Central Asia & Caucasus Data

A group of more than 120 Democrats in the US House on Thursday pressed Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth on whether American forces used artificial intelligence in the deadly bombing of an elementary school in southern Iran. “What is the role of artificial intelligence, if any, in selecting targets, assessing intelligence, and making legal determinations during Operation Epic Fury?” the Democratic lawmakers, The post Hegseth pressed on use of AI targeting in bombing of Iran school appeared first on Asia Times.

NASA is preparing for an imminent launch of Artemis II, a manned lunar flyby flight – the first in 50 years. While the launch is planned for April, and NASA announced on March 12th that the launch will go ahead, there remain serious problems with the spacecraft. NASA thinks the problems are resolved (not necessarily The post NASA OKs April manned Artemis II moon launch – but problems loom appeared first on Asia Times.

The International Energy Agency said Thursday that the US-Israeli war on Iran and its reverberating impacts across the region have sparked “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market,” with flows of crude and other fossil fuel products through the Strait of Hormuz plummeting and Gulf nations slashing production as they run out The post Iran war brings history’s largest oil supply disruption, says IEA appeared first on Asia Times.

China’s shift toward an all-nuclear submarine fleet could extend its strategic reach from the Pacific into the Indian Ocean while spurring a broader regional buildup of nuclear-powered undersea forces. This month, the US Navy’s intelligence chief, Rear Admiral Mike Brookes, testified before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) that China is undertaking a The post China’s all-nuke sub push may trigger an undersea arms race appeared first on Asia Times.