The Wall Street Journal (October 15, 2024): In Ukraine and the Red Sea, low-tech drones are changing the way wars are fought. The U.S. and other countries are investing in a new and inexpensive way to retaliate: lasers.
Chapters: 0:00 Laser weapon systems 1:03 The LOCUST 2:57 Targets 3:40 Weaknesses 4:56 Future challenges and deployment
Compared with traditional weapons, lasers present some key challenges: they have a shorter range, limited power and can be harder to fix when issues arise. WSJ explains how the BlueHalo LOCUST laser weapon system works and why the tech is so difficult to perfect.
Monocle Radio Podcast (October 15, 2024): With three weeks to go until the US presidential election, we check in with the latest from Washington. Then: we examine how global wars might affect the race. Plus: we cast our eyes to Asia, where our correspondents break down the region’s outlook on the election.
The Wall Street Journal (October 14, 2024): “Darwin” is one of Ukraine’s deadliest drone pilots in its war against Russia.
Chapters: 0:00 A race to adapt 1:38 “Darwin” 2:48 Artillery strikes 4:01 Personal evolution 6:37 In the bunker 8:32 Drone strike 12:20 Just the beginning
But the 20-year-old must contend with his own personal evolution after hundreds of successful missions in a modern survival of the fittest.
After the 2016 election, progressives blamed white women for Hillary Clinton’s loss. This year, Black men have come under special scrutiny. By Jelani Cobb
Monocle Radio Podcast (October 14, 2024): We unpack the latest Iran-Israel tensions, get the results of Lithuania’s weekend election and hear about France’s tortured relationship with its former North African colonies.
Monocle on Sunday (October 13, 2024): Emma Nelson, Alex von Tunzelmann and David Bodanis on the weekend’s biggest talking points.
We also speak to Monocle’s editorial director Tyler Brûlé in Bodrum after the Quality of Life Conference and Monocle’s correspondent in Nairobi, Naveena Kottoor, gives us the latest news from Kenya and the region.
Monocle on Saturday (October 12, 2024): From Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Istanbul, we hear insights from US submarine officer Taylor Sheppard on maximising quality of life underwater.
Then: award-winning author, playwright and essayist Kate Mosse joins Vincent McAviney to talk about her research process and the release of the fourth and final part of her Joubert Family Chronicles series, ‘The Map of Bones’. Plus: writer at large for ‘The Nightly’ Latika Bourke looks back at the week’s news including the continuing conflict in the Middle East, Barack Obama’s comments on the US election and art protests.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious