sprinkle ¼ cup mozzarella cheese and arrange black olive slices. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.
5. Similarly, make another one using the remaining ingredients.
6. Bring the cake tin out of the oven and gently place the tortilla-baked eggs on a serving plate. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
5. Keema Omelette
Keema omelette is a flavourful fusion of spiced minced meat (keema) folded into a fluffy omelette.(Sanjeev Kapoor)
Ingredients:
1 cup chicken mince (keema)
12 eggs
Salt to taste
1 tbsp oil + for cooking
1 tbsp schezwan chutney
4 tbsps tomato puree
1½ tbsps sweet red chilli sauce
Method:
1. Break 3 eggs into a bowl. Add salt and beat well.
2. Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan. Add chicken mince and saute well.
3. Add schezwan chutney, and tomato puree, mix well, and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add chili sauce and mix well. Cook till the chicken is fully done.
5. Heat some oil in another non-stick pan. Pour beaten eggs and scramble a little, let it cook.
6. Place a portion of the cooked chicken mixture on one side of omelette and fold. Flip and cook for a minute and similarly prepare the remaining omelettes.
7. Serve hot.
All recipes by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor
