gulf
Iran Is Using Tiny 'Mosquito' Boats to Shut Down the Strait of Hormuz
Iran Is Using Tiny'Mosquito' Boats to Shut Down the Strait of Hormuz Iran's traditional naval fleet has been almost completely destroyed by US-Israeli raids. But Iran's Revolutionary Guard has deployed a fleet of small vessels that is crippling every passageway. In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has developed an asymmetrical naval strategy that is crippling the passage of container ships. This "hemostat" uses guerrilla tactics, after Iran's "traditional" fleet was almost entirely destroyed by US and Israeli attacks. No longer able to rely on specialized military ships, Tehran is using an unconventional force made up of dozens of small military vessels armed with missiles, machine guns, and drones.
Will the Gulf's push for its own AI succeed?
Will the Gulf's push for its own AI succeed? That, and US tech giants' plans to spend more than $600bn this year alone. Can the Gulf states capture some of the US's tech dominance for themselves? I spent most of last week in Doha at the Web Summit Qatar, the Gulf's new version of the popular annual tech conference. One theme stood out among the speeches I watched and the conversations I had: sovereignty.
Orcas are hunting young great white sharks for their livers
Moctezuma's pod continues their dominance in the Gulf of California. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Orca whales are skilled pack hunters with an ever-growing list of prey . Recently, ocean researchers discovered that the apex predators aren't afraid of taking on equally formidable foes-- great white sharks . Now, a study published on November 3 in the journal documented even more remarkable hunting behavior.
Trump visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE: What to know
United States President Donald Trump will undertake a three-day tour of the Gulf for his first state visit since retaking office in January. The trip begins in Saudi Arabia, followed by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It marks Trump's second foreign visit as president after he attended Pope Francis's funeral in Rome in April. Trump will fly out of the US on Monday and start his trip in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. He is expected to attend a Gulf summit in the city on Wednesday, visit Qatar later that day and conclude his visit in the UAE on Thursday.
Mobulas, a Wonder of the Gulf of California, Are Disappearing
These magnificent rays are at risk of disappearing due to targeted fishing, being caught as bycatch, and climate change. Scientists at the research collaboration Mobula Conservation are teaming up with artisanal and industrial fishermen to protect them. Also known as "Devil Rays," mobulas are elasmobranchs: a subclass of fish--including sharks, skates, and sawfish--that are distinguished by having skeletons primarily made from cartilage. More than a third of the species in this group are threatened with extinction. Of the nine species of mobulas, seven are endangered and two are vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Trump to declare national emergency at border in flurry of day one orders
In a series of calls with reporters on Monday morning, incoming Trump administration officials outlined dozens of executive orders the president-elect planned to take when he officially takes office, including 10 focused on what one official described as "common sense immigration policy". Officials said that Trump plans to end birthright citizenship, meaning that the children of undocumented migrants living in the US will no longer automatically be considered US citizens. Birthright citizenship, however, is enshrined in the US constitution and would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress to change. The official provided no further detail on how Trump plans to accomplish this. As part of the national emergency designation at the border, Trump will also direct the Department of Defense to "seal the border" and surge additional resources and personnel, including counter-drone capabilities.
The Real Future of Flying Cars
After 27 years of developing airliners, my involvement in electric aircraft started suddenly one afternoon in February 2017. I was asked to comment on the eHang 184, a Chinese passenger drone, which could in theory provide automated taxi services in Dubai. The oft-quoted part of the resulting article will probably appear in my obituary. Wright added that he would not be volunteering for an early flight. 'I'd have to be taken on board kicking and screaming.'"
Iranian-backed Houthis claim responsibility for US reaper drone crash off Yemen coast
Iranian-backed Houthis rebels have claimed responsibility for a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone crash off the coast of Yemen on Thursday, Fox News confirmed on Friday. Thursday's crash is the fourth remotely piloted drone brought down by Iranian-proxy groups since November, costing the U.S. government upwards of 120 million. It is also the third time Houthi rebels have brought down a U.S. MQ-9 drone. Remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper drones cost around 30 million each. Last fall, the Houthis released video of a reaper drone the rebels shot down on Nov. 8, one day after Hamas' unprovoked attack on Israel.