Geopolitics & Defense
Geopolitics, conflicts and defense: Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, China and Taiwan, NATO, military industry, sanctions, trade and energy security.
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The Marxist Who Foresaw the AI Bubble
Like the 2020s, the “Roaring Twenties” of a century ago witnessed a technological revolution: The rise of the automobile, widespread electrification, and mass production had all transformed everyday life. In his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination in 1928, Herbert Hoover declared that America was closer than any society in history to the “final triumph over poverty.” But trouble was brewing.
How can governments control AI? | Canada's AI Minister
The ‘too big to fail' financial crisis of 2008 is giving way to the AI challenge of ‘too big to curtail', Canadian minister Evan Solomon told Chatham House. Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, was talking at an event about the challenges facing governments who want to retain oversight of increasingly powerful AI companies. He is Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. Speaking at Chatham House on 13 October 2026, Solomon argued that democratic governments must retain sovereign control over artificial intelligence governance, rather than leaving oversight solely to technology companies. From an event titled 'Sovereignty is not solitude: Canada's strategy for democratic technology leadership'. Watch the full discussion here: https://youtube.com/live/wQn2ov6JtP0 #ArtificialIntelligence #AIgovernance #AIpolicy #TechPolicy #DigitalInnovation #Canada #AIsafety #ChathamHouse
What Happens When India's Water Runs Out? || Peter Zeihan
While the fallout from the Ogallala Aquifer running dry will be rough, it's nothing in comparison to what will happen in the Punjab region of northern India. Join the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan Full Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4hGM643
US Army transfers 600 enlisted soldiers to Space Operations Branch
The U.S. Army bolstered its Space Operations Branch by 600 soldiers, the service recently announced, officially creating the branch’s first permanent enlisted cadre.
Art, sound and a very small house: Three Tokyo exhibitions to see in October
This month’s highlights include an installation by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Shiro Takatani, a retrospective of Yoshihisa Tanaka’s works made on
Islam’s own Enlightenment
Sufi thinkers such as ʿAbd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi championed toleration and independence of thought long before Europeans brought their Enlightenment to the Muslim world.
China’s Next Frontier
Technology experts Kathleen Curlee and Sam Bresnick argue that China is catching up to the United States in space, commercially and militarily. This poses a threat to U.S. military operations, which rely on space-based capabilities. Washington must invest in space defense and also reduce its reliance on the domain.
Ukraine Can Turn Imminent Peril to Its Advantage
How a true “energy cease-Fire” can curb Putin.
The Mecca Pact and Pakistan’s Bid to Become Indispensable
For most of its history, Pakistan’s geopolitical value has risen and fallen with other countries’ emergencies. The Mecca Pact may be its most serious attempt yet to break that cycle. On Aug. 31, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey established a secretariat in Saudi Arabia for the Mecca Defence Agreement. The first secretary-general comes from Pakistan for a three-year term. The agreement builds on the Saudi-Pakistani agreement signed in September 2025, locking a decades-old informal security arrangement into a mutual defense pact.
The United Kingdom’s Military AI Ambitions Need Guardrails
Advancing military AI capability is a priority for the United Kingdom, and in recent weeks, the new government has doubled down on its ambitions for AI and defense via two major partnerships.On Aug. 24, 2026, on his first overseas trip as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham signed a landmark partnership: The United Kingdom is the first international partner to receive access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs.
A Conversation with General Xavier T. Brunson | Strategic Landpower Dialogue
Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) for a Strategic Landpower Dialogue event featuring General Xavier T. Brunson, Commander of United Nations Command (UNC), Combined Forces Command (CFC), and United States Forces Korea (USFK). The discussion will explore the impact of the U.S. Army's military alliance with South Korea, interoperability with the Joint Force, and landpower across the Indo-Pacific region. General (ret.) Joseph F. Dunford Jr., Chief Executive Officer of CSIS will provide introductory remarks. The event will be moderated by Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project, and Senior Fellow with the CSIS Defense and Security Department. The Strategic Landpower Dialogue is an event series that serves as a distinctive source of data and insight into the evolving perspectives and emerging challenges shaping the U.S. and allied landpower. The series convenes senior leaders from across the U.S. Army, allied and partner nations, and the Joint Force to discuss the most critical landpower issues. This event series is made possible through the generous support of General Dynamics. --------------------------------------------- A nonpartisan institution, CSIS is the top national security think tank in the world. Visit https://www.csis.org to find more of our work as we bring bipartisan solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Want to see more videos and virtual events? Subscribe to this channel and turn on notifications: https://cs.is/2dCfTve Follow CSIS on: • Twitter: https://twitter.com/csis • Facebook: https://facebook.com/CSIS.org • Instagram: https://instagram.com/csis/
Regulator 'will resign' if any political interference in Man City case
The chair of English football's Independent Regulator has said he will resign if there is political interference in any future investigation into Manchester City as a result of widespread impropriety. City have been found guilty on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules by an independent commission. The club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing, but face a severe sanction unless they overturn the verdict.
US Army hackathon sets backdrop for an AUSA focused on autonomy
The Army recently wrapped up a hacking initiative that asked defense companies to break into each other’s networks and allow their autonomous machines to communicate.
US Army, Navy research labs team up to combat Arctic cold
For much of recorded military history, the through line between mission success and failure came down to the basics, including adequate latrine facilities to keep disease vectors at bay.
Iran shifting tactics to step up attacks on shipping before US vote, officials say
By Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul and Phil Stewart DUBAI/LONDON/WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.
Saudi employee arrested for allegedly bugging OpenAI office
A Saudi employee of OpenAI was arrested after allegedly planting a recording device in one of the company's San Francisco offices, the AI firm and federal prosecutors said Tuesday. "We discovered a sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices" and "referred the matter to the FBI," OpenAI told AFP in a statement. OpenAI's security team found the device late last month and the employee, Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested on October 9, the US Justice Department said.
97% of US soldiers complete brain health assessment
Nearly all U.S. soldiers completed a mandatory test meant to track the effects of blast exposure and monitor brain health across the Army, the service said in a release. The test, or Neurocognitive Assessment Tool, is computer-based and records neurological activity, such as attention, concentration, reaction time, memory, processing speed and decision-making. Testing started in 2024 in response to
Army doubles down on autonomy, stakes out Indo-Pacific role: AUSA Day 2
From a newly redesignated command to long-range fires in the Pacific, Army leaders laid out where they see the service fitting into the future fight.
Sovereignty is not solitude: Canada’s strategy for democratic technology leadership
Hear from Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, on how trust, opportunity and sovereign control are shaping Canada’s approach to artificial intelligence, economic growth and international partnership. This event will explore how Canada is translating its AI strengths into greater productivity, prosperity and better public services, and how deeper cooperation with partners such as the UK can strengthen AI safety, resilience and shared economic opportunity. This event discusses: What does sovereign control mean in an interconnected AI economy? And why does sovereignty not mean isolation? What are Canada’s strengths as AI transforms economies, public services and national security? How can countries build trust in AI while accelerating innovation and adoption? How can investment in talent, literacy, research and key industries create new economic opportunities and better public services? How can Canada and the UK work together work together to strengthen AI safety, resilience and democratic technology leadership?
US Army suspends longtime hometown recruiter assistance program, faces cancellation
For years, Army recruiters have enjoyed flagging a special perk for new Advanced Individual Training graduates: an opportunity to return to their hometowns for 14 days with pay prior to their first duty station, with the understanding they’ll help local recruiters during that time and tell the Army story.
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