Diario geostrategico, 22/23 novembre 2021
Buona lettura !
The Science of Where Magazine’s interviews:
– Towards sustainable AI. The Science of Where Magazine meets Abhishek Gupta, Founder and Principal Researcher, Montreal AI Ethics Institute
– The road to the “new normal” and the role of the G20. The Science of Where meets Priyadarshi Dash. Associate Professor at Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, he has 14 years of experience in policy research on trade, investment, infrastructure and fintech issues in the context of G20, IORA, BIMSTEC and Indo-Pacific
– Governo dei dati tra geopolitica e tutela del cittadino. The Science of Where Magazine incontra Ivana Bartoletti, Global Chief Privacy Officer a WIPRO Technologies e Visiting Policy Fellow presso l’ Università di Oxford
– Tecnologia e responsabilità: uno snodo decisivo. The Science of Where Magazine incontra Federico Cabitza, Università di Milano-Bicocca
– Inside the ethics of artificial intelligence: for a decentralized approach. The Science of Where Magazine meets James Brusseau, Philosopher, Pace University
– L’intelligenza artificiale contro le discriminazioni sul lavoro. The Science of Where Magazine incontra Keith Sonderling, Commissioner del U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
– Per Italia e Germania, il futuro è nelle nuove tecnologie. Intervista esclusiva con l’Ambasciatore d’Italia a Berlino, Armando Varricchio
– Gathering strenght, gathering storms. Visions on artificial intelligence. The Science of Where Magazine meets Michael Littman and Peter Stone
Today’s Choice
– Hanna Duggal, Al Jazeera: Every year, a thick smog covers India’s capital New Delhi. Last week, it got so bad for the 20 million residents that authorities shut schools. New Delhi’s concentration of PM2.5 particles, which damage people’s lungs, is 34 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) acceptable levels. The toxic haze is especially bad during the winter as farmers burn stubble left in their fields. – Infographic: The 100 most polluted cities in the world
Africa
– Olamide Samuel, Al Jazeera: I was following activist messaging and protests around the COP26 proceedings rather closely, with a particular focus on whether African interests are being fairly represented in discourse. As a nuclear policy analyst, I found COP26 remarkably interesting in many ways. Thanks to the relentless activism of nuclear disarmament organisations, there is a growing appreciation of the interlinkages between nuclear war and climate change as dire existential threats that require immediate attention. Both threats are “man-made”, and if unmitigated, wield the potential to extinguish human existence on earth. – What role can nuclear energy play in Africa’s climate transition?
Asia
– East Asia Forum: There will be no resolution of the big problems of our age without the big powers, notably the United States and China, being willing parties to their settlement. And success will depend critically on the trust that each puts in the other’s stake in the game. – Middle power diplomacy essential to secure Asia against big power rivalry
Australia
– Bradley Perrett, The Strategist: If there’s a definition of the ‘loyal wingman’ concept, it’s this: a cheap, pilotless aircraft with enough flight performance to accompany fighters and the intelligence needed to semi-autonomously support them. Functions include building a better picture of a battlefield, degrading the enemy’s picture of that battlefield, overwhelming the enemy with targets, and soaking up its missile shots. Kinetic attack is a more distant prospect for loyal wingmen. – Loyal wingmen could be the last aircraft standing in a future conflict
– Anastasia Kapetas, Huon Curtis, The Strategist: International relations sometimes seems like a game that’s all about controlling and asserting simplistic national-power narratives without acknowledging the complexity of each nation’s stories. But the key to effective public diplomacy is moving from monologue to dialogue, which means knowing when to speak and when to listen. In Australia, this begins with listening to, and reckoning with, the nation’s Indigenous history and projecting that into the international public sphere. – The power of Indigenous diplomacy as a strategic asset for Australia
Australia-Japan
– Shiro Armstrong, East Asia Forum: Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s trip to Japan in November 2020 for a historic summit deepened a relationship with Japan that is Australia’s strategic anchor in Asia — his sole official trip overseas in close to 19 months. The most important geopolitical, economic and security fault lines in the world run through Australia’s and Japan’s own backyard. – Australia needs to revamp the Japan relationship to secure its Asian interests
Belarus
