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International Air Chiefs Meet in Dubai for 12th DIACC

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Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, opened the 12th Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIACC).

The opening ceremony took place at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, with more than 100 official delegations from across the globe. Senior officers from the Ministry of Defence, air force leaders, chiefs of staff from partner and allied countries, as well as decision-makers and CEOs from major national, regional, and international companies, also attended. These organizations work in defense, aviation, advanced technology, space sciences, and artificial intelligence.

The UAE Ministry of Defence organized the conference in strategic partnership with ADNEC Group, under the theme “Hypersonic Edge: Re-Envisioning Airpower Across Asymmetric Spaces.”

The first session, titled “Hypersonics, UAVs, and Artificial Intelligence: Adapting Airpower to Asymmetric Battlespaces,” began with opening remarks from Joseph Guastella, Corporate Vice President and Regional Executive for Europe and the Middle East at Northrop Grumman.

Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC)

This session brought together Major General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, General Adrian L. Spain, Commander of the US Air Combat Command, General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, and Lieutenant General J.R. Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They spoke about how to build agile coalitions and lead through modern airpower challenges, followed by an interactive discussion with official delegations.

The second session, titled “Beyond the Atmosphere: Integrating Air and Space Capabilities for Strategic Superiority,” highlighted the growing link between air and space power.

Speakers included Major General Vincent Chusseau, Commander of the French Space Command, and His Excellency Eng. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency. Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, also took part, followed by Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.

The third and final session, titled “The Warfighter of Tomorrow: Standards, Artificial Intelligence, and Accountability in Next-Generation Airpower,” opened with an introductory remark from Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, President of Technology and Innovation at EDGE Group.

Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC)

Dr. Kasmi also moderated the session, which focused on how to prepare future air forces and their people. Major General Jonas Wickman, Commander of the Swedish Air Force, spoke about new approaches to recruitment and building the force of the future.

General Son Sug Rag, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force, addressed the topic “Mastering asymmetric spaces: redefining the warfighter for the future.”

Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva, Chief of the Italian Air Force, discussed “Standards under pressure: maintaining excellence in the age of automation.”

Professor Peter Hays from the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University presented a paper titled “Learning to Learn: Building Intellectual Readiness for the Future Space Battlespace.” The conference wrapped up with an official recognition ceremony for participants, followed by a group photo session.

The Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC)

The Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC) is a high-level event held every two years. It brings together air force commanders, senior defense officials, and aerospace specialists from across the globe. The conference is one of the leading international forums devoted entirely to air and space power.

Key Details

  • Organized by: United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence, in cooperation with the Dubai Airshow organizing team. DIAC usually takes place alongside, or just before, the Dubai Airshow.
  • First held: 2005
  • Frequency: Every odd-numbered year (2005, 2007, 2009, and so on through 2025 and beyond)
  • Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates, typically at the Al Maktoum Ballroom or a similar venue close to the Dubai Airshow site at Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International Airport)
  • Next edition: The 2025 conference is planned for 10–11 November 2025, just ahead of the Dubai Airshow 2025, which takes place from 17–21 November

Main Objectives

  1. Promote strategic dialogue among air chiefs on current and future air power issues.
  2. Share operational lessons from recent missions, such as counter-terrorism campaigns and air operations in Libya, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, and other theaters.
  3. Address new technologies, including 5th and 6th generation fighters, unmanned combat aircraft, hypersonic systems, space-based capabilities, artificial intelligence, and cyber protection of air assets.
  4. Support international cooperation and encourage new defense and security partnerships.
  5. Connect industry with decision-makers, giving aerospace and defense companies direct insight into the Air Force’s needs and long-term plans.

Typical Attendees

  • Air chiefs and commanders from more than 40 to 50 air forces worldwide. Recent editions have seen participation from the USAF, RAF, French Air Force, Russian Aerospace Forces, Indian Air Force, PLAAF, RSAF, Turkish Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, and many others.
  • Senior officials from defense ministries and government agencies.
  • CEOs and senior leaders from major aerospace and defense firms, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Dassault, Airbus, BAE Systems, Raytheon, Leonardo, EDGE Group, and more.
  • Representatives from international bodies, such as NATO and the Gulf Cooperation Council air power coordination groups.

Format

  • Day 1–2: Closed plenary sessions for air chiefs only, with classified briefings and discussions.
  • Open sessions that feature keynote speeches, expert panels, and audience Q&A.
  • Scheduled bilateral and multilateral meetings, along with networking receptions and side events.
  • The conference often ends with a joint statement or communiqué that reflects the main themes and shared views.

Significance

  • DIAC is one of the very few platforms where air chiefs from countries that may belong to rival or competing blocs, such as U.S./NATO partners and Russia or China-aligned forces, sit together and openly exchange perspectives.
  • The conference has a direct impact on future procurement plans; many large defense contracts announced at or shortly after the Dubai Airshow often grow out of contacts and discussions that start at DIAC.
  • The United Arab Emirates uses DIAC to highlight its role as a key global center for aerospace, defense, and advanced air power cooperation.

In simple terms, DIAC is often seen as the “Davos of air power,” a rare mix of high-level strategy talks and industry networking, held every two years in Dubai under the patronage of the UAE leadership.

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Tech Giant Oracle Abandons California After 43 Years

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Tech Giant Oracle Abandons California

SAN FRANCISCO – Oracle Corporation, the database and cloud computing giant valued at more than $550 billion, has shifted its corporate headquarters from California to Texas. The news did not come with a press conference or a bold announcement. It appeared in a single line inside a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing released on a Friday evening, a timing that tends to limit attention.

Oracle began in 1977 in Santa Clara under the name Software Development Laboratories. For more than 40 years, it has built its identity in the Golden State. Its well-known cylindrical campus in Redwood Shores, Redwood City, became part of Silicon Valley’s visual story.

Co-founded by billionaire Larry Ellison, the company grew into a major employer across California and a steady source of tax revenue and local spending. After 43 years, Oracle is moving its headquarters, pointing to employee flexibility in a post-pandemic workplace.

Oracle kept its statement short, saying it is “implementing a more flexible employee work location policy and has changed its Corporate Headquarters from Redwood City, California to Austin, Texas.” There was no long explanation, no executive statement, and no analyst call tied to the move.

The wording fits with the remote-work shift across tech. Oracle said it will keep supporting key office hubs, including sites in California, while giving employees more choice in where they work.

Some critics read the quiet release as intentional. By placing the update in routine regulatory paperwork right before the weekend, Oracle reduced the immediate media surge that often follows big corporate moves. Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the decision on social media, calling Texas “the land of business, jobs, and opportunity.” California leaders have been far less vocal.

Newsom Stays Silent

As of press time, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has not issued a public statement about Oracle’s headquarters change. People familiar with the administration describe frustration, along with a focus on California’s broader economy. One aide, speaking privately, framed these moves as part of a national pattern, not a direct verdict on state policy.

That quiet approach differs from Newsom’s recent public defense of California’s economy. He has pointed to strong tourism spending and the state’s large share of Fortune 500 companies.

Newsom has also argued that California still draws more investment than it loses. Still, Oracle’s departure, after moves by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and well-known relocations tied to Elon Musk, gives fresh energy to critics.

They often point to high taxes, heavy regulation, and a steep cost of living. California’s top personal income tax rate of 13.3% is a frequent talking point. Oracle, however, linked its decision to workplace flexibility.

Part of a Broader Shift

Oracle joins a growing list of tech companies that are rethinking long-term ties to California. Hewlett-Packard Enterprise moved its headquarters to Houston earlier this month. Elon Musk relocated to Texas and has taken public shots at California policies.

Smaller companies have made similar choices, drawn by Texas’s lack of a state income tax and its business-friendly reputation.

Austin also isn’t new ground for Oracle. The company opened a campus there in 2018, and the city has continued to attract tech talent and investment.

Even with the headquarters change, Oracle still has a major presence in California. Thousands of workers are likely to stay, whether in offices or working remotely. Real estate watchers expect the Redwood Shores site to remain active, though parts of it could be subleased or repurposed over time.

What It Means for California’s Economy

Losing a headquarters label often carries more symbolism than immediate job losses. Many corporate moves shift mailing addresses and executive offices more than day-to-day staffing. California also remains a global tech center, home to Apple, Google, and Meta. It leads the nation in venture capital and ranks high in patent activity.

Even so, the move hits during ongoing debates about housing costs, homelessness, and energy prices. Groups such as the Bay Area Council have pushed for reforms, warning that the state’s reputation with business could weaken over time. Others argue that California’s diverse economy, talent base, and quality of life still make it hard to replace.

Oracle’s decision reflects a workplace reality where a physical headquarters matters less than it once did. For Texas, it’s a clear win and another boost for Austin’s push to stand alongside older tech centers. For California, it’s another reminder that companies now have more options, and many are willing to act on them.

As one longtime Silicon Valley voice put it, companies may relocate, but innovation sticks around when people support it. Whether Governor Newsom addresses Oracle’s move directly remains unclear, but the brief SEC filing made the shift official.

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CNN News Viewership Tanks Amid Sale Rumors and Ideological Backlash

Jeffrey Thomas

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CNN News Viewership Tanks

ATLANTA, Ga – Cable news is a tough business, and CNN is feeling it. The channel that helped build 24-hour news is now dealing with some of its lowest ratings ever. At the same time, it’s facing loud claims of left-wing bias and a parent company that seems more focused on reshuffling assets than protecting CNN’s future. As 2025 wraps up, CNN keeps losing viewers, and the chatter about a sale or spin-off hasn’t slowed. So far, no clear buyer has stepped up.

The audience drop is hard to ignore. CNN spent much of 2025 posting some of its weakest viewership numbers on record. The fall got worse after the post-election slowdown that followed the 2024 presidential race.

In July 2025, CNN averaged just 497,000 total primetime viewers, a 42% decline from July 2024, based on Nielsen data cited by Cord Cutters News. The slide continued into the third quarter, with primetime down 42% year over year. The 25-54 age group fell even faster, dropping 58%.

Every big cable news channel took a hit in 2025 after the election spikes of 2024. Still, CNN’s losses stand out. In many months, primetime sat around 400,000 to 500,000 viewers. Fox News, by contrast, often pulled in audiences in the millions. Some former CNN staffers called the July figures “disastrously bad.” By mid-year, the network had reached fresh lows for the post-inauguration period.

Big trends are part of the story. Cord-cutting keeps growing, streaming keeps expanding, and younger viewers often get news from YouTube and X. Even so, CNN’s steeper fall suggests the problem isn’t just the industry. Many viewers also seem worn out by the network’s tone and editorial choices.

Bias Perception Keeps Pushing Viewers Away

A major driver of CNN’s decline is trust, or the lack of it. CNN has long been tagged as left-leaning by media bias trackers. Outlets like AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check rate CNN as Lean Left or Left-Center, pointing to editorial framing and on-air commentary that often reads as more liberal.

That view isn’t limited to critics on social media. John Malone, a major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) stakeholder, has also blasted what he calls CNN’s “embedded” liberal bias.

Polling has shown a sharp partisan split. Many Democrats say they trust CNN. Most Republicans say they don’t, and many see it as hostile to their views. That divide has pushed moderates and conservatives away, and it has helped speed up the ratings collapse. Efforts by past leadership teams to soften the network’s approach didn’t land well either. Those moves drew heat from the left and still didn’t bring back the viewers CNN had already lost.

CNN now has to operate in a time when trust in the news is already low. For a growing group of former viewers, the network’s perceived far-left tilt has become a deal-breaker, and the audience keeps shrinking.

Warner Bros. Discovery Upheaval Adds More Pressure

CNN’s problems aren’t happening in isolation. Its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, has been in turmoil. In late 2025, WBD said it was exploring a full sale after receiving multiple bids.

Netflix surfaced as a buyer for the studios and HBO assets, while leaving out CNN and other cable channels. Those cable properties would be spun into a new company called Discovery Global.

Another bidder, Paramount Skydance, came in aggressively. After finishing its own merger in August 2025, Paramount Skydance launched a hostile takeover bid for the full WBD package, CNN included. Reports said Paramount CEO David Ellison, backed by his father Larry Ellison (a Trump ally), offered signals to regulators and political influencers that CNN could see changes. WBD’s board rejected Paramount’s proposals, calling them too low and too uncertain, and stuck with the partial Netflix deal instead.

President Trump also weighed in, saying it was “imperative” for CNN to be sold separately or included in any deal, while criticizing its current leadership. Even with all the noise, CNN still hasn’t found a clear, committed buyer of its own. That raises a basic question about how much the network is worth in a cable market that keeps shrinking.

CNN: A Hard Asset to Sell

Media analysts say CNN has two big problems as a sales target. First is brand baggage. Second is the steady drop in linear TV money. CNN has promoted its digital reach and points to growth in streaming subscriptions, but the cable side still brings in a large share of revenue, and that part is sliding.

In recent years, revenue has fallen by hundreds of millions of dollars, tied to weaker ad sales and lower carriage fees. That makes CNN a harder bet for buyers who don’t want to inherit a declining business model.

There are also a number of complications. Pairing CNN with CBS News under Paramount has raised concerns about antitrust issues and newsroom independence. If CNN stands alone, experts expect more restructuring, deeper cost cuts, or another spin-off plan down the road.

What’s Next for CNN?

CNN’s path forward is cloudy. CEO Mark Thompson has tried to push a stronger focus on digital, including subscription options and a bigger emphasis on online growth. CNN also says it remains the top multiplatform news brand, pointing to strong digital engagement and solid performance from some original programming. Partnerships, including work with prediction market Kalshi for data integration, show the company is still trying new ideas.

Still, the pressure is rising. If the WBD split moves ahead, Discovery Global (with CNN inside it) could face demands to cut spending fast or find a buyer later. Layoffs have hurt morale, and the network has to balance a deeply polarized audience without driving away the viewers it still has.

Some insiders think a sale could reset the brand with new leadership and a more even tone. Others worry CNN will keep sliding as streaming pulls more attention away from cable. One former executive summed up the core challenge: CNN needs to reach people where they already are, online, or risk fading out.

CNN’s story now reads like a warning for legacy media. A network that once defined breaking news is fighting to stay relevant while politics, technology, and public trust keep shifting. In 2026, more disruption looks likely for a channel that used to feel untouchable.

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The Impact of the 2024 IRS Mileage Rate on Small Businesses

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IRS Mileage Rate 2024, Small Business

The IRS mileage rate 2024 stands as a pivotal benchmark for small businesses, marking not just a figure on a tax form but a crucial factor influencing their financial strategies and daily operational decisions. This rate, set at 67 cents per mile for business travel, reflects not only the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance but also broader economic trends and regulatory shifts that impact businesses of all sizes.

For small businesses, where every expense matters, the IRS mileage rate directly affects how they allocate resources. It shapes budgeting decisions, tax planning strategies, and even employee compensation policies. Understanding and effectively applying this rate can mean the difference between maximizing tax deductions and facing unexpected financial liabilities.

Moreover, the IRS mileage rate serves as a barometer for economic conditions affecting transportation costs. Changes in this rate can prompt businesses to reassess their logistics and supply chain strategies, explore alternative modes of transportation, or renegotiate contracts with service providers.

Thus, the rate extends beyond a mere tax calculation, becoming a catalyst for strategic adaptation and operational efficiency. The 2024 IRS mileage rate is not just a number—it’s a critical factor that small businesses must navigate strategically to optimize financial performance and maintain compliance with tax regulations.

A crucial adjustment for small businesses impacting various aspects

The 2024 IRS mileage rate plays a pivotal role in shaping financial strategies and operational efficiencies for small businesses. Adapting to these changes proactively can help businesses navigate challenges, optimize tax benefits, and maintain competitive advantages in their respective markets.

Cost Management and Budgeting: Small businesses often rely on accurate mileage tracking to calculate transportation costs. The updated IRS rate affects budgeting forecasts, requiring adjustments to financial plans to accommodate higher mileage expenses.

Tax Deductions and Reimbursements: The IRS mileage rate directly affects tax deductions and reimbursements for business-related driving. Small businesses can deduct eligible mileage expenses from their taxable income, reducing their overall tax liability. Therefore, understanding and correctly applying the updated rate is crucial for maximizing tax benefits.

Employee Compensation: For businesses that reimburse employees for mileage, the IRS rate serves as a benchmark. Compliance with the standard rate ensures fair reimbursement practices while simplifying administrative tasks related to expense reporting.

Strategic Decision-Making: Changes in the IRS mileage rate prompt strategic evaluations regarding transportation logistics. Businesses may reconsider vehicle leasing versus reimbursement policies or explore alternative transportation methods to optimize cost-efficiency.

Compliance and Documentation: Accurate record-keeping is essential for IRS compliance. Small businesses must maintain detailed logs of business miles driven and associated expenses to substantiate deductions during audits. Failure to adhere to IRS guidelines can result in penalties and additional scrutiny.

Impact on Profit Margins: Fluctuations in mileage rates directly influence profitability margins for businesses heavily reliant on transportation. The increased rate may squeeze profit margins unless offset by corresponding adjustments in pricing or operational efficiencies.

Operational Efficiency: Efficient mileage tracking and management systems become more critical with higher IRS rates. Adopting digital tools or mileage tracking apps can streamline reporting processes, ensuring compliance while reducing administrative burden.

Everlance as a tool to facilitate compliance with the IRS

Everlance serves as a robust tool to streamline compliance with IRS regulations, particularly regarding mileage tracking and reporting for small businesses.

Automated mileage tracking

Everlance provides a sophisticated solution for automated mileage tracking, which greatly simplifies the process of documenting business trips. This feature allows users to accurately record each drive and link it to relevant business activities, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data required for IRS reporting.

Integration with IRS standards

Everlance is designed to easily integrate with IRS standards, including the latest mileage reimbursement rate. Users can easily monitor rate changes and automatically apply updated rates to their rides, ensuring compliance with the latest regulations and maximizing tax returns.

Using the Everlance platform allows small businesses to effectively manage their driving expenses while ensuring they are in compliance with IRS requirements without significant administrative effort

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