LA NATO E L’INTELLIGENZA ARTIFICIALE

FOCUS – May 18, 2022. By Colin Demarest, Defense News. Two NATO agencies recently kicked off an artificial intelligence initiative to better understand the technology and its potential warfare applications. More than 80 AI experts, researchers and academics from the U.S. and other member countries are involved with the venture, known as a strategic “horizon scanning,” put together by the NATO Science and Technology Organization and the NATO Communications and Information Agency. NATO launches AI initiative to ensure tech advantage

TODAY:

• AROUND THE WORLD
• DEFENSE – MILITARY – SPACE
• HORIZONS
• TECH

AROUND THE WORLD

Australia

• May 18, 2022. By CSIS. CSIS’s Charles Edel joins the podcast to discuss this weekend’s Australian elections and their geopolitical implications. Aussie Elections

Indonesia

• May 19, 2022. By Rania Teguh and Albert Jehoshua Rapha, East Asia Forum. Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer. On 28 April 2022, the government ordered an export ban designed to address domestic cooking oil shortages and reduce food prices. The policy extends to crude oil and refined products, and is expected to last until the price of cooking oil dips below Rp 14,000 (US$1) per litre. Indonesia’s palm oil export ban is a double-edged sword

Iraq

• May 17, 2022. By Ranj Alaaldin, Brookings. The United States and its allies face a dilemma and opportunity in Iraq. The October 2022 parliamentary elections produced a winner in Muqtada al-Sadr, the traditionally anti-Western cleric who leads Iraq’s most powerful socio-political movement and one of its most dominant armed groups. Sadr has long been at odds with the West. His militia, the Peace Brigades, fought U.S. and British troops during the occupation of Iraq, and his fighters have been complicit in wide-ranging atrocities. Muqtada al-Sadr’s alliance: An opportunity for Iraq, the US, and the region

Japan

• May 18, 2022. By World Nuclear News. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has endorsed Tokyo Electric Power Company’s (Tepco’s) plan to discharge treated water from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. It will give its official approval of the plan following a 30-day public comment period. Regulator backs Fukushima water discharge plan : Regulation & Safety

Japan – Africa

• May 18, 2022. By Céline Pajon, East Asia Forum. Laying the foundation for the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi held talks on 28 March 2022 with ministers from 50 African nations. Hayashi expressed concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine had increased the economic and social vulnerabilities of African countries — deepening their dependence on China. He subsequently committed to increase Japan’s cooperation with Africa. Japan steps up its Africa engagement

Libya

• May 18, 2022. By The Libya Observer. Member of the House of Representatives and the Political Dialogue Forum, Ziad Daghim, has renewed his call for holding elections before the expiry date of the road map, considering them as the only option to save the country from the danger of an upcoming popular revolution or a major civil war. Daghim: Elections are the only way for Libyan crisis with the implementation of the two governments together
• May 18, 2022. By The Libya Observer. The head of the Presidential Council (PC), Mohammed Menfi, has chaired a meeting devoted to discussing achieving the highest levels of transparency regarding the country’s revenues. Menfi, Dbeibah and a number of officials discuss financial situation of the country
• May 18, 2022. By The Libya Observer. The General Administration for the Protection of Diplomatic Missions has confirmed the injury of Hisham Abdel Salam, one of its members after the clashes that took place in Tripoli at dawn on Tuesday. Security member injured while performing his duties in front of Italian embassy
• May 18, 2022. By The Libya Observer. The Tripoli Court of Appeal has decided to postpone the ruling session in the Abu Salim prison massacre case until June 15, according to the Association for the Martyrs of the Abu Salim Massacre. Verdict in Abu Salim prison trial postponed to June 15
• May 18, 2022. By The Libya Observer. The Turkish Embassy in Tripoli has urged restraint and reason following the failed attempt to overthrow PM Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Turkish embassy urges restraint and reason after day of clashes in Tripoli

Russia – Armenia – Azerbaijan

• May 18, 2022. By Vasif Huseynov, The Jamestown Foundation. On April 21, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denounced the European Union for allegedly seeking to inject itself into the high-level Russian-Azerbaijani-Armenian agreements on the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the restoration of regional transport corridors. Moreover, she rebuked the “shameless attempts of Brussels to appropriate […] the agenda proposed last year by the OSCE [Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe] Minsk Group co-chairs (solving urgent humanitarian issues, [and the] preparation of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan) (RIA Novosti, April 21). Russia Accuses West of Trying to Hijack Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace Process

Russia – South Ossetia

• May 18, 2022. By Giorgi Menabde, The Jamestown Foundation. On July 17, the Russian-occupied Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia will hold a referendum on joining Russia (Radio Tavisupleba, May, 13). Anatoly Bibilov, who is serving out his term as the head of the separatist regime in Tskhinvali, signed a decree to hold the referendum shortly after he lost the May 8 presidential election to Akan Gagloev, the leader of the Nykhas party (Civil.ge, May 14). Gagloev, a former Soviet intelligence officer, will formally be “inaugurated” on May 20. Moscow Unsure How to React to South Ossetian Referendum on Accession to Russian Federation

Russia – Ukraine (on the ground, impact, reactions, consequences)

• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. In a report published on Tuesday, Syrians for Truth and Justice revealed that hundreds of Syrian mercenaries have been transferred to fight alongside Russian forces in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas.  Human Rights Group Reveals Numbers of Syrian Mercenaries in Ukraine
• May 19, 2022. By Aleksandra Klitina, Kyiv Post. Russian officials are adept at delivering patriotic speeches that convey Russia’s supposed strength and integrity. Meanwhile, their own offspring appear to enjoy living on stolen money in Western countries, investing millions of dollars of laundered money in real estate and reaping the benefits of receiving an elite education. Children of Russia: Putin’s Daughters
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. Russia’s war against Ukraine: Day 85, May 19 – Update No. 1
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. British Defense Intelligence Update on Ukraine – 19 May 2022
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.  The following is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s nightly address to the nation as it appears in the English language on the presidential website. Zelensky Scoffs at Russia’s Claim of Using ‘Laser’ Weapons as Failure of Invasion (VIDEO)
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. A crucial seed preservation and storage site was severely damaged in Kharkiv during Russia’s attempt to take the eastern and second-largest Ukrainian city. Vital Ukrainian Seed Bank Preserving Plant Species Nearly Destroyed by Russian Shelling
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. UN chief Antonio Guterres on May 18 warned of years of mass hunger and famine if a growing global food crisis goes unchecked as he urged Russia to release Ukrainian grain. UN Chief Warns of Famine, Urges Russia to Free Ukrainian Grain
• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. After three months, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine officially reopened in Kyiv on May 18 with an official flag-raising ceremony. US Flag Raised at American Embassy in Kyiv as Diplomatic Mission Reopens
• May  19, 2022. By Pierre Morcos, CSIS. “Dear Volodymyr, my message today is clear: Ukraine belongs in the European family.” During a surprise visit to Kyiv on April 8, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen confirmed Europe’s commitment to answer Ukraine’s call for joining the European Union. Just a few days after the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky officially submitted a request to gain EU membership. “We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession,” the Ukrainian leader underlined, as the fighting with Russian troops was still ongoing near Kyiv. Ukraine’s Road to EU Membership
• May 18, 2022. By Aura Sabadus, Atlantic Council. Less than two months after synchronizing with the European electricity grid, Ukraine has begun landmark commercial energy exports to neighboring Moldova in a move that is likely to further dent Russia’s grip over the region. Ukraine’s state-owned hydro producer Ukrhydroenergo has booked between 80-150MW per hour of transmission capacity to Moldova and the first imports by the Moldovan state-owned wholesaler Energocom started on May 12. Disarming Russia’s energy weapon: Ukraine begins electricity exports to Moldova
• May 18, 2022. By Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Atlantic Council. During the first three months of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia on the battlefield has astonished the watching world and led to mounting speculation that Vladimir Putin’s invasion will end in defeat. Putin’s Black Sea blockade leaves millions facing global famine
• May 18, 2022. By Sergey Sukhankin, The Jamestown Foundation. Russia’s unprovoked war of conquest against Ukraine, launched on February 24, is being fought on multiple fronts. Beyond the conflict’s conventional military aspect and the information war, Russia has now been found to be unlawfully seizing Ukraine’s agricultural goods and machinery. According to Ukrainian officials, the occupying forces have already stolen 400,000–500,000 tons of grain (approximate worth $100 million); furthermore, the Russian navy is blocking more than 90 million tons of cereal exports sitting in Ukrainian seaports (UNIAN, May 12). In an attempt to incur maximum damage to Ukraine’s agriculture sector—one of the central pillars of the Ukrainian economy and a key mainstay of global food security—Russia is pursuing two main courses of action. Agriculture as a Weapon: Russia’s ‘Second Front’ Against Ukraine
• May 18, 2022. By  Toma Istomina, Kyiv Post. A Russian soldier pleaded guilty on Wednesday to killing a Ukrainian civilian in the opening stages of Moscow’s invasion during the first war-crimes trial held since the war began. Russian Soldier Pleads Guilty at Kyiv War Crimes Trial
• May 18, 2022. By Kateryna Stepanenko and Karolina Hird, ISW. Russian occupation authorities announced plans to destroy the Azovstal Steel Plant and turn Mariupol into a resort city, depriving Russia of some of the most important economic benefits it hoped to reap by taking the city in the first place. Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) Denis Pushilin stated that DNR authorities are planning to level Azovstal after completing its capture.[1] Azovstal was a major element of Mariupol’s economy before the war because of its unique function as a full-cycle metallurgical complex, the 10,000 jobs associated with production at the plant, the billions of dollars of foreign exchange earnings and taxes it generated, and its production output of 7,000 tons of steel, 6 million tons of iron, and 4.5 million tons of rolled metal, according to the Mariupol City Council.[2] Pushilin stated that the DNR intends to rebuild Mariupol to be a “resort city,” while admitting that 60% of the structures in Mariupol have been destroyed to the point where they cannot be rebuilt.[3] The announced plan to turn Mariupol into a center of tourism and leisure following the complete destruction of a major center of economic activity in Mariupol, is indicative of the damage that Russian troops have inflicted on themselves through the destruction of Mariupol. Russia does not need another resort town on the Black Sea. It does need the kind of hard currency that a plant like Azovstal had generated. This announcement epitomizes the kind of Pyrrhic victories Russian forces have won in Ukraine, to the extent that they have won victories at all. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 18