– Aurel Sari, Ben Hudson, Just Security: This is the second article in our two-part series examining whether Belarus is acting in breach of its international obligations in relation to the migrant crisis unfolding at its border with the European Union (EU). In the first part, we argued that Belarus is violating Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter, the principle of non-intervention and the sovereignty of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In this second part, we turn our attention to the bilateral agreements that Belarus has concluded with these three EU countries, as well as the pertinent human rights agreements to which Belarus is a party. – Stirring Trouble at the Border: Is Belarus in Violation of International Law? – Part 2
China
– Global Times: China’s cumulative installed capacity for renewable energy reached 1 billion kilowatts (KW) at the end of October, double that at the end of 2015, latest data from the the National Energy Administration (NEA) showed, highlighting the country’s robust efforts to reach its carbon emissions reduction goals. – Installed renewable energy capacity reaches 1b kilowatts
– Global Times: China has been making remarkable progress in expanding the application scenarios of the 5G+industrial internet sector, which has become an important driving force to empower the digitalization, networking and intelligent transformation and upgrading of domestic industries, according to an industry report released on Sunday at the 2021 China 5G+ Industrial Internet Conference. – China further boosts development of 5G+industrial internet: report
China-Africa-USA
– Global Times: Though the US has been stepping up efforts to pursue closer ties with African countries with a recent visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and new infrastructure investment, China-Africa cooperation will continue to expand in years to come, as Chinese and African officials are set to map out close cooperation between the two sides through 2035 following a series of recent communication and exchanges. – China-Africa ties deepen amid US interference
China-ASEAN
– Global Times: China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations decided to establish comprehensive strategic partnership on Monday, a new milestone in the relations between the two sides which will inject fresh impetus into regional and world peace, stability and development. – China, ASEAN establish comprehensive strategic partnership
China-Cambodia
– Global Times: The China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will officially take effect on January 1, 2022, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Monday. The FTA was signed on October 12, 2020. The proportion of zero-tariff products in goods trade reached more than 90 percent on both sides, and the commitment to open market in service trade also reflects the highest level given by each side to its FTA partners. – China-Cambodia FTA takes effect January 1, 2022: MOFCOM
Cities
– Zoe Swarzenski, Max Bouchet, Brookings: On November 8, Tony Pipa, senior fellow of the Brookings Center for Sustainable Development, hosted Nicolas Gharbi, principal advisor on international affairs of the Madrid City Council, for a discussion of his experience as a city diplomat and the role that cities play in achieving global agendas. – A conversation with Nicolas Gharbi, principal advisor on international affairs of Madrid
Climate Action
– Khaled Diab, Al Jazeera: Earlier this month, the world’s leaders got together to small talk about the weather and to big talk about the climate at the 26th edition of the UN’s climate change conference (COP26) in Glasgow. On the sidelines, activists (myself included) campaigned to persuade governments to replace platitudes with attitude, inaction with action. – The ‘net zero’ myth
Development Cooperation
– Patrick Fine, Brookings: The time has come for international agencies, donors, and NGOs to adapt their business cultures and operating models to a new era of international development cooperation. The converging transformational forces of the COVID-19 pandemic and the movement to “decolonize development” have created new options for development partnerships to move away from the traditional use of expatriates in management and technical roles. – The end of development tourism: A new model for development cooperation
El Salvador
– Al Jazeera: El Salvador plans to build the world’s first “Bitcoin City”, funded initially by Bitcoin-backed bonds, President Nayib Bukele says, doubling down on his bet to harness the cryptocurrency to fuel investment in the Central American country. Speaking at an event closing a week-long promotion of Bitcoin in El Salvador, Bukele said the city planned in the eastern region of La Union would get geothermal power from a volcano and not levy any taxes except for value-added tax (VAT). – El Salvador to build first ‘Bitcoin City’ backed by BTC bonds
Europe
