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13 Oct 2023 — 4 min read

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NATO Discussion:

Yesterday, NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss pressing alliance concerns. The major topics were the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the need to enhance security measures, and the group reviewed ongoing NATO missions.
There was also a briefing from the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, about recent Hamas attacks on Israel. NATO condemned these attacks and supported Israel's right to self-defense. In Kosovo, due to rising tensions, NATO has increased its forces and patrols. In Iraq, the discussion centered on expanding support to help counter any ISIS resurgence.
To boost counterterrorism efforts, Tom Goffus was named as the special coordinator. The ministers also discussed strengthening NATO's defenses and an upcoming nuclear exercise, "Steadfast Noon," to be held over Italy, Croatia, and the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing its role in deterring potential threats, especially from Russia.
Concerns were raised about damaged infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, involving a gas pipeline and a communications cable connecting Finland and Estonia. NATO is investigating this, and any intentional harm could lead to a united response. Lastly, there was a call to expedite Sweden's entry into NATO, with gratitude expressed towards Turkey for its support in this matter.

Cruise Taxi Launches In Texas:

Cruise, GM's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, has launched its robotaxi service in Houston, operating nightly from 9 PM to 6 AM in select neighborhoods. This expansion comes as Cruise faces criticisms in San Francisco, its debut city.
In Houston, the service covers approximately 11 square miles and while the total number of Cruise vehicles in cities like Austin, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Houston reaches 400, they usually start with around a dozen in new cities.
Cruise began testing in Texas last year, first in Austin and then in Houston and Dallas. By August, driverless rides were available for certain employees and guests. With over a million miles driven in Texas, the service can now be accessed via the Cruise app, offering $5 flat fares temporarily.
However, in San Francisco, concerns about the robotaxis' readiness arose following several incidents. After a collision with a fire truck, Cruise's operations were halved by the California DMV, which is investigating the issues. Another incident in October involved a woman being trapped under a Cruise taxi after being hit by another vehicle.

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