counter | Common News Update

Mar12021 by adminNo Comments

Biden urged to back AI weapons to counter China and Russia threats

Technology

Getty Images/ReutersThe US and its allies should reject calls for a global ban on AI-powered autonomous weapons systems, according to an official report commissioned for the American President and Congress.It says that artificial intelligence will "compress decision time frames" and require military responses humans cannot make quickly enough alone.And it warns Russia and China would be unlikely to keep to any such treaty.But critics claim the proposals risk driving an "irresponsible" arms race."This is a shocking and frightening report that could lead to the proliferation of AI weapons making decisions about who to kill," said Prof Noel Sharkey, spokesman for the Campaign To Stop Killer Robots."The most senior AI scientists on the planet have warned them about the consequences, and yet th...

Jun232019 by adminNo Comments

Japan scrambles jets to counter Russian bombers in its airspace

Business

June 21 (UPI) -- Russian bombers violated Japanese airspace, prompting a scramble of fighter planes to escort them away, Japan's defense ministry said. Two Tu-95 bombers entered Japanese airspace near Minamidaito Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Thursday morning for about three minutes, and one later re-entered the airspace for about two minutes near Hachijo Island in the Izu island chain, the ministry said. It added no dangerous maneuvers were observed. The planes were later seen flying southward from the Sea of Japan through the Tsushima Strait between Japan and South Korea in the morning. A "stern protest" against Russia was lodged over the incident, the Japanese Foreign Ministry later said. Russia insisted that the planes did not violate Japan's airspace but flew over international wa...

Apr52019 by adminNo Comments

Defense Department developing ways to counter Russia, China threats

Business

April 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department is developing technology, including submarine-launched nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, to counter increasing threats from Russia and China, Pentagon officials told a Senate subcommittee. High-level officials appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee's strategic forces subcommittee Wednesday to describe the importance of increased defense spending in the Pentagon's budget request for next year. In March, the Defense Department requested $ 718.3 billion in a strategy that "fully recognizes that future wars will be waged not just in the air, on the land, and at sea, but also in space and cyberspace, increasing the complexity of warfare. It modernizes capabilities across all warfighting domains to enhance lethality." Although the spendin...

Dec222018 by adminNo Comments

Gatwick airport: How countries counter the drone threat

Technology

Rogue drones "deliberately" flown over one of the UK's busiest airports caused travel chaos this week.Incoming planes were forced to divert to airports up and down the country as the drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), repeatedly appeared over the airfield at London's Gatwick Airport.The situation was so serious the Army was called in to support the local police in tackling the issue, with the runway finally re-opening on Friday morning.For some time now, governments around the world have been looking at different ways of addressing the dangers of drone use in areas where they pose safety risks. Here we look at some of the solutions - ranging from bazookas to eagles.Radar and 'jamming' systems ...

Nov62018 by adminNo Comments

Melbourne Cup: Cross Counter first British-trained horse to win Australia's famous race

Sports

Cross Counter has made history by becoming the first British-trained racehorse to win the Melbourne Cup.Charlie Appleby saddled the 8-1 winner, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, in the 158th running of Australia's famous race.Cross Counter led home a 1-2-3 for British-trained runners from Marmelo and A Prince Of Arran. The Cliffsofmoher, trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, was put down after sustaining a fractured right shoulder early in the race.The Cliffsofmoher dies after injury in Melbourne CupCross Counter is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team, which also won the Derby at Epsom for the first time this year with the Appleby-trained Masar."This is everybody's dream. This year has been so in...