White | Jotup

New ‘cold war’ grows ever warmer as the prospect of a nuclear arms race hots up

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Bush met on the cruise ship, Maxim Gorky, off the coast of Malta to declare the end of the cold war.

Key Points:

Bush met on the cruise ship, Maxim Gorky, off the coast of Malta to declare the end of the cold war.
With the cold war over, Gorbachev liberalised the Soviet Union, presiding over its dismantling, which formally occurred on December 26 1991.
To their own people.” Reagan and Gorbachev agreed that a nuclear war couldn’t be won, so must never be fought.
He has now explicitly threatened to resort to use of nuclear weapons three times since launching his invasion in 2022.

‘Nuclear neolateralism’

A new Silk Road nexus has emerged across China, Russia, Iran, Israel and North Korea since the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
This web of relationships is shaped by regional dynamics, strategic interests and global power shifts that influence security and global weapons proliferation.
But tensions remain along shared borders – and freshly leaked classified papers reveal Russia’s fear of Chinese nuclear attack.
In February 2023, the leader of the People Power Party, Chung Jin-suk, argued that South Korea needs nuclear weapons.
Saudi Arabia does not have nuclear weapons, but officials have said that they will acquire them if their regional rival, Iran, becomes nuclear.

A new arms race

The UN has said that a quantitative arms race seems imminent.
The latest US nuclear posture review revealed a plan worth US$1.5 trillion (£1.21 trillion) to modernise US nuclear capability and create a “nuclear sponge” of 450 nuclear silos to absorb a future Russian attack.
Now the UK has announced it will increase its defence budget to 2.5% of GDP to put it on a “war footing”.

Becky Alexis-Martin receives funding from ICAN.

When the Supreme Court said it’s important to move quickly in key presidential cases like Trump’s immunity claim

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Democratic Party, Democracy, CIA, Supreme, Oval, Hoarding, White, District court, Oval Office, Judgement, House, Watergate scandal, Immunity, Trump, Supreme court, FBI, Justice minister, Government, Senate

The claim arises from his federal charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, but also may apply to the charges he faces over hoarding classified documents after leaving office.

Key Points:

The claim arises from his federal charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, but also may apply to the charges he faces over hoarding classified documents after leaving office.
No Supreme Court has decided this question, nor has any of its rulings said definitively what counts as an official act and what does not.
But to the justices, and to me as a scholar of American politics and law, perhaps no commentator is as persuasive as the Supreme Court itself – in particular, in a ruling from 50 years ago.

A slowly unfolding inquiry

It was sparked by a burglary of Democratic Party headquarters in Washington’s Watergate Complex in May 1972 and mounting evidence that Nixon had orchestrated a cover-up.
In the summer of 1973, the highly publicized Senate hearings on Watergate publicly revealed the existence of tape recordings of Oval Office conversations.

A rapid series of court decisions

On May 24, 1974, Jaworski filed a request for certiorari before judgment, a rarely used legal mechanism asking the Supreme Court to get involved before the appeals court heard the case.
On May 31, six justices, including two Nixon appointees, granted Jaworski’s request and set oral arguments for July 8.
One justice, William Rehnquist, recused himself because he had worked in Nixon’s Justice Department before being appointed to the court.
One of its key pieces of evidence was one of the recordings the Supreme Court had ordered released.
The Supreme Court had moved quickly, accepting the case at the earliest point it could have.

Trump’s delays

Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2023, special counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to grant certiorari before judgment.
During John Roberts’ time as chief justice, the Supreme Court has frequently agreed with those requests.
That is already more time than had elapsed between the Supreme Court accepting and deciding the case in 1974.

The importance of speed

I am not the only one who believes the Trump case is of similar – if not greater – importance to democracy.
It’s not yet clear how soon the Roberts court will rule, but in 1974, the justices appreciated “the public importance of the issues presented and the need for their prompt resolution”.

Donald Nieman has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies.

Ukraine war: US$60 billion in US military aid a major morale boost but no certain path to victory

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Negotiation, Republican, Congress, White, United States Congress, House, Morale, Delusion, Trump, Investment, Government, Senate, Representative

The bill is still subject to Senate approval and then needs to be signed into law by the US president, Joe Biden.

Key Points:

The bill is still subject to Senate approval and then needs to be signed into law by the US president, Joe Biden.
But given the Senate’s previous approval of a similar measure and Biden’s vehemence of the need to support Ukraine, this should be a formality.
Together with the morale boost for troops, this means that improvements in the situation on the front are likely – even before new US supplies will arrive.

Political will

It is above all one of political will.
The months-long delay in the US Congress was primarily an issue of domestic political posturing in a presidential election year.
While their influence on funding decisions is much more limited, they could certainly create significant problems in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.

Economic capacity

There is some confidence that production capacity in the US and Europe, as well as in Ukraine, will significantly increase as of 2025.
But even in an optimistic scenario of sustained investments in the defence industrial base of the collective west and increasing Russian economic and logistical difficulties to sustain its defence sector, a gamechanging shift in the balance of power is unlikely in the near future.