– Benjamin Mueller, Daniel Castro, Center for Data Innovation: Online advertising, particularly targeted advertising, is a fundamental enabler of the Internet economy. Not only do targeted ads allow marketers efficient access to specific audiences, but the higher revenue from these ads helps pay for the vast array of apps, content, and services that consumers access for free online. Some European lawmakers are pushing to ban personalized online ads, claiming that they harm consumer privacy. Given the EU’s extensive existing data privacy framework, consumer privacy is not at risk. However, banning targeted ads would hurt advertisers, app developers, media companies, content creators, and consumers by making online advertising less effective. A ban on targeted ads would reduce the €16 billion of spending on data-driven ads in the EU, threatening about €6 billion of advertising income for app developers. As a result, European consumers would face the prospect of a radically different Internet: more ads that are less relevant, lower quality online content and services, and more paywalls. – The Value of Personalized Advertising in Europe
Iran-USA
– Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera: The United States must “accept reality” and agree to lift its sanctions on Iran during next week’s nuclear talks in Vienna, according to Tehran’s top negotiator. Representatives of Iran and the other signatories of its 2015 nuclear deal will be in Austria starting November 29 to try to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the US abandoned in 2018. – The United States must “accept reality” and agree to lift its sanctions on Iran during next week’s nuclear talks in Vienna, according to Tehran’s top negotiator. – US must ‘accept reality’ and lift sanctions: Iran negotiator
Israel
– Ryan Morrison, Mail Online: Being able to detect when someone is lying has been a goal for decades, and now, thanks to artificial intelligence, scientists believe they may be getting close. In a very early stage trial, a team from Tel Aviv University placed sensors on volunteers’ faces, and watched for subtle facial movement changes as they told lies or truths. – AI robot can tell if you are lying by studying subtle facial movements
Japan
– Naohiro Yashiro, East Asia Forum: Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida won his first election on 31 October 2021 by achieving a majority of seats in Japan’s lower house. In early October, Kishida had just won his Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership vote, competing with Taro Kono. Kono was the minister of regulatory reform in the former Yoshihide Suga cabinet and appealed to younger voters as an expected reformer of the stagnated economy. – Can Japan’s economy recover under Kishida?
– Wen Sheng, Global Times: Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week approved a colossal $490 billion fiscal spending package to prevent the country from slipping into a painful recession. However, Japan, with its shrinking population and waning business competitiveness, is unlikely to recover to its pre-pandemic economic size if the government fails to address the structural constraints facing the country. – A lesson drawn from Japan-style economic stagnation
North Korea
– Andrew Yeo, Brookings: North Korea shut its borders in January 2020 — arguably one of the world’s most restrictive pandemic border closures, with reports of “shoot to kill” orders at the border. Although recent missile tests and the regime’s claim of zero coronavirus cases suggest business as usual in North Korea, the country now confronts a major humanitarian crisis. – North Korea is addressing the pandemic in its ‘style.’ That means leaving a lot of people hungry
Pakistan
– Asad Hashim, Al Jazeera: Human rights group Amnesty International has called for Pakistani authorities to end the use of enforced disappearances as a tool of state policy, as it releases a new briefing documenting the effect of such illegal abductions on the families of those who go missing. The briefing, titled “Living Ghosts”, was released by the United Kingdom-based rights group on Monday, and is based on interviews with 10 family members of people “whose fate remains unknown after they were abducted by Pakistan’s security services”. – Amnesty urges Pakistan to end ‘abhorrent’ enforced disappearances
Pakistan-IMF
– Al Jazeera: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday it had agreed with Pakistan on measures needed to revive a stalled $6bn funding programme for the South Asian country, which faces growing economic challenges. “The Pakistani authorities and IMF staff have reached a staff-level agreement on policies and reforms needed to complete the sixth review,” the IMF said in a statement. – IMF revives $6BN bailout for Pakistan’s economy
Poland-Belarus
– Sara Cincurova, Al Jazeera: When 28-year-old Shirin*, an Iraqi Kurd, crossed the border from Belarus into Poland with her seven-year-old son Ali*, she did not expect to end up unconscious and immobile in the freezing woods. – The devastating ways women suffer at the Poland-Belarus border
Russia:
– Steven Pifer, Brookings: Europe currently faces several crises exploited or instigated by Russia. Speculation runs rampant regarding what Vladimir Putin hopes to achieve. He should take care not to overplay his hand. – Will Putin miscalculate?
