World

Assad Starts to Lose Grip on His Militias

BY ARYN BAKER/BEIRUT

As the threat of an imminent U.S. attack dims, supporters and officials of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime quietly worry that his feared shabiha (ghost) fighters may spin out of control. “Assad is saying, ‘Let me win first, then I will deal with them,'” one regime official told Time on the condition of anonymity. “But I don’t see how. They could last for decades.”

The West rightly fears the rising power of antiregime militias–some of which have ties to al-Qaeda–but less attention has been paid to those mustered by Assad. The longer the war rages, the more difficult it will be to control them. Most are funded by local businessmen or religious leaders vying for government favor. They originated in the organized-crime networks of Latakia province, where Assad’s Alawite sect dominates. But now they’re just as likely to be Sunni, Kurdish or Eastern Orthodox Christian. And if their leaders refuse to comply with a future political resolution–distant, at this point–Syria could be further shredded by factional fighting, like Afghanistan in the early 1990s before a widespread backlash against the warlords there led to the rise of the Taliban.

Assad recently claimed that the rebels fighting his regime are mostly from al-Qaeda and warned of catastrophe should the fractious opposition militias have their way with Syria. But if his shabiha similarly splinter, the next Syrian crisis could be one of his own making.

NORTH KOREA

‘He’s my friend for life–I don’t care what you guys think.’

DENNIS RODMAN, former NBA star, on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un; he plans to train the country’s 2016 Olympic basketball team

DATA

WORLD’S HIGHEST ‘VANITY’ SKYSCRAPERS

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat found that many landmarks have lots of unoccupiable space thanks in part to spires.

Burj Khalifa Dubai 29% unoccupiable

Zifeng Tower Nanjing, China 30%

Emirates Tower One Dubai 32%

Bank of America Tower New York City 36%

The Explainer

How Japan Plans to Profit From the 2020 Olympics

Tokyo kept its bid under $8 billion–less than half of Istanbul’s–in the hopes of a $30 billion economic boost from its hosting duties. This would be a crucial boon as the world’s third largest economy grapples with tepid growth and massive debt. Its mission: spend the rest of the decade leveraging the facilities and intel amassed during its last Summer Games–in 1964.

RETROFITTED STADIUMS

THEN: In 1964, venues like Yoyogi National and Tokyo Metropolitan gymnasiums hosted tournaments for swimming, basketball and gymnastics, among other sports.

NOW: They’ll be refurbished for table tennis and handball.

COST-FRIENDLY OLYMPIC VILLAGE

THEN: Renovating a former U.S. military housing compound for 6,600 athletes reportedly cost more than housing for the first nine modern Olympics combined.

NOW: The $955 million, 17,000-bed complex planned for Tokyo Harbor will later be converted to a residential community.

STREAMLINED TRANSPORTATION

THEN: Tokyo introduced the world’s first high-speed bullet train to shuttle visitors and athletes between competitions.

NOW: It’ll continue to update that technology–some wait times are as low as two minutes during rush hour–and renovate stations to be accessible to the elderly, disabled and children.

Not So Fast

INDIA

Policemen run past colored-water cannons as they chase Kashmirian government employees before detaining dozens of them at a protest in northern Srinagar on Sept. 9. Answering the call of a coalition of trade unions, hundreds of workers tried to march toward the Civil Secretariat–and were blocked–as they demanded a higher retirement age, regularization of temporary jobs and a pay boost.

SWITZERLAND

18 Minimum legal age expected to be adopted for prostitution, up from 16 (the age of consent)

Three Challenges Facing

Australia’s New Prime Minister

After six years of Labor Party rule, Tony Abbott and his conservative Liberal-National coalition triumphed in the federal election on Sept. 7. Here’s a look at the issues the new Prime Minister–elect and his government will have to tackle:

Immigration

With record numbers of people attempting to seek asylum in Australia, Abbott has proposed a new policy that will turn away boats of would-be residents from countries like Indonesia.

China Tangle

Abbott will have to juggle Australia’s lucrative economic relationship with China and its loyalty to the U.S., whose new Asia-Pacific policy seeks to counter China’s regional influence.

Legislating

Despite a majority for Abbott’s party in the House, single-issue parties like the Australian Sports Party will dominate the Senate, meaning he could have a tough time pushing through his legislative agenda.

Trending In

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JOBS

Most of the 80,000 South African gold miners who picketed for better pay went back to work with an 8% raise

FILM

The Italian-made Sacro GRA became the first documentary to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival

GEOLOGY

Scientists discovered the world’s largest underwater volcano (119,000 sq. mi.) some 4 miles below sea level east of Japan

ANIMALS

Romania plans to capture and kill thousands of stray dogs after a young boy was mauled

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