The development of unmanned combat drones by leading nations must be addressed by Nato, academics and defence analysts say.
Alliance chiefs are scheduled to meet on Monday, and while the subject of armed drones programmed with artificial intelligence may not be high on the agenda, it cannot be ignored for much longer.
Countries such as Turkey, Russia, Britain, China and the US are developing unmanned aircraft that can select humans or fixed military targets and launch missiles without a living being's command.
That creates moral, legal and strategic questions.
Although the communique is likely to welcome Washington's re-engagement with the alliance and condemn Nato's adversaries, defence analysts told The National the drone issue needs to be discussed.
“Autonomous armed drones are absolutely something that Nato can't ignore any more,” Dr Julie Norman of University College London said.
“From what we’ve heard, it's something that's going to be a part of the conversation. Leaders are looking at the Nato 2030 initiative with a view to the new technological changes and threats.”
Putin will very much want to see what's going on behind Biden's eyes
Dr Alan Mendoza
The ease with which Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aircraft took out Syrian tanks and Armenian armour last year was an "eye-popping" evolution on the battlefield, defence analyst Prof Michael Clarke told The National.
“Armed drones are a serious issue and their success has done Turkey's military reputation no end of good. But it has also started to change the balance of thinking about ground forces in Europe.”
One problem is that not all Nato partners favour autonomous war machines, and Germany in particular has taken a hard line.
Jack Watling, of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said the Germans were locking themselves out of a system that could take out enemy radars and missiles.
“But for how long the Germans can hold their current position is debatable,” he said.
What can Biden do about Turkey?
Turkey, which has more armed drones than the rest of Nato except for the US, provides the alliance with its biggest challenges.
US President Joe Biden hopes to address the country's foreign ventures and disputes with fellow Nato members at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
But there might be little he can do, one analyst said.
“Realistically, there are very few options you've got within the alliance as to how you deal with a member that's behaving badly,” Dr Alan Mendoza, a Henry Jackson Society director.
“Essentially, Nato doesn't really know how to deal with a member that's pulling in Turkey’s direction.”
Resolving this Turkish question will be one of many tasks for Mr Biden as he seeks to restore unity to an alliance battered by former president Donald Trump's actions that undermined European confidence in the US as a steadfast ally.
Mr Biden is not soft, ordering the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and continuing to press for greater European defence spending.
“There have been strong messages to Europe that Biden is not going to be a pushover just because he's not Trump,” Prof Clarke said, a view with which Dr Mendoza agreed.
“It turns out that Biden isn't as munificent as the Europeans would have hoped,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will have the opportunity to size the US leader up after his dominant relationship with Mr Trump.
Mr Biden is likely to continue his robust approach in questioning Russia’s continued cyber attacks, Ukraine skirmishes and human rights abuses.
“Putin will very much want to see what's going on behind Biden’s eyes, because all sorts of things occur when two world leaders of substantial weight meet,” Dr Mendoza said.
“If Biden is prepared to give a strong message and say: ‘Look, I don't want conflict but if you're prepared to foist conflict upon us we will respond in a very strong way’, that may send a message to Putin that this guy, unlike the last, is a bit more serious towards me. Maybe that will temper his behaviour.”
The US could attempt to keep Russia’s arms mission in check with a view to resurrecting the intermediate missile arms treaty.
“The Biden administration is going to be much harder on Russia than Trump was ever prepared to be,” Prof Clarke said.
Perhaps Mr Putin will retort with a pointed remark on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, with the Taliban ascendant despite 20 years of war. It will certainly be an issue Nato addresses because, by September 11, its 7,500 troops will have departed alongside 2,500 US soldiers.
“What comes next in Afghanistan will be very important ... will it still be a formal Nato mission or something more flexible?” said Sarah Raine of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in London.
“Until the US has clarified its plans in Afghanistan, it will be very hard to get concrete measures in place.”
She said China, which is in "Nato’s area interest in multiple different ways”, would also be addressed in the communique, possibly with some hostility.
In the broader picture, the issue of autonomous armed drones will not take centre stage but it cannot be ignored for much longer, the experts said, because they are a significant feature in the changing face of warfare.
“We will sharpen our technological edge,” Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s Secretary General, promised on Friday without referring to drones.
He said that the summit would agree an ambitious agenda with decisions taken on the “operational domains of cyber and space”.
"We should also see Nato focus on cyber attacks, cyber security, sharpening its technological edge and awareness of the changing nature of threats, especially from China and Russia," Dr Norman said.
“Nato just needs to look at what the future of war or peace is,” Dr Mendoza said. “How do you preserve the peace? Because those are the big questions that Nato hasn't been very good at addressing of late.”
He said Nato's relevance was through its ability to “stand up for its members in the face of aggression” and get the best equipment “to maintain the quality of edge and to make sure that others are attracted to its side of the argument rather than those of its adversaries”.
Central for Nato, and more importantly for Mr Biden before he meets Mr Putin and enters into discussions on the Iran nuclear agreement, will be presenting a united front.
“This Nato communique is an important one,” Prof Clarke said. “Biden is very vigorous, behaving like a young president and a man in a hurry for all sorts of reasons. The Americans are absolutely committed to Nato, but only if the Europeans really step up and Biden won’t allow them to remain cosy.”
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Company%20profile
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SHADOWS%20AND%20LIGHT%3A%20THE%20EXTRAORDINARY%20LIFE%20OF%20JAMES%20MCBEY
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
Command%20Z
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Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country