UK-USA-China
– Global Times: Closely following the US, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly “considering a diplomatic boycott” of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in so-called protest at China’s record on human rights, a move that has been criticized by experts for politicizing the global sporting event and whatever some Western politicians and anti-China forces are trying to hype the matter to attack China, they will not stop the Beijing Olympic Games from shining. – UK’s following US to hype ‘boycott’ of Beijing Winter Olympic Games will not stop event from shining
USA
– Julian Jacobs, Brookings: As digital technology accelerates, there are questions about who is most likely to lose jobs due to automation and what the overall future of the US economy looks like. These questions are worth asking—particularly after a pandemic that appears to have hastened the automation of many tasks in American industries. Yet research on automation has so far centered almost entirely on the presence of digitalization, automation-potential estimates, the relationship between technological change and macroeconomic conditions, and tech’s impact on inequality and wage divergence. – Automation and the radicalization of America
– Thomas Pepinsky, Brookings: President Joe Biden’s first “Summit for Democracy” is an opportunity for the United States to highlight civil liberties, freedom of conscience, and peaceful dissent at a moment in which democracy is in a fragile state around the world. Democracy is the only political system which can protect these freedoms: For authoritarian regimes of any form — single-party regimes like China, personalist dictatorships like Russia, or absolute monarchies like Saudi Arabia — criticism, mobilization, and dissent are no less than fundamental threats to the ruling order. The U.S. has long had an inconsistent record of democracy promotion around the world, and the record of democracy within the United States is uneven as well. The Biden administration views the work of the summit as building strategies to strengthen and defend democracies — the United States included — against authoritarianism. – Biden’s Summit for Democracy should focus on rights, not economics and geopolitics
– Kaysie Brown, Anthony F. Pipa, Krista Rasmussen, Max Bouchet, Brookings: The 2021 U.N. General Assembly met at a tumultuous time for the world and for the United States—with looming concerns about climate change, rising inequality within and between countries, and a pressing need to ensure an equitable and sustainable global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues are central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of ambitious targets for 2030 that all countries agreed in 2015 to address poverty, climate change, and inequalities. The Biden-Harris administration—as it works to re-engage and rebuild credibility at home and abroad—is advancing policy priorities that are consistent with the SDGs, even if it has not yet signaled how it might apply them to its domestic agenda. – Growing American leadership on the Sustainable Development Goals
– Tom Wheeler, Brookings: When digital mobile phone technology was first introduced in the US, electric wheelchairs began behaving erratically. The pulsing signal interfered with their controls. The solution: simple shielding to stop the interference. – Will 5G mean airplanes falling from the sky?
Vietnam
– Tran Thi Ngoc Tran, Brookings: As the Vietnam government looks to help the economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis, the need to increase the viability of women-owned businesses has never been more urgent. In response to this, the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-30 aims for women-owned businesses to account for 27 percent of all enterprises by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030 (up from 26.5 percent in 2020). – A 3-pronged approach to meet the needs of aspiring women entrepreneurs in Vietnam
Altre notizie e approfondimenti su The Global Eye