Syria

• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Al-Mekdad discussed this morning with the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya the role of the UN in the humanitarian response to the situation in Syria, the activities carried out by OCHA and international organizations, and various aspects of humanitarian work carried out by the UN and its agencies in Syria. Mekdad Reviews with UN Assistant Secretary-General the Agency’s Humanitarian Work
• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Al-Bab city in the eastern Aleppo countryside witnessed demonstrations in front of the headquarters of the Syrian National Army’s military police, against the release of a person accused of belonging to the ranks of the Syrian regime and committing violations against civilians.  Anger in al-Bab over Shabih’s Release for Money
• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. The Jordanian army accused undisciplined forces in the Syrian regime’s army and security services of supporting drug traffickers and carrying out smuggling operations, noting that “Jordan’s border with Syria is now one of the most dangerous borders in the kingdom.”. Jordan Accuses Syrian Regime of Supporting Drug Traffickers
• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) stressed that the so-called amnesty that the Assad regime has recently issued is no more than a ruse to deceive the public opinion, citing the regime’s practices against the Syrian civilians following every amnesty it issues. He pointed out that these so-called amnesty decrees aim to convince the international community to accept the regime back in its fold. SOC: Assad Regime Re-arrests Newly Released Detainees
• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrives in Damascus on Saturday for a two-day visit during which he will meet with Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad.  Pedersen in Damascus on Saturday to Discuss Eighth Round of Constitutional Committee
• May 19, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Faisal Mekdad, addressed a message to his counterparts in the Arab countries and states of the world, and to the Secretary-General of the UN and the President of the Security Council, regarding Legislative Decree No. 7 granting a general amnesty for crimes of terrorism committed by the Syrians. “Recent General Amnesty Aimed Towards Reconciliation & Tolerance”, Mekdad in Letter to Diplomats (syrianobserver.com)

USA

• May 19, 2022. By Kyiv Post. Veteran U.S. diplomat Bridget Brink was unanimously approved as the new ambassador to Ukraine by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 19. Biden’s Pick for New Ukraine Ambassador Gets Approval from US Senate Committee
• May 19, 2022. By  Bryant Harris, Defense News. The Senate on Wednesday confirmed a Defense Department official who will be tasked with overseeing the logistics of the sprawling, multifaceted effort to deliver military equipment to Ukraine, as it defends itself against a Russian invasion. Senate confirms defense official tasked with overseeing Ukraine aid logistics
• May 18, 2022. By Wendy Edelberg and Mitchell Barnes, Brookings. In this analysis we offer inflation-related updates to Chapter 1 of “Recession Remedies: Lessons Learned from the U.S. Economic Policy Response to COVID-19,” which addressed the macroeconomic impact of the breadth of economic policy responses from March 2020 through the American Rescue Plan. Inflation-related updates to ‘Recession Remedies’
• May 18, 2022. By Jennifer Lee, Brookings. Last week, a gunman opened fire in a Korean-owned hair salon in the Koreatown section of Dallas, Texas and shot three Korean women who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The police are now investigating this as a hate crime that may be linked to two other shootings of Asian-owned businesses in the area. Anti-Asian violence and racism have surged since the Atlanta massacre last year that left eight dead—six of whom were Asian American women—but many Americans still fail to notice. Confronting the invisibility of anti-Asian racism
• May 17, 2022. By Rashawn Ray, Brookings. A hate crime occurs nearly every hour in the United States. Saturday afternoon was no different. Payton Gendron, an 18-year-old white man, drove to a grocery store in a predominately Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. He then filmed himself shooting 13 people (11 Black and two white), killing 10, including a retired police officer and an 86-year-old woman who had recently visited her husband in a nursing home. During his domestic terrorist act, Gendron even to the time to apologize to a white man for pointing the gun at him. Preventing racial hate crimes means tackling white supremacist ideology

USA – Africa

• May 17, 2022. By Landry Signé, Brookings. Thank you very much, Chair Karen Bass, Ranking Member Christopher Smith, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, for your extraordinary leadership on U.S.-Africa relations. I am incredibly honored by and grateful for the opportunity offered to me by the members of this committee to testify on “Understanding the African Continental Free Trade Area and How the U.S. Can Promote its Success.” I am Landry Signé, Managing Director and Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative, Distinguished Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for African Studies, and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Regional Action Group on Africa, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Agile Governance. Understanding the African Continental Free Trade Area and how the US can promote its success

USA – South Korea

• May 18, 2022. By Ellen Kim, Victor Cha, CSIS. On May 20–22, President Joe Biden is set to visit South Korea and hold a summit meeting with South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol. This is Biden’s first trip to Asia and first visit to South Korea since he became president in January 2021. His meeting with Yoon comes only 10 days after Yoon assumed office on May 10, making their meeting the earliest summit ever to be held between leaders of two countries. This Critical Questions piece previews the upcoming summit and issues of importance to the two countries. The First Biden and Yoon Summit

