The horrendous events orchestrated by Hamas on October 7 have precipitated a severe Israeli incursion into Gaza, escalating into a humanitarian crisis. The civilian populace is now ensnared in the catastrophic repercussions of decades-long cynical policies, corruption, and power lust harbored by Benjamin Netanyahu. The unfolding calamity is a stark manifestation of Netanyahu’s myopic governance, exposing innocent lives to unspeakable horrors. As tanks trundle into Gaza, the Israeli invasion, long held in abeyance for humanitarian aid distribution and largely futile hostage negotiation attempts, is finally in motion. The ominous cloud of war looms, with the ceaseless dread of what the morrow holds, epitomizing the grievous legacy of Netanyahu’s tenure.

Undeniably, the genesis of this violent episode lies with Hamas, whose abominable massacre claimed over 1,400 innocent lives, besides abducting hundreds more. This act of barbarism is irrefutably condemnable, irrespective of the legitimacy of the Palestinian cause or the harshness of the Israeli retaliation. Yet, the seeds of discord were sown by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose actions catalyzed the October 7 atrocities, the Israeli counterattacks, and the ensuing ground invasion. The Israeli populace is now holding Netanyahu accountable for his government’s staggering military and intelligence lapses that allowed Hamas militants to breach Israeli defenses, occupy towns, and unleash a bloodbath on civilians, akin to a monumental tragedy on a national scale.

by AFP — A Lebanese judge has decided to evict former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn from his luxury home, a judicial official said Saturday, four years after an investment firm accused him of “trespassing.” Ghosn, who took up residency in the Beirut property after fleeing prosecution Japan in 2019, appealed the ruling on Friday, the […]

The unfolding humanitarian crisis due to the Israel-Gaza conflict has resonated within the scientific community, impacting some academic biologists’ careers due to their online remarks. This situation is sparking discussions around freedom of speech and thought—fundamental principles in science. On October 7, Hamas orchestrated a surprise attack in Israel, causing significant casualties. Israel retaliated with […]

OpenAI has established a new group named Preparedness with the core aim of analyzing and securing AI systems against severe risks. Under the leadership of Aleksander Madry, the MIT’s Center for Deployable Machine Learning Director, the team is dedicated to scrutinizing, predicting, and mitigating future AI threats. These range from AI’s potential for deception in phishing schemes to its capacity for malicious code production. Madry, who joined OpenAI in May as the “head of Preparedness,” is geared towards understanding and combating the diverse challenges posed by evolving AI systems.

The spectrum of risks that Preparedness is set to explore appears to be extensive, with some areas seeming more speculative than others. OpenAI, in its blog post, highlighted concerns around “chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear” threats in relation to AI models. This reflects the organization’s holistic approach towards understanding the potential adverse intersections between AI and other critical domains. Notably, the initiative underlines a significant step in proactively addressing the fears often voiced by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, regarding the potentially existential threats posed by AI.

Affluent Downtown Beirut: A Facade Amid Crisis

In the heart of Lebanon, downtown Beirut stands as an epitome of affluence amidst a country grappling with a severe financial crisis. The chic nightlife, high-end sports cars, and cosmetic surgery displays paint a picture of prosperity, effectively masking the dire economic conditions most Lebanese are contending with. Meanwhile, as Hezbollah and Israeli forces engage at the border, the echoes of war draw nearer, yet the downtown continues to throb with life, seemingly undeterred by the looming threats.

Rising Tensions: A Shadow Over Beirut

The strained relations between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have escalated, marked by cross-border exchanges of fire. The tensions have forced thousands from their homes in southern Lebanon, a stark contrast to the unaffected lifestyle in downtown Beirut. The Israeli Prime Minister’s stern warning to Hezbollah underscores the brittle peace that hangs by a thread, as the affluent continue to revel in downtown’s offerings, seemingly detached from the broader geopolitical turmoil unfolding.

Concealed Crisis: Beirut’s Unseen Reality

The flamboyance of downtown Beirut veils the harsh reality of Lebanon’s financial crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. As the rich parade their wealth, many districts remain shadows of their former selves, bearing the scars of economic and physical destruction. The conspicuous display of wealth in downtown is but a facade that hides the grim reality faced by the average Lebanese citizen, as the country navigates through one of its toughest economic phases.

In the early days of October, Israel was caught off guard by an unexpected Hamas attack. Despite Israel’s highly regarded intelligence agencies and advanced surveillance systems, Hamas was able to circumvent these defenses using modest methods. The failure to anticipate and swiftly respond to the attack has raised numerous questions regarding the efficacy of Israel’s […]

In a recent development, Google’s conversational AI chatbot, Bard, has come under scrutiny for its handling of queries related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Since its launch in March 2023, Bard has faced several challenges including negative reviews and a glitch that displayed shared conversations in Google Search results. The latest controversy surrounds Bard’s refusal to […]

In the aftermath of the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, McDonald’s franchises in Israel and across the Middle East have been propelled into the political spotlight. A McDonald’s franchise in Israel showcased its support for the Israel Defense Forces, offering meals to those involved in state defense. This gesture was met with a swift […]

A video went viral showing Egyptian protester Rahma Zein confronting CNN’s Clarissa Ward at the Israel-Gaza border.

Zein accused Ward and Western media of biased, dehumanizing coverage favoring Israel over Palestinians.

Zein criticized Ward for not properly covering Palestinian deaths and the humanitarian crisis.

Many on social media supported Zein’s critique of bias in CNN and Western outlets.

Ward and CNN defended their reporting, saying they are determined to present all sides and have extensively covered Palestinian voices.

A CNN spokesperson reiterated they are interviewing many perspectives, including dozens of Palestinians, to give audiences a full understanding.

by  hbrueck@businessinsider.com – (Hilary Brueck)  Eternal youth-seekers and investors alike are getting increasingly excited about a concept called “Longevity Escape Velocity.” This hypothetical idea borrows its name from “escape velocity,” the basic physics principle which states that objects can, at a certain speed, defy gravity’s pull. Longevity escape velocity suggests, similarly, that at some point in the not-too-distant future people will be able to escape the debilitating pull of death — and live indefinitely. Longevity escape velocity is our ticket to immortality. If only science could figure out how to cash it in. While LEV is only a theory for now, its backers contend that it could be a reality in not too many decades, given the rapid advances in aging science. As we get better at rejuvenating our cells, we will be able to improve the quality of our lives so exponentially that people will be increasing their life expectancy faster than they’re living, thus approaching a near-immortal state, or so the theory goes. There are several science-backed reasons why some people live longer, healthier lives than others. There are also a lot of scams out there claiming that they promote “antiaging” when they don’t.

Here’s what’s really proven to increase your lifespan, and what’s not. Harvard geneticist George Church has entertained the idea that maybe, just maybe, we’ll reach this state within your lifetime, reader. Sourav Sinha, head of strategy at the Longevity Vision Fund, said much the same during a recent panel discussion about stopping age-related diseases in New York, suggesting LEV could be possible within a couple of decades, with the right kinds of investments. Longevity researcher Aubrey de Grey, one of the originators of the term, and perhaps its fiercest proponent, has put a very rosy, best-case scenario for LEV impossibly close — somewhere in the 2030s. Futurist Ray Kurtzweil has suggested an even earlier debut for LEV, perhaps by 2028 or 2029, which would not be enough time for authorities to approve any anti-aging drugs or treatments (we have none so far.)

And now, a growing number of leading pioneers in anti-aging research are signing on to a new “Dublin Longevity Declaration,” which calls on their entire field of science to focus on reversing biological aging processes at the cellular level. Trying to improve aging the old-school way, by going after one disease at a time, is “overly pragmatic” and taking too long, the declaration says. “Everyone knows aging is bad, everyone says it’s bad, but nobody does anything about it,” de Grey said in a release when his new declaration was announced in early October. “Like bad weather – people are stuck in the assumption that nothing can be done, even if we try. We wanted to put that assumption to rest.”