Israel declares war on Hamas / Nobel Peace Prize / Ex-Army sergeant arrested

Also, Spain's PLD Space startup launches its reusable Miura-1 rocket

Inside Daily Brief

For October 07, 2023

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A seismic shift unfolds in today's edition as we delve into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring war on Hamas after an unforeseen assault from Gaza. 🌐🔥 Plus, we're spotlighting gender disparities among Nobel Peace Prize laureates 🏅 and unpacking the arrest of an ex-Army sergeant accused of attempting to convey defense secrets to China. 🕵️‍♂️ Your daily dose of compelling narratives is just a scroll away!

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas following an unexpected assault from Gaza. The alleged Israeli "desecration" of Al Aqsa Mosque was cited as a catalyst for the attacks by Hamas leader Mohammed Deif — a site deeply revered in Islam and Judaism and a focal point of global religious and territorial disputes.

More:

The assault was characterized as unprecedented and a surprise attack by Hamas.
Hamas militants also sent fighters into southern cities located near the border.
The conflict escalated rapidly, prompting a declaration of war from Israel.
The situation has drawn global attention due to its sudden and intense nature.
The attack occurred amidst U.S. efforts to broker a historic agreement normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which has the potential to reshape the Middle East dynamics.

Zoom Out:

The United States Institute of Peace explores whether a Saudi-Israel normalization agreement is on the horizon, amidst the U.S. negotiation efforts.
Al Jazeera reports that at least 40 Israelis were killed in a Hamas attack, providing a detailed account of the incident and its aftermath.
A timeline provided by Reuters outlines the conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza, offering insights into the events leading up to the current situation.

What the numbers say: From 1901 to 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 110 individuals, with a notable gender imbalance observed: only 18 have been women, while 92 have been men, illustrating a significant gender disparity throughout the award's history. Additionally, 30 organizations have been recognized, with the International Red Cross being distinguished three times (1917, 1944, and 1963) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees securing the accolade twice (1954 and 1981).

Relevance: In Oct. 2021, Göran Hansson, head of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, dismissed the implementation of gender and ethnicity quotas for Nobel Prizes despite acknowledging the persistent gender disparity exemplified by that year's laureates, which included only one woman. Hansson emphasized a commitment to awarding those deemed "most worthy," though expressed regret over the historical shortage of female Nobel laureates. Among the few women awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, notable recipients include Mother Teresa, honored in 1979 for her humanitarian work, and Malala Yousafzai, who, at just 17 years old, became the youngest laureate in 2014.

Impact: Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has celebrated global individuals for exemplary achievements honoring both men and women. Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, secured the Physics award in 1903 and, uniquely, remains the only woman to win a second in Chemistry in 1911, marking unprecedented accomplishments in multiple scientific fields. This year, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for foundational research enabling the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

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Former U.S. Army sergeant Joseph Daniel Schmidt was arrested for allegedly attempting to deliver defense secrets to China. With access to top-secret and secret national security information, Schmidt sought to provide details about Army intelligence training, practices, and classified information to Chinese authorities.

More:

Schmidt, 29, served actively from 2015 to 2020 and had access to U.S. national security information.
After leaving service, he traveled to China and Turkey, offering to share intelligence career insights with China.
He emailed the Chinese consulate in Istanbul, offering information about interrogation and spy handling.
Schmidt created a "Humint AIT" document detailing various U.S. Army intelligence collection and training aspects.
Schmidt is charged with attempting to deliver and retain national defense information, each count subject to a possible 10-year prison term and a $250,000 fine.

Zoom Out:

The RAND Corporation provides a detailed report on China's evolving approach to "Integrated Strategic Deterrence."

PLD Space, a Spanish company, successfully launched its reusable Miura-1 rocket, marking Europe's first entirely private rocket launch. The Miura-1, with a 100kg cargo capacity, signifies a pivotal moment for European space endeavors, especially amidst its previously stalled space initiatives.

More:

After two prior attempts, PLD Space executed the launch from Huelva, southwest Spain.
- High-altitude winds thwarted Miura-1's first launch attempt in May
- A second attempt in June failed due to issues with umbilical cables in the avionics bay
Miura-1, as tall as a three-story building, carrying a test payload that was not released.
CEO Raul Torres affirmed all rocket systems functioned "perfectly" during the launch.
The company aims to triple its workforce following this successful launch.
The larger Miura-5, with orbital services, is slated for a 2025 launch.

Zoom Out:

Virgin Orbit, a competitor, ceased operations after the failure of a U.K. space mission involving a launcher released from a Boeing 747.

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After a violent attack and increased regional tensions, 200 British soldiers have been deployed to Kosovo to reinforce NATO's peacekeeping mission. The deployment is supplementary to the existing 400 British soldiers already in Kosovo.

More:

This move comes after a violent attack on Kosovo Police by Serbian militia.
The soldiers will conduct operations per NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) mandate.
- The mandate aims to maintain stability and security in the region.
Increased tensions in the region have necessitated additional support.
This builds on the work of Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, Lord Peach, who regularly engages with Serbian and Kosovan stakeholders to promote regional stability.

Zoom Out:

British troops first entered Kosovo with other NATO troops on Jun. 12, 1999, under Lieutenant General Sir Mike Jackson's command.

Turkey intensified air strikes on Kurdish targets in Syria, retaliating against a bombing in Ankara, with 15 Kurdish targets hit using "the maximum" ammunition. The strikes primarily target Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) controlled oil and energy facilities.

2More:

The Ankara bombing, claimed by a Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) branch, injured two police officers.
- Turkey asserts the assailants from the Ankara attack originated from Syria.
The YPG is crucial to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
- The SDF was pivotal in ousting the Islamic State group jihadists in 2019.
In the initial two days of Turkey's strikes, 15 people, including eight civilians, were killed.
U.S. support for the YPG has notably strained its relationship with Ankara.
According to Washington, a Turkish drone close to U.S. positions supporting Kurdish fighters was downed by a U.S. F-16 jet.

Zoom Out:

In March, a drone attack near Hasaka, a town proximate to Syria's Kurdish-controlled al-Sinaa Prison, resulted in the death of an American contractor and injuries to another contractor and five U.S. troops.
Al-Sinaa Prison, which detained 3,000 Islamic State fighters, was a locus of fierce combat in Jan. 2022 during a battle to liberate them.

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Statement from President Joe Biden on the imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
U.S. gymnast Simone Biles becomes the world's most decorated gymnast, clinching her 21st world title and amassing a record-breaking total of 34 medals across world championships and Olympics.
The U.S. Commerce Department added 42 Chinese and seven entities from various countries to an export control list Friday, citing support for Moscow's military and U.S. integrated circuits supply.
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