DEFENSE – MILITARY – SPACE

• May 19, 2022. By Naval News. SEA successfully completed another series of operational demonstrations of its Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) solution Krait Defence System, as part of a trial with an uncrewed submersible, which has proven the ability to deploy an ASW payload from an autonomous undersea vehicle. ASW Suite Integrated with MSubs’ XLUUV
• May 19, 2022. By Naval News. DARPA has launched the Liberty Lifter project to demonstrate a leap in operational logistics capabilities by designing, building, and flying a long-range, low-cost X-plane capable of seaborne strategic and tactical lift. Video: DARPA Unveils Liberty Lifter Seaplane Concept
• May 19, 2022. By Juho Lee, Naval News. The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) of South Korea announced on May 17th that mass production of LIG Nex1’s Tiger Shark wire-guided heavyweight torpedo has begun following the successful completion of quality trials. South Korea completes trials for the LIG Nex1 Tiger Shark Torpedo
• May 19, 2022. By Megan Eckstein, Defense News. The U.S. Navy doesn’t want to promise to buy too many ships in the next five years, in case it can’t follow through due to budget or supply chain constraints. Navy says it will lose millions by not committing to 10 destroyers in upcoming contract
• May 18, 2022. By John R. Deni, Atlantic Council. Sweden’s announcement this week that it will move forward, along with Finland, with plans to join NATO capped a dramatic transformation in public opinion from committed neutral nation to potential Alliance member. But more important from NATO’s perspective is the fact that Sweden’s unique geopolitical characteristics and its small yet advanced military are likely to make it a serious security provider—not merely a security consumer—in the heart of Northern Europe.  Sweden would strengthen NATO with fresh thinking and an able force
• May 18, 2022. By Peter Ong, Naval News. In the shadowy world of U.S. Special Operations, a concept for an MC-130J “Hercules” seaplane was floated at Special Operations Forces Industry Conference 2021 (SOFIC 2021), and yet a year later, USSOCOM reports that they cannot find anyone who knows anything about it. Is the amphibious MC-130J seaplane concept dead, or just too premature at this stage in development? Apparently, the other branch services, the U.S. Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard seem to publicly admit that they want a seaplane during the virtual Defense expositions in 2021. Naval News has asked around to see if anyone knows anything about the MC-130J seaplane concept and its status. Naval News has also discovered that DARPA is forging ahead with their seaplane “Wing in Ground Effect” concept with an official Program of Record. USSOCOM’s Amphibious MC-130J Seaplane Concept Alive or Dead? DARPA’s WIG is Alive!
• May 18, 2022. By Naval News. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched two indigenous warships for the Indian Navy – the fourth Visakhapatnam-class (P15B) guided-missile destroyer ‘Surat’ and the second Nilgiri-class (P17A) stealth frigate ‘Udaygiri’ – at Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), Mumbai on May 17, 2022. India launches 4th P15B destroyer and 2nd P17A frigate
• May 18, 2022. By Justin Katz, Breaking Defense. Decisions on punishments are still to come for the 36 individuals who were at least somewhat responsible for the destruction of the amphibious warship Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) nearly two years ago. Navy still working out punishments for Bonhomme Richard’s destruction
• May 18, 2022. By Arie Egozi, Breaking Defense. As Israeli leaders sound the alarm about what they say is an acute, active threat from Iran’s nuclear program, Israel plans to conduct a major military exercise, with US participation, part of which will simulate attacks on Iranian nuclear targets, according to Israeli officials. Israeli military exercise to simulate attack on Iranian nuclear targets
• May 18, 2022. By Colin Clark, Breaking Defense. The future of land warfare may not be hordes of missile raining down on an opposing force, crushing it and giving the attacker the advantage. Instead, the war in Ukraine may demonstrate that the advantage has swung to the defender, who can strike from hiding using tactical weapons in part because of the power of drone surveillance. Ukraine shows that city hopping is the ‘new era’ of defensive warfare
• May 18, 2022. By Breaking Defense. Given geopolitical events, the world’s militaries are heavily investing in tactical vehicles. In late December, Canada issued a Request for Proposal for new fleets of light and heavy logistics vehicles under the Logistics Vehicle Modernization Project and began competition for a Light Utility Vehicle. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Morocco are also assessing the need for a modernized tactical capability for their armed forces. The global market for Tactical Wheeled Vehicles is booming: here’s what it takes to compete
• May 18, 2022. By Kevin Baron, Defense One. Four years ago, during the ISIS wars, Turkey frustrated U.S. commanders by fighting with America’s Western-friendly proxy partners—the Kurd-led Syrian Democratic Forces—and by playing cozy with Russia. During a visit to Syria, a top general told me that despite the Turkish autocrat, his racist views of the Kurds, and his nuclear geopolitics, it’s better in the long run to have Turkey in the NATO alliance than outside it.  A Swedish Compromise Won’t Solve NATO’s Turkey Problem
• May 18, 2022. By Tara Copp, Defense One. Finland and Sweden may get more security support now that they have formally applied to become members of NATO, a move that has drawn Russian ire, a senior defense official said Wednesday. Pentagon May Give Sweden, Finland More Security Aid
• May 18, 2022. By Joe Gould, Sebastian Sprenger, Defense News. If Sweden and Finland join NATO, the alliance would be able to recalibrate its force posture in the Baltic Sea to a level capable of evening out the regional deterrence balance with Russia, according to Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist. Swedish, Finnish NATO bids raise the prospect of a beefier Baltic Sea posture
• May 18, 2022. By  Jen Judson, Defense News. The Army’s decision to reduce Abrams tank production in fiscal 2023 to fund new technologies was one of its tougher choices, the Army’s acquisition chief said on Capitol Hill this week. Army acquisition chief would welcome tank ramp-up if Congress funds it
• May 18, 2022. By  Colin Demarest, Defense News. The Pentagon’s chief information officer this week said he’s committed to an end-of-year target to award a critical cloud-computing deal, after failing to meet an April deadline that he admitted was overly ambitious. Pentagon CIO stands ground on December timeline for JEDI follow-up
• May 18, 2022. By Todd South, Defense News. Having eyes on the battlefield can mean the difference between hitting the right or wrong target, or even hitting the target at all, which is why U.S. special operators are looking to upgrade a host of optics items. Spec ops optics: US forces seek new sights and ways to defeat fog
• May 18, 2022. By  Courtney Albon, Defense News. The Defense Innovation Unit selected two companies to develop prototypes for nuclear-powered spacecraft with an eye on launching a demonstration mission in 2027. Defense Innovation Unit picks designs for space nuclear propulsion demo
• May 18, 2022. By  Todd South, Defense News. Special operations experts are looking for ways to untether much of their gear, from moving beyond radio frequencies to looking at institutions such as NASA for logistics lessons in austere locations. Special ops force calls for ‘untethered’ tool for recon and resupply
• May 18, 2022. By  Todd South, Defense News. U.S. special operations forces need a tool that can both jam radio frequencies to stop roadside bombs from exploding as well as neutralize drone threats by land, air and sea — and it has to be small. Special operators need counter-drone, counter-IED tech in a smaller package
• May 18, 2022. By  Mike Yeo, Defense News. South Korea has chosen the Bell 505 to be its next military training helicopter, according to manufacturer Bell Textron. South Korea selects Bell’s 505 helicopter for military training
• May 18, 2022. By Megan Eckstein, Defense News. As China expanded the reach of its weapons throughout the South China Sea over the last decade, U.S. weapons development focused on increasing the standoff range, so American forces could stay safe as an outside force shooting in. Pacific Marines move to formalize role as the stand-in force