Russia holds the initiative, for now

It also enjoys air superiority in light of depleted Ukrainian air defence systems, and has the operational momentum on the battlefield.
If anything, Russia will now double down on its current offensive pushes.
Given the continuing rhetoric of victory in Moscow and Kyiv, another forever-war might just have become more sustainable – for now.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU's Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

Nowcasting consumer price inflation using high-frequency scanner data: evidence from Germany

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Consensus, Online, Cream, Honey, Tax, Glass, MAPI, Consensus Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Milk, Shower, Low-alcohol beer, Autoregressive–moving-average model, Infant, C3, Islam, Wine, Core inflation, Research Papers in Economics, National accounts, Kálmán, Barcode, Journal of International Economics, Communication, Royal Statistical Society, COVID19, Kohl (cosmetics), Natural disaster, Business, Observation, Paper, VAT, European Economic Review, Diebold Nixdorf, Blancmange, Calendar, Sunflower oil, Annual Review of Economics, Hand, C4, DESTATIS, NBER, Tinning, Razor, Forecasting, Gasoline, Coffee, European Economic Association, Cat, Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Applied Econometrics, Medeiros, Architecture, Oxford University Press, Producer, GfK, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Margarine, NCBS, Starch, Political economy, Consistency, COVID-19, Consensus decision-making, Website, MIDAS, Behavior, Deutsche Bundesbank, PPI, World Bank, Collection, Medical classification, Orange, Eurozone, Butter, FMCG, Noise, Travel, Clothing, History, Inflation, Liver, International economics, Journal of Political Economy, BSI, OLS, Statistics, Consumer, PDF, University of Chicago, Classification, ECB, Fats, Policy, Multi, WOB, Outline, C6, Mincing, Canadian International Council, Social science, Perfume, University of California, Berkeley, Journal of Forecasting, Federal Reserve Bank, JEL, L1, Journal, Research, Candle, Food, TPD, Credit, Spice, LPG, Janssen, Marmalade, Superior, Literature, Chocolate, Beef, Kiel University, European Central Bank, Natural gas, HICP, Monetary economics, Yogurt, Section 5, ILO, Bermingham, Price, GTIN, Cheese, Macroeconomics, Growth, Beck, XJ, Government, De Beer, Supermarket, Ice cream, Naturally, C53, Corn flakes, BIS, Biscuit, LASSO, Petroleum, A.2, Poultry, Accuracy and precision, Application, White, Lettuce, Risk, ESCB, University of Siegen, OECD, Chapter One, Lipstick, Sack, XT, BIC, Garlic, Consumption, Sokol, Meat, VAR, Database, Section 3, Rusk, American Economic Journal, Royal, Curd, Overalls, Lamb, Great Lockdown, Fruit, Economy, COICOP, International Journal of Forecasting, Aftershave, Section 2, Nonparametric statistics, Attention, Conference, CPI, Heat, Public economics, Common sunflower, Nowcasting, American Economic Review, Computational Statistics (journal), GFK, COVID-19 pandemic, Exercise, Shock, Running, UNECE, Edible, Gambling, Banco, Rigid transformation, European Commission, Frozen, C.2, PRISMA, Official statistics, Concept, Drink, Transaction data, Somatosensory system, Punctuality, Altbier, Food prices, Response, GDP, Index, E31, Cabinet of Germany, Holiday, Machine learning, Series, Green, Whisky, Vegetable, Cola, Journal of Econometrics, Sadik Harchaoui, University, Aggregate, World Bank Group, B.1, Use, Book, Economic statistics, Civil service commission, 1L, Apple, Bread, Filter, Central bank, Brandeis University, Economic Modelling, Bank, Barkan, Roulade, Dairy product, Neural network, Reproduction, IMF, Section, ID, Data, D4L, Cryptocurrency

Key Points:

Gaza update: the questionable precision and ethics of Israel’s AI warfare machine

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 18, 2024

The IDF says it has been working on information gleaned from questioning Palestinian fighters captured in the fighting.

Key Points:

The IDF says it has been working on information gleaned from questioning Palestinian fighters captured in the fighting.
According to a report in the Jerusalem Post on April 17, the Palestinian fighters were hiding out in schools in the area.
The investigation, by online Israeli magazines +927 and Local Call examined the use of an AI programme called “Lavender”.

It’s important to note that the IDF is not the only military to be working with AI in this way.
But one function of the way the IDF is harnessing Lavender in this current conflict is its use alongside other systems.
Read more:
Israel accused of using AI to target thousands in Gaza, as killer algorithms outpace international law

The Iranian dimension

Away from the charnel house that is the Gaza Strip, the focus has been on the aftermath of Israel’s strike on the Iranian embassy in Baghdad on April 1.
As is his wont, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed revenge, declaring: “The Zionist regime will be punished by the hands of our brave men.
And this was very much how it was to turn out when Iran’s drones and missiles flew last weekend.
Read more:
Could Israel's strike against the Iranian embassy in Damascus escalate into a wider regional war?
Read more:
Why Iran's failed attack on Israel may well turn out to be a strategic success

The nuclear option?

One of the possibilities being widely canvassed is that Israel could mount some kind of attack on Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. This has been revitalised in the years since Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.

He walks us through the history of Iran’s nuclear programme, a story littered with the bodies of Iranian nuclear scientists and the wreckage of its nuclear facilities thanks to fiendish cyberattacks such as the Stuxnet virus developed by Israel and the US that was launched against Iran in 2010.
Since Trump quit the nuclear deal, Iran has gone full-steam ahead in ramping up its nuclear weapons programme, while reportedly hiding its key installations in deep underground bunkers that are thought impossible to destroy from the air.

NCD announces new Chair Claudia L. Gordon

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council on Disability (NCD) – an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on disability policy – announces Claudia L. Gordon, Esq., of Washington, D.C., as its new Chair.

Key Points:

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council on Disability (NCD) – an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on disability policy – announces Claudia L. Gordon, Esq., of Washington, D.C., as its new Chair.
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. designated Gordon as Council Chair, as announced by the White House on April 5.
During her time at NCD, Gordon was designated by Gallegos as Vice Chair and served on NCD’s Executive Committee.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the country in this capacity as Chair and look forward to continuing our journey of increasing accessibility and inclusion in all walks of life,” said NCD Chair Claudia Gordon.

WTW announces appointment of Sean Plankey as Global Leader Cybersecurity Software

Retrieved on:

Monday, April 8, 2024

White, University, Information technology, Computer, WTW, Silicon, United States Cyber Command

LONDON, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company, today announced the appointment of Sean Plankey as Global Leader Cybersecurity Software.

Key Points:

LONDON, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company, today announced the appointment of Sean Plankey as Global Leader Cybersecurity Software.
In this new role, Plankey, a leading cybersecurity expert, will spearhead the commercialization of WTW's innovative cybersecurity software.
Commenting on Plankey's appointment, WTW CEO, Carl Hess, said, "Innovation and technology are central to WTW's strategy and client offering.
WTW is proud to be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge cybersecurity software, which we are now poised to bring to market for the benefit of our clients."

Samba TV Unveils Real-Time Ad Targeting for Political Advertisers to Respond Quickly to Shifting Voter Audiences

Retrieved on:

Thursday, April 4, 2024

DMA's, Season, Congress, Samba TV, White, SAN, History, News, Yahoo!, TelevisaUnivision, Product management, Product strategy

Yahoo and TelevisaUnivision, two early adopters of the new solution, have integrated Samba TV’s innovative near-real time political audience segments to better empower political advertisers on their platforms.

Key Points:

Yahoo and TelevisaUnivision, two early adopters of the new solution, have integrated Samba TV’s innovative near-real time political audience segments to better empower political advertisers on their platforms.
Samba TV’s Real Time Political Audiences facilitates the next day activation of digital campaigns to reach key voter groups with time-sensitive political messaging.
Advertisers can now build customized political ad exposure segments and launch their targeted campaign the next day, the quickest turnaround in the industry.
This game-changing capability ensures political advertisers are targeting the right voters in the most efficient and effective method possible.

Kratos Announces New Director as Part of Ongoing Board Refresh and Augmentation Process

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

As the result of an ongoing Board augmentation and refreshment process, the Company has appointed Brigadier General (Retired) Bobbi Doorenbos to the Kratos Board of Directors, effective March 28, 2024.

Key Points:

As the result of an ongoing Board augmentation and refreshment process, the Company has appointed Brigadier General (Retired) Bobbi Doorenbos to the Kratos Board of Directors, effective March 28, 2024.
General Doorenbos brings significant relevant and diverse experience and expertise to the Kratos Board.
In her nearly 25 years of distinguished military service, General Doorenbos has served in leadership positions in the White House, Headquarters Air Force, and National Guard Bureau.
"We are pleased to welcome General Doorenbos to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Responsible Gambling Council Applauds $9 million Government investment in Online Gambling Prevention Education to Promote Responsible Play in Ontario

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

White, RGC, Risk, Gambling, Conference, Culture, Responsibility, Safety

This three-year investment into the RIGF is a monumental moment for RGC and a clear demonstration of Ontario’s leadership in online gambling safety and consumer protection.

Key Points:

This three-year investment into the RIGF is a monumental moment for RGC and a clear demonstration of Ontario’s leadership in online gambling safety and consumer protection.
“Ontario has long been a champion for responsible gambling and this investment into prevention education and programming and today’s announcement is a game-changer,” said Shelley White, CEO, Responsible Gambling Council.
“This clearly demonstrates Ontario is the Canadian leader in promoting responsible play, minimizing harm and creating a strong, sustainable online gambling market,” she added.
“We applaud and thank the Ontario government for this welcome and historic investment into responsible play,” concluded White.