As militaries around the world contemplate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in warfare, the onslaught of Israel in the Gaza Strip offers an important point of reflection. This article explores the AI system called ‘Gospel’ or ‘Habsorah’, pioneered by Unit 8200 – an Intelligence Corps Unit – of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
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2023 began on a dismal note for Pakistan’s economy, as foreign exchange reserves were fast-depleting, remittances and exports were declining, the rupee was depreciating, industrial production was decreasing, and inflation surged – resulting from a confluence of multiple internal and external factors. In the months leading up to June, newspaper and media headlines continued to warn that the country’s economic crisis could soon morph into a sovereign default without a bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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In recent decades, there have been substantial developments in the aerospace industry around the globe. With considerable increase in funding, innovation in the aerospace sector has gained significant momentum, fostering more competition in the respective domain. In 2021, around USD10 billion capital was invested in space companies.
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Paul Hawken, a renowned environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author, has long been at the forefront of advocating for sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. He is not only an influential thinker but also the founder of Project Drawdown, a comprehensive plan to reverse global warming. In his latest work, ‘Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation,’ he offers an inspiring and persuasive vision for tackling the climate crisis.
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As the world struggles to decouple from fossil fuels under the umbrella of a green future, the demand for critical minerals is increasing. The clean technology industry, like many others, relies upon critical minerals or ‘Rare Earth Elements’ extracted from the ground. Lithium is one such metal critical for electric rechargeable batteries heavily used in Electric Vehicles (EVs) and electrical grid storage.
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The outgoing year 2023, like most years since 2014, was characterised by India’s further descent into saffronisation. ‘Saffronisation’ refers to power politics employed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to mould every aspect of life in India according to the ethos of right-wing Hindutva extremism, which has been the hallmark of this party.
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Yet another Conference of the Parties (COP) to address the existential challenge to planet Earth and the human species in the form of climate change concluded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 13 December 2023. It had to be extended by one day as the required consensus on phasing out of fossil fuels could not be achieved on the final declaration due to the intransigence of oil-producing countries.
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Resistance has many forms. At its core, it reflects how inaction towards injustice is synonymous to complicity. In this regard, the Armed Conflict Location & Events Data project has recently analysed the Israel-Palestine conflict, offering insightful data. According to their report, mass mobilisations have been observed, with approximately 7,283 pro-Palestine protests, from 7th October to 24th November, in 118 countries and territories.
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Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS) are a rapidly evolving disruptive technology that not only impact the characteristics of warfare but also pose significant challenges for the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC). The distinctive feature these weapons present is their ability to select and eliminate their targets without human intervention. While these weapon systems have been gaining much consideration amongst Armed Forces of a number of countries, they are also becoming an immediate cause of humanitarian, ethical and legal concern.
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In ‘Geo-Economics: The Interplay between Geopolitics, Economics, and Investments,’ Joachim Klement delves into the intricate relationship between geopolitical events and the world of finance and investment. Through evidence-based data and analysis, Klement explores how geopolitical trends shape the global economy and financial markets, both in the present and the foreseeable future.
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