HORIZONS

Global Poverty

• May 18, 2022. By Fabian Mendez Ramos and Jaime Lara, Brookings. The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by disrupted supply chains, a hike in commodity prices and inflation, increased public and private debt, and reduced economic output. Despite secular trends toward its eradication, income poverty (see here and here) suffered an increase in 2020 because of transitory conditions. Our recent research highlights an increase in “extreme poverty” by 115 million people in 2021 because of the COVID-19 effects (Figure 1). We observe a dramatic increase in poverty headcount in our COVID-19 counterfactual calculations using other poverty lines and extending the forecasting horizon from 2021 to 2030. Results on extreme poverty discussed here and here show a consensus on the direction and magnitudes of the impact of COVID-19 on headcount levels by 2021. COVID-19 and poverty vulnerability

TECH

• May 18, 2022. By Jaspreet Gill, Breaking Defense. The director in charge of the Pentagon’s emerging capabilities policy wants to move with “responsible speed” when it comes to developing and experimenting with new capabilities, while at the same time other DoD officials are pushing to more quickly adopt commercial technologies.  ‘Responsible speed’: DoD emerging capabilities official on race for new tech
• May 18, 2022. By Andrew Eversden, Breaking Defense. A recent experiment with Army special operations forces used robotic vehicles to tackle more dangerous aspects of missions as the service works to further refine how soldiers and robots will fight alongside each other in the future. Green Berets, weaponized robots team up for offensive operations
• May 18, 2022. By John Whitley, Breaking Defense. As technology advances at a lightning pace, so do novel methods of weapon design, from 3D printing on the fly to virtual copies of real systems that can be field tested in cyberspace. In the op-ed below, former Acting Army Secretary John Whitley argues the Pentagon must do more to embrace the tech race, and bend its bureaucracy to do it. Digital transformation is a key to maintaining US overmatch against China, Russia
• May 18, 2022. By Lauren C. Williams, Defense One. The Defense Department is still finalizing an implementation plan for its artificial intelligence ethical principles, according to Jane Pinelis, the chief of AI assurance for the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, said at an event on Tuesday.  The Pentagon Is Closing in on ‘Ethical’ AI Implementation
• May 18, 2022. By Justin Bullock, Anton Korinek, Brookings. Elon Musk’s negotiations to take over Twitter have put a spotlight on the meaning of free speech and content moderation in the age of social media, which are powered by AI-based algorithms called “recommendation systems.” They have also served as a reminder of the stark tension between the public role of media companies in connecting and informing our society and their private role in financing their activities and earning a profit. Recommendation systems that maximize user engagement are really effective in the latter private role, but potentially at the expense of undermining the public goods that media companies have traditionally produced for society. We argue that it is crucial to align the objectives programmed into recommendation systems with broader societal values. This would enable social media companies to play a more beneficial role in society. @elonmusk and @twitter: The problem with social media is misaligned recommendation systems, not free speech