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Risk of missteps hangs over U.S.-backed ceasefire deal in northeast Syria

The Japan Times

Risk of missteps hangs over U.S.-backed ceasefire deal in northeast Syria A U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria leaves thorny questions unresolved, as Kurds seek to retain some authority despite a much weakened hand following the rapid advance of central government forces. The progress of the deal tests the ability of Syria's new leaders to stabilize a nation fractured by 14 years of war, following several bouts of violence pitting it against minority groups who are suspicious of the Islamist-led government. The struggle for Syria's northeast has brought the biggest shift in control since former leader Bashar Assad was ousted in December 2024. After months of deadlock, Damascus seized swathes of territory from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) before agreeing to the plan that foresees its remaining enclave being integrated into the state. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.


All-in on AI: what TikTok creator ByteDance did next

The Japan Times

Advertising promoting ByteDance's cloud and AI service platform Volcano Engine and chatbot Doubao hangs at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Feb. 5. | AFP-JIJI Beijing - After soaring to global attention with its hugely popular TikTok app, Chinese tech giant ByteDance is now positioning itself as a major player in the fast-evolving AI arena. While the Beijing-based company has been embroiled in a range of legal and privacy rows linked to the social media app for years, its team has been busy branching out developing new cutting-edge products. Among them is China's most popular artificial intelligence chatbot, Doubao, which has built up more than 100 million daily users since its inception in 2023. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.








Woman owes 3,556 for cruise she already paid for after falling victim to elaborate Zelle scam

FOX News

Travel booking scammers target cruise passengers with fake Google phone numbers, free cruise postcards, and Facebook agents demanding Zelle or Venmo payments without buyer protection.