Japan has claimed a Chinese military jet locked its radar on a Japanese fighter jet near the southern island of Okinawa in a “dangerous act.”

Japan‘s defence ministry said a Chinese J-15 “intermittently” targeted its fire-control radar at Japanese F-15s on two occasions on Saturday.

A fire-control radar lock is one of the most threatening acts a military aircraft can take, as it signals a potential attack – often forcing the targeted aircraft to take evasive action.

The alleged use of the system by the Chinese aircraft was detected by different Japanese fighters that had scrambled against a possible airspace violation by China, according to the ministry.

The ministry reported that the Chinese aircraft targeted the jets for approximately three minutes in the late afternoon and another 30 minutes in the evening.

Japan said the Chinese J-15 was launched by China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, which was manoeuvring south of the Okinawan Islands with three missile destroyers.

It is believed to be the first instance of a radar lock involving Japanese and Chinese military aircraft.

Japan insisted there was no breach of Japanese airspace, and no injury or damage was reported from the incident.

A Chinese navy spokesperson refuted the claims and said Japan’s allegations were completely inconsistent with the facts.

The spokesperson said a Japanese self-defence force aircraft repeatedly approached and disrupted the Chinese Navy while it was training.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in the early hours of Sunday that Japan had protested to China over the incident.

He said the move “exceeded the scope necessary for safe aircraft operations,” and Japan had “demanded strict preventive measures” from China.

It comes as relations between the two countries have worsened in recent weeks following remarks made by Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, over Taiwan.

China was angered after the Japanese leader suggested its military could get involved if it took action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.

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Lindsey Davidson, founder and CEO of Lenny, is making denim dreams come true from her Studio City, California, vintage jean outpost.

Rachel Bilson, Whitney Port, Hannah Berner, Carole Radziwill, Katie Lowes, and more are flocking to the destination for perfectly worn-in Levi’s, Wranglers, Lees, and rare European styles in every wash imaginable, plus Davidson’s expert eye.

“My connection to vintage denim began early. I was a total tomboy growing up and practically lived in jeans, so when it came time to build a brand of my own, it felt only natural that it would centre on denim and the romance of vintage,” she tells ET.

That adoration comes down to the history woven into every pair she carries.

“We put significant effort into finding truly unique washes and silhouettes because that’s the magic of vintage. No two pairs are the same. What captivates me most about vintage denim is the life it has lived before you. … The whiskering, the fading, and the subtle imperfections are all part of the charm and what makes vintage so special and one-of-a-kind,” Davidson explains.

To make them even more original, the entrepreneur offers one-on-one in-person and virtual appointments where she provides tailored tweaks to the waist, hips, and seat for a flattering fit, along with custom embroidery options.

“The best tip for creating the perfect pair of jeans is to start with a size that’s close to your own. Many people think they need to go up two or three sizes, but that really only works if you’re going for a baggy, oversized look.”

Instead, her approach prioritises the integrity of the denim and the person wearing it.

“We only offer customisations that make sense for that specific pair to ensure the fit, quality, and character remain intact. … By honing in on those key fit points, we can make thoughtful changes that enhance shape and comfort while keeping the craftsmanship of the jeans,” she shares.

And while requests vary, one universal desire remains. “When it comes to denim, everyone wants their booty to look good. … Shaping in that area can make all the difference. … There’s no better feeling than wearing a pair of jeans that fits you perfectly. It’s the ultimate confidence booster.”

That attention to detail and emotional understanding is exactly why It-girls gravitate toward her.

“Everyone, celebrity or not, appreciates something personal and intentional. … We take the time to understand the fit, the fabric, and how someone wants to feel when they put on their jeans,” Davidson says.

“Denim can be such a battle for so many women, so our goal is to make the experience fun and supportive. … We love helping people feel good in a pair of jeans that truly feels like them.”

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MURSHIDABAD: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a ”Babri Masjid-style” mosque in West Bengal”s Murshidabad on Saturday.

Kabir cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting clerics on the dais as slogans of “Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” were raised at the venue, where thousands had gathered since morning.

The foundation-laying ceremony occurred under heavy security, with large groups of police, RAF, and central forces deployed throughout Rejinagar and the nearby Beldanga area to ensure law and order.

Conspiracies were hatched Despite claims of conspiracies to disrupt the foundation-laying ceremony, Kabir asserted that lakhs of people would foil such attempts.

Image Credit: TOI

Earlier in the day, Kabir said, “I will lay the foundation stone for the mosque at Beldanga. No force can stop it. We will go by the orders of the Calcutta High Court.”

Kabir told reporters before visiting the spot. He also alleged, “There are conspiracies to disrupt the programme by instigating violence. Lakhs of people from across south Bengal districts will foil such attempts. It will be a peaceful ceremony. We have every right to have a place of worship as per the Constitution. Over 2000 volunteers are on duty.

“Not only a mosque at Beldanga, but there will also be a hospital, an educational institution and a guest house for people of all communities visiting the place,” he said. Kabir accused the TMC of “polarising the issue along the religious lines that the BJP follows.”

They are hatching conspiracies,” he claimed. Massive build-up on ground: Local residents and volunteers began assembling at the site early, with people like Safiqul Islam from Uttar Barasat transporting bricks as part of preparations for the proposed mosque.

Kabir claimed that close to 3 lakh people may gather across a 25-bigha area. He said religious leaders from multiple states had confirmed attendance and added, “Two qazis from Saudi Arabia will arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport in the morning.”

Biryani for 40,000 people The sprawling venue off NH-12 has seen extensive arrangements. Seven catering groups have reportedly been hired to prepare shahi biryani for the crowd. About 40,000 food packets are being made for visitors and another 20,000 for locals.

pushing the food bill beyond Rs 30 lakh. The event’s total expenditure is expected to reach Rs 60–70 lakh. A 150-ft by 80-ft dais, set up above the fields, will host nearly 400 guests and is expected to cost Rs 10 lakh alone.

More than 3,000 volunteers—2,000 of them mobilised on Friday—will manage entry points, regulate traffic and oversee crowd dispersal. Kabir said the day’s proceedings would begin with Quran recitation at 10am, followed by the foundation ceremony at noon. “Formalities will start two hours earlier. By 4 pm, the ground will be cleared as per police directives,” he added.

Security concerns

Authorities, anticipating a massive turnout, have raised concerns about crowd management and uninterrupted traffic flow on NH-12. A senior police officer said their top priority is ensuring the highway remains operational.

Additional forces have been sent to the district and multiple diversion routes are ready if required. Kabir insisted turnout would be high, remarking that “People will come because the parade is a historic moment for the area,” dismissing both political backlash and the heavy security bandobast.

Apple is facing its most severe talent crisis in decades as a wave of departures reshapes the company’s leadership structure and threatens its competitive position in artificial intelligence. The crisis runs deeper than executive departures;

Several dozen engineers have departed the company for OpenAI and Meta, creating a talent exodus at the iPhone maker. The scale of the exodus is unprecedented. Alan Dye, who led Apple’s user interface design for a decade, left for Meta this week to become chief design officer.

John Giannandrea, senior vice president for Machine Learning and AI Strategy, announced his retirement on December 1st after what insiders describe as a failed tenure marked by AI development struggles.

Design director Billy Sorrentino followed Dye to Meta, while dozens of engineers with expertise in audio, watch design, and robotics have made similar moves. Beyond these headline departures, Apple’s C-suite is experiencing a broader shake-up.

Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams—once considered CEO Tim Cook’s likely successor—retired in July after 27 years. CFO Luca Maestri stepped back from his role last year. General Counsel Kate Adams and environment policy chief Lisa Jackson both announced 2026 retirements.

The Wall Street Journal notes this represents Apple’s most extensive executive overhaul since Steve Jobs’ death in 2011.

Why Apple’s AI division hit hardest

The artificial intelligence team has sustained the most damaging losses. Dozens of engineers and designers have defected to competitors recently, according to WSJ’s analysis of LinkedIn profiles.

OpenAI alone recruited more than 40 Apple hardware engineers in a single month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported, many joining Jony Ive’s secretive AI device venture backed by a $6.5 billion OpenAI investment. Then, Ruoming Pang, who managed Apple’s foundation models team of approximately 100 employees,

departed for Meta in July. His team was responsible for developing the large language models powering Apple Intelligence, Genmoji, and other AI features across iPhones and Macs. Meta reportedly offered Pang a compensation package worth tens of millions annually. Jian Zhang, who spent a decade at Apple leading AI research for robotics, left for Meta’s Robotics Studio in September.

His departure came as Apple was developing tabletop robots and robotic arms for retail stores, according to industry reports.

Then in October, Ke Yang—just weeks after being appointed to lead Apple’s AI search project inspired by ChatGPT—also jumped to Meta. Yang had been tasked with making Siri competitive with conversational AI assistants, a critical project now in disarray.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Apple announced in June 2024 that it would deliver a dramatically improved Siri but postponed the entire overhaul to March 2026 after the features failed to meet quality standards.

The WSJ reports Apple is now testing Google’s Gemini chatbot to power Siri—a tacit admission that its internal AI development has stalled. This strategic uncertainty has demoralised remaining employees, with nearly a dozen members of the Foundation Models team departing alone in 2025. What’s driving talent away isn’t just money, though competitors are offering staggering sums.

Multiple sources tell Bloomberg that frustration with Apple’s conservative, bureaucratic approach to AI development has pushed researchers toward companies offering faster innovation cycles. The company’s exploration of partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic—rather than betting on in-house capabilities—has signalled to employees that their leadership lacks confidence in their work.

The Meta factor

Meta’s aggressive recruitment represents a calculated long-term strategy. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has framed the Dye hire as part of a broader vision where AI-powered glasses and devices fundamentally change human-computer interaction.

The company created a new design studio specifically for Dye, who will report directly to CTO Andrew Bosworth and lead hardware, software, and AI integration across Meta’s interfaces. But Dye’s departure reveals something unexpected: many Apple employees are celebrating.

Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, citing multiple sources within Apple, reported that designers are “giddy” about Dye leaving.

“People had given up hope that Dye would ever get squeezed out,” Gruber wrote, “and no one expected that he’d just up and leave on his own.” The reaction stems from widespread dissatisfaction with Dye’s Liquid Glass design system, which prioritised visual aesthetics over usability.

Apple was forced to add a “clear/tinted” preference setting in recent OS releases after users complained they couldn’t read text against translucent backgrounds—a rare admission that a major design initiative had failed. Sources describe Dye as having “no taste” and lacking fundamental understanding of user interface principles, with one designer telling Gruber:

“I swear I had conversations where I mentioned ‘key window’ and no one knew what I meant.” Apple replaced Dye with Stephen Lemay, a 26-year veteran who has contributed to every major Apple interface since 1999, including the original iPhone. Unlike Dye—who came from fashion branding at Kate Spade and the ad agency Ogilvy—Lemay is a career interaction designer known for attention to detail and craftsmanship. “I don’t think there was a better choice than Lemay,” one source told Gruber.

Succession planning accelerates under Cook

The talent crisis coincides with intensifying succession planning for Cook, who turned 65 in November and has led Apple since 2011. The Financial Times reported that Apple’s board expects Cook to step down between late January and June 2026.

though Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman disputes that timeline as premature. Both publications agree that hardware chief John Ternus has emerged as the leading internal candidate. The exodus raises questions about whether Apple’s next CEO will inherit a weakened company.

Under Cook’s leadership, Apple’s market capitalisation grew from $350 billion to $4 trillion. But the company now faces existential challenges in AI—the defining technology of the decade—while competitors raid its talent pool and morale problems persist across critical divisions.

OpenAI’s role in the departures extends beyond direct recruitment. The company’s $6.5 billion investment in Jony Ive’s design firm LoveFrom has created an alternative destination for frustrated Apple designers. Ive’s studio was already heavily staffed with ex-Apple employees, and the new hardware arm of OpenAI has been “poaching left and right” from Apple’s hardware engineering group.

to Gurman’s Power On newsletter. Now, the question arises as to whether Apple can reverse this trend. The company has brought in outside talent—hiring Amar Subramanya, who helped oversee Google’s Gemini chatbot before a brief stint at Microsoft, as vice president of AI—but recovery will require more than individual replacements. This situation requires addressing the systemic issues that drive talent away, such as uncompetitive compensation.

bureaucratic development processes, and strategic confusion about AI’s future at Apple. For Meta and OpenAI, Apple’s crisis represents opportunity. By assembling teams of experienced researchers and executives, they’re positioning themselves to challenge Apple’s dominance in consumer